Colorado University Athletics
MBB Looks for Road Win at K-State on Saturday
QUICKLY ON THE WILDCATS: Kansas State (13-9, 4-7 Big 12) has lost five of their last six games by an average of five points, however, are 12-2 at home (3-2 in Big 12 play). Prior to playing CU back on Jan. 28, K-State was 3-2, now they are 4-7 and are the No. 9 seed if the season ended today. Cartier Martin leads two others in scoring (18.6 ppg., fifth in Big 12 scoring, 6.9 rpg., ninth in rebounding). The Wildcats rank No. 15 nationally in field goal percentage defense (39.3) and are 13-3 when holding opponents to 69 points or less.
CU vs. RANKED TEAMS: In the last four years at home, CU has defeated at least one nationally team in Boulder. Most recently upsetting No. 19/19 Oklahoma (84-75). Last year, it was No. 23/22 Texas (88-79); in 2003-04, it was No. 22/23 Texas Tech (85-75); and of course the last NCAA Tournament season, 2002-03, the Buffaloes defeated four schools, No. 3/3 Texas (93-80), No. 6/6 Kansas (60-59), No. 20/18 Oklahoma State (68-56), nr/No. 22 Missouri (89-68).
4-Point plays: There have been two 4-point plays and one failed attempt at a 4-point play (missed free throw). Here the are:
vs. St. MaryGÇÖs (Nov. 26): 8:03 (1st Half), Richard Roby 3-Pointer, Assisted by Copeland. Roby Made Free Throw.
vs. Oklahoma (Feb. 15): 16:15 (2nd Half), Richard Roby 3-Pointer, Assisted by Copeland. Roby Made Free Throw.
Failed attempt at 4-point play:
at TCU (Dec. 20): 11:23 (1st Half), Richard Roby 3-Pointer, Assisted by Senger. MISSED Free Throw.
TOP 25 RANKINGS: Colorado was ranked for two weeks as the No. 25 school in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll. The back-to-back weekly ranking were the first since the 1996-97 season. This week the Buffs received 22 votes in the coachesGÇÖ poll, while in the AP poll, received 13 votes. Prior to last week, CU last made either poll in 1997 at No. 24 (Associated Press). The others were 1969 (#18), 1963 (#10), 1962 (#9) and 1955 (#15).
FREE THROW WOES: Yeah, weGÇÖre pretty bad at the free throw line in all games played (.640) and in conference-only games (.640), last in both. HOWEVER, in the last two games CU is 40-of-48 with an amazing .833! HereGÇÖs CU at the charity stripe with the game on the line with five minutes remaining:
With 2-5 minutes to play...
Chris Copeland, 5-5, 1.000
Marcus Hall, 3-3, 1.000
Julius Ashby, 1-1, 1.000
Martane Freeman, 14-18, .778
Dominique Coleman, 4-6, .667
Richard Roby, 8-13, .615
Calvin Williams, 3-6, .500
Antoine McGee, 1-2, .500
Jayson Obazuaye, 1-2, .500
Scott Senger, 1-2, .500
Lamont Arrington, 0-1, .000
last 2 minutes remaining ...
Andy Osborn, 3-4, .750
Dominique Coleman, 3-4, .750
Marcus Hall,,6-9, .667
Chris Copeland, 4-7, .571
Martane Freeman, 4-7, .571
Richard Roby, 7-13, .539
Calvin Williams, 1-3, .333
Jayson Obazuaye, 1-2, .500
Overtime
Richard Roby, 0-1, .000
NOTES AFTER BEATING OU: The Buffs are 17-5 for the first time since the 1996-97 season...CU was 18-4 in 1968-69 and no team has gone on to be 19-4...The 1954-55 and 1968-69 teams were also 17-5 after 22 contests)...Colorado went with its starting lineup for the first 5:32 of the game before substituting... F Marcus King-Stockton made his third career start, his second in a row this year...Colorado improved to 17-0 when leading with two minutes remaining...CU had a 41-32 edge in rebounds, tied for its third largest margin in Big 12 play... Colorado was 19-of-22 from the foul line, a season-best 86.4 percent; the Buffs were 40-of-48 (83.3%) on their two-game homestand.
