Colorado University Athletics
MBB Hosts Yale, Tuesday
GÇó Date: Tuesday, Dec. 29
GÇó Tipoff: 7:07 p.m. (MST) GÇó Television: FSN Rocky Mountain
GÇó Announcers: Drew Goodman (p-b-p), Ceal Barry (analyst), Alanna Rizzo (sideline)
GÇó Location: Coors Events Center (11,064)
GÇó CU Radio: 760-AM: Mark Johnson (p-b-p), Charles Johnson (analyst)
GÇó Series vs. Yale: Series tied 1-1 (last meeting: Nov. 25, 1999, CU 65-50 in Boulder), other meeting was 1952 (Yale, 56-54, in K.C.)
QUICKLY: CU is 6-0 at home to begin the season, the last time they began a home season 6-0 in Boulder was 2005-06 (7-0) GÇó CU is 1-1 all-time against the Bulldogs and 7-1 overall against the Ivy League GÇó Against Cal State Northridge, the Buffs CU shot 50 percent or better in both halves, the fifth time this season GÇó CU set a season high 27 assists against the Matadors and for the second time this season placed five players in double-digits; CU also made a season-high 32 field goals GÇó Cory Higgins and Alec Burks have been CU's top two scorers in all but two games this season (Arizona & Chaminade).
YALE UPDATE: The Bulldogs come into Boulder with a 4-7 record in nonconference play and a 1-2 mark on the road. Alex Zampier is averaging 18.9 points per game, including 25 three-pointers. Yale is coming off a Dec. 21 road loss at Providence (87-78) after they were outscored 51-38 in the second half. Zampier scored 25 points with seven rebounds and three assists.
HOME vs. THE ROAD: CU is averaging 85.3 points per game with four players in double figures in six home games (.553 FG%). In the five combined away/neutral court games, the Buffs average 72.6 ppg., shoot .444 from the field and average two players in double figures.
WHAT'S AHEAD: CU continues the non-conference portion of the schedule with a pair of games before opening the Big 12 season. After CU hosts Yale, the Buffs travel to 9-1 Tulsa (Jan. 2) and host 3-9 Miami-Ohio (Tue., Jan. 5). CU opens the Big 12 season on the road at nationally ranked Texas (Sat., Jan. 9).
TODAY'S POSTER FEATURE: Guard Keegan Hornbuckle is tonight's poster feature. Hornbuckle, a freshman from Westlake Village, Calif., has played all 11 games averaging 15 minutes off the bench in a reserve role. He is averaging 3.5 points, 2.2 rebounds per game and shooting .471 percent from the field (16-of-34). In his last three games, Hornbuckle is averaging 15.3 minutes off bench, shooting .583 FG%, and averaging 5.3 points per game.
BROADCAST: All Colorado men's basketball games can be heard live on KKZN AM 760. Mark Johnson will deliver play-by-play with Charles Johnson color commentary. Live internet audio of all CU basketball games is available on BuffsRadio, a subscription service through CUBuffs. com. Live internet video streaming of Sunday's game is available on BuffsTV, also a subscription service through CUBuffs.com. Please note the BuffsRadio audio and Buffs TV video are separate subscriptions.
SUPER FRESHMAN: Alec Burks has started all 11 games and netted over 10 or more points in every game. With 175 points, he ranks third among other CU greats in their freshman year With 175 points for the season, Burks is now tied with Emmett Lewis (1975-76) for second all-time in scoring for freshman thru 11 games, he is now trailing only Chauncey Billups (1995-96) who had 217 points through 11 games.
TOP CU FRESHMEN: If the season ended today, freshman guard Alec Burks would rank second among freshmen scorers in the school's history. Here's the top-five to-date.
1. Chauncey Billups 17.9 1995-96
2. Alec Burks 15.9 2009-10
3. Richard Roby 15.8 2004-05
4. Emmett Lewis 15.0 1975-76
5. Donnie Boyce 14.9 1991-92
THREE-YEAR REVIEW: Coach Bzdelik has 103 career collegiate wins GÇó CU has scored 80 points in six of 11 games this season (previously 80+ five games in his first two years) GÇó Team has shot 50 percent or better in 14 of 22 halves GÇó have made 75 3-pointers, the most in three years after 11 games GÇó team is shooting .502, another three-year best.
CLOSE CALLS: During the last three plus years, the CU men's team has suffered 46 losses. If you take a closer look, 23 of those losses were by single-digits, an average of 4.6 points.
2009-10: 3 games (13 points, 4.3 ppg.)
2008-09: 11 games (three non-conference, eight Big 12 games): 50 points (4.5 ppg.)
