Colorado University Athletics
MBB HOSTS NO. 23/22 TEXAS AT CECC TONIGHT
Colorado (11-9, 3-6 Big 12) at No. 23/22 Texas (15-6, 4-4 Big 12)
Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2005, 7:30 p.m. (MST.)
Arena: Coors Events Center (11,064)
Television: Fox Sports Net
Announcers: Drew Goodman (P-by-P), Marty Fletcher (analyst)
Radio: KKZN-760 AM, Mark Johnson (P-by-P), Charles Johnson (analyst)
Richard Roby was named Big 12 Rookie of the Week after scoring 20 points in back-to-back games with 29 at TTU and 22 at K-State. ItGÇÖs only the second time this season a CU player (Copeland) netted 20+ points in consecutive games ... At TTU, Roby become the 12th player at CU to make seven, 3-pointers in a game ... Roby is second among CU freshman in scoring (15.6 ppg.) and his 29 points at TTU ranks third all-time to Chauncey BillupsGÇÖ 31 and 30 points, respectively against Northwestern State and Oklahoma State in 1996-97 ... Marcus Hall has led in assists 14 times, including the last eight games in a row (5.9 apg.) ... CU is 3-2 in its last five games. Roby (17.8 ppg.), Hall (13.2, 6.4 apg.) and Chris Copeland (12.8, 7.0 rpg.) ... Copeland has a team high six double-doubles, latest 13 pts., 10 rebs. at K-State ... Glean Eddy stands eight rebounds from 300 (292); while Copeland (241) are the only players with over 200 career rebounds ... Andy Osborn made a career-best five 3-pointers against Oklahoma State ... Hall scored his fourth 20+ game with a Big 12 best 24 points at TTU ... Roby is 12-of-14 (.857) and Hall is 19-of-23 (.826) are the teamGÇÖs best FT shooters under 2 minutes to play ... With 86 assists this season, Hall is tied for seventh among CU sophomores ... RobyGÇÖs 35 steals is three from cracking the CU single-season top-30 list; CopelandGÇÖs 32 blocks is tied for 20th on the single-season list ... Team Leaders: Roby (15.6 ppg.), steals (1.8), 3-pointers made (41); Ashby (6.6 rpg.); Copeland in FG percentage (.485), blocked shots (1.6); Hall in assists (4.3).
TEAM: After 20 games played, CU has shattered last yearGÇÖs total of 119 3-pointers, compared to this seasonGÇÖs 141 ... CU is 7-2 when holding the opponent under 70 points and has defeated K-State four straight times (70-60) ... CU is 7-0 this when leading at the half; 10-0 when leading with 5 and 2-minutes to play ... CU has 40 3-pointers in the last three games (13.3) with 88 attempts (.455) ... 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) ... The bench has scored 68 points in each of the last four games (17 ppg.) ... CU is 8-18 over the last three seasons in conference road games ... CU recorded a school record 17 treys vs. the Cowboys breaking the mark set in 2001. OSU/CU combined what is believed a conference record for two teams (30) ... Against OSU, CU had five players with 10 or more points, third time this season ... CU has used TEN different starting lineups and leads the Big 12 in blocked shots (5.9).
SCOUTING THE LONGHORNS - Texas enters the game on a two-game losing streak with back-to-back conference losses at Kansas (90-65) and a surprising home loss to Iowa State in overtime (92-80). The Longhorns are 4-4 in the Big 12 midway through the conference season and are 1-3 in their last four. Daniel Gibson leads UT in scoring (14.3 ppg.) with three others averaging 10 or more a game. The ?Horns are without P.J. Tucker (13.7 ppg., 8.0 rpg., 2.2 apg.) the rest of the season after becoming academically ineligible.
CU vs. TEXAS - Texas leads the all-time series, 8-6 since 1967. Since the Big 12 formed in 1996-97, the Longhorns hold a 7-3 advantage including a 2-1 margin in Boulder, two wins on a neutral floor, and a 3-0 mark in Austin. CU has won once in the last eight meetings back on Feb. 4, 2003 upsetting the Longhorns (No. 3 nationally), 93-80, scoring the gameGÇÖs last 13 points.
