MBB Travels to KU, Saturday

14 DAYS AGO... This is the second matchup between CU and KU in the last 14 days (Jan. 17 in Boulder). Last season, the two schools played one another 14 days apart as well. Back in 1998-99, CU/KU played its shortest two games apart, a mere eight days. Two weeks ago, KU made 69.6 percent of their shots in the second half and took a 73-56 victory. The Jayhawks placed five players in double-figures led by Sherron Collins, who scored 15 of his 18 points in the first half. Cole Aldrich added a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. CU sophomore Cory Higgins scored 20 points, including 12-of-12 from the free throw line.

Complete Notes located below.

KU UPDATE... The Jayhawks are rolling along with a 16-4 overall record and a perfect 5-0 mark in Big 12 play. KU edged Nebraska last Wednesday, 68-62, their closest conference game so far. After dropping a non-conference game at Michigan State back on Jan. 10, KU has won five in a row (all Big 12 games) by an average of 14.8 points. In conference play, Sherron Collins (20.2 ppg.), Cole Aldrich (14.0 ppg.) and Tyshawn Taylor (11.6 ppg.) are the top scorers, and on the overall stat sheet through 20 games, those three are also the top three scorers. Oklahoma (20-1, 6-0 Big 12) and KU are the last two unbeatens in conference play and matchup against one another on Feb. 23 on ESPN in Norman.

CU at KANSAS... The Buffaloes are 7-58 in Lawrence and have not won at Allen Fieldhouse since Feb. 10, 1983 (25 games). That was the year N.C. State won the NCAA basketball championship, the Philadelphia 76ers won the NBA title, the L.A. Raiders won Super Bowl XVIII, the Baltimore Orioles won the World Series, and the New York Islanders won the Stanley Cup. All five teams have not won a title since.

KELLEY UPDATE... Freshman guard Ryan Kelley will not need surgery after injuring his left knee in a Jan. 22 practice. The MRI report on Wed., Jan. 28 determined Kelley has a minor ligament sprain and no surgery is required. He could return to play in 2-to-4 weeks. The minor injury does not involve the knee cap, it’s a minor ligament sprain of the knee.

CU NATIONALLY...(as of Jan. 25)... Before this week’s play began, Cory Higgins ranked among the nation’s elite players in four categories, while the CU team ranked in two.

36) Cory Higgins 85.8 Free Throw %

52) Higgins 2.1 steals per game

80) Higgins 51.4 Field Goal %

89) Higgins 17.5 points per game

Team

34th in field goal percentage (.472)

49th in free throw percentage (.730)

LAST GAME RECAP... Cory Higgins scored a team-high 19 points and Colorado used a 10-3 run in the final 2:47 of the game to beat Iowa State, 55-49, last Tuesday. It was CU’s first win in Big 12 play (1-4) and improved to 9-10 overall. It was the third game this season Higgins was the lone CU player in double-digits (TCU, Western State were the others).

FT RECORD HOLDER... Cory Higgins reigns as the CU and the Big 12 free throw record holder with 45-straight free throws over eight games. Since then, he has rattled off another 23-straight over three games ending at Texas Tech. Overall, he’s 65-of-68 (.956) over his last 10 games. On the season, he’s .863 (120-of-139, 36th nationally).

AFTER 5 Big 12 games... In five conference games, Cory Higgins (15.0 ppg.) and Dwight Thorne II (15.0 ppg.) lead the team in scoring ... The 1-4 start in the conference matches last year’s record after five games ... Higgins is 36-of-39 from the FT line (.923) and leads the team in assists (14, 2.8), steals (17, 3.4), rebounding (4.4) and minutes played (38.0). His 3.4 spg. ranks first in the Big 12-only ... Jermyl Jackson-Wilson is shooting 50 percent from the field (10-of-20) ... The team is second in Big 12-only in steals (9.6 per game) and number one in FT percentage (.731)

BUFF TIDBITS (team)... CU has lost 23-straight Big 12 regular season games on the road. Last road win occurred Jan. 21, 2006 (at Stillwater over Oklahoma State, 80-78, ot) ... CU is shooting 78.1 percent (132-of-169) from the free throw line over the past nine outings ... CU has made a 3-pointer in 214-straight games dating back to the 2001-02 season.

