Colorado players shouldn't expect a 'Big Howdy' Texas welcome

Colorado players shouldn’t expect a ‘Big Howdy’ Texas welcome

"We miss the Big 12," Colorado Coach Tad Boyle said.

By Chris Foster

March 21, 2013 12 AM PT

AUSTIN, Texas -- The NCAA selection committee did not put a regional favorite in the Austin games for the tournament’s second and third round this weekend.

Only two of the eight teams playing at the Erwin Center are less than 1,000 miles away. Northwestern State, from Natchitoches, La., is 332 miles from Austin. Colorado, from Boulder, is 936 miles away.

There is no favorite-son team. But a safe bet would be that Colorado is the least favorite team. The Buffaloes bolted from the Big 12 for the Pac-12 after the 2011 season, and they weren’t very popular around these parts to begin with.

Asked about the change from the Big 12 to the Pac-12, Colorado Coach Tad Boyle said, “We were excited about the move. It was bittersweet because we love the Big 12, and we had a lot of great history here.”

Not in Austin.

Colorado was 2-7 against Texas in the Erwin Center. The Buffaloes left town on their last visit with a 103-86 loss.

“We miss the Big 12,” Boyle said. “It’s good to be back in this country.”

Nice try. But Boyle can expect Austin residents to be big Illinois fans when the Buffaloes face the Illini on Friday.

Miles to Austin for teams playing there this weekend:

Northwestern State: 332

Colorado: 936

Florida: 1,016

Illinois: 1,026

Minnesota: 1,174

Miami: 1,351

UCLA: 1,376