LAST TIME OUT - Richard Roby scored 22 points and Marcus Hall had 17 to lead Colorado to a 70-60 win over Kansas State Saturday afternoon. The Buffaloes led 58-49 with 4:07 to go, but Kansas State clawed to within 61-56 on an inside bucket by Jeremiah Massey with 2:51 remaining. That was all the closer Kansas State got, though, as the WildcatsGÇÖ poor second-half shooting continued in the gameGÇÖs waning moments and Colorado took advantage at the free throw line. Chris Copeland added 13 points and 10 rebounds, which has now won three of its last five games (game story and box, page 32).
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. ItGÇÖs RobyGÇÖs 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 CUGÇÖs 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.
3-POINT MACHINE - CU has made 40 3-pointers in its last three games (88 attempts) with an average of .455. From the rest of the field, CU is shooting 48-of-96 (.500). During the 3-point explosion, Richard Roby has made 15 treys, followed by Chris Copeland (9), Andy Osborn (7), and Marcus Hall (6).
3GÇÖs IN THE BIG 12 ONLY - Richard Roby is the highest CU player ranked among the conference elite players statically. Roby ranks second overall in 3-pointers made (3.11), while Chris Copeland is eighth (2.0). In trey percentage, Roby is third (.418) and Copeland is eighth (.340). As a team, the Buffs lead Oklahoma State for treys made in conference-only games 74 (8.22) to 72 (8.00), respectively.
SEE THE 3, BE THE 3 - This season CU has launched the 3-point attempt 394 times. After 20 games, CU is averaging 19.7 attempts, while making just over seven a game (7.1). HereGÇÖs where CU ranks all-time in school history, made and attempts. At this pace CU will attempt 574, good enough for second all-time in school history.
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 - 141
3-Point Attempts
1. 1998-99 - 633
2. 1990-91 - 549
3. 2001-02 - 538
4. 2000-01 - 518
5. 2003-04 - 505
2004-05 - 394
65th BEST HOOPS PROGRAM - According to the latest edition of Street & SmithGÇÖs, 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 GREATNESS - Freshman guard Richard Roby is setting his mark among the all-time greats at CU. After his back-to-back 20-plus efforts at Texas Tech and Kansas State, Roby ranks second among the schoolGÇÖs top freshmen scorers in Buffs history:
1) Chauncey Billups 17.9 1995-96
2) Richard Roby 15.6 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 15.6 points per game as of tonight; that not only leads the Buffaloes, but ranked 10th 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 GÇÖ01-02). For the women, two freshmen, Kara Richards (9.8) and Jackie McFarland (9.5) are within 0.7 points of the team lead; 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 menGÇÖs and womenGÇÖs team in the same season.
FORMER HOOPSTER HODGES A TV STAR - On February 16, former Buff basketballer Poncho Hodges will star as the "principle character" in that eveningGÇÖs episode of the long running NBC television series "Law and Order." The episode will be titled "The Sixth Man," and PonchoGÇÖs character name is Silas Inwood, a professional basketball player accused of murdering an over zealous fan. After Poncho left the University of Colorado, he was in camp with the Los Angeles Lakers for the 1993-94 preseason but was one of the final players cut. Afterwards he played professional basketball for six years, in several of the top ranking European and Asian leagues. Poncho retired from professional basketball in 2000, and afterwards he began pursuing a career in acting. Since then Poncho has appeared in several independent films, a documentary, several short films, in an interactive military training film, the latter designed to instruct soldiers deployed to hot zones such as Iraq and Afghanistan in the art of urban and dessert warfare. Recently, Poncho wrapped production on a science fiction action adventure feature film "The Other Side", which is scheduled for release in 2005 (visit the official "The Other Side" website; http://www.entertheotherside.com/; PonchoGÇÖs character name is "OZ"). Poncho is also expected to be in Colorado for the NBA All-Star game on February 20.