BUFF TIDBITS (individual)... Cory Higgins and Dwight Thorne II have recorded double-digits in the same game 12 times this season ...Trey Eckloff is not the youngest scholarship MBB player in the Big 12 as stated earlier in the notes. CU freshman Ryan Kelley is. That means, CU has the two youngest scholarship student-athletes in the Big 12 ... Cory Higgins was the lone CU player in double figures against Iowa State, that’s the third time this season (Western State, TCU) with only one players 10 or more points ... Of the six game category (points, rebounds, 3-pters., assists, steals, blocks), Cory Higgins has been shutout once (Stanford). He has led CU in at least one category in each game. At TTU, he led the Buffs in points, rebounds and assists just once ...13-straight games with the same starting lineup (Tomlinson, Higgins, Dufault, Thorne II, Jackson-Wilson) ? Dufault, Higgins, Thorne II have started all 19 games ? Four games (Western State, SMU, at Missouri, Iowa State), CU failed to record a blocked shot in a game.

FT PERFECTION... Cory Higgins has performed perfection at the free throw with a 12-of-12 performance for the second time this season, this time against Kansas. The other was a 12-of-12 effort against Coppin State (Dec. 28). The first 12-of-12 was second only to a pair of 16-of-16 efforts in CU history, Jo Jo Hunter versus Iowa State in 1980 and Chauncey Billups against Oklahoma in 1996.

Work in progress... Although Coach Bzdelik and his team have had their ups and downs in his second year (8-7) and with the tough conference season ahead, let’s take a look at three of the school’s all-time winningest coaches in football, men’s and women’s basketball in their second season.

Football: Bill McCartney, 13 seasons (1982-1994), 93-55-5 (.624): 4-7 in second year.

Men’s BB: Sox Walseth, 20 seasons (1957-76), 261-245 (.516): 8-15 in second year.

Women’s BB: Ceal Barry, 22 seasons (1983-2005), 427-242 (.638), 6-22 in second year.

30+ MINUTEMEN... Only four CU players have played 30+ minutes of each game. Cory Higgins has played 30+ minutes in 18 of 19 games; Nate Tomlinson 14 of 18 games (missed a game due to injury); Austin Dufault in 14 of 19, and Dwight Thorne II 13 of 19 games, and Jermyl Jackson-Wilson played his first game of the season over 30 minutes against Kansas State with 32 (three mins. in OT).

35+MINUTE MEN... More impressively the same four players have recorded 35-plus minutes a number of times. Cory Higgins in 15 games; Nate Tomlinson and Dwight Thorne eight games; Austin Dufault four games.

40+MINUTES... Cory Higgins and Dwight Thorne are the only ones to have played 40-plus minutes this season. Higgins played 44 of 45 minutes in the overtime loss to Montana State and all 40 minutes against Louisiana-Monroe and Kansas. He also played the entire game (45 mins) in the overtime loss to K-State. Last season Higgins played over 40 once, 46 minutes in the double-overtime win over Baylor at the Big 12 Basketball Championships. Thorne played 40 of 45 minutes in the overtime loss to K-State Jan. 24.

FTs 5 MINUTES TO PLAY... Sophomore Cory Higgins is the team’s most experienced from the free throw line with under five minutes to play (including OT) making 47-of-58 (.810). Here are totals for this season.

2008-09 2-5 Pct. *0-2 Pct.

Matt Favaro - - 2-2 1.000

Cory Higgins 15-17 .882 10-11 .909

Ryan Kelley 1-2 .500 3-4 .750

Dwight Thorne II 2-2 1.000 7-11 .636

Nate Tomlinson 6-6 1.000 8-15 .533

Levi Knutson 4-4 1.000 1-2 .500

Casey Crawford 1-2 .500 1-2 .500

Toby Veal 1-2 .500 1-2 .500

J. Jackson-Wilson 2-3 .000 2-5 .400

Andrew Zehnder - - 1-4 .250

Austin Dufault 3-3 1.000 0-2 .000

Javon Coney - - 0-2 .000

Total 34-40 .850 36-62 .581

(*-includes overtime)

FALL 2008 SEMESTER... The CU men have nine student-athletes with a 2.9 grade point average or higher. The team also has five student-athletes with a 3.0 or better G.P.A. (Trent Beckley, Austin Dufault, Trey Eckloff, Levi Knutson, Andrew Zehnder).

BROADCAST... The Colorado men’s basketball team can be heard live on KKZN AM 760. Mark Johnson and Charles Johnson call the action including the pre- and postgame. Live internet audio of all CU basketball games is available through Yahoo! Sports. Colorado’s games will also be streamed live on CUBuffs.com through the BuffsTV subscription service.

