Colorado University Athletics
Senior Night Wednesday Against Missouri
THE GAME: The University of Colorado will play its final regular season home game as the Buffaloes host the University of Missouri on Wednesday, March 5, at 7 p.m. at the Coors Events/Conference Center. The Buffaloes will celebrate Senior Night by recognizing guard Susie Powers and forward Jackie McFarland.
BROADCAST: WednesdayGÇÖs game will be televised live on Fox Sports Net Rocky Mountain. Tom Helmer will have the play-by-play with former CU head coach Ceal Barry providing the color commentary. WednesdayGÇÖs game will be broadcast on KKZN AM 760. Mike Rice, in his second season, will have the play-by-play with Carol Callan of USA Basketball providing the color commentary. Live internet audio can be accessed through Yahoo! Sports.
FANS: Wednesday is Fan Appreciation Night. General Admission tickets for $3 may be purchased by clicking here or in person at the Coors Events Center on Wednesday. Fans who spend $25 at the CU Bookstore booth, located on the north concourse, will receive a FREE T-Shirt.
THE BUFFALOES: Colorado is 15-13 overall and sits in a three-way tie for ninth place in the Big 12 at 4-11 joining Kansas and Texas Tech. With just one game remaining on the conference schedule, the Buffaloes could be the ninth, 10th or 11th seed in the upcoming Big 12 Championship scheduled for March 6-11 at the Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City. ColoradoGÇÖs possible opponents in the first round of the Big 12 Championship are Texas, Iowa State and Nebraska. Texas is currently in eighth place at 6-9, Iowa State is seventh at 7-8 and the Huskers are sixth at 8-7. Nebraska hosts the Cyclones on Wednesday while Texas hosts Texas Tech. Colorado would lose any tiebreaker with either Texas Tech or Kansas. Texas Tech would win a tiebreaker by virtue of its 62-44 win over the Buffs on Jan. 26. CU and Kansas split their season series, but the Jayhawks would get the nod with a better record over divisional opponents. KU, which hosts Kansas State Wednesday, has four wins against the North Division while the Buffs have three.
Colorado will look to get back on the winning track after dropping two competitve road games at No. 8 (AP)/8 (WBCA) Baylor and Nebraska last week. The road traveled by the Buffaloes has been an up and down one this year. Colorado owns an 11-game win streak and a six-game losing streak this season, marking the first time in school history the Buffaloes have endured streaks of six games in both directions during the same season. The Buffs have surpassed their win total from the 2006-07 season (13-17) and have their best record since 2003-04 when CU last made the NCAA Tournament. Colorado needs one more victory to guarantee itself a winning record for the first time since 2003-04.
Senior All-America candidate Jackie McFarland leads the Buffaloes at 17.5 points and 7.9 rebounds per game while shooting 57 percent from the field (166-of-293). Her numbers have remained solid during league play averaging 17.7 points and 7.7 rebounds while shooting 55 percent (89-of-161). She is second on the team in assists (2.7 apg) and actually leads the team during the Big 12 schedule (2.5 apg). McFarland is third in free-throw percentage (.760) and blocks (1.1 bpg). She is third on CUGÇÖs career scoring and rebounding charts with 1,811 points and 990 boards. She is one of only two players -- joining Lisa Van Goor -- to have 1,800 points and 900 rebounds in a career. The All-Big 12 forward once again can be found among the leaders in most league statistical categories ranking second in field-goal percentage and minutes, third in scoring, fourth in free-throw percentage, sixth in rebounding and 12th in blocks.
Freshman Brittany Spears is making a name for herself as well. She earned her third Big 12 Rookie of the Week honor on March 3 after averaging 15 points and 12.5 rebounds in road games with No. 8/8 Baylor and Nebraska last week. Her 391 points are the most by a freshman since All-American Shelley Sheetz had 437 in 1991-92. Her 14 points per game average is on pace to be the best by a CU freshman since Sheetz averaged 14.1 in 1991-92 and the best by any first-year player since Isabelle Fijalkowski averaged 16.1 in 1994-95, her lone season in Boulder. An all-around performer, she is only the second player in team history to record 40 blocks, 40 assists and 40 steals in the same season (Raegan Scott did it as a junior in 1995-96 and as a senior in 1996-97). Spears has the third most blocks (43) and rebounds (220) by a freshman in team history and needs just two points and one steal to be among the top five performances in those categories by a CU freshman. Her scoring (14.0 ppg), rebounding (7.7 rpg), blocks (1.5 bpg) and free-throw percentage (.879) top all freshmen in the Big 12 while she is second in steals (1.8 spg) and fourth in assists (1.7 apg).
