Colorado University Athletics

MBB Host Air Force Saturday Night

MBB Host Air Force Saturday Night

Complete game notes attached AND ON THE CU WEB SITE

www.CUBuffs.com

 

FOR STARTERS: For the fourth straight year, Colorado starts the season with a 1-1 record after opening the season with a victory, then following with a road loss. The last time the Buffaloes started the season 1-2 was 1988-89 when they opened 0-3. Air Force is 3-0 at the start of the season for the first time since 1998-99 when they began 5-0. Tonight’s match up is the second of six meetings for the Buffaloes with schools from the Mountain West Conference and the fourth in a row (at New Mexico, USAFA, at Utah, Wyoming).

 

LAST TIME OUT: After starting strong during the first nine minutes at New Mexico and trailing at the half by 13 points, the Buffs were outgunned in the second half as the Lobos shot a blistering 67.6 percent from the field (23-for-34) rolling to a 106-65 win.  The Lobos bench also flexed its muscle from the bench outscoring CU, 56-21. Xavier Silas scored a team-high 14 points off the bench, while Kal Bay and Rich Roby each added 12 points.

 

THE FALCONS: The Falcons have enjoyed more success than any Colorado school in the last three years earning trips to the NCAA Tournament in 2003-04 and 2005-06. Air Force is coming off a 79-45 win at Stanford on Wednesday in the second round of the CBE Classic. The Falcons advance to play No. 11 Duke in the tournament semifinals Monday night in Kansas City.

 

ABOUT CU-USAFA: Second-year head coach Jeff Bzdelik brings the unbeaten Falcons (3-0) into Boulder for the first time since Nov. 25, 1978. It’s also the first match up between CU/USAFA the since Dec. 5, 1979 when CU took a 70-65 decision in Colorado Springs. The Buffs hold a 16-2 advantage head-to-head and are a perfect 8-0 in Boulder since the series began in 1958.

 

CU vs. the Mountain West: Although CU has enjoyed much success against the Mountain West Conference in its history (108-51, .679), the Buffs are only 10-8 (.556) since 1996-97 with a 6-2 record at home. Since 2002-03, CU is 5-3 (.625) against the Mountain West.

 

2006-07 vs. MWC: This season CU shows if they are a candidate for a future invite against the conference playing six of the nine schools. So far, they are 0-1 (at New Mexico) with USAFA, at Utah and Wyoming next on the slate.

 

Hook SHOTS: Freshman Marc Van Burck will be out 4-6 weeks with a right foot stress fracture ... In two games, Jermyl Jackson-Wilson is averaging 11 points, 12.5 rebounds a game and shooting .727 at the free throw line (8-of-11) and .500 from the field (7-of-14) ... Richard Roby needs 11 points to move into 21st place on CU’s all-time scoring list ... Kal Bay is holding his own at the point in two starts, 9.0 ppg. (t4th overall), second in assists (3.5 apg.) and a team-best six 3-pointers ... Dominique Coleman leads the team with 5.0 apg. and is shooting a team-best .591 from the field (.13-of-22) ... CU added two walk-on guards this week, Alex McEvoy from Tucson, Ariz. and Joel Anderson, Westminster, Colo. ... TEAM: The Buffs are 67-8 (.893) versus non-conference opponents at home since 1996-97; they have won 16 of their last 17 games at home against non-conference opponents with their last loss coming against Old Dominion, 79-61 in the NIT last season ... CU is 5-3 against the Mountain West Conference since 2002-03 (3-1 at home).

 

 

INJURY REPORT: 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 dismal 21.2 percent (11-for-52) from the 3-point arc in two games. At New Mexico, the Buffs was 6-for-31 (.194), and in the season opener at home versus Denver went 5-for-21 (.238). In the previous two years, the Buffs have attempted 30 or more treys only four times (2004-05: Kansas, at Texas Tech; 2005-06: Utah, at Nebraska).

 

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 were 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).

 

?X’ Marks the Spot: Freshman Xavier Silas is holding steady after two games in Boulder. He’s tied for fourth in scoring (9.0 ppg.) and fourth (4.5 rpg.) in rebounding with almost 22 minutes off the bench. He led CU in scoring at New Mexico with 14 points.

 

THIS DAY in BUFF MBB HISTORY: The Buffaloes are 1-1 on this date in history. In 2005, CU opened the season with a 73-54 winner over UNC Wilmington.  Four players were in double figures led by senior forward Chris Copeland with 20 points. The other date was in 2000-01 when CU lost to Austin Peay, 91-86 at Alaska-Fairbanks. D.J. Harrison scored a career-high best 38 points. In fact, the 38 points is most scored of any CU player in the last six years.