WHAT THE NATIONAL MAGAZINES said about Texas last October:
Preseason Ranking No. 16 / No. 15
Athlon Sports: 3rd in conference; All Big 12 Second Team: P.J. Tucker; Third Team: Jason Klotz; Best Newcomer: Daniel Gibson; Horns will mix outstanding recruiting class with battle-tested returnees
CBS Sportsline.com (19): 3rd in conference; Conference Second Team: Tucker; Newcomer of the Year: Gibson; the staff thinks Tucker can be a star and Gibson can be a big upgrade.
The Sporting News (18): 3rd in conference; All-Conference Second Team: Tucker; Newcomer of the Year: Gibson; The Longhorns lost a lot of talent, but the incoming freshman class, which ranks among the best in the country, will help make sure there arenGÇÖt significant setbacks in Austin.
LindyGÇÖs (12): 3rd in conference; All-Conference First Team: Tucker; Newcomer of the Year: Gibson; Stellar recruiting class will mix nicely with veterans; String of top-three league finishes reaches seven ? no Big 12 team can match that.
Street & SmithGÇÖs (22): 3rd in conference; All-Big 12 Team: Tucker; Gibson Top impact freshman; Touted freshman class, led by Aldridge, will be key in steering Longhorns back to NCAAs.
DOUBLE VISION - Chris Copeland this season is one of the Big 12GÇÖs 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 recorded CUGÇÖs other. 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
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. NGÇÖWestern
Richard Roby 16 pts., 13 rebs. vs. NGÇÖWestern
CU IN 8th PLACE - In the final fall NACDA/United States Sports Academy DirectorsGÇÖ Cup Standings, the Colorado is in eighth place as the gears switch into the winter sports competitions. Notre Dame leads a tight race with 337 points, followed by Michigan (333), Stanford (332) and Duke (327) as just 10 points separate the top four schools. The fifth through eighth schools are bunched together by just 22 points: UCLA (5th, 297), Maryland (6th, 280), Ohio State (7th, 286) and Colorado (8th, 275).
FROSH LEADER - Freshman Richard Roby is making huge strides during his initial season leading the Buffaloes in scoring at 15.6 ppg. He has scored in double figures in 18 of 20 games with 20 starts. Not since the 1995-96 season has a freshman led CU in scoring (Chauncey Billups, 17.9 ppg.). Roby also leads CU in steals (35), minutes played (31.1), field goals made (113), 3-pointers made (41) and ranks third in rebounds (4.5). Roby has also led the team in rebounding four and a half time.
WHOGÇÖS COOL AT THE FREE THROW LINE??? - Here are the updated stats of the CU players who have been at the charity stripe under five minutes to play. Results also include the end of regulation and overtime at Iowa State. Richard Roby, Marcus Hall, and Chris Copeland are the best trio of the bunch.
Free Throws in last 2 minutes
Richard Roby 12-of-14 .857
Marcus Hall 19-of-23 .826
Julius Ashby 3-of-4 .750
Chris Copeland 11-of-15 .733
Glean Eddy 8-of-13 .615
Jayson Obazuaye 8-of-15 .533
Martane Freeman 1-of-2 .500
Andy Osborn 1-of-2 .500
Free Throws in the last 3-5 minutes
Chris Copeland 2-of-2 1.000
Jayson Obazuaye 3-of-5 .600
Richard Roby 5-of-9 .556
Glean Eddy 4-of-8 .500
Martane Freeman 1-2 .500
Marcus Hall 2-of-6 .333
Julius Ashby 1-of-4 .250
Lamont Arrington 0-1 .000
DEFENDING THE COURT - CUGÇÖs an impressive 33-7 (.825) at home during the last three seasons at the CECC (7-3 this season), including a school best 14-1 back in 2002-03. Last season they were 12-3 overall (7-1 in the Big 12) with losses to Kansas, Utah, and Richmond - all NCAA Tourney teams.