In the backcourt, senior guard Susie Powers averages a team-best 3.6 assists per game. SheGÇÖs on pace to have the most assists by Buffs player since Mandy Nightingale had 161 (4.7 apg) during the 2001-02 season. Powers, who had a career-high 10 assists in the win over Pepperdine, is second in the Big 12 with a 1.9 assist-to-turnover ratio (102 assists-54 turnovers) and also ranks ninth in the Big 12 in assists.
Sophomore Aija Putnina, who has started the last 25 contests, is averaging 7.6 points, seven rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game. Putnina, who registered her fourth double-double of the season with 14 points and 15 rebounds against Texas, is eighth in blocks and 15th in rebounding on the Big 12 charts. She owns two of CUGÇÖs top three single-game rebounding performances this season, also nabbing 15 against Northern Colorado on Nov. 28. Her 38 blocks on the season are the fourth most by a sophomore in team history.
Sophomore Bianca Smith, who entered the starting lineup for the first time this season against Oklahoma State, ranks third on the team in scoring at 10.3 points per game. She leads the team in 3-pointers with 70, which is tied with Kate Fagan (2002-03) for fourth on CUGÇÖs single-season list, and his hitting a scortching 47 percent from downtown (24-of-51) over the last seven games. A formidable "Sixth-Woman" candidate in the Big 12 this season, Smith was named Big 12 Player of the Week on Dec. 10 after averaging 19.0 points and hitting 57 percent from the field in games against No. 22 (AP)/21 (WBCA) Wyoming and No. 20/17 Vanderbilt.
Junior Hannah Skildum, who started 16 games earlier in the season, provides a strong defensive presence to ColoradoGÇÖs back court and averages three points and 1.6 rebounds per game. Whitney Houston and Britney Blythe have also seen extended minutes in the Colorado backcourt. HoustonGÇÖs minutes have increased over the past nine games, averaging 5.8 points per contest during that span. Blythe, played key minutes off the bench in ColoradoGÇÖs win over Kansas, scoring eight points and grabbing three rebounds but has missed seven of the last nine games.
Colorado has several front-court options off the bench. After seeing limited minutes for a good portion of the season, 6-4 junior center Kara Richards has played strong down the stretch. She is averaging six points and 3.8 rebounds over her last four appearances (she didnGÇÖt play in the Kansas State game) while hitting 64 percent from the field (9-of-14). Junior Caley Dow averaged 3.4 points, three rebounds and two assists over the seven games prior to the Baylor loss and is hitting 52 percent from the field (11-of-21) over the last eight. Freshman Courtney Dunn had six points and five rebounds off the bench against No. 10 Oklahoma and has played double-digit minutes in four of her last eight appearances.
Colorado is averaging 66.3 points per game while holding opponents to 61.4 per contest. Overall CU is shooting 42 percent from the field and is the Big 12GÇÖs top free-throw shooting team at 74 percent. CU is outrebounding teams by nearly 3.2 boards per game and ranks second in 3-point field goals (7.0 3mpg) and third in blocked shots (5.4 bpg) on the Big 12 charts. In league play, Colorado is scoring 63.1 points per game and shooting 41 percent from the field.
ABOUT THE TIGERS: Missouri is 9-19 overall and in last place in the Big 12 at 2-13. The Tigers will be the 12th seed in the upcoming Big 12 Championship in Kansas City. Missouri snapped a 10-game losing streak with a 62-59 win over Kansas on Feb. 24, but has lost two straight since. The Tigers are 0-8 on the road this season and have lost 10 straight dating back to last year. Missouri ranks at or near the bottom of nearly every Big 12 statistical category, but is the leagueGÇÖs top 3-point percentage team at .361 and is third in 3-pointers made per game at 6.4.
