Colorado, Pittsburgh overcome injuries to key players to return to NCAA tournament

Within hours over a gloomy weekend this winter, season-ending knee injuries sidelined Colorado's point guard and cost Pittsburgh one of its top reserves.

Lesser teams might have faltered down the stretch, however the eighth-seeded Buffaloes (23-11) and ninth-seeded Panthers (25-9) made adjustments that enabled them to remain on course to get back to the NCAA tournament, where they'll meet Thursday in the second round of the Midwest Regional.

Colorado's 6-foot-6 point guard Spencer Dinwiddie was averaging 14.7 points and nearly four assists per game when he went down during a 17-point loss at Washington on Jan. 12, forcing shooting guard Askia Booker to take on additional responsibilities.

Less than 24 hours earlier, Pitt lost sophomore forward Durand Johnson, averaging 8.8 points and three rebounds, was hurt against Wake Forest.