Colorado fans joyfully celebrate KJ Simpson’s game-winner and SEC’s March Misery

The Colorado Buffaloes and head coach Tad Boyle may not have wanted to get into a shootout with Florida in the first round, but the Gators sped the game up and the Buffaloes bested them 102-100. KJ Simpson led the way with 23 points and became a hero to Colorado fans forever with a last-second pull-up jumper to break the tie. 

It hit nearly every part of the rim on the way down but rattled home for Colorado's second victory of the tournament. On Wednesday, the Buffaloes took down Boise State in the First Four and suddenly Boyle’s team is on a roll. In fact, this win was the 26th of the season, extending a school record for single-season wins. If Colorado goes from the first four to the Sweet 16, it could be one of the Cinderella stories of the tournament. 

Buffs fans rejoiced after Simpson, who has been in Boulder for three seasons, hit the biggest shot of his career. 

The star guard has stayed in Boyles; program and blossomed this season, averaging 19.6 points and 4.8 assists as the team’s primary playmaker. He’s more of a score-first guard who has been forced into point guard duties, but on the final play, he did what he does best. 

With realignment always a hot topic, the tournament is a time for conferences to measure themselves and the SEC continues to come up short. With Florida’s loss, the SEC dropped to 1-5, but the league picked up a win later in the night with Texas A&M, and Alabama looks well on its way against Charleston. Still, fans of other conferences took a moment to kick the SEC when it was down. 

With the win, Colorado advances to face Marquette on Sunday.