Colorado University Athletics
MBB Travels to TCU on Tuesday
TONIGHT (Tuesday, Dec. 20, 6:00 p.m. (mnt.)): Colorado (6-1) attempts to equal its best start since 1989-90 by going 7-1. As of today their current 6-1 mark equals its best start since 2003-04. The other 6-1 starts in the last 27 years are 1989-90, 1982-83 and 1978-79. CU last won six consecutive games in 2002-03, all in the non-conference season. Complete notes attached and at www.CUBUFFS.com
Arena: Daniel-Meyer Coliseum (7,200)
Television: Fox Sports Net Rocky Mountain
Announcers: Dave Benz, Ceal Barry
Radio 760-AM: Mark Johnson (p-b-p), Charles Johnson (analyst)
CU vs. TCU: TonightGÇÖs match up with the Horned Frogs is the first between the two schools since 1983. With the series tied at one, each has won on their home court. TCU (3-6) represents the Mountain West Conference, the third school CU will play this year from that conference (Colorado State, Utah).
SCOUTING TCU: The Horned Frogs are 3-6 this season and have won two straight. TCU is game-tested after already playing nationally-ranked Oklahoma State (66-58), Syracuse (80-64), Texas Tech (81-54), losing all three by an average of 17 points. TCU likes to shoot the 3-pointer averaging almost eight a game (7.8) and are 3-1 at home. TCU returned to action Sunday night after an eight-day break defeating Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 70-53.
ON THE ROAD: In the last four years, CU is 8-8 on the road in non-conference games excluding the neutral court. With its 1-1 record this year, the Buffs were 2-3 in 2004-05; in 2003-04 (3-2), and in 2002-03 (2-2).
Individual Notes: Richard Roby has led CU in scoring the last five games (21.4 ppg., 6.4 rpg., 3.2 apg.) ... Marcus Hall has led CU in assists four times, has 202 career assists, needing three to secure 20th all-time ... Chris Copeland is averaging 13.3 ppg. and 6.0 rpg. in his last four games ... Martane Freeman scored another 17 points off the bench against UC Irvine (the other at CSU) ... Andy Osborn has led the team in rebounding three times ... Roby owns three 20-plus games this year (11 career) and has led CU in scoring 21 of 37 career games ... Roby and Copeland own six of CUGÇÖs top scoring games ... TEAM: The Buffs are ahead of last yearGÇÖs 3-point record pace (223 made) 55-of-158 after seven games (last yearGÇÖs seven-game total was 42-of-113) ... CU averages 7.9 3-pointers a game and have made 22 in their last two games ... CU is 4-0 at home and has won 13 straight non-conference games dating back to Jan. 10, 2004 ... The current senior class is 22-3 in non-conference home games (.880), only 8-8 on the road (.500) ... CU has out-rebounded the opponent in all seven games ... Against UC Irvine, the Buffs placed six players with 10 or more points, a non-conference first since Nov. 22, 2002 (Cal Poly) ... ItGÇÖs also the third time that five or more scored in double-figures (CSU, Cal Poly, Irvine) ... The starting five averages 58.3 points, while the bench averages 23.5 points per game.
WHATGÇÖS AHEAD: CU travels to TCU (1-4) on Tuesday, Dec. 4 to round out the non-conference road schedule. After the Horned Frogs, CU returns home for an exciting threesome at the Events Center to round out the non-conference schedule with Mercer (1-4), Dartmouth (1-2, with former CU assistant Terry Dunn who coaches The Big Green), and Savannah State (1-7).
TOP 25 RANKINGS ... almost: Hey, weGÇÖre getting votes, six to be exact in last weekGÇÖs ESPN/USA Today poll (week six). Last week, CU was seventh in the CBS Sportsline RPI and 11th in the Sagarin ratings. The last time the Buffs were ranked in either poll came in 1997 at No. 24 (Associated Press). The others were 1969 (#18), 1963 (#10), 1962 (#9) and 1955 (#15).
BIG 12 OPENER: After the Buffaloes roll through their non-conference schedule, nationally-ranked Texas looms on the schedule in Austin on Jan. 7. CU is 1-8 in Big 12 openers and 0-3 on the road.
Jan. 07, 2006 at Texas ??
Jan. 08, 2005 at Oklahoma L, 55-85
Jan. 05, 2004 KANSAS L, 62-77
Jan. 11, 2003 at Oklahoma L, 54-69
Jan. 05, 2002 KANSAS L, 85-97
Jan. 06, 2001 at Baylor L, 56-61
Jan. 08, 2000 KANSAS L, 69-84
Jan. 02, 1999 TEXAS L, 68-73
Jan. 03, 1998 OKLAHOMA L, 68-69
Jan. 04, 1997 NEBRASKA W, 79-73
THIS DAY IN HISTORY: CU last played on this date in 1997 and lost in Las Vegas to Massachusetts, 79-68. Overall, the Buffs are 5-7 on Dec. 20 with an away record of 3-3.
MORE BUFF Tidbits, INDIVIDUAL: Richard Roby collected his third career double-double versus Utah (19 pts., 10 rebs.) ... Andy Osborn collected his second career double-double at CU, 17 pts., 10 rebounds against Cal Poly (four at Loyola Marymount) ... Roby is 69th in all-time scoring (611pts. with a 16.5 ppg.) ... Copeland has 311 career rebounds; only Glean Eddy (337) has more of current players ...Glean Eddy, Antoine McGee are quietly moving up the games played list without fouling out. Eddy (98) McGee (97) are reaching Will Smith for second place (100) ... Scott Senger grabbed a career-best five rebounds (four offensive) against Saint MaryGÇÖs ... Against CSU, senior Martane Freeman posted career-highs in points (17), field goals (6), attempts (8), free throws (5), FT attempts (6), steals (3), minutes played (24) ... Marcus Hall tied a career-best in steals (4) and handed out seven assists, the most since having 10 against South Dakota State (Feb. 14) last year; Hall ranks 21st overall at CU in assists ... Richard Roby scored 480 points during his freshman season, the most of any frosh in its history, including Chauncey Billups (465) ... On page 7, a handful of CU players are moving upward on career school lists ... Seniors Chris Copeland, Glean Eddy, Antoine McGee, and Jayson Obazuaye close out their final year in 2005-06. ItGÇÖs also the first senior class under Head Coach Ricardo Patton that four players will have played their freshman, sophomore, junior and senior years at CU.
TEAM NOTES: CU launched a school-record 37 3-point attempts (12 made) in the win over Utah ... UC Irvine attendance (1,416) lowest since Nov. 24, 2002 (Stetson, 1,093) ... CU is 4-0 this season when holding opponent under 70 points ... Current senior class 22-3 (.880) at home (only losses Utah, Richmond, Georgia) ... Holding Utah to 16 first-half points was a non-conference school-record low in for opponents in the first 20 minutes ... The Buffs committed only five turnovers against Cal Poly, the least amount since the home win over Texas (Feb. 8) ... The 22 offensive rebounds against Cal Poly matched last yearGÇÖs 22 at Iowa State (Jan. 22) and Kansas (Jan 15) ... CU has made a 3-pointer in 108-straight games (last time CU didnGÇÖt was Jan. 16, 2002, Iowa State, W, 63-61) ... With 10 seniors, eight senior scholarships, CU has the most nationally ... The CU men resemble what a box of Total cereal looks like, they return 100% of their scoring, 100% rebounding, 100% blocked shots, 100% of everything from a year ago with the exception of the Fall semester with Julius Ashby ineligible, he could return Dec. 31 (Dartmouth) or Jan. 3 (Savannah St).