MBB Hosts Key Big 12 Match Up With Texas A&M Saturday

Colorado (13-10, 4-7 Big 12) vs. Texas A&M (15-7, 4-7 Big 12)

Saturday, Feb.19, 2005, 2:01 p.m. (MST.)

Arena: Coors Events Center (11,064)

Television: ESPN Plus (Denver, Channel 53, KWHD)

Announcers: Dave Armstrong (p-by-p), Matt Doherty (analyst)

Radio: KKZN-760 AM, Mark Johnson (P-by-P),Charles Johnson (analyst)

BUFF BITS... Richard Roby is averaging 21.8 ppg., 15 3-pointers in his last four Big 12 games ... Roby has netted a team-best 20+ points five times, including four Big 12 games ... Andy Osborn tied a season-best five 3-pointers against South Dakota State on Monday ... Marcus Hall dished out a personal-best 10 assists for his first career double-double (11 pts.) against South Dakota State. He had a previous high eight assists, three other times ... Hall has led CU in assists 16 times (three shared), including the last 10 of 11 games ... Roby is second among CU freshman in scoring (15.7 ppg.) and his 29 points at TTU ranks third all-time to Chauncey Billups' 31 and 30 points ... Chris Copeland has six of the team's 10 double-doubles. His latest 13 pts., 10 rebs. at Kansas State ... In eight starts, Glean Eddy is averaging 7.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, however in a reserve role he's 4.2 ppg., 3.1 rpg. ... Eddy has 304 career rebounds, the lone CU player with that many ... With 102 assists this season, Hall is tied for fourth among CU sophomores ... Roby's 37 steals is one from cracking the CU single-season top-30 list; Copeland's 35 blocks is 15th on the single-season list and his 55 career is 21st ... Roby (18-of-20, .900) and Hall (20-of-25, .800) are the team's best FT shooters with under 2 minutes to play ... Team Leaders: Roby (15.7 ppg.), steals (1.6), 3-pointers made (47); Ashby (6.1 rpg.); Copeland in FG percentage (.462), rebounds (6.1 rpg.), blocked shots (1.5); Hall in assists (4.3).

BUFF BITS (part II) ... TEAM: CU RPI Rankings: Teamrankings.com (No. 49), Realtimerpi.com (No. 46), NBC Sports (No. 47), Rpiratings.com (No. 47) ... Average margin of victory in four Big 12 wins is 5.8 points, while losses are 16.3 ... CU has used 11 different starting lineups ... In Big 12-only stats, CU ranks first in blocks (5.6), offensive rebounds (14.2), and 3-pointers made (8.2) ... CU is 8-0 this when leading at the half; 11-0 at the 5-and 2-minutes to play ... The Buffs are 9-1 when out-rebounding the opponent, 5-0 at home ... Averaging 14.7 turnovers a game, CU committed a conference low five against Texas ... After 23 games played, CU is ahead of last year's pace from the 3-point arc, 167 (this year) to 141 last season ... CU has 66 3-pointers in the last six games (11.0); 56 in its last five Big 12 games (11.2) ... CU's an impressive 35-7 (.833) at home during the last three seasons at the CECC (9-3 this season) ... Twice this season, CU had two players with over 20+ plus each (at Texas Tech, Nebraska) ... CU scored 61 points in the second half at TTU. The last time CU tallied 60 in a half was against Stetson (Nov. 24, 2002) ... CU recorded a school record 17 treys vs. Oklahoma State breaking the mark set in 2001. OSU/CU combined what is believed a conference record for two teams (30) ... CU ranks 11 nationally in blocked shots (5.9).

SCOUTING THE AGGIES - Texas A&M has lost all of its road games in the Big 12 (0-5) and are coming off a 26 percent shooting performance (13-of-50) and 35-point loss at Texas on Wednesday. Not one A&M player netted scoring double-digits. Overall, a trio of Aggies lead the team in scoring, 2002-03 Big 12 Freshman of the Year Antoine Wright (16.4), Acie Law (13.3) and Joseph Jones (12.1). Head coach Billy Gillispie is in his first year and has turned the A&M program around midway through the Big 12 season after last year's 0-16 campaign. A&M also leads the Big 12 (all games) in scoring defense (61.5 ppg.).

CU vs. TEXAS A&M - CU has dominated the series against Texas A&M holding a 9-1 advantage since 1969. Since the formation of the Big 12 Conference, CU has lost once to A&M (Feb. 12, 2000, 74-69 at College Station). Since then, CU has won five in a row and has a 4-0 mark in Boulder. Today's game is a meaningful game in the conference standings from the No. 7-10 seeds with CU, A&M, Nebraska, and Missouri each at 4-7. Big 12 seeding formats located on page eight.

ROBY/WRIGHT REUNION - Today is the first Big 12 match up between CU freshman Richard Roby and Texas A&M junior Antoine Wright. Both are from San Bernardino, Calif. AND Lawrence Academy in Groton, Mass. Roby, a sophomore and Wright, a senior, were teammates on the Massachusetts state championship together three years ago. Wright averaged 26.5 points, 11 rebounds, and four assists as a senior, while Roby averaged 23 points, six rebounds and four assists per game his senior season at Lawrence Academy.

