Colorado University Athletics
MBB Ranked Among National Preseason Publications
October 22, 2003 | Men's Basketball
BOULDER - The University of Colorado men's basketball team enters the 2003-04 season as one of the top teams in the nation ranking as high as 25th in one national publication (Street & Smith's) and is projected to finish fifth in The Big 12 Conference in three others.
The Buffaloes return four starters from last year's 20-12 team that finished tied for fifth in the Big 12 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 1996-97 season. CU head coach Ricardo Patton, who ranks third in school history with 125 victories, owns two of the school's three 20-win seasons and was one of 22 coaches last season that finished the season unbeaten in conference play (8-0).
CU returns its leading scorer in 6'5" senior guard/forward Michel Morandais (16.9 ppg., 5.4 rpg., 3.4 apg.) along with junior 7'0" shot blocker David Harrison (13.9 ppg., 8.3 rpg.). Harrison, who holds nearly every block shot record at CU, joins Morandais as the two players on the team who were inked among the national publications.
Colorado opens its regular season with three road consecutive games at Northwestern (Nov. 21), Pepperdine (Nov. 24) and Cal Poly (Nov. 26). The Buffs home opener is Oregon State on Saturday, Nov. 1 at 7 p.m.
Tickets for Colorado basketball are available by calling 303-49-BUFFS or visiting Colorado's website at www.CUBuffs.com.
Athlon
Conference Placing: Fifth
NCAA Tournament: 2nd Round
All-Big 12 First Team: Michel Morandais
All-Big 12 Second Team: David Harrison
All-American Honorable Mention: Michel Morandais
Slashers Category: Michel Morandais (8th)
Postmen Category: David Harrison (9th)
Basketball News
Preseason national ranking: 30th
Conference Placing: Fifth
All-Big 12 Second Team: David Harrison, Michel Morandais
Lindy's
Preseason national ranking: 31st
Conference Placing: Sixth
NCAA Tournament
Top Small Forwards: Michel Morandais (8th)
Top Centers: David Harrison (9th)
Street & Smith's
Preseason national ranking: 25th
Conference Placing: Sixth
Big 12 Best Shot-blocker: David Harrison
Big 12 Biggest Underachiever: David Harrison
The Sporting News
Conference Placing: Fifth
NCAA Tournament
All-Big 12 Second Team: David Harrison
Small Forwards: Michel Morandais (8th)
Centers: David Harrison (7th)
Frontcourts: CU ranked among the next 10 (11 to 20) of formidable frontcourts
