Colorado and Middle Tennessee are ready to compete in the NCAA tournament, with both teams looking to make their mark on the competition. Colorado is making back-to-back appearances in the tournament for the first time since 2001-2004, while Middle Tennessee is excited to experience the full tournament atmosphere this year after playing in a bubble in Texas due to pandemic restrictions last year. Both teams are eager to compete and prove themselves on the national stage.
The tournament is being played at 16 site hosts across the country, including Duke’s Cameron Indoor Stadium. Duke is returning to the tournament after a three-year absence and is set to host opening-weekend games. Coach Kara Lawson has led the Blue Devils to a successful season, finishing second in the Atlantic Coast Conference after placing 10th last year. The team will take on No. 14 seed Iona in the first round.
Duke Blue Devils to host opening weekend games at NCAA Tournament
Third-year coach Kara Lawson has led the Duke Blue Devils to their first NCAA tournament appearance since 2018, securing the No. 3 seed in the Seattle 4 Region. The team will take on No. 14 seed Iona on March 19th, and as one of 16 site hosts for the tournament, the Blue Devils will have the advantage of hosting opening-weekend games for the first time since 2017.
The Blue Devils have had an impressive season, finishing second in the Atlantic Coast Conference after placing 10th last year. “There’s no doubt I’m proud of the team and the strides we’ve made this year,” said Coach Lawson. Duke will face Iona (26-6) who won the Mid-American Athletic Conference championship despite a 6-5 start to the season.
This marks a return to the days of Duke’s dominance under Gail Goestenkors and Joanne P. McCallie, where the team made the NCAA tournament in 23 of 24 years, reaching the Final Four four times. Duke has won at least one game in each of their 24 all-time appearances.
With a record of 25-6, the Blue Devils have had a successful season at home, boasting a record of 13-1 at Cameron Indoor Stadium. However, their final game of the regular season ended in a loss to North Carolina.
The Blue Devils’ players are confident and believe that their progress this season reflects the work they’ve put in. Kennedy Brown, a transfer from Oregon State, commented, “As a team where we were projected to finish at the beginning of the season versus where we are now has shown a lot of progress.”
Meanwhile, Iona (26-6) is enjoying a nine-game winning streak and has lost just one game since Christmas. They have the eighth-best shooting percentage in the nation (.474) and the second-best 3-point percentage (.401). Guard Kate Mager says that regardless of where they are playing, the team approaches every game in the same way.
Duke’s return to the NCAA tournament is a welcome event for the Blue Devils, and they will aim to take advantage of the home court advantage to secure their spot in the second round of the tournament.
Colorado and Middle Tennessee ready to take on March Madness
Colorado and Middle Tennessee are set to compete in the NCAA tournament, with both teams looking to make their mark on the competition.
Colorado (23-8) is making back-to-back appearances in the tournament for the first time since 2001-2004, having lost in the first round last year to Creighton. Guard Jaylyn Sherrod acknowledges the progress the team has made, saying, “I would think four years ago a lot of people wouldn’t be able to say Colorado would be in this position.” The Buffaloes are hoping to learn from last year’s loss to Creighton and improve their performance this time around.
Middle Tennessee (28-4) appeared in the tournament last year but had to play in a bubble in Texas due to pandemic restrictions. This year, the team is excited to experience the full tournament atmosphere. Guard Alexis Whittington says, “I was, like, wow, it’s really my first time to experience everything.” Blue Raiders coach Rick Insell agrees, stating that this year’s tournament should be a more authentic experience than the 2021 tournament.
Middle Tennessee is also excited to play at Cameron Indoor Stadium, home of the Duke Blue Devils. Insell says he’s ready for his team to claim all the Blue Devil fans, adding, “Duke, they’re ‘Blue,’ too, so we’ll claim all them.” Whittington views playing at Cameron Indoor Stadium as a big opportunity, saying, “I know it’s a historic place. I feel like it’s a big stage. That’s what we wanted.”
Both Colorado and Middle Tennessee are eager to compete in March Madness and prove themselves on the national stage.
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