2007-08: 9 games (three non-conference, six Big 12 games): 43 total points (4.8 ppg.).
HIGGINS UPDATE: Cory Higgins has led the team in scoring seven of 11 games (one shared); has six 20-plus scoring efforts with 28 points against Arizona, his third highest scoring game, in addition to 18 career 20-point efforts GÇó Scored 1,015 career points (26th at CU) GÇó Started every game as a Buff (74), ranking 15th GÇó t-12th in career steals (112) GÇó 14th in minutes played (2,576) GÇó 24th in assists (188) GÇó Last season , Higgins was one of 13 players nationally to lead team in 5 categories GÇó 2008-09 All-Big 12 Third Team; 1st Big 12-only steals (1.9 apg.).
ON THE ROAD: Even though the NCAA determined the Buffaloes' 73-58 win over Chaminade at the EA Sports Maui Invitational was declared a road victory, the Buffs still have an 20-game skid against Division I opponents on the road. CU's last road win came on Dec. 22, 2007 at Colorado State, 73-70.
MAUI INVITATIONAL WRAP: The Buffaloes lost a pair of close games in their first-ever visit at the EA Sports Maui Invitational falling to Gonzaga, 76-72 and Arizona, 91-87 (overtime). CU defeated Chaminade on day three, 73-58. In the first game against the Bulldogs, four players scored double-digits with Cory Higgins scoring a team-high 19 points with six rebounds. The following day, the Buffs, again placed four players in double-figures with Higgins and Alec Burks scoring 28 and 20 points, respectively. On day three, the Buffs received 13 points each from Burks and Marcus Relphorde against Chaminade.
BUFF NOTES (individual): Austin Dufault recorded his first career double-double (14 points, 11 rebounds); he's the first CU player to tally a double-double since Cory Higgins last year (Western State, 24 pts., 10 rebounds) GÇó Nate Tomlinson scored a career-best 20 points, he's the first CU player other than Higgins and Dwight Thorne to score 20 or more in a game since Richard Roby scored 22 at Oklahoma State (Feb. 6, 2008) GÇó Tomlinson had a career-high eight assists against Gonzaga and Chaminade, also had a career-best five steals against the Silverswords GÇó CU placed a pair of 20-point scorers against Arizona (Higgins 28, Tomlinson 20), that's twice this year with a pair w/ a least 20+ a game (the other, Texas Southern) GÇó Alec Burks tallied 19 points against Arizona, his second highest scoring game and seventh game over double-digits GÇó Associate Head Coach has replaced Head Coach Jeff Bzdelik four of the 10 games this season due to family concerns. McClain went 2-2, however Coach Bzdelik is credited with the wins/losses.
TEAM NOTES: Colorado's 78-54 over San Francisco saw some stellar performances not highlighted in the final box score. Nate Tomlinson and Marcus Relphorde each led the Buffs in assists with six apiece. That's a school-first since Dec. 19, 2003 (2003-04) against Tennessee State GÇó Austin Dufault swatted a career-best three shots GÇó Cory Higgins made his first eight shots against the Dons (first miss 15:49, second half). He went 6-for-6 in the first half GÇó CU shot a first half best .615 from the field in the first half (16-of-26) GÇó CU committed only six turnovers against USF, the third time this season with single-digits turnovers. That's the lowest since five, Dec. 2, 2005 (Cal Poly).
CU in the Big 12/Pac-10 Harwood Series: CU is now 0-3 against the Pac-10 in the series. The Buffs have fallen on the road to Oregon State, 74-69, and in the previous two year lost twice to Stanford (76-62 in 2008; 67-43 in 2007). Iowa State is also 0-3 against the Pac-10.
CU SINCE 1996-97... In the last 14 years (the history of the Big 12 Conference) CU is performing a best in a number of categories listed below .
Years PPG FG % 3-Pt.% FT% To W's
2009-10 79.5 .502 .405 .793 13.0 7
2008-09 62.9 .454 .346 .731 14.1 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
FRESHMAN STARTERS: In his first three years, Coach Bzdelik has started at least one freshman in the starting line up on opening night. Against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Alec Burks started (10 pts., three assists, two rebounds). Cory Higgins started his first game (Nov. 9, 2007) with a 10-point, five-rebound, three-assist performance against New Mexico. Last year, Austin Dufault (13 pts.) and Nate Tomlinson (12 pts.) started against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
NEW UNIFORMS: The 2009-10 season marks the first time in 19 years the Colorado men's basketball team will don new home uniforms. This season's new look will be silver, a first since the 1990-91 season. They also wore black and silver for both home and away games. This season, the 2009-10 Buffs will have silver, gold and black jerseys.
