Buffs Open Pac-12 Tournament Against California Wednesday
March 09, 2019 | Men's Basketball
BOULDER – The University of Colorado is the No. 5 seed at the 2019 Pac-12 Conference Men's Basketball Tournament and will face No. 12 seed California in a first-round game on Wednesday, March 13, at 3:30 p.m. MDT at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The winner of Wednesday's game will advance to the quarterfinals and play No. 4 Oregon State on Thursday, March 14, at 3:30 MDT. Colorado's game Wednesday, and potential Thursday contest, will air on the Pac-12 Network and on 760 AM KDSP.
Colorado finished the regular season at 19-11 overall and in a three-way with Oregon and Oregon State for fourth place in the Pac-12 at 10-8. Oregon State (18-12, 10-8) claimed the No. 4 seed and first round bye due to its 3-0 record over the Buffaloes and Ducks. Colorado received the nod at No. 5, with its 73-51 win over Oregon (19-12, 10-8) on Feb. 2.
In terms of standings alone, this marks Colorado's second-best Pac-12 finish. The Buffaloes tied for third in 2013-14 at 10-8 and, like this year, seeded fifth for the tournament. Colorado is the tournament's No. 5 seed for the fourth time in eight seasons and matches the program's highest seed for the event. The Buffaloes are a perfect 7-0 in Pac-12 Tournament first round games.
Colorado has won eight of its last 10, the program's best 10-game run at the end of a regular season since 1961-62.
California is 8-22 overall and finished last in the Pac-12 at 3-15, but the Bears ride a three-game winning streak into the Tournament, including a win over Pac-12 regular season champion Washington.
Colorado and California have met twice in the Pac-12 Tournament, with the Buffaloes winning both, and as the lower seed. No. 6 Colorado defeated No. 2 California 70-59 in the semifinals of the 2012 Tournament in win No. 3 of its storied four wins in four days to the conference title. In 2014, fifth-seeded secured a 59-56 win over the fourth-seeded Bears in the quarterfinals.
Colorado defeated California, 68-59, in Berkeley on Jan. 24, in the only meeting between the schools this season. The Buffaloes hold a 16-15 edge in the all-time series with the Bears and have a 3-1 advantage on a neutral court.