FG%... During non-conference play, the Buffs shot above 50 percent from the floor eight out of 14 games, going 6-2. That is the most .500 shooting games since the 2000-01 season when the Buffs recorded eight games of .500 or better shooting. The last time CU recorded more than eight games of shooting .500 or better from the floor in non-conference play was the 1985-86 season when they went 8-2 in 10 games. Ironically, the Buffs were also 8-6 after non-conference play in the 1985-86 season, Tom Miller’s first as Colorado’s head coach, unfortunately the Buffs finished the season on a 17-game losing streak going 0-15 in conference play (0-1 in the Big 8 Tournament).

CU SINCE 1996-97... In the 13-year history of the Big 12 Conference, CU is shooting a team-best from the field and from the free throw line so far this season. Those two stats are the best of any CU team since 1996-97.

Years PPG FG % 3-Pt.% FT% To W’s

2008-09 66.1 .468 .349 .728 14.5 9

2007-08 62.4 .451 .343 .684 13.4 12

2006-07 69.1 .417 .313 .655 17.5 7

2005-06 76.8 .434 .342 .646 14.0 20

2004-05 71.6 .435 .353 .629 14.4 14

2003-04 74.2 .464 .372 .621 14.6 18

2002-03 75.2 .443 .326 .669 14.0 20

2001-02 79.7 .453 .357 .677 17.0 15

2000-01 80.6 .460 .359 .715 16.5 15

1999-00 75.2 .426 .339 .686 14.3 18

1998-99 73.1 .414 .344 .702 14.7 18

1997-98 71.4 .404 .346 .688 14.3 13

1996-97 73.1 .420 .362 .681 13.9 22

YOUTH movement... A combination of 10 underclassmen (five freshmen and five sophomores) highlight the roster matching one of the youngest CU teams in history. Back in 2006-07, CU had 10 underclassmen (eight freshmen), in addition to the 1992-93 season (four freshmen, six sophomores).

CU IN THE PRO WORLD... There is a number of CU basketball members with ties to the professional ranks. From head coach Jeff Bzdelik to the four student-athletes.

Coach Bzdelik: Head Coach of the Denver Nuggets (2002-05);

Casey Crawford: father, Steve played with the Boston Red Sox;

Austin Dufault: cousin-in-law, Fred Hoiberg played with the Indiana Pacers, Chicago Bulls, and Minnesota Timberwolves. Currently the Assistant General Manager of the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Cory Higgins: father, Rod played in the NBA from 1982-95, currently the general manager of the Charlotte Bobcats;

Dwight Thorne II: cousin, Acie Law IV played for the Texas A&M Aggies and currently plays with the Atlanta Hawks, and great uncle, Ernie Banks played with the Cubs.

RAINBOW CLASSIC RECAP... CU went 1-2 over the three days with its lone win coming on the opening day against Coppin State. CU sophomore Cory Higgins was named to the All-Tournament team leading the Buffaloes in scoring in every game and averaging 18 points a game. He also recorded his first career double-double (21 pts., 10 rebs.) against Coppin State. CU averaged 66.3 ppg., shot .489 from the field (69-of-141) with an impressive .852 from the free throw line (46-of-54). All-Tourney Team: Cory Higgins, Colorado; Calvin Betts, Buffalo; Roderick Flemings, Hawai?i; Mike Trimboli, Vermont; Marcus Walker, Colorado State; Andy Robinson, Buffalo (MVP).

CECC RECORD...maybe a school record? Sophomore guard Cory Higgins was the first CU student-athlete to lead the team in rebounds AND assists the first two games of any season since 1973-74. It’s a Coors Events Conference Center mark (building opened in 1979). The research was stopped at the 1972-73 season because assists were not kept. So, in the last 35 years, no CU player has led his team in rebounding AND assists in the first two games of the season.

TV APPEARANCES... CU will play on television 20 times this season, six of those nationally (FSN, ESPN, ESPNU 4 times). Here are the rest ... ABC Regional: 1; FSN: 1; ESPN: 1; ESPNU: 4; Big 12 Network (previously ESPN Regional): 5; FSN RM: 8.

VOLUNTEERS... One Saturday, Dec. 6, the CU men’s basketball team and more than 150 community volunteers teamed up to deliver gift baskets to nearly 1,000 low-income families. The CU men’s team visited the Golden West senior residence in Boulder. The program was associated with RSVP of Boulder County.

