PAC 12 Preview: Colorado

Last Season: Colorado went 12-18 overall, and 2-16 in the conference. That’s just 7 wins in two years in league play.
The Coaches: Head Coach JR Payne will be in her 4th year at Colorado after two seasons at Santa Clara. Three years ago Payne led Santa Clara to its first winning season in 8 seasons and finished 23-9. JR, no periods, and real name Ali-Marie, is a graduate of St Mary’s where she played for now Oregon coach Kelly Graves. Her first coaching job was at age 23 for Graves when he started at Gonzaga.

Shandrika Lee is in her 4th season as an assistant at Colorado after coaching for Payne at Santa Clara. Lee is a graduate of Pepperdine and has coached at Oregon.

Toriano Towns is also in his 4th and also coached with Payne at Santa Clara. Towns coached at Gonzaga with Payne and later at Arizona where he was the Post coach for the great, late Polk.

Alex Earl is in her 4th year on the staff. Alex was an assistant with Payne three seasons ago at Santa Clara and played for years at ASU graduating in 2013. Alex was a HS teammate of JJ Hones on a team where all five starters player Division 1 basketball.


Losses:
Kennedy Leonard averaged 12 points, 4 rebounds and 7 assists
Alexis Robinson averaged 12 points and ,made twice as many threes as anyone else on the team.
Payton Crater averaged one point.
Mathilde Diop averaged one points.
Lost both starting guards, however all others who saw much playing time return.


Additions:
Charlotte Whittaker is a 6-4 Post from Australia who arrived at Colorado in January and will begin play this season. Whittaker averaged 14 points with the 18U in the Asian Championships.

Zuzanna Kulinska is a 5-11 Guard from Poland. Last season she played at a NY private HS averaging 24 points per game.

Jaylyn Sherrod, 5-8 Point Guard All State Alabama

Maura Singer 6-4 Post from CO, ranked # 123

Raanee Smith is a 6-2 Wing from Philadelphia



The Schedule: Wisconsin and Colorado State are their toughest non conference games. Colorado will play only one game each at the Washington schools and will host the Arizona schools.


The Team:

Mya Hollingshed is a 6-4 Jr Forward who averaged 11 points and 6 starting every game. Mya made 35 threes at 43%.

Quinessa Caylao-Do is a 5-8 Sr Guard who averaged 11 points while starting every game.

Annika Jank is a 6-3 Jr Post who averaged 6 points and 4 rebounds.

Sirena (Peanut) Tuitele is 6-1 Soph Forward who averaged 7 points and 5 rebounds.

Lesila Finau is 5-10 Soph Guard who averaged 3 points.

Emma Clarke is a 6-1 Frosh Guard from Australia who averaged 4 points in 16 minutes.

Kai Volcy is a 6-4 Soph Post who averaged 6 minutes per game

Aubrey Knight is a 5-8 Jr Guard who was injured and played just 3 games.

Frosh Whittaker and Kulinska should see action right away.



Predictions:
Despite their losses the Buffs have some good players back and only one is a Sr. Several frosh should contribute right away. Should be an improved team and young.


2020 Recruiting:
Allysa LaFontaine 6-0 Guard TX, not ranked