Junior Alyssa Hollins is the fifth leading scorer in the Big 12 at 16.7 points per game and the leagueGÇÖs top 3-point shooter with 81. Forward Jessra Johnson leads the Tigers and ranks 10th in the Big 12 in rebounding at 7.4 per game while averaging 13.1 points per contest. Freshman forward Shakara Jones is MissouriGÇÖs third double-digit scorer at 11.0 per game and tops the Tigers with 48 perecent field goal accuracy. Sophomore guard Toy Richbow ranks seventh in the Big 12 in assists at 3.9 per contest.
SERIES RECORDS: This will be the 63rd meeting between Colorado and Missouri which will tie the Nebraska series as the most played conference matchup in school history. The Buffaloes hold a 36-26 series lead against Missouri, but the Tigers have won four of the last six. Colorado won this seasonGÇÖs earlier meeting, 70-58 in Columbia on Jan. 9, and will be looking for its first season sweep of the Tigers since 2004. Colorado is 19-7 all-time against the Tigers in Boulder, including a 71-59 win in 2007. Kathy McConnell-Miller is 2-4 against Missouri as a head coach, 2-3 while with Colorado.
COLORADO AND MISSOURI, LAST 10 GAMES:
Date Result Date Result
1/9/08 (A) W, 70-58 2/9/05 (H) L, 55-58
1/28/07 (A) L, 48-61 1/18/05 (A) W, 56-51
1/3/07 (H) W, 71-59 1/31/04 (A) W, 68-66
2/18/06 (H) L, 57-72 1/18/04 (H) W, 71-54
1/18/06 (A) L, 49-69 2/22/03 (H) W, 69-48
SMITH, SPEARS EARN BIG 12 WEEKLY HONORS: Colorado has been recognized with Big 12 weekly honors four times this season, a school record for the Buffs in the 12 years of the league.
Freshman forward Brittany Spears has been named Big 12 Rookie of the week three times, including this past week by averaging a double-double in road games at No. 8 (AP)/8 (WBCA) Baylor and Nebraska. Spears, who also earned honors on Jan. 7 and Feb. 11, is the first CU player to earn three separate Big 12 weekly awards in the same season. Sophomore guard Bianca Smith was named the Big 12 WomenGÇÖs Basketball Player of the Week on Dec. 10.
In her most recent honor, Spears averaged 15 points, 12.5 rebounds and two steals against Baylor and Nebraska. She scored 16 points and had a career-high 14 rebounds against the Lady Bears and added 14 points, 11 rebounds and four steals against the Huskers.
The week of Feb. 5-11, she averaged 19 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.0 blocks while hitting 48 percent from the field in games against Nebraska and No. 10 (AP & WBCA) Oklahoma. Her other honor came right before the beginning of the Big 12 season as she helped Colorado register its 10th straight win by scoring 16 points and grabbing seven rebounds in a 65-53 decision over Pepperdine on Jan. 4.
Smith averaged 19 points, two assists and two rebounds off the bench while leading Colorado to wins over No. 22/21 Wyoming and at No. 20/17 Vanderbilt. Against Wyoming, Smith scored 16 points on 5-of-8 from the floor with three assists as Colorado broke a three-game losing streak against the Cowgirls. Smith had a then-career high 22 points on 7-of-14 from the field with three rebounds, one steal and one assist as the Buffs handed the Commodores just their second loss in 23 home games.
SMITHGÇÖS RECORD NIGHT FROM ?3GÇÖ: Sophomore Bianca Smith tied three different school 3-point field goal records during CUGÇÖs 67-52 win over Texas on Feb. 16. Smith tied school marks for 3-pointers made in one game with seven, and also 3-pointers made and attempted in one half by hitting 5-of-9 in the first 20 minutes. ItGÇÖs the fifth time a CU player has had seven 3-pointers in one game, done by four players (Kate Fagan did it twice). Veronica Johns-Richardson was the last to do it, against Northern Colorado on Dec. 29, 2004. SmithGÇÖs five first half 3-pointers matched efforts by Shelley Sheetz at Tennessee on Dec. 20, 1993 and Fagan at Syracuse on Dec. 31, 2002. Her nine first half 3-point attempts matched SheetzGÇÖs nine at Tennessee.
