Despite having 10 new players on a roster of 13, Colorado head coach JR Payne said that at this point, it doesn’t feel new.
“We feel like we’re just family, and it’s always been this way,” she said Tuesday after her Buffs routed Boise State, 83-53.
Still, several days together on the island of Oahu should help the Buffs grow even closer. CU arrived in Hawaii on Wednesday and will play three games at the North Shore Showcase, beginning Saturday against UT Arlington (7 p.m. MT). They’ll also meet up with VCU on Monday (5:30 p.m. MT) and Texas A&M on Tuesday (5 p.m. MT).
“I think it’s really important especially for a group we keep talking about how new we are,” Payne said of being on the road together. “I know at this point, it doesn’t feel like it to us. … But it is really important, because a lot of these experiences we’re having, for many of us, it’s the first time we’ve ever been to Pearl Harbor and done these things. So I think we can create camaraderie and sort of inside jokes and history together through these experiences.”
While the Buffs will enjoy some sightseeing during the time in Hawaii, their main focus is to continue the strong play they’ve had in the early going of this season.
“Yeah, we know what we going for,” guard Desiree Wooten said. “We know what to balance, and we hold each other accountable, like, really well. So I think it’ll be good. It won’t be too hard.”
At 3-1, the Buffs are off to a good start, with the only loss being a close one at No. 22 Louisville. The other three were all blowout wins.
They’ll be challenged with three good opponents in a four-day span between Saturday and Tuesday.
“We’re really excited for this tournament, three really good opponents,” Payne said. “We always want to try to play a tournament where we can play sort of back-to-back and simulate postseason play, or the Big 12 tournament and things like that. So, three good opponents. We’re really excited.”
The Buffs might be the deepest team in the field.
Four players – Anaelle Dutat (13.0), Logyn Greer (11.8), Zyanna Walker (10.0) and Desiree Wooten (9.8) – are averaging at least 9.8 points per game and three others at least six. That group doesn’t even include returning All-Big 12 performer Jade Masogayo, who has battled knee soreness and is posting just 5.0 points and 4.8 rebounds.
“I think the balance on this team is as good as it’s ever been,” Payne said. “The balance on this team is exceptional. Our selflessness is also pretty exceptional. Nobody really cares who scores or who rebounds. They do a great job of celebrating each other, both in the games and also in practice.
“I think our rebounding has the potential to be phenomenal, and I think defensively, we have the potential to be really, really good defensively.”
CU Buffs women’s basketball vs. UT Arlington
TIPOFF: Saturday, 7 p.m. MT, at George Q. Cannon Activities Center in Laie, Hawaii
TV/RADIO: BallerTV/KHOW 630 AM
RECORDS: Colorado 3-1, 0-0 Big 12; UT Arlington 2-3, 0-0 WAC
COACHES: Colorado — JR Payne, 10th season (167-117; 268-230 career). UT Arlington — Shereka Wright, 6th season (84-65).
KEY PLAYERS: Colorado — F Anaelle Dutat, 6-0, Sr. (13.0 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 2.8 spg, .556 fg%); F Logyn Greer, 6-4, Fr. (11.8 ppg, 4.0 rpg, .514 fg%); F Jade Masogayo, 6-3, Sr. (5.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg); G Kennedy Sanders, 5-8, So. (7.8 ppg, 2.0 apg); G Zyanna Walker, 5-11, Jr. (10.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 4.3 apg, 2.3 spg, .484 fg%); G Desiree Wooten, 5-8, Jr. (9.8 ppg, 2.0 apg, 1.8 spg). UT Arlington — G Jadyn Atchison, 6-1, Jr. (8.8 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 2.0 apg); G Alexsyah Goudeau, 5-10, Sr. (4.4 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 1.4 spg); F Kira Reynolds, 6-4, Fr. (11.0 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 3.0 bpg, .594 fg%); F Mila Reynolds, 6-3, Jr. (8.6 ppg, 1.6 rpg, .516 fg%, .455 3pt%); G Nya Threatt, 5-6, Sr. (11.0 ppg, 3.0 apg, 1.5 spg, .556 fg%, .500 3pt%).
NOTES: This is the fourth trip to Hawaii in program history. The Buffs played two games in Honolulu in December of 1988, three in Kona in December of 1995 and two in Honolulu in January of 2009. The Buffs are 6-1 all-time in Hawaii. … CU won its only previous meeting with UT Arlington, 95-74, on Dec. 5, 2023, in Boulder. … UTA was projected for a third-place finish in the seven-team WAC in a preseason vote by coaches. … Atchison, who is from Cedar Hill, Texas, played at CU during her freshman year (2023-24), averaging 1.4 points and 1.1 rebounds in 14 games. Last year, she averaged 1.6 points and 1.2 rebounds at Old Dominion. … UTA’s Mila, Amiyah and Kira Robinson are sisters, while their father, Steven Reynolds Jr. is an assistant coach for the Mavericks. Steven coached all three of his daughters at South Bend (Indiana) Washington High School before joining the Mavs staff this year. … CU will continue the North Shore Showcase on Monday against VCU and Tuesday against Texas A&M. All games will be on BallerTV.