Colorado University Athletics
MBB Battles Utah at Events Center Wednesday Night
ABOUT THE UTES: After winning their first four games, Utah dropped a thrilling three-overtime affair at Rice on Dec. 3, 96-94. The Utes have defeated Texas State (74-59), Rhode Island (66-50), and Utah State (67-66) all at home; and at Weber State in overtime (67-62). Senior forward Bryant Markson is a pre-season all-Mountain West Conference pick. Markson leads the Utes in scoring (17.2 ppg) and rebounds (5.6 rpg). Markson has reached double figures in scoring in 11 of the last 12 games dating back to last season, including all five games this year.
CU vs. UTAH: Even though CU leads the all-time series, 19-17 dating back to 1913, the Utes have won the last two games played in 2003 and 2004. Prior to 2003, CU/Utah had last played in 1988. Utah has a different look without the NBAGÇÖs No. 1 draft pick, Andrew Bogut. Bogut dominated CU last year (25 pts, 15 rebs.) in UtahGÇÖs 80-48 win in Salt Lake City, and in 2003, Bogut scored 13 points and 13 rebounds in their 77-57 win in Boulder.
WHATGÇÖS AHEAD: CU is in the middle of a three-game homestand, in addition to having five of their next six home games in Boulder. The only exception is Dec. 20 at TCU (1-4). Before final exams grace the Boulder campus the Buffaloes will be idle from Dec. 8-15, then take on UC Irvine (4-3) Dec. 17 at home. Then look for an exciting threesome at the Events Center to round out the non-conference schedule with Mercer (1-3), Dartmouth (1-2, with former CU assistant Terry Dunn who coaches The Big Green), and Savannah State (1-5).
Individual Notes: Andy Osborn collected his second career double-double at CU, 17 pts., 10 rebounds against Cal Poly (four at Loyola Marymount) ... Richard Roby is 73rd in all-time scoring (572 pts., 35 games, 16.3 ppg.) ... Marcus Hall has 195 career assists (21st all-time) ... Nicknamed Marcus "Lets Make a Deal" Hall by Fox Sports Net basketball analyst Marty Fletcher, after game show icon Monty HallGÇÖs "Lets Make a Deal" ... Chris Copeland grabbed five rebounds against Cal Poly giving him 301 career; only Eddy (335) has more of current players ... Copeland, Roby each have a pair of 20-plus games this year. Over their careers, Roby has 10, Copeland five 20-point games ... TEAM: SaturdayGÇÖs attendance vs. Cal Poly was 1,559, the lowest since Nov. 24, 2002 (Stetson, 1,093) ... The Buffs committed only five turnovers against Cal Poly, the least amount since the home win over Texas (Feb. 8) ... The 22 offensive rebounds matched last yearGÇÖs 22 at Iowa State (Jan. 22) and Kansas (Jan 15) ... CU has made a 3-pointer in 106-straight games (Jan. 16, 2002, Iowa State, W, 63-61) ... CU is 59-6 since 1996-97 in home non-conference games (.908); in the last four years, the current senior class is 20-3 (.870) at home (losses Utah, Richmond, Georgia) ... All five starters scored in double figures versus Cal Poly, 70 points, the most all season ... CU has out-rebounded the opponent in all five games ... The Buffs are ahead of last yearGÇÖs 3-point record pace, 33 to 29 after five games