Smith, who finished with a career-high 26 points on that night and followed that performance up with five more 3-pointers in the win over Kansas State, continues to move up the ladder on CUGÇÖs single season and career 3-point charts. Her 70 3-pointers this season tie Kate Fagan (2002-03) for fourth on CUGÇÖs single-season list and leaves her just nine shy of FaganGÇÖs single-season school record of 79 set in 2003-04. She has 102 career 3-pointers ranking eighth on CUGÇÖs all-time list and needs eight to pass Alexis Felts (1994-98) for seventh. SmithGÇÖs 183 3-point attempts this season are the fourth most in team history while her 275 career attempts rank eighth.
AWARDS PILING UP FOR McFARLAND: Jackie McFarland was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America team for the third straight year, this time as a first team member, announced by the College Sports Information Directors of America on Feb. 26.
McFarland earned second team honors in 2006 and 2007. She is ColoradoGÇÖs third three-time Academic All-American joining Jim Hansen (Football, 1990-92) and Kelly Smith (Cross Country/Track & Field, 1996-98).
Sporting a 3.86 GPA, McFarland is working on a concurrent degree program which will allow her to earn her MBA while completing her undergraduate degree in accounting. McFarland won CUGÇÖs Scholar-Athlete Award in the spring of 2007 for having the highest GPA in her class. McFarland is a three-year team captain and is actively involved in CUGÇÖs Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
SAAC is the governing body for student-athletes at CU which assists in the development and implementation of programs that motivate student-athletes to strive for and be recognized for academic excellence and community involvement.
McFarland is currently one of 10 finalists for the 2008 LoweGÇÖs Senior CLASS Award. She was one of 30 original nominees for the Senior CLASS Award that was pared down to 10 finalists by a national media committee.
The award ? presented annually to the NCAA Division I Student-Athlete of the Year in eight sports ? focuses on the "Four CGÇÖs" of classroom, character, community and competition. An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the award was launched during the 2001-02 season to honor the attributes of college basketball seniors who remain committed to their university and pursue the many rewards that a senior season and complete college education brings.
McFarland is a 2008 Naismith Award semifinalist and she was tabbed as a preseason first team All-Big 12 selection and one of the top five power forwards in the country by ESPN.com.
Fans nationwide can vote on the Senior CLASS Award finalists from now through March 21. Fan balloting, available on the awardGÇÖs official website www.seniorclassaward.com, will be combined with votes from coaches, media and sponsors to determine the recipient of the award. Winners will be announced during the NCAA MenGÇÖs and WomenGÇÖs Final Four.
BLOCK PARTY: Colorado is blocking shots at a near-record pace. The Buffaloes rank third in the Big 12 at 5.4 blocks per game. CUGÇÖs 150 blocks rank third on the teamGÇÖs single-season list and sit 12 shy of the school record 162 set in 2000-01. Freshman Brittany Spears leads the way with 43 blocks while sophomore Aija Putnina is second with 38 and senior Jackie McFarland, who is fourth in all-time blocks at CU, is third this season with 32. ItGÇÖs the first time in team history that the Buffaloes have three players with 30 or more blocks in one season.
CUGÇÖs high for a game this season was 13 against Dartmouth, the second highest single-game total in team history, trailing only the school record 16 set against Sam Houston in a 99-60 win on Dec. 14, 2000. CU followed up that performance with 12 against Iowa State on Jan. 13. The Buffaloes, who have three games this season with 10 or more blocks, rank 13th in the NCAA in blocked shots through games of Mar. 2.
3-POINTERS FALLING: Colorado is second in the Big 12 Conference and ranks 16th in the nation at seven 3-point field goals per game. The Buffaloes are just one 3-pointer away from clinching their most prolific season from 3-point range in team history. The Buffs hit just two 3-pointers at Nebraska, but it was enough to tie the school single-season team record of 196 set in 2001-02. CUGÇÖs 611 3-point field goal attempts are also a school record, shattering the old mark of 501 set in 2001-02.