CU vs. Ranked Teams: Colorado is now 1-1 vs. ranked teams in 2005-06; tonightGÇÖs win snapped a three-game losing streak against ranked teams; its last win was 88-79 over No. 23 Texas last February 8 in Boulder. CU last beat a ranked OU team on January 19, 2000, when the Buffs beat the No. 17 Sooners 88-80.
STUDYING HALL: Junior Marcus Hall has averaged 12.0 ppg. over his last six games with 4.2 assists and 3.0 rebounds. That ranks second behind Richard RobyGÇÖs (20.8 ppg.) and 16 3-pointers.
BUFF TIDBITS: Richard Roby ranks first in Big 12-only scoring (21.4 ppg.). He has led CU in scoring eight of his last nine games (22.9 ppg., 6.8 rpg.) and ranks 31st on the schoolGÇÖs all-time scoring list with 890 pts. (17.1 in 52 games)...Roby holds the top-five of CUGÇÖs scoring games this season (33, 30, 29, 28, 27)...Marcus Hall leads the team in assists (4.1 apg.), Big 12 assist-turnover ratio (all games, 2.12) and eighth in conference-only games (1.79). Hall is averaging 12.0 ppg. over his last six games, 4.2 assists and 3.0 rebounds... Andy Osborn has made at least one 3-pointer in 19-straight games (2.2 a game)...RobyGÇÖs 15 rebounds against TTU were the most of any CU player since Julius Ashby (10 reb.) and Marcus King-Stockton (11 reb.) against Baylor...Roby is the only CU player to have started all games in two years (52-straight)...Roby notched his second double-double (4th career) with 17 pts., 15 boards vs. TTU...Hall (six), Roby (five), Chris Copeland (five) were 1-2-3 in assists against OU...TEAM: CU has shot over 40.0 percent eight times from the 3-point arc (Big 12 high .545 at A&M)...Conference-only stats, CU ranks first in blocks (6.5), offensive rebounds (15.8) and 3-pointers made (9.6)...CU is 10-1 when holding opponent under 70 points (Texas A&M)...CU is 27 treys from breaking last yearGÇÖs school record of 223...CU 40-of-48 (.833) from the free throw line in the last two games.
STREAKS, RUNS, TRENDS: Marcus Hall has at least one assist in 21of 22 games, and two or more in 20 of 222; Richard Roby has at least one steal in each game, and two or more in 13 of 23; Roby has at least one assist in all 22 games; has at least three rebounds in all 22 games
- Andy Osborn has made a three-pointer in his last 19 games, and in 20 of 22 overall
- Chris Copeland has blocked a shot in 16 of 22 games
- Marcus King-Stockton has at least one rebound in 21 of 22 games
- Julius Ashby has at least one rebound in all 13 games heGÇÖs played in.
TRIPLE THREAT: Not only are the Buffs on pace to break their record of 223 three-pointers in a season, set last year, but their .385 percentage from behind the arc is easily CUGÇÖs best since the introduction of the three-point line in 1986-87. The best three-point percentage for an entire season was in 2003-04 when the Buffs made 188-of-505 treys (.372).
GUARDING THE GLASS: Richard RobyGÇÖs 15 rebounds against Texas Tech were the most in a game by any CU player since Julius Ashby pulled down 17 boards against California on Dec. 7, 2004. In case youGÇÖre wondering the last time a guard had that many rebounds, here you go: Roughly 11 years ago, on March 4, 1995, CUGÇÖs Donnie Boyce grabbed 18 rebounds in a 70-51 win over Kansas State.
BIG 12 Start: Colorado has opened Big 12 play with six wins in its first 10 games. The last time CU won that many after the first 10 games was 1996-97 (8-2). That was also the same year that CU won their 17th game in 22 attempts.
NCAA STATS: As of Feb. 13, the Buffs are ranked among the best statistically in the 12 national team categories:
t11th 3-point FG Made 9.0
12th Blocked Shots 6.2
14th Scoring Margin 12.6
15th Assists 17.3
15th Scoring Offense 80.4
23rd Rebounding Margin 5.8
29th Steals 9.2
36th 3-pt. FG% .384