HAWAII BOUND...AGAIN... The Buffaloes will be making another trip to the Hawaiian Islands playing in the 2009-10 Maui Invitational. The dates are Nov. 23-25 (Mon.-Wed.) of Thanksgiving week. It will be CU’s first-ever appearance in Maui hosted by Division II college Chaminade, and sponsored by EA Sports. The Buffaloes will be one of eight schools participating in the 26th edition of the tournament. Joining CU next year will be Arizona, Cincinnati, Gonzaga, Maryland, Vanderbilt, and Wisconsin.

CU Assistants... Joining Coach Bzdelik on his staff for his second year is a trio of the finest basketball minds in the game today.

Steve McClain, Associate Head Coach

- 22 years of coaching experience

- Won 157 games in nine years as the head coach at the University of Wyoming;

recorded the most regular season victories (60) of any Mountain West Conference head coach

- Four NIT appearances, One NCAA Appearance

- Led Hutchinson to the Junior College 1994 National Championship and earned National JC Coach of the Year honors.

Derrick Clark, Assistant Coach

- Brings 11 years of coaching experience and his fourth season with Coach Bzdelik

- Helped direct Air Force to a 50-16 record during his two-years in Colorado Springs

- Assisted USAFA to the 2005-06 NCAA Tournament and 2006-07 NIT Final Four

- As an assistant at Metro State, helped the Roadrunners to a pair of NCAA Division National Championships.

Charles Baker, Assistant Coach

- Brings 20 years of coaching expertise

- Returns to the Big 12 Conference after

spending six years with K-State (2000-06)

- At K-State, helped assemble a trio of Top 25 recruiting classes and assisted the recruiting of three consensus Top-100 players

- Only head coaching stint, turned Shorter Junior College into a consistent winner lead

ing his teams to four consecutive Arkansas State Junior College championships, and four-straight 20-win seasons.

MORE CU TIDBITS... Entering the 2008-09 season, CU’s starting lineup may consist of freshmen and sophomores. It will be the school’s youngest starting five to play at one time since 1985-86 when four freshmen, one sophomore started three straight games ... For the 12th time in school history a CU team will have at least five freshmen on a roster ... CU plays nine non-conference home games, the most of any season since 1995-96 (nine) ... CU played a school record eight home games played before Christmas.

20012-13 CLASS... On Nov. 12, the CU mbb team announced that Alec Burks, Keegan Hornbuckle, and Shane Harris-Tunks officially signed National Letters of Intent.

“With the signing of these three young men, once again we have taken a major step toward creating the vision for this program,” Bzdelik said. “All three are highly skilled, highly intelligent and play with a competitive spirit.”

Burks is a 6-foot-5 shooting guard from Grandview, Mo., is a skilled left-handed player who is capable of playing point-guard and will fit CU’s system because of his ability to shoot from distance and slash to the basket. He committed to CU over Kansas State.

“Alec has the potential to be a 6-5 point-guard because of his athleticism and passing ability,” Bzdelik said. “Not only is he an excellent shooter, he has great vision.”

Burks earned first-team all-Suburban Mix Six League honors as a junior after averaging 19.9 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. Rivals.com lists Burks as the No. 31st point-guard in the class of 2009.

Hornbuckle is a 6-foot-6 small forward from Los Angeles, Calif., is a smooth shooter with deep three-point range and the ability to finish above the rim in transition. Hornbuckle helped Campbell Hall High to a 31-5 record as a junior in 2007. He is rated as the No. 34 small forward/shooting guard by Scout.com. Hornbuckle selected CU over Arizona and Arizona State.

“Keegan is a long, skilled and athletic perimeter player that fits our system,” Bzdelik said.

Harris-Tunks is a 6-foot-11 center/forward from Sydney, Australia, will join current CU freshman guard Nate Tomlinson, who also hails from Sydney. Harris-Tunks is the third recruit to sign with the Buffaloes, selected CU over Vanderbilt and Gonzaga.

“Shane comes to us with an abundance of international experience,” Bzdelik said. “He is a wide-big body who will provide us with a defensive post presence, defensive rebounding and shot blocking. From an offensive standpoint, he gives us a physical presence who can also pass and shoot the ball from the perimeter.”

Harris-Tunks spent the last year and a half at the Australian Institute of Sport, a prestigious academy that has college like demands both athletically and academically.

Colorado University Athletics