The Buffaloes have a school single-season record eight games with 10 or more 3-point field goals. The previous season high was five in the 34-game 2001-02 season. CU had a season-high 14 against Colorado State, its second best single-game total (CU had 16 against Buffalo on Jan. 3, 2004). That came during a string of netting 10 or more 3-pointers in four straight games for the first time. The Buffs had 10 3-pointers against Wyoming and Northern Colorado and 13 against Rice. Against UNC, the Buffs set a school record for 3-point field goal attempts in one half with 21 in the first stanza and finished the game with 36 attempts, just one shy of the school record of 37 set against Buffalo on Jan. 3, 2004.
Individually, it hasnGÇÖt been one player doing the damage. For the first time in school history, CU has six different players with 10 or more 3-pointers. Sophomore Bianca Smith leads the team with 70, Brittany Spears is second with 45 followed by Susie Powers (24), Jackie McFarland (13), Whitney Houston (12) and Hannah Skildum (11).
NUMBERS FOR McFARLAND: Jackie McFarland has had seven double-doubles this season which is tied for third in the Big 12. She ranks second in CU history and fifth all-time in the Big 12 in career double-doubles with 44. She is tied with Erin Scholz (1993-97) for second in career double-digit rebounding games with 46 after her 10-point, 10-rebound effort against Texas on Feb. 13.
McFarland is third on CUGÇÖs all-time scoring and rebounding lists sporting 1,811 points and 990 rebounds. She is 47 points away from catching Tera Bjorklund (2000-04) for second place and needs just 10 rebounds to become the third player in CU history with 1,000. She is one of only two players -- joining Lisa Van Goor -- to have 1,800 points and 900 rebounds in a career.
McFarland is CUGÇÖs all-time leader in free-throws made with 529, and ranks second in free-throw attempts (693), fourth in blocked shots (132) and field-goals made (628) and sixth in minutes (3,697).
She is nine points away from becoming the only player in team history to score 500 points in three different seasons. McFarland is 16 free throws made away from breaking her own single-season school record of 161 set in 2006-07.
In terms of career averages, she is on pace to rank third in scoring (15.7 ppg), fifth in rebounding (8.6) and eighth in field-goal percentage (.536).
DEFENSE IN THE KANSAS GAME: ColoradoGÇÖs 59-41 win over Kansas was won, in large part thanks to its defense. The 41 points allowed to the Jayhawks tied for the third lowest against a Big 12 opponent during the regular season. Three of the four lowest totals have come against the Jayhawks:
35 -- Colorado 70, at Kansas 35, Jan. 16, 2002
40 -- Colorado 69, at Texas A&M 40, Feb. 8, 1997
41 -- at Colorado 59, Kansas 41, Jan. 22, 2008
41 -- at Colorado 80, Kansas 41, Jan. 29, 2002
The 18-point margin of victory was also the highest by a Kathy McConnell-Miller led team in a Big 12 game, beating the previous margin of 14 against Iowa State on Jan. 10, 2007 (81-67).
YOUTH SERVED: ColoradoGÇÖs freshman class was key in the Buffaloes win over Kansas combining for 31 points, the most by a freshman class since the trio of Whitney Houston (25), Candace Rucker (6) and Aija Putnina (3) combined for 34 in a 70-68 overtime loss at Kansas last season. Brittany Spears led the way with 14 points while Courtney Dunn pitched in a career-high nine points and Britney Blythe had eight off the bench.
DOUBLE OT: Colorado went double-overtime for just the fifth time in school history and the first time at the Coors Events Center with its 84-77 loss to Iowa State on Jan. 13. It was the first double-overtme for CU since the Buffaloes defeated the Cyclones 68-66 at Iowa State on Jan. 18, 1997, and the Buffs fell to 16-20 all-time in overtime and 2-3 in double-overtime. Seniors Jackie McFarland and Susie Powers each played 48 minutes in the game, tying a school record initially set by Tracy Tripp against Oklahoma State on March 6, 1989.