LAST TIME OUT - Andy Osborn scored 15 points and Richard Roby added 14 as CU routed independent South Dakota State, 82-49 Monday night. Osborn was 5-for-9 on 3-pointers as CU won for the third time in four games. Sophomore Marcus Hall had a career-high 10 assists and added 11 points (game story and box, page 35).

DEALING HANDOUTS - Marcus Hall leads CU with 102 assists this season adding to his 45 from last year. Entering today's game, the Houston Texas native ranks tied for fourth among CU sophomores in season assists. He trails Jay Humphries by 14 assists for third place (116).

HALFTIME WITH CHAUNCEY - 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 today, when Chauncey Billups will be honored at halftime.

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 career points in just 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).

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.

Other Billups Notes:

- Averaged 18.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, 5.1 assists in 55 games; also connected on 120 3-pointers and shot .857 (306-for-357) from the free throw line.

- holds CU freshman records with 465 points and 143 assists.

- recorded the first triple triple-double in school history: 24 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists back on Dec. 2, 1995.

- named the Big Eight's co-Freshman of the Year in 1995-96 after becoming the only player in the league to place among the Top-10 leaders in eight statistical categories.

ROOKIE OF THE WEEK - Richard Roby was named Phillips 66 Big 12 Conference Rookie of the Week for games of Jan. 31-Feb. 6 in voting by a panel of media covering the conference. It's Roby's second rookie of the week honor after earning his first award back on Dec. 27.

Roby posted 25.5 points per game in two outings in CU's 1-1 week. He had a career-high 29 points at Texas Tech, hitting 11-of-20 shots from the field. In a win at Kansas State (70-60), he had a game-high 22 points on 7-of-11 shooting.

The San Bernardino, Calif. native was 18-of-31 (.581) from the field and 10-of-20 (.500) from 3-point range in two games, becoming the 12th player in CU history to make seven 3-pointers in a contest when he did so versus Tech. Roby also totaled six rebounds and five steals. He leads the team in scoring with 15.6 points per game.

Roby is just the second player in school history to be named Phillips 66 Big 12 Conference Rookie of the Week twice. D. J. Harrison earned a pair of honors during the 2000-01 season.

What the Big 12 Coaches are saying about CU's Richard Roby:

Kansas Head Coach Bill Self

"I didn't think that we did a good job on containing him, I think that he just missed some of his shots. He is going to be a really terrific player and today he proved he can play with anyone and create his shot against anyone.

Nebraska Head Coach Barry Collier

"I said it before the game that he is one of the best freshmen in the league and I think he is one of the best freshmen in the country. I was very impressed with him tonight."

Oklahoma State Head Coach Eddie Sutton

"He is a very talented, young player, and is going to be an outstanding player in this league."

Texas Head Coach Rick Barnes

"He is a wonderful player, I like his demeanor on the court, he does not get rattled out there and plays a great game. He handles himself very well, and I think that he plays a great role. He plays the role that Ricardo (Patton) wants him to play, and he does a very good job at it."

WHAT THE NATIONAL MAGAZINES said about Texas A&M last October:

Athlon Sports: 9th in conference; All-Big 12 Second Team: Antoine Wright; Aggies make Big 12's biggest strides under new head coach.

CBS Sportsline.com: 11th in conference; Wright and the incoming talent and enthusiasm should keep A&M out of the Big 12 basement.

The Sporting News: 9th in conference; All-Conference Second Team: Wright; Wright appears primed to re-establish himself as a top player.

Lindy's: 11th in conference; All-Conference Third Team: Wright; A return to freshman form by Antoine Wright would make Gillispie's first year a bit easier.

Street & Smith's: 11th in conference; A&M hasn't had a winning season or played in the postseason since 1994.

ACADEMIC SUCCESS - Junior walk-on Billy Boidock is the lone men's basketball recognized in the latest CU student-athlete academic highlights from last semester. A mechanical engineering major, Boidock ranks 10th among CU student-athletes in cumulative grade point average (3.738). Boidock saw his only action on Monday against South Dakota State and scored four points with two steals in five minutes of work.

CONFERENCE MARK TO FALL - CU's amazing 3-point assault after 23 games has the CU conference record for treys in sight, 114 set in 2003-04. As of today CU has 90 3-pointers. What's more amazing, CU has shattered last year's sum of treys at this point last year. Even with CU record-holder Blair Wilson on the team last season, CU totaled 141 3-pointers after 23 games. This year, the 2004-05 Buffs have 167!!!

3-Pointers Made

1. 1998-99 218

2. 2001-02 192

3. 2003-04 188

4. 2000-01 186

5. 1990-91 180

2004-05 167

3-POINT MACHINE - CU has made 66 3-pointers in its last six games (159 attempts) with an average of .415. From the rest of the field, CU is shooting 99-of-207 (.478). During the 3-point explosion, Richard Roby has made 21 treys, followed by Andy Osborn (15), Chris Copeland (14), and Marcus Hall (11).

