Colorado University Athletics
Billups To Be Honored At CU/Texas A&M Halftime
February 14, 2005 | Men's Basketball
BOULDER - The University of Colorado Athletic Department will honor one of its former and well-known student-athletes in its history at the Coors Events Center this Saturday, February 19, when Chauncey Billups will be honored at halftime of the Colorado-Texas A&M game.
Sponsored by Alumni C Club in conjunction with athletics, Billups jersey number 4 will officially be honored during a halftime ceremony and will hang in the rafters with a quintet of former CU men's basketball greats honoring the former All-American. Billups will join Burdette Haldorson (#22, 1952-55); Cliff Meely (#20, 1968-71), Charles Gardner (#13, 1963-66), and Ken Charlton (#23, 1960-63).
One of the most talented players in CU basketball history, Billups helped transform the Buffaloes into an NCAA tournament contender in the two years he played on the Boulder campus from 1995-1997. He currently holds the school record in scoring average by a freshman (17.9 ppg.), remains the first player at CU to score over 1,000 points in career in two seasons, and is the second fastest player to record 500 points scored in only 28 games played.
In 1997 as a sophomore was named a first-team All-American by Basketball News, becoming the eighth All-American in Colorado history.
One of CU's top perimeter threats in hoops history and known for his playmaking skills and ability to penetrate, Billups also led the Buffs to their first NCAA Tournament in over two decades, where CU topped perennial power Indiana in the opening round.
Billups went on to be the third pick in the 1997 NBA draft and is still enjoying success in the pros. This past NBA season, Billups helped lead the Detroit Pistons to the NBA title. He was named the Most Valuable Player for the NBA Finals, averaging 21 points and 5.2 assists in five games.
In addition to Saturday's festivities, Chauncey Billups commemorative t-shirts will be given out to the first 1,000 CU students, while the first 500 fans (non students) a will receive a free commemorative Chauncey Billups T-shirt courtesy of Tops of Rockies. Also joining Billups will be Haldorson, Meely, Poncho Hodges (1991-93), in addition to former women's standouts Lisa Van Goor (1980-83, 1985) and Bridget Turner (1986-89).
Hodges is in town for the NBA All-Star game and is currently pursuing an acting career. He is the principle character this Wednesday night in NBC's Law & Order, as he plays a basketball player who is accused of murdering an overzealous fan. He has also appeared in a few movies.
CU no longer retires uniform numbers, thus the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a former student-athlete is to have it honored. After the game, the current CU men's basketball players will hold an autograph session on the Coors Events Center floor.