BIG 12 OPENERS: Colorado evened its record in Big 12 Conference openers at 6-6 by defeating Missouri 70-58 on Jan. 9. It was ColoradoGÇÖs first season-opening Big 12 win on the road since the Buffs beat Baylor to begin the 2004 league slate. The 12-point margin was also the Buffs highest in a conference road opener since a 67-53 win at Missouri to open the 1993 Big Eight schedule. Colorado, now 20-14 in all-time conference openers, are 16-9 in home league openers since 1983 and 6-5 in the Big 12 era.
OPENING NIGHT STAR: Colorado freshman Brittany Spears joined some elite company in her Big 12 debut. Her 24 points were the second-most in team history for a freshman in her first league game. Only CU Athletic Hall of Fame member and 1995 All-American Shelley Sheetz had more points in a conference debut as she scored 25 during a 75-69 loss at Nebraska on Jan. 15, 1992. Her seven rebounds tie current teammate Jackie McFarland for the most by a freshman in a road opener since 1994. McFarland had seven in an 84-62 setback at Nebraska on Jan. 5, 2005.
NUMBERS ON 11 STRAIGHT: Colorado saw its 11-game win streak end against Iowa State, but the run was the seventh longest in team history and the most consecutive victories since the 1994-95 team matched a CU All-Sports record 25 straight wins (shared with the 1939-41 baseball team). Here are the BuffsGÇÖ all-time best win streaks:
Wins Season Record Noteable
1. 25 1994-95 30-3 NCAA Elite Eight, 14-0 in Big Eight
2. 20 1988-89 27-4 NCAA 1st Round, 14-0 in Big Eight
3. 15 1992-93 27-4 NCAA Elite Eight, 15-0 season start
4. 14 1991-92 22-9 NCAA 1st Rd, Big Eight Tourney Champs
5. 12 1981-82 28-8 AIAW National 1st Round
12 1980-81 28-5 First of two 9-plus winning streaks in ?81
7. 11 2007-08 ?? First 11-plus streak since 1994-95
8. 9 2003-04 22-8 NCAA 1st Round
9 1993-94 27-5 NCAA Sweet 16
9 1992-93 27-4 NCAA Elite Eight, Big Eight Champs
9 1980-81 28-5 First AIAW National Appearance
9 1978-79 22-9 3rd place in AIAW Regional
PERFECT DECEMBER: Colorado registered a perfect 7-0 record for the month of December for the first time since 2003-04, and for just the sixth time in team history. The Buffaloes matched the 1980-81 and 1981-82 teams which were both 7-0 in December. The 1992-93 team had a program best December mark of 9-0, while the 2002-03 squad was 6-0 and 5-0 in 2003-04. CU is 118-54 (.686) all-time in the month of December.
DEFENSE WINS: Colorado has enjoyed some impressive defensive numbers at times this season.
The Buffaloes have held six opponents under 50 points in 2007; 29-vs. Texas Southern, 38-vs. Southern Utah, 41-vs. Kansas, 43-vs. Dartmouth, 47-at Colorado State and 48-at San Francisco. CU had held their opponent under 50 points just three times total in the previous three seasons.
CU yielded less than 50 points in three-straight games -- Texas Southern, Dartmouth and Southern Utah -- the first such streak since 2003-04. The BuffsGÇÖ six sub-50 point defensive performances are the most in one season since the 2002-03 squad registered nine.
Colorado had a historic performance from a defensive perspective against Texas Southern. The Buffaloes held the Lady Tigers to just 29 points, which ties for the fourth-lowest total in team history (equals a 79-29 win over Iowa State on Feb. 19, 1993). It was just the fifth time in CU history the Buffs have held an opponent under 30 points (the ISU game in 1993 being the last). CU allowed just 13 second-half points, tying for the second-lowest second-half total in team history (also done in the ISU game and against Utah State on Jan. 28, 1981). The Buffaloes forced Texas Southern into 32 turnovers, the most since forcing 35 against Detroit Mercy on Nov. 24, 2002.