3's IN THE BIG 12 ONLY - Richard Roby is the highest CU player ranked among the conference elite players. Roby ranks second overall in 3-pointers made (2.91), while Chris Copeland is 11th (1.90). In trey percentage, Roby is fifth (.390). As a team, the Buffs lead Oklahoma State in 3-pointers made in conference-only games 90 (8.2) to 86 (7.8), respectively.

SEE THE 3, BE THE 3 - This season CU has launched the 3-point attempt 465 times. After 23 games, CU is averaging 20.2 attempts, while making just over seven a game (7.3). At this pace CU will attempt 574, good enough for second all-time in school history.

SINGLE-DIGIT TURNOVERS - In this week's NCAA statistics, Temple leads the nation with an incredible 9.2 turnovers a game. In CU's game against Texas, the Buffs tallied a Big 12 best five. Here's the top-four since 1982.

Lowest Turnovers In A Single-Game

4, at Colorado State, 12/18/82, W, 57-55

5, Texas, 2/8/05, W, 88-79

5, Missouri, 2/22/03, W, 89-68

5, Kansas State, 1/16/82, L, 68-78

65th BEST HOOPS PROGRAM - According to the latest edition of Street & Smith's, CU is the 65th greatest program of all time. Kentucky tops the list, followed by UCLA and North Carolina. Other Big 12 schools residing in the top-100 are: Kansas (4th), Oklahoma State (13th), Kansas State (22nd), Texas (23rd), Oklahoma (24th), Missouri (38th), and Iowa State (84th).

ROBY AMONG CU GREATNESS - Freshman guard Richard Roby is setting his mark among the all-time greats at CU. After his back-to-back-to-back 20-plus efforts against Texas, at Texas Tech, and Kansas State, Roby ranks second among the school's top freshmen scorers in Buffs history:

1) Chauncey Billups 17.9 1995-96

2) Richard Roby 15.7 2004-05

3) Emmett Lewis 15.0 1975-76

4) Donnie Boyce 14.9 1991-92

5) David Harrison 13.9 2001-02

6) Matt Bullard 12.7 1985-86

7) Randy Downs 11.9 1982-83

HOW ABOUT THOSE FRESHMEN? -

Richard Roby, one of the top freshmen in the Big 12 Conference, averaging 15.7 points per game as of today; not only leads the Buffaloes, but ranks ninth overall in the league. That figures stands to be the second highest average ever by a frosh in Buff history, as only Chauncey Billups averaged more, doing so with a 17.9 mark in 1995-96, while David Harrison was the last Buff to lead the team in scoring (13.9 in '01-02). For the women, two freshmen, Jackie McFarland (10.2) and Kara Richards (9.1) lead CU. Only two freshmen have ever led the Buffs in scoring, Lisa VanGoor in 1980-81 (18.5) and Linda Lappe in 1998-99 (10.7). Freshmen have never led the Buffs in scoring for both the men's and women's team in the same season.

FROSH LEADER - Freshman Richard Roby is making huge strides during his initial season leading the Buffaloes in scoring at 15.7 ppg. He has scored in double figures in 21 of 23 games with 23 starts (led team in scoring 12 times). Not since the 1995-96 season has a freshman led CU in scoring (Chauncey Billups, 17.9 ppg.). Roby also leads CU in steals (37), minutes played (29.9), field goals made (129), 3-pointers made (47) and is fourth in rebounds (4.6). Roby has also led the team in rebounding five and a half time.

DOUBLE VISION - Chris Copeland this season is one of the Big 12's leaders in double-doubles. Copeland notched his team-high sixth double at Kansas State with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Earlier this season, Copeland and Richard Roby each recorded a double-double in the home win over Northwestern, while Julius Ashby and Andy Osborn, Marcus Hall recorded the others. The last time CU had a pair of double-doubles was Jan. 17, 2004 at home against Iowa State (CU, 88-70), David Harrison 16 pts., 10 reb., Lamar Harris 10 pts., 19 rebounds.

Double-Doubles this Season (10)

Marcus Hall 11 pts., 10 assists vs. SDSU

Andy Osborn 14 pts., 10 rebs., Texas

Chris Copeland 13 pts., 10 rebs., at K-State

Chris Copeland 12pts., 11 rebs. vs. Mizzou

Chris Copeland 22 pts., 11 rebs., vs. KU

Chris Copeland 22 pts., 14 rebs., vs. NU

Chris Copeland 12 pts., 13 rebs. vs. CSU Julius Ashby 11 pts., 17 rebs. at Cal

Chris Copeland 15 pts.,10 rebs. vs. N'Western

Richard Roby 16 pts., 13 rebs. vs. N'Western

Andrew R. Green
Assistant Director
University of Colorado
Athletic Media Relations
(w) 303.492.3812
(f) 303.492.3811
andrew.green@colorado.edu
www.cubuffs.com