After making the late-season watch list for the Naismith Women’s College Coach of the Year award last season, Colorado women’s basketball head coach JR Payne has found herself on the list again.
Of the 15 coaches named to the 2023-24 late-season watch list on Wednesday morning, five hail from the Pac-12 Conference, including Payne. At 20-5 overall and 10-4 in conference play, the Buffs are currently tied for second place in the Pac-12 standings.
In her eighth year as Colorado’s head coach, Payne’s Buffs have spent all 16 weeks of the season ranked in the USA TODAY Sports women’s basketball coaches poll, including 14 weeks in the top 10. CU currently sits at No. 11 in the coaches poll after suffering back-to-back losses for the first time this season.
With the watch list being narrowed down on March 14, Payne and the Buffs are looking to bring a Pac-12 championship trophy to Boulder before the NCAA Tournament begins.
The Buffs will be at No. 7 USC on Friday.
Seems about right 👀@CoachJRPayne has been placed on the late season watch list for Naismith Women’s College Coach of the Year 🦬#GoBuffs pic.twitter.com/F1xGu7ck6n
— Colorado Women's Basketball 🦬 (@CUBuffsWBB) February 21, 2024
Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.