 

IN case you MISSED it: In the season opener against Denver, Kal Bay became only the fifth freshman to start a game for the Buffs in Coach Patton’s 11-year tenure ... 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; his 11 offensive rebounds tied a school record ... Richard Roby scored 20 points pushing his career total to 1,010 giving him sole possession of 24th place on CU’s career scoring list.

 

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.

 

against regis (Nov. 7): Richard Roby scored 15 points leading four players in double figures pacing CU over Regis, 73-37. CU has won every meeting against the Rangers in the regular season (4-0) and in exhibition play (4-0). Dominique Coleman recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Coleman had seven assists and five steals. Xavier Silas and Marcus King-Stockton added 12 and 10 points, respectively, and sophomore Jermyl Jackson-Wilson grabbed 10 boards.

 

Against CONCORDIA (Nov. 2): Richard Roby scored a game-high 22 points and chipped-in seven rebounds helping CU defeat Concordia-Montreal. Dominique Coleman added 17 points, in addition to a team-high seven assists and five steals. The Buffs had three freshmen also in double-digits as Xavier Silas, Jeremy Williams and Kal Bay finished with 16, 13, and 11 points, respectively.

 

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.

 

HALL INELIGIBLE: Senior guard Marcus Hall was declared academically ineligible for the Fall 2006 semester announced back on Sept. 6. Majoring in sociology, Hall will be re-evaluated at the end of the Fall semester to determine his Spring 2007 status. If he’s academically eligible and participates during the second semester, he will use his fourth season of eligibility. Hall is one of two seniors on the 2006-07 roster with 88 career games played (44 starts).  He averages 8.3 points and 3.4 assists per game; ranks ninth on the school’s all-time assist list (295), 10th in 3-pointers made (99) and 19th in steals (82).

 

MOST FRESHMEN EVER: This year’s 2006-07 men’s team is comprised of the most freshmen ever on any Colorado roster with eight. Here’s a look at the season, final record and the head coach how the numerous newcomers could mean.   (* last year coaching)

  *8,   2006-07 (two seniors, Ricardo Patton)

   7,   1993-94 (one senior, 10-17, 2-10 Big 8: Joe Harrington)

  *6,   1980-81 (five seniors, 16-12, 5-9 Big 8: Bill Blair)

   5,   2002-03 (three seniors, 20-12, 9-7 Big 12: Ricardo Patton)

   5,   1997-98 (four seniors, 13-14, 7-9 Big 12: Ricardo Patton)

   5,   1987-88 (two seniors, 7-21, 3-11 Big 8: Tom Miller)

  *5,   1985-86 ( three seniors, 8-20, 0-14 Big 8, Tom Apke)

   5,   1982-83 (three seniors, 13-15, 3-11, Tom Apke)

   5,   1977-78 (three seniors, 9-18, 3-11, Bill Blair)

  *5,   1975-76 (one senior, 7-19, 4-10 Big 8, Sox Walseth)

   5,   1974-75 (six seniors, 7-19, 4-10, Big 8, Sox Walseth)

 

Roby Named To Wooden Award Preseason Top 50 - Back on October 25, when coach Patton took center stage on CU Basketball Media Day, he took away a preseason honor from Richard Roby. If you have already forgotten, Roby was one of 50 preseason candidates named to the John R. Wooden Award All-American Team. Roby is the first CU player to be named to the Wooden List since David Harrison in 2003-04. The list is composed of 50 student athletes who, based on last year’s individual performance and team records, are the early frontrunners for college basketball’s most coveted trophy.  These top 50 candidates will be evaluated and considered for both the Midseason top 30 list and the National Ballot. Roby was one of eight players from the Big 12 selected.

 

ROBY NAMED PRESEASON ALL-BIG 12 team: Junior guard Richard Roby was named to the preseason All-Big 12 Team.  Roby, a 2005-06 first team conference selection last season enters the 2006-07 season only 10 points shy of scoring 1,000 points in his career. The San Bernardino, Calif. native averaged 17 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.1 steals per games last season. Roby joins sophomores Brandon Rush and Julian Wright (Kansas), junior Joseph Jones (Texas A&M) and seniors Acie Law (Texas A&M) and Jarrius Jackson (Texas Tech).

 

NEXT YEAR SIGNEES - Even though coach Patton will not be on the sidelines for the 2007-08 season, the Buffaloes did ink a pair of future student-athletes to National Letters of Intent:

 

Levi Knutson, 6’4, Guard

Littleton, CO (Arapahoe High School)

Averaged 18.3 points as a junior

5A Class All-State Colorado 2005-06

1st Team All-Conference Player

 

Caleb Patterson, 6’11, Center

Ringwood, Okla. (Ringwood High School)

Averaged 17.3 points, 13.8 rebounds

six blocked shots