MBB Attempts To Get Back On Track At Utah

FOR STARTERS: This is the third straight game Colorado is playing against the Mountain West Conference in a week. Last week, CU lost at New Mexico, 106-65 (Nov. 14) and on Saturday they fell to Air Force, 84-46. The Buffaloes have not started a season below .500 since 1988-89 when they began 0-3 and it's the last campaign the Buffs started 1-3 after their first four games. After Tuesday night's game, CU hosts MWC foe Wyoming at the Coors Events Center on Sunday, Nov. 26, 2 p.m. The game will be broadcast on Fox Sports Net Rocky Mountain. Of the six schools CU will face from the Mountain West Conference, here's what they are predicted to finish according to the preseason media poll: Air Force (3rd), Utah (4th), New Mexico (5th), Colorado State (7th), Wyoming (8th), TCU (9th).

LAST TIME OUT: CU was held to 11 first half points losing to Air Force, 84-46, Saturday night. Sophomore forward Jermyl Jackson-Wilson led Colorado with nine points. Richard Roby was held to six points on 3-for-14 shooting. The first half output of 11 points was CU's lowest scoring half since being held to four points in the first half of a Jan. 23, 1980 game at Missouri. CU failed to place a player in double figures since Feb. 15, 1992 at Kansas when Poncho Hodges and Joe Stephens each scored nine points in the 82-45 loss.

ABOUT CU-UTAH: The last time CU played at the Jon. M. Huntsman Center they were outscored 48-21 in the first half and lost, 80-48 back on Dec. 30, 2004. Richard Roby and Marcus King-Stockton were the only players on the roster. Roby shot 1-for-11 for two points, his lowest scoring game of this career. CU leads the head-to-head series, 20-17, however are 4-7 in Salt Lake City and have lost their last six in a row there. The Buffs have not won at Utah since Feb. 15, 1946 (60 years).

THE UTES: Utah is 0-2 on the young season losing by an average of seven points. They fell in their home opener to Southern Utah (76-73, Nov. 10) and at Santa Clara (83-72, Nov. 18). Head Coach Ray Giacoletti enters his third year at Utah (43-23) and returns six letterwinners from his 14-15 team a year ago. The Utes are predicted to finish fourth in the Mountain West Conference.

Hook SHOTS: In three games, Jermyl Jackson-Wilson is averaging 10.3 points, 10.7 rebounds a game and shooting a team-best .692 at the free throw line; without Jackson-Wilson's numbers at the FT line, CU shooting 19-for-41 at the line (.463) ... Richard Roby needs five points to move into 21st place on CU's all-time scoring list ... In 63 career games, Roby has failed to net double figures in eight of those ... Kal Bay has almost half of the team's 13 3-pointers made with six ... Freshman center Marc Van Burck will be out 4-6 weeks with a right foot stress fracture ... TEAM: The two losses to New Mexico (41 points) and Air Force (38 points) are the worst back-to-back losses by CU since losing consecutive 30+ point games Jan. 29, 1994 (Kansas, 87-53) and Feb. 1 (at Iowa State, 99-69) ... CU's 46 point loss versus USAFA is the lowest point total since scoring 48 points at Utah (Dec. 30, 2004) ... In their previous 10 years, CU has lost the first two road games in the non-conference season, six times (1996-97, 1998-99, 1999-2000, 2001-02, 2002-03, 2004-05).

LOOKING AHEAD: Coach Patton teams are 1-2 against Wyoming since the 1996-97 season. Although the Buffs and the Cowboys have not played against each other since the 1997-98 season, Wyoming leads the all-time series 39-35, including the last two meetings played in 1997 and 1998.

CU vs. the Mountain West: Although CU has enjoyed much success against the Mountain West Conference in its history (108-52, .675), the Buffs are only 10-9 (.526) since 1996-97. Since 2002-03, CU is 5-4 (.556) against the Mountain West.

INJURY LIst: Freshman center Marc Van Burck is out 4-6 weeks with a right foot stress fracture. His 2006-07 playing status of being red-shirted will be determined in a few days. Van Burck (6-11, 280) from Star City, Saskatchewan, Canada/Luther HS, played one game with two points, two rebounds in six minutes.

