No less than seven schools (Wyoming, Utah, BYU, Arizona, New Mexico State and Kansas and Wichita State) from five bordering states were among the 68 Big Dance qualifiers while Colorado's five DI programs were left out -- again.
We were literally surrounded by -- yet shut out -- of the Madness.
Overall, 34 states and the District of Columbia were represented in the field of 68 while Colorado joined fellow have-nots Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, South Dakota and Vermont on the sideline.
But, as aforementioned, it's an all-too familiar feeling here in the Rockies.
Of the last 50 men's NCAA Tournaments, including the current one, the Centennial State has fielded a representative in only 12 years. That's 16 total appearances in all during that half-century span with a 6-16 combined tourney record.
Ugh.
Here's the 50-year rundown by school (and it won't take long):
- Colorado State University: 1966 (0-1), 1969 (2-1), 1989 (1-1), 1990 (0-1), 2003 (0-1), 2012 (0-1), 2013 (1-1). Total 7 appearances, 4-7 record
- University of Colorado: 1969 (0-1), 1997 (1-1), 2003 (0-1), 2012 (1-1), 2013 (0-1), 2014 (0-1) Total: 6 appearances, 2-6 record
- Air Force: 2004 (0-1), 2006 (0-1). Total: 2 appearances, 0-2 record
- Northern Colorado: 2011 (0-1). Total: 1 appearance, 0-1 record
- University of Denver: 0 appearances.