STARTING LINEUPS - There are no seniors on the current roster with the exception of walk-on Mac Mattingly. CU is on its 10th combination this season. Here are the different lineups against the opponent with the record:
Starting Lineup Combinations
1) Ashby, Eddy, Obazuaye, Osborn, Roby:
1-0 (vs. Charleston)
2) Arrington, Eddy, Obazuaye, Osborn, Roby: 0-1 (at Michigan)
3) Ashby, Copeland, Hall, Obazuaye, Roby: 4-1 (vs. Northwestern, at Oregon St.,
at California, Colorado State, UMKC)
4) Copeland, Hall, King-Stockton, Obazuaye, Roby: 1-0 (Radford)
5) Arrington, Copeland, Hall, Obazuaye, Roby:
1-2 (Gardner-Webb, at Utah. Nebraska)
6) Arrington, Copeland, McGee, Obazuaye, Roby: 1-1 (at Richmond, at Oklahoma)
7) Copeland, Eddy, Hall, Obazuaye, Roby: 0-2 (Kansas, at Baylor)
8) Ashby, Eddy, McGee, Obazuaye, Roby: 2-0 (at Iowa State, Missouri)
9) Ashby, Copeland, Eddy, Obazuaye, Roby: 0-1 (Oklahoma State)
10) Ashby, Hall, Obazuaye, Osborn, Roby: 1-1 (at Kansas State, at Texas Tech)
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.
NEWCOMERS vs. RETURNEES - There are six players each representing the returnees and newcomers (walk-ons donGÇÖt count). The Buffs are broken down into their respective groups of production. The returnees have a slight advantage over the newcomers:
Eddy, Obazuaye, Senger, Copeland, Hall, McGee = 767 points (38.4), 379 rebounds (19.0), 183 assists (9.2)
Osborn, Freeman, Roby, Arrington, King-Stockton, Ashby = 607 points (30.4), 327 rebounds (16.4), 125 assists (6.3)
BENCH SCORING - CU matched its highest bench point total of the season with 38 points against Gardner-Webb. In Big 12 play, CU has only scored 173 points from its bench in nine games, an average 19.2 points.
Big 12 Conference (173 pts: 19.2 ppg.)
at Kansas State 19 pts.
at Texas Tech 20 pts.
Oklahoma State 32 pts
Missouri 32 pts.
at Iowa State 22 pts.
at Baylor 6 pts.
Kansas 14 pts.
Nebraska 8 pts.
at Oklahoma 20 pts.
Non-Conference (201 pts., 18.3)
at Richmond 8 pts.
at Utah 21 pts. Gardner-Webb 38 pts.
Radford 17 pts.
UMKC 23 pts.
Colorado State 21 pts.
at Cal 6 pts.
at Oregon state 4 pts.
Northwestern 6 pts.
at Michigan 38 pts.
Col. of Charleston 19 pts.
S008-09 CLASS - CU signed its lone scholarship student-athlete for next season adding Calvin Williams (6GÇÖ8, 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.
5 PLAYERS = 10 OR MORE - It took 13 games since the last time CU had five players net over 10 points each {California (Dec. 7), Oregon State (Dec. 4)}. 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). Against Gardner-Webb, CU found itself with five players with 10+ or more.
STAR OF THE GAME - After each victory, the CU radio duo of Johnson & Johnson - no relation (just like the special agent JohnsonGÇÖs in the first Die Hard) will select their player of the game. Richard Roby was CUGÇÖs first honoree against Charleston; Chris Copeland (Northwestern), Marcus Hall (at California), Julius Ashby (Colorado State), Roby (UMKC), Copeland (Radford), Osborn (Gardner-Webb), Copeland (Richmond), Osborn (at Iowa State), Roby (Missouri), Marcus Hall (at Kansas State).
Star of the game tally: Roby (3), Copeland (3), Hall (2), Osborn (2), Ashby (1).