3-POINT WOES: After setting the school 3-point record last season with 240, CU is shooting a pathetic 18.8 percent (13-for-69) from the 3-point arc in three games. It's also the lowest percentage in coach Patton's 11 years.

vs. Denver 5-for-21 (.238)

at New Mexico 6-for-31 (.194)

vs. Air Force 2-for-17 (.118)

CHARITY STRIPE: Performance at the free throw line isn't a CU best either after three games. Just like the 3-point arc, the free throw line is a 11-year low as well.

vs. Denver 11-for-21 (.524)

at New Mexico 9-for-14 (.643)

vs. Air Force 8-for-19 (.421)

Century Mark Points: Allowing New Mexico to score 100 points last Tuesday, was the first time CU allowed that many in a game since falling to Oklahoma State, Jan. 30, 2004 (L, 86-104). Prior to that it was Jan. 7, 1998 (at Kansas, L, 62-111). Wondering where the 41-point loss at New Mexico ranks? It's the most since losing by 32 points at Utah (80-48) on Dec. 30, 2004 and by 43 to Texas at the Big 12 Tournament, March 10, 2000 (78-35).

THIS DAY in BUFF MBB HISTORY: The Buffaloes are 1-1 in its history in games played on Nov. 21. Last season, CU suffered its first loss to Colorado State since 1999, 83-82 in Fort Collins; and in 2003-04 season, CU opened the year with a 67-56 win at Northwestern.

IN case you MISSED it: Dominique Coleman scored 19 points passing his previous career best of 13 against UC Irvine ... Jermyl Jackson-Wilson grabbed 17 boards, the most any of CU player in his college debut since transferring from Ohio State; he passed the previous record of 10 by Shaun Vandiver against UC Santa Barbara, Nov. 25, 1988; JJW's 11 offensive rebounds, ties him for the most offensive rebounds in history with Stephane Pelle who had 11 against Nebraska in 2001.

SEASON OPENER - Richard Roby scored 20 points and CU remained unbeaten in 11 season openers under coach Ricardo Patton during the Buffaloes' 78-64 win over Denver. Jermyl Jackson-Wilson grabbed 17 rebounds, including 10 in the first half, and had 14 points, giving him his first career double-double. Jackson-Wilson's 11 offensive boards and his 17 for the game are the most by a Buff in a debut. Dominique Coleman, the lone senior on Colorado's roster, finished with 19 points and seven assists. CU opened the season with a victory for the 11th straight year (9-0 in Boulder).

HOME COOKING AHEAD: After CU travels to UNC Wilmington, the Buffs will not leave the state of Colorado until Jan. 9's travel day to Norman, Okla. (Jan. 10 at OU, FSN RM). Seven straight home games span five weeks (six non-conference games, Big 12 opener vs. Texas, Jan. 6).

EXHIBITION SEASON: CU successfully kept its win streak alive during the exhibition season winning their 18th and 19th in a row defeating Concordia-Montreal (97-85) and Regis (73-37). CU improved to 24-1 (.960) under head coach Ricardo Patton. Their lone setback occurred Nov. 8, 1998 to the California All-Stars, 91-89. In their history, CU is 44-6 (.880) during the exhibition season.

ROOKIES IN THE STARTNG LINE UP: Kal Bay became only the fifth rookie in Coach Patton's 11 years to start the first game of the season. The others were guard Alan Barkdale (1996-97), guard/forward Michel Morandais (2000-01), point-guard Antoine McGee (2002-03) and guard Richard Roby (2004-05). Remember, Chauncey Billups started at CU in 1995-96 when Patton was an assistant under Joe Harrington.

NON-CONFERENCE FOES: The Buffs non-conference opponents have a combined win percentage of 166-195 (.460) during the 2005-06 season ... Two of their opponents played in postseason tournaments, Air Force and UNC Wilmington both lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

BIG 12 FOES: The Buffs conference opponents have a combined win percentage of .572 (195-146) from last season ... Six conference opponents played in postseason tournaments last year ... Four opponent played in the NCAA Tournament (Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Texas); two played in the NIT Tournament (Oklahoma State, Nebraska).

Leaving at the end of season: On Oct. 25, coach Patton announced this would be his last basketball season of coaching at CU. Patton said he would not seek nor accept an extension of his contract, which runs until July 1, 2007. In 10 years as head coach, Patton has 178 victories, four NIT appearances, two NCAA Tournaments, and three 20-win seasons.

FREE THROWS WHEN IT COUNTS: After three games, it's difficult to see who on the team is cool under pressure from the free throw line. Listed below is last year's totals with five and two minutes remaining:

This year: 2-5 minutes to play

Sean Kowal 2-2 1.000

Chase Perkowski 2-2 1.000

Dwight Thorne II 1-2 .500

King-Stockton 0-1 .000

last 2 minutes remaining

Sean Kowal 1-2 .500

Last Year...With 2-5 minutes to play... Marcus Hall 3-3 1.000

Dominique Coleman 4-6 .667

Richard Roby 9-14 .643

last 2 minutes remaining ...

Marcus Hall 8-13 .769