ENTERING 2009-10: This will be the third year of head coach Jeff Bzdelik and his staff. Here's a brief synopsis who and what is returning for the 2009-10 season:
Starters Returning/lost: 4/1
Top Returning Scorer: Cory Higgins 17.4 ppg.
Top Rebounder: Cory Higgins 5.4 rpg.
Top Returning FG Shooter: Dwight Thorne II 48.1%
Top Returning FT% Shooter: Cory Higgins 83.0%
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 9/3
OUT FOR SEASON: Freshman guard Shannon Sharpe will miss the 2009-10 basketball season with season-ending knee surgery after injuring his left knee during pre-season workouts. Sharpe successfully had a microfracture procedure. Sharpe, a 6-1, 200-pound guard from Corona, Calif. is one of four true freshmen on the 2009-10 roster. He will be medically redshirted.
DEFENDING THE OPPOSITION (Scoring Defense): In the last two years under Coach Bzdelik, CU's defense has allowed the opposition an average of 66 points per game (67.5: 2008-09; 64.4: 2007-08). That two-year total ranks only second to the 1980-81 season (64.5 ppg.) and 1979-80 (67.3 ppg.). Those two years averaged out to 65.9 ppg.
Big 12 Age Averages: With only one senior on the Colorado roster, the men's team is the second youngest school in the Big 12 Conference. The following breakdown is courtesy of Mike Noteware of Oklahoma State. These averages are as of Oct. 15, 2009.
Team Yrs Months Days Experience
Oklahoma State 19 11 25 1.1
Colorado 20 2 20 1.3
Iowa State 20 3 27 1.3
Oklahoma 20 4 1 1.2
Missouri 20 5 23 1.3
Texas A&M 20 6 0 1.4
Baylor 20 6 6 1.1
Kansas 20 6 26 1.2
Kansas State 20 7 15 1.3
Texas 20 8 24 1.6
Nebraska 20 9 14 1.3
Texas Tech 20 11 14 1.8
The "experience" category basically is the average number of years the members of the team have been playing (i.e. A senior is given a 3, a junior a 2, a sophomore a 1 and a freshman a 0). The findings did not take into account redshirt years, and it's obviously not based on Division I experience, since a juco transfer would be assigned a 2 just like a third-year junior. Missouri's Tyler Stone is the youngest player in the Big 12 (born Sept. 8, 1991), while Brady Morningstar of Kansas is the oldest (born Jan. 23, 1986).
Defense through the yearS): In his six years as a collegiate coach and two-plus seasons in the NBA, head coach Jeff Bzdelik has installed playing defense as a major part of the game. Here's a look at his teams over the years. His 2005-06 season at Air Force was a nation's best in scoring defense of all 970 collegiate schools in Division I (326), D-II (265), and D-III (379).
1986-87 UMBC 70.1 ppg. (28 games)
1987-88 UMBC 78.0 (28 games)
2002-03 Denver (NBA) #92.4 (82 games)
2003-04 Denver (NBA) 96.1 (82 games)
2004-05 Denver (NBA) 97.4 (28 games)
2005-06 USAFA *54.7 (31 games)
2006-07 USAFA **56.0 (35 games)
2007-08 Colorado ^64.4 (32 games)
2008-09 Colorado **67.5 (31 games)
* - nation's best ** - runner up nationally (Princeton 53.3)
^ - lowest in CU history 46 years; 12th all-time at CU
# - franchise record (shattering mark by more than five points)
** ranks 20th in school history
BIG 12 PLAY SETBACKS: Winning on the road is sometimes a difficult task, especially in the Big 12. CU has lost 29-straight Big 12 Conference road games since Feb. 5, 2006. All eight games in 2008-09, 2007-08 and 2006-07; and the last five games of the 2005-06 season.
Last Big 12 Road Win: Jan. 21, 2006 at Oklahoma State, 80-78 (ot).
Last Big 12 Road Win (Regulation): Jan. 14, 2006 at Missouri, 74-71.
vs. RANKED OPPONENTS: The Buffaloes have lost eight straight games to nationally ranked opponents dating back to the 2006-07. Their last win came in Boulder against then-No. 18/19 Oklahoma State, 84-75 (Feb. 15, 2007).
ON THE ROAD vs. RANKED FOES: CU has fallen on the road to ranked opponents 25-straight times. CU's last win on the road came at No. 20 Texas Tech, 80-78 (Jan. 11, 1997). The Buffs have lost 32-straight nationally ranked games away from Boulder, including 25 on the road, seven on neutral courts. Their last road win against a nationally ranked school came at No. 20 Texas Tech, 80-78, Jan. 11, 1997; last win over a top-10 opponent on the road: never.