SEATTLE – It’s been 18 years since Ceal Barry coached her last game, but her influence is certainly felt this weekend as the Colorado and Iowa women’s basketball teams prepare to square off in the Sweet 16 on Friday evening.
Barry coached the Buffs for 22 seasons, from 1983-2005, going 427-242 with 12 NCAA Tournament appearances, including six Sweet 16s and two Elite Eights.
Sixth-seeded CU (25-8) is making its first Sweet 16 appearance since Barry led the Buffs there in 2003 and current Buffs’ coach JR Payne said Barry has made her mark on Payne’s time in Boulder.
“Ceal had a huge impact, almost as big an impact as anyone at the University of Colorado, especially when we first arrived,” said Payne, who is in her seventh year at CU. “She did a really great job of balancing, ‘I’m here to help, I’m here to support, I want you to be great; but I also don’t want to step on anybody’s toes.’
“Ceal’s phenomenal. She’s one of the first people that texted me when we beat Duke (in the second round on Monday) and saying how great we played and she watches every game.”
Barry also helped Payne to know about CU’s great history in women’s basketball.
Iowa head coach Lisa Bluder is familiar with that history, as well. She faced Barry’s team once when she coached Drake and twice with Iowa.
“I’ve known Ceal for a long, long time,” Bluder said. “Ceal was a tremendous coach. … I absolutely remember the Colorado teams, and I remember them being really tall. I mean, they had some really tall (players) and then obviously good guards, like Shelley Sheetz.”
McLeod making impact
Colorado freshman Brianna McLeod has had a solid, but up-and-down first season of college basketball. This postseason has epitomized her campaign.
A 6-foot-3 forward, McLeod didn’t get off the bench in CU’s two games during the Pac-12 Tournament three weeks ago. Then, during the Buffs’ two NCAA Tournament games in Durham, N.C., last weekend, she played a total of 35 minutes. She posted eight points and four rebounds in a first-round win against Middle Tennessee and was the first player off the bench Monday against Duke.
“It was really fun,” she said of last week. “I’ve kind of been looking at it as this is like a learning year and just like being able to actually get on the court and having the trust that my coaches have in me to get out there and produce and stuff. It’s just really nice and it’s just been really fun along the way.”
McLeod said the up-and-down nature of her season can be tough, but she also recognizes there are games when her skill set is more important than others.
Overall this season, McLeod is averaging 2.6 points and 2.1 rebounds in an average of 10.2 minutes. Playing a key role in the first two NCAA Tournament games has been a boost.
“It felt amazing,” she said. “I didn’t play in the Pac 12 tournament, so I wasn’t really sure what to expect going into the NCAA tournament. Going into it and playing and having a big role, it was really fun and I just had a really great time.”
New, but familiar
CU and Iowa haven’t played each other since 2017, but they scouted each other just one year ago.
Iowa hosted a subregional in the NCAA Tournament last year. The Hawkeyes defeated Illinois State in the first round, while CU lost to Creighton. Had CU defeated Creighton, the Buffs and Hawkeyes would have met in the second round and both coaching staffs prepared for the possibility.
This week, both staffs have reviewed the scouting reports they put together a year ago.
“I definitely think they are a similar team (this year),” Payne said. “They’re just the more experienced version of who they were last year and they were really good last year, as well. I think it’s always great to be able to rely on past information. … So definitely we’ve re-looked at those scouts, we’ve re-watched film, and then of course, have a new scout for this year as well.”
Bluder said last year’s scouting report has been used this week for the Hawkeyes, as well.
“We had a complete scout done for them last year and they haven’t changed a whole lot,” she said. “There’s a few fresh faces, a few that exited the program as well. But they’re very similar style-wise and we absolutely started our report with that.”
The home team?
Of the eight teams playing in Seattle this weekend, Colorado is closest to home. Six of the eight are from east of the Mississippi River and the University of Iowa is about 36 miles away from the Mississippi.
Still, the Buffs have had a whirlwind week, traveling across the country. They played in Durham, N.C., late Monday night and were in Seattle by Wednesday afternoon.
“It’s definitely a lot, especially with school and everything, trying to make sure you get your assignments done, but it’s just an exciting time, so we’re just making it work,” CU sophomore Aaronette Vonleh said.
Although CU is closest to home, the Buffs have arguably had the toughest travel week of the eight teams here.
Five of the other teams in Seattle (Virginia Tech, Tennessee, Ohio State, Connecticut and Iowa) played at home last weekend. Mississippi played at Stanford and has stayed on the West Coast this week, while Louisville was in Austin, Texas, last weekend.
Boyle supporting Buffs
CU men’s basketball coach Tad Boyle has an office across the hall from Payne in Boulder and the two coaches have always supported one another. Boyle is pleased to see the success of the women’s team.
“I’m excited for JR and her staff and, most importantly, the young women that are playing,” Boyle said. “They work hard. They train hard. They practice hard. We obviously don’t get to see them a lot because our travel schedules are offset. But my wife and I watched the Duke game and were cheering on the Buffs from our living room. And we’re wishing them the best of luck in Seattle this weekend. That was a gutsy, gutsy win over Duke.
“Really happy for JR and the entire women’s basketball program. I’ve seen it struggle since the time I’ve been here. I knew she was going to have a really good team this year. You could just tell. Seeing them in the weight room. Seeing them at practice. They’ve added some really good pieces to the puzzle. They deserve the success that they’re having.”
Notable
- Payne has already made $80,000 in incentives for CU’s run to the Sweet 16. She has bonuses of $20,000 for playing in the first round of the NCAA Tournament and $30,000 for playing in the second round and Sweet 16. If the Buffs beat Iowa and reach the Elite Eight, that will add another $30,000 to Payne’s total.
- CU center Quay Miller is from the Seattle area. Payne, “That’s going to be really awesome for her to be able to spend time with her family here. I think she’s most excited to see her dog.”
- Two years ago, Vonleh was a high school recruit, signed to play at Arizona, and watched the Wildcats reach the national title game. She had hoped to be in the Sweet 16, but certainly expected it to be in an Arizona uniform. Now, she’s in the Sweet 16 with Colorado after transferring last summer. “It’s definitely a little weird just thinking about it,” she said. “But I am so grateful that I chose to come here and now it’s worked out and we’re in a really good position and I was able to contribute to that.”
