Colorado falls in latest NCAA women’s basketball committee Top 16 reveal

The Buffaloes have dropped nine spots since the first reveal on February 15

Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Following a string of consecutive losses, the Colorado Buffaloes dropped to No. 13 in Thursday’s NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Committee Top-16 reveal. Meaning, based on games played through Wednesday, February 28, Jr Payne’s squad would be a No. 4 seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament. 

The DI WBB Committee released the final Top 16! 👀#NCAAWBB pic.twitter.com/hXHEqd57nh

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB) February 29, 2024

In the committee’s first reveal on February 15, the Buffaloes were tabbed as a No. 1 seed. Since then, they’ve dropped three straight games to Utah, USC and UCLA, all ranked teams and all on the road. “Since the last reveal on Feb. 15, we had quite a bit of movement over the last two weeks,” Lisa Peterson, the senior associate commissioner of the Pac-12 Conference and chair of the Division I Women’s Basketball Committee told NCAA.com.

Unbeaten South Carolina, Ohio State, Stanford, and UCLA were the No. 1 seeds in Thursday’s reveal. Virginia Tech, Texas, Iowa, and USC would be the No.2 seeds. LSU, UConn, NC State and Oregon State the three seeds. With the Buffaloes, Indiana, Gonzaga, and Oklahoma the four seeds. The Pac-12 led all conferences with a total of five teams in the top-16 reveal.

“This last 18-day stretch of the season will provide greater clarity as we work toward Selection Sunday. There are a number of key matchups as the regular season closes out and conference tournament champions are crowned.” Peterson said.

Colorado closes out the regular season on Saturday, March 2 vs. Washington State. The Pac-12 Tournament takes place March 6-10. The Buffaloes are likely to be the five or six seed in the conference tournament, meaning they’d have to play a first-round game. 

The full 68-team bracket will be announced on Selection Sunday, March 17 at 8 p.m ET on ESPN.