Colorado women send No. 20 Baylor home with 62-53 victory in Big 12 quarterfinals
#Colorado #Baylor #women's basketball #Big 12 #quarterfinals #tournament #upset
📌 Key Takeaways
- Colorado women's basketball team defeated No. 20 Baylor 62-53 in the Big 12 quarterfinals
- The victory advances Colorado to the next round of the tournament
- Baylor's season ends with the loss in the quarterfinal matchup
- The game was a competitive conference tournament elimination match
📖 Full Retelling
🏷️ Themes
College Basketball, Tournament Upset
📚 Related People & Topics
Colorado
U.S. state
Colorado is a landlocked state in the Western United States. It is one of the Mountain states, and part of the Southwestern United States, sharing the Four Corners region with Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. It is also bordered by Wyoming to the north, Nebraska to the northeast, Kansas to the east, a...
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Deep Analysis
Why It Matters
This upset victory matters because it significantly impacts the NCAA Tournament landscape, potentially costing Baylor a higher seed while boosting Colorado's resume. It affects Baylor's players and coaching staff who now face an anxious Selection Monday, and Colorado's program which gains momentum heading into postseason play. The result also reshapes the Big 12 tournament bracket, creating unexpected opportunities for remaining teams. For women's college basketball fans, it demonstrates the parity and unpredictability of conference tournaments.
Context & Background
- Baylor women's basketball has been a national powerhouse for decades, winning three NCAA championships under coach Kim Mulkey (2005, 2012, 2019)
- Colorado rejoined the Big 12 Conference in 2023-24 after previously competing in the Pac-12, making this their first Big 12 tournament appearance in over a decade
- Baylor entered the game ranked No. 20 nationally, making them the favorite against unranked Colorado in the quarterfinal matchup
- Conference tournaments directly impact NCAA Tournament seeding, with automatic bids going to tournament champions and strong performances improving at-large resumes
What Happens Next
Colorado advances to the Big 12 tournament semifinals where they'll face the winner of another quarterfinal matchup. Baylor must wait for Selection Sunday (March 17, 2024) to learn their NCAA Tournament fate, likely receiving an at-large bid but with potentially diminished seeding. Both teams will have approximately one week before NCAA Tournament games begin, using the time for practice, scouting, and recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Baylor will likely still make the NCAA Tournament as an at-large team given their strong regular season, but this early conference tournament exit may drop them from a potential 4-5 seed to a 6-7 seed, creating a tougher first-round matchup.
Colorado's defense likely held Baylor below their season scoring average while creating turnovers, and their offensive execution in crucial moments overcame Baylor's higher ranking and tournament experience.
Colorado will play in the Big 12 tournament semifinals within the next 1-2 days, facing another conference opponent with a spot in the championship game at stake.
This victory suggests Colorado has previous experience competing against ranked opponents, though beating No. 20 Baylor in the conference tournament represents one of their most significant wins this season.
This upset demonstrates increased parity in the Big 12, showing that traditional powers like Baylor are vulnerable and creating more excitement for the remainder of the tournament.