ColoradoGÇÖs season-long defensive efforts are on pace to rank among some of the best in team history. The Buffs have allowed opponents just 38.4 percent shooting from the field, which would rank third in the CU record book behind the 1980-81 (.358) and 1981-82 (.375) teams. CU has allowed just 61.4 points per contest which would rank ninth on the single-season charts.
PLAYING WELL AGAINST RANKED TEAMS: Colorado is 3-4 this season against ranked opponents. The three wins are the most by the Buffaloes since sporting a 3-7 mark against the nationGÇÖs Top 25 in 2003-04.
ColoradoGÇÖs 73-68 win over No. 15 Kansas State marked the highest ranked team the Buffaloes have beaten since defeating No. 15 Notre Dame, 67-63 on Nov. 15, 2003. ItGÇÖs the highest ranked team the Buffs have beaten as an unranked team since knocking off No. 12 North Carolina 86-67 in the second round of the 2003 NCAA Tournament in Boulder.
Colorado had its biggest week in early December in several years in terms of success against ranked teams.
ColoradoGÇÖs 69-55 win over No. 21/22 Wyoming on Dec. 5 snapped a 23-game BuffsGÇÖ losing streak to ranked teams. The Buffaloes last win over a ranked opponent had been a 69-59 decision at No. 24 Baylor on Jan. 7, 2004 where CU was ranked No. 14 at the time. The win was ColoradoGÇÖs first against a ranked team while being unranked since the NCAA Tournament win over UNC.
The Buffaloes kept the momentum going four days later with a 62-51 win at No. 20/17 Vanderbilt. The win gave CUGÇÖs its first two-game win streak against ranked teams since knocking off No. 23 Washington and No. 24 Baylor in 2003-04. It was the first pair of wins over two ranked teams in back-to-back games since the 2002 NCAA Tournament when the Buffs defeated No. 22/24 LSU in the second round and No. 5 Stanford in the Sweet 16. It was ColoradoGÇÖs first win on the road over a ranked opponent since the Baylor game in 2004. It was CUGÇÖs first win over a ranked opponent as an unranked team since defeating No. 12 Texas in Austin, 60-56, on Feb. 26, 1997.
ColoradoGÇÖs losses against the Top 25 this year have been competitive, if not downright close calls. No. 10/10 Oklahoma used a strong second half to pull away 82-66 on Feb. 9 in Norman as did No. 21/18 Oklahoma State in an 81-72 decision on Feb. 2 in Boulder and No. 8/8 Baylor in a 76-62 decision in Waco on Feb. 27. CU led No. 19/16 Texas A&M for most the game before a late comeback allowed the Aggies to leave Boulder with a 72-68 decision on Jan. 16.
RANKING OF OUR OWN: Colorado did not receive votes in either the AP or WBCA Top 25 polls released this week. CU had at least received votes for six-straight weeks from Dec. 10 through Jan. 22. The Buffaloes were ranked in four straight AP polls, peaking at No. 23 on Jan. 1 and Jan. 8. The Buffaloes debuted in the 2007 AP poll at No. 25 on Dec. 24 for their first national ranking since finishing No. 17 (AP)/No. 24 (WBCA) in the final 2003-04 polls. Colorado has a rich tradition in the AP poll, making 158 appearances since 1980. The Buffs were ranked in 75 straight polls from Mar. 15, 1992 to Dec. 9, 1996 and 30 straight from Jan. 22, 2001 to Mar. 22, 2002.
With ColoradoGÇÖs early-season AP ranking, Buffs head coach Kathy McConnell-Miller became the 22nd person in NCAA Division I womenGÇÖs history to play for and coach an AP ranked team. McConnell-Miller was a four-year letterwinner at Virginia (1986-90) where she played in four NCAA Tournaments with the Cavaliers including a pair of Sweet 16 appearances and the 1988 Elite Eight.
CAPTAINS NAMED: Seniors Jackie McFarland and Susie Powers and junior Caley Dow will serve as team captains for the 2007-08 season. McFarland is a captain for a third straight season, Powers is in her second year as captain and Dow is a captain for the first time. CU team captains are voted on by players prior to the first regular season contest each year.
