The 2011 NCAA Tournament Selection show gets underway on Sunday, March 13, at 4:00 p.m. MT on CBS. What we know about the local Colorado universities is that two will be going to the Big Dance while the other one will likely be a high seed in the NIT.
The Northern Colorado Bears won the Big Sky Conference Tournament Championship on Wednesday and received the automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament as a result. They will likely be a 15-seed. Senior guard Devon Beitzel will lead the Bears on what will likely be a one-game appearance in the tournament, their first in school history.
The Colorado Buffaloes had a bit tougher time making it into the tournament. The Buffs lost in the Big 12 semifinals to the Kansas Jayhawks, but reaching that level made the Buffs an at-large selection. Colorado had key wins against Missouri and Texas during the regular season, which will also help determine their seeding. An 11-seed may be their likely destination. Alec Burks, Cory Higgins and Sixth Man of the Year Award Levi Knutson lead the Buffs.
The Colorado St. Rams likely fell short of an NCAA Tournament appearance by dropping four of their last five regular season games and then losing to the New Mexico Lobos in the Mountain West Conference Tournament. But a 19-12 record should get them a No. 2 seed in the NIT. Andy Ogide will want to go out a winner.
The NIT selection show takes place at 7:00 p.m. MT on ESPNU.