The Colorado men’s basketball team defeated only three of its 15 Big 12 Conference rivals.

And, at 3-17, the Buffaloes finished with the most conference losses in program history and the lowest conference winning percentage (.150) since former coach Jeff Bzdelik’s second CU team posted a .063 mark at 1-15 in 2008-09.

Now, with just a taste of momentum in their corner for the first time since conference play began, in order to keep their season alive the Buffs will have to topple one of the foes they defeated for a second time in four days.

The Buffs’ thorough 76-56 victory against TCU on Saturday, coupled with Utah’s loss on Saturday night at No. 23 BYU, set CU up with a rematch against the Horned Frogs in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament on Tuesday at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo. (1 p.m. MT, ESPN+).

The winner between the 16th-seeded Buffs and ninth-seeded TCU will face No. 8 seed West Virginia in the second round on Wednesday.

For just the third time in 15 seasons under head coach Tad Boyle (also 2014-15, 2017-18), neither the NCAA Tournament nor the NIT is in play for the Buffs beyond the conference tournament. It might have been one of the more disappointing campaigns in recent memory, but that doesn’t mean the Buffs are ready to see it end.

“I think momentum is what it’s all about,” CU guard Javon Ruffin said. “I think at this time of the season, the teams that go far and the teams that make runs are teams that are playing well now. I think we’ve been on an uphill trend this last month or so, and also leaving on a win, and then beating a team we (will) see first round, I think it just gives us a ton of confidence and really sets us up for the best possible tournament we can have.”

One win does not make a streak, and Saturday’s victory snapped a three-game losing streak for the Buffs (12-19 overall).

Still, in a season in which conference wins have been rare, the Buffs are 3-4 over their past seven games, with victories in three of their final four home games. Obviously that won’t help CU on a neutral floor in Kansas City. But despite the Buffs’ status as the last seed, they will be the team with better momentum going into Tuesday’s matchup.

When TCU posted a win against No. 9 Texas Tech on Feb. 18, it was the fifth win in six games for the Horned Frogs, who improved to 8-7 in the Big 12. A top-four finish and a double-bye into the quarterfinals might still have been a long shot, but TCU very much was in line for a top-eight finish and a first-round bye.

However, TCU (16-15, 9-11 Big 12) stumbled down the stretch, capping a run of four losses in five games with Saturday’s defeat at the CU Events Center.

“I think rest for our guys right now — mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually — we’ve got to get our batteries charged up and understand it’s a one-game season,” Boyle said after Saturday’s win. “A two-hour practice isn’t going to get us any better at this time of year. I want to see our guys rest. We have our banquet (Sunday). We’ll watch film Monday morning, travel to Kansas City and get a good practice in, and let it all hang out on Tuesday.”