Colorado Buffaloes (19-12, 8-8)

Iowa State’s first-round opponent is the one team in this tournament that truly controls its own fate.

The high-scoring Buffaloes had their NCAA Tournament hopes dampened severely in Ames a week ago, but they aren’t down yet. Coach Tad Boyle’s team gets a rematch with the Cyclones, and if they can pick up a win Wednesday, they’ll face a Kansas State team they’ve already beaten twice.

A win against Kansas State would bring a potential matchup against No. 1-seeded Kansas in the conference semifinals. The Jayhawks won both the teams’ meetings this year.

Colorado hasn’t finished with a winning record since 2006 – that’s already locked up. Young Alec Burks and senior Cory Higgins won’t surprise any Big 12 teams in this tournament, as their talent is widely known.

But move on to the semifinals or even greater? They’ll have run themselves right into the Big Dance.

Chris Cuellar