Colorado University Athletics
MBB HOSTS UMKC
Colorado (4-2) vs. UMKC (0-5)
Tuesday, Dec. 21, 7:00 p.m., Coors Events Center
Television: Fox Sports Net
Announcers: Drew Goodman (Play-by-Play),
Marty Fletcher (analyst), Sandy Williams (sideline)
Channel: 26 Comcast Cable (Denver)
Radio: KKZN-760 AM
Mark Johnson (Play-by-Play), Charles Johnson (analyst)
The games notes link is:
http://www.cubuffs.com/pdf6/10728.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=600&KEY=&SPID=257&SPSID=3890
Scouting THE KANGAROOS - The University of Missouri-Kansas City is 0-5 on the season and are coming off an one-point loss at home against Central Florida on Saturday, 57-56. Tim Blackwell and Quinton Day played their first game becoming eligible after transferring to UMKC at the semester break last season. UMKC head coach Rich Zvosec is in his fourth year as head coach (42-50) and 13th year overall (145-198).
CU vs. UMKC - Colorado leads the all-time series 7-1 and has won the last seven meetings with the Kangaroos. The two schools last played Dec. 7, 2002 when the Buffaloes escaped with a 62-59 road win. That was the season CU won twice on the road in 11 games (Texas A&M was win). Coach Patton teams are 4-0 vs. UMKC with two wins each at home and on the road.
Last TIME OUT - Marcus Hall scored 22 points and Colorado hit 11 of 12 free throws in the final minute to hold off Colorado State, 89-83 Saturday night. Richard Roby added 17 points and Chris Copeland had 12 points and a career-best 13 rebounds. CU won its fifth straight and its 13th consecutive home victory over its in-state rival spanning the last 47 years.
RETURNING TO ACTION - Junior forward Andy Osborn may return to action tonight after missing the last three games with a mid-foot sprain at a Dec. 2 practice. Osborn tore a ligament between the first and second metatarsal in his left foot. He is averaging 1.0 point and 3.3 rebounds a game.
BUFF BITS
Marcus Hall has scored 63 points in his last three games (21.0 ppg.) and has led or tied in scoring the last three games (23-of-42, .548) ... Chris Copeland tallied his second career double-double with 12 pts., 13 reb. against CSU; his 13 boards are a career-high ... Freshman Richard Roby has started all six games and has scored in double figures all six ... Head Coach Ricardo Patton has moved into a tie with Forrest B. Cox for second place in all-time victories at CU (147) ... Julius Ashby has the Big 12 Conference high so far with 17 rebounds (at Cal) in one game ... Copeland continues to lead the Buffs in 3-pointers made on the season, hitting his 11th against the Rams and equaling his grand total from last year ... Jayson Obazuaye leads all Big 12 players in 3-point FG pct. (.600), Copeland is third (.579); Ashby is tied for first in blocked shots (2.0) ... TEAM: CU plays five games in 13 days with the next three home opponents 11-11 (UMKC 0-5, Radford 6-4, Gardner-Webb 5-2) ... Four of tonight’s probable starters are averaging 10 or more points ... CU is 22-3 in home non-conference games over the last four years (.880) ... The probable starting line up is 3-1 this season ... CU was 28-of-37 from the charity stripe vs. CSU, the most points from the line in a game since making 29 (out of 39) vs. North Texas back on 12/23/02 ... The CU bench is slightly being outscored by a 16.7 ppg. to 14.0 ppg. margin (-2.7) ... Team Leaders: Roby and Hall in points (15.2); Ashby in rebounds (8.2); Copeland in 3-pointers made (11); Hall in assists (3.7); Roby in steals (2.2); Ashby in blocked shots (2.0).
2008-09 CLASS - CU signed its lone scholarship student-athlete for next season by adding Calvin Williams (6’8, 200, Forward) from Hillcrest HS. The Memphis, Tenn. native signed a letter of intent during the early signing period in November. "Calvin is really a big-time athlete, a 6-8 guy who can run the floor and finish around the basket," said Patton.
NOW THERE WERE 14 - CU redshirt-freshman Keith Smith was released from the team last week after violating team rules according to Coach Patton. Smith played a mere 19 seconds at California for his only action this season. BENCH SCORING - CU’s 21 points from its bench was the most scored by the reserves since 38 points at Michigan. Here’s the breakdown so far this season:
Colorado State 21 points at Cal 6 pts. at Oregon state 4 pts. Northwestern 6 pts. at Michigan 38 pts. Col. of Charleston 19 pts. SEEING DOUBLE - Richard Roby and Chris Copeland each recorded double-doubles in the home win over Northwestern. 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 reb. Double-Doubles this season 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 MOVING UP THE CHARTS - Coach Patton stands tied for second overall in school history with 147 career wins with Forrest B. Cox (1936-50) for second place. Here’s the top-3 at Colorado:
1. Sox Walseth 261 2. Ricardo Patton 147 Forest B. Cox 147 BRIGHT FUTURE - There are no seniors on the current roster with the exception of walk-on Mac Mattingly. So far, CU has used a different starting line up in each of its first two games and have kept the same quintet for the last three. Here are the combinations so far: Starting Lineup Combinations Eddy, Osborn, Ashby, Obazuaye, Roby 1-0 (vs. Charleston) Eddy, Osborn, Arrington, Obazuaye, Roby 0-1 (at Michigan) Copeland, Ashby, Obazuaye, Hall, Roby 3-1 (vs. Northwestern, at Oregon St., at California, Colorado State) RALLY CAPS - CU has rallied from their last three of four games with runs and producing two wins:
- at California, CU trailed by seven points at halftime, only to respond with an 11-2 early in the second half with 3-pointers from Copeland (2 treys) and Hall. CU was able to maintain a close game with Richard Roby scoring six of the team’s final eight points and a key steal. Hall also had a blocked shot with 56 seconds remaining. - Trailing Oregon State by as many as 16 points, twice in the first half, and 10 points in the second half, the Buffs rallied for the second straight game. CU took their first lead of the game at 70-68 (7:31) and 72-71 (6:46), however were outscored 26-16 the rest of the way. - Against Northwestern, CU trailed by seven points with 11 minutes to play and rallied with a 7-0 run to tie the game at 44 with 8:37 and went on to defeat the Wildcats. It’s the first time in two years (over nine games) that CU rallied from being down at the 10-minute mark of the second half and won the game. 5 PLAYERS = 10 OR MORE - Against California and Oregon State, CU had five players reach double-figure points in both games. The last time CU had back-to-back games with five players scoring double figures was Dec. 12, 2000 (vs. UMKC) and Dec. 23, 2000 (Colorado State). STAR OF THE GAME - After each victory, the CU radio duo of Johnson & Johnson - no relation (just like the special agent Johnson’s in the first Die Hard) will select their player of the game. Richard Roby was CU’s first honoree against Charleston; Chris Copeland (Northwestern), Marcus Hall (at California.), Julius Ashby (Colorado State).
WHAT THE NATIONAL MAGAZINES are saying about CU’s opponent tonight (UMKC and Thursday’s opponent, Radford): Dec. 21 ? UMKC Mid Continent Conference Athlon Sports: 6
CBS Sportsline.com: 3
The Sporting News: 3
Lindy’s: 6
Street & Smith’s: 6
Dec. 23 ? Radford Big South Conference Athlon Sports: 6
CBS Sportsline.com: 4
The Sporting News: 4
Lindy’s: 3
Street & Smith’s: 5