The Colorado Buffaloes are ready to hit the road once again, but this time, they’re packing their bags for Manhattan, Kansas. Despite hopes of hosting in Boulder, they’ll be facing off against the Drake Bulldogs as a No. 5 seed in the NCAA women’s basketball tournament’s first round.

For the Buffaloes, this marks their third consecutive appearance in the tournament, a testament to their prowess on the court. Although the setting may be different, Head Coach JR Payne exudes confidence in her team’s ability to navigate the challenges of a tough road trip.

“We’ve played a lot of tough road games this year, and this one will be no different,” Payne remarked, highlighting the squad’s resilience in adverse conditions.

Ranked No. 17 in the latest USA TODAY Sports women’s basketball coaches poll, Colorado enters the tournament with a determination to bounce back from a challenging end to the regular season. Dropping five of their final six games and exiting the Pac-12 Tournament in the quarterfinals was undoubtedly a setback, but the Buffaloes are poised to regroup and showcase their true potential.

Junior guard Frida Formann echoes this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of returning to their fundamental strengths as a team.

“It’s really just going back to the basics and getting back to who we are,” Formann stated. “I don’t think there’s any magic to it. Honestly, when you get further into the season, people start to know you… Now, we have one guaranteed, so we just got to put it all out there.”

With their sights set on a successful tournament run, the Buffs are prepared to leave it all on the court. Their first hurdle? The 29-5 Drake Bulldogs, a formidable opponent standing in their path to advancement.

Should Colorado triumph over Drake, they’ll set their sights on the winner of the matchup between No. 4 Kansas State and No. 13 Portland in the second round. It’s a challenging road ahead, but for the Buffaloes, the opportunity to showcase their talent and determination on a national stage is a prize worth pursuing.

As the NCAA women’s basketball tournament unfolds, all eyes will be on Colorado as they aim to defy expectations and make their mark in Manhattan. Get ready for some high-stakes hoops madness!