HOME AT THE CECC: Colorado is traditionally tough at home with a 318-97 all-time record at the Coors Events/Conference Center (.766). The Buffaloes have won 10 or more games in a season at the CECC in 20 of the previous 30 years including this season, after notching win No. 10 against Texas on Feb. 16. The Buffaloes have enjoyed five undefeated seasons (1980-83, 1992-94) at the CECC.
ON THE ROAD: Colorado is 4-8 on the road this season and had won three straight for the first time since 2003-04 before falling at Kansas State on Jan. 19. The four wins doubles the team road win total from the previous two seasons combined (1-10 in 2006-07 and 1-9 in 2004-05). CUGÇÖs 82-47 win over Colorado State was significant on several fronts. The 35-point margin was the BuffsGÇÖ highest on the road since a 70-35 win over Kansas on Jan. 16, 2002 and it was also their largest win over Colorado State (regardless of venue) since a 112-48 win on Nov. 16, 1979. The 82 points were the most CU has scored on an opponents home court since the BuffsGÇÖ last trip to Moby Arena, an 86-83 loss to the Rams on Nov. 30, 2005. Colorado broke VanderbiltGÇÖs 10-game home winning streak and handed the Commodores just their second loss in 23 home games, the other coming last season against eventual national champion Tennessee.
TOUGH SCHEDULE: Colorado once again faces a tough schedule with no less than 16 games against 2007 NCAA or WNIT tournament teams. The Buffaloes will travel to perennial NCAA womenGÇÖs powers Southern California and Vanderbilt during the non-conference season as well as region rival Colorado State. Colorado will host 2007 WNIT Champion Wyoming and will also see Rice, Clemson and Pepperdine at the Coors Events Center. Texas A&M, Oklahoma State and Texas come to Boulder this year out of the Big 12 South along with the BuffsGÇÖ usual Big 12 North opponents.
BUFFS ON TV: ColoradoGÇÖs schedule features 10 games that will be televised either regionally or nationally, nine of which will be carried by Fox Sports Net. Two games were part of the Big 12GÇÖs national package with FSN: Jan. 13 against Iowa State at home and Jan. 26, at Texas Tech. FSN Rocky Mountain is televising seven CU home games which began with Wyoming on Dec. 5. CUGÇÖs game at Colorado State on Dec. 1 was televised by The Mtn. Network.
McFARLAND PRESEASON ALL-BIG 12; BUFFS PICKED 11TH: Senior forward Jackie McFarland has been named to the 2007-08 Preseason All-Big 12 Conference WomenGÇÖs Basketball team by a vote of league coaches.
McFarland is CUGÇÖs second preseason All-Big 12 honoree as former Buffaloes standout Erin Scholz was named to the 1996-97 squad. She joins Nebraska forward Kelsey Griffin, Oklahoma center Courtney Paris and Texas A&M guards AGÇÖQuonesia Franklin and Takia Starks on the five-member preseason team. All five players were first team All-Big 12 picks last winter.
McFarland topped the Big 12 and ranked third in the nation in field-goal accuracy in 2006-07 at 61 percent. She was second in the Big 12 in scoring (17.8 ppg) and rebounding (10.8 rpg) and led the league in minutes at 36.4 per game.
Despite returning eight players from a team that finished tied for seventh last season, the Buffaloes were picked to finish 11th in the Big 12 in 2007-08 in annual preseason coaches poll.
Defending co-champion Texas A&M was picked to win the 2008 title with seven first place votes and 117 points overall, just edging out the leagueGÇÖs other co-champion, Oklahoma who had the other five first place votes and 115 points. The Big South held down the top five spots in the poll as Baylor was third with 97 points followed by Texas (86) and Oklahoma State (66). Iowa State was the top North school (64) followed by Nebraska (56), Kansas State and Texas Tech (54 each), Kansas (43), Colorado (29) and Missouri (11).
UP NEXT: Colorado will travel to Kansas City for the 2008 Big 12 Championship, March 6-11 at Municipal Auditorium. The Buffs could still be the 9th, 10th or 11th seed in the tournament. CU could know its pairing as early as Wednesday night after the Missouri game, but scenarios exist that could make the Buffaloes wait until the conclusion of ThursdayGÇÖs games to find out their next opponent.