Buffs Release Challenging Nonconference Schedule

BOULDER – Renewed rivalries and a truly “national” nonconference schedule awaits the University of Colorado women’s basketball team this winter.

Colorado’s schedule dips into both the Big Ten and Southeastern Conferences and includes potential multiple matchups with those leagues along with possible battles with the Big 12 and the Big East.

Six of Colorado’s set nonconference opponents are coming off winning records with four of those adding NCAA or Postseason WNIT appearances to their resumes. Add in that 14 of the 16 teams competing in the Preseason WNIT, which was announced in June, had records of .500 or better in 2013-14 resulting in nine postseason tournament spots.

Two of the bigger names on the schedule will be on the road this year, giving the Buffaloes a good early test before the Pac-12 Conference season starts. Colorado will play at Iowa on Sunday, Dec. 7, in a rematch of a game played in Boulder this last November, a 90-87 Buffaloes’ win. The Hawkeyes would go on to reach the second round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament, finishing with a 27-9 record.

The Buffaloes will then travel to take on an SEC foe, but this isn’t just any nonconference opponent. Colorado returns to Columbia, Mo., to face former Big Eight/Big 12 rival Missouri. The game, scheduled for Friday, Dec. 12, will mark the 70th meeting in the series – the most played in CU history – and the first since the 2010-11 season.

For the 28th straight year Colorado will host a four-team tournament over the Thanksgiving holiday; this year with a regional twist. Tabbed the Omni Hotels Classic for the sixth time, the Buffaloes welcome Colorado State, TCU and Missouri State to Boulder, Nov. 28-29. Colorado State makes its first ever appearance in the holiday classic and will open against TCU out of the Big 12, coached by former Buffalo standout Reagan (Scott) Pebley. Colorado will face Missouri State in the first round with the consolation and championship games to follow on Nov. 29.

“We have great balance in our nonconference schedule this year,” head coach Linda Lappe said. “We have some tough games at home, but also two top notch road games at Iowa and an old Big 12 foe in Missouri.”

Following the Omni Classic, Colorado will also host games against San Jose State (Friday, Dec. 5), regional rival Wyoming (Sunday, Dec. 21) and Long Beach State (Tuesday, Dec. 30), leading up to Pac-12 play which begins the first weekend in January. Colorado will also have a road contest at Denver on Tuesday, Nov. 25.

As previously released, Colorado tips off the season with the Preseason WNIT and will host Big Sky Conference co-champion North Dakota in a first round game on Saturday, Nov. 15, at 6 p.m.

The Buffaloes are guaranteed three games in the event which opens with first round games Nov. 14-15.  Round two will be played Nov. 16-17; semifinals will be Nov. 19-20; and the championship, televised live on the CBS Sports Network, is set for Sunday, Nov. 23, at 1 p.m. MT. 

If Colorado wins its first round game it would play the winner of Western Kentucky and Central Arkansas in the second round.  Teams that lose in the first two rounds will play consolation games, in a redrawn bracket, on Nov. 21-22.  Notable potential opponents include perennial national power and 2014 NCAA Region semifinalist Penn State, Big 12 regular season champion West Virginia and Mississippi State out of the SEC.

“We will have a challenging start to our season with the Preseason WNIT,” Lappe said. “We are very much looking forward to competing each and every night out.”

Game times will be released at a later date. The Pac-12 schedule, and accompanying Pac-12 Network television slate, is expected to be released by September 1. All nonconference dates remain subject to change.