Colorado University Athletics
MBB Hosts No. 22/24 Ranked Bears
GÇó Date: Tuesday, Jan. 12 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: KVCU 1190 AM: Mark Johnson (p-b-p), Charles Johnson (analyst); Sirius Channel 122
GÇó Series vs. Baylor: CU leads 14-8 (at Boulder, 7-2; at Waco, 3-5; Neutral, 4-1). In Big 12 play, CU leads, 10-6, including a 5-1 edge with games played in Boulder.
Colorado Probable Starters
Pos/NoPlayer Ht Wt Yr Hometown PPG RPG APG
G 1 Nate Tomlinson 6-3 185 So. Sydney, Australia 6.4 3.0 4.1
G 5 Marcus Relphorde 6-7 220 Jr. Chicago, Ill. 10.7 3.3 1.8
G 10 Alec Burks 6-6 185 Fr. Grandview, Mo. 16.6 5.1 1.9
G 11 Cory Higgins 6-5 190 Jr. Danville, Calif. 18.2 3.3 2.7
F 33 Austin Dufault 6-9 230 So. Killdeer, N.D. 6.9 3.5 1.2
OFF THE BENCH
G 12 Dwight Thorne II 6-3 185 Sr. Arlington, Texas 8.4 1.9 1.9
G 35 Keegan Hornbuckle 6-7 205 Fr. Westlake Village, Calif. 2.9 2.1 0.7
F 13 Shane Harris-Tunks 6-11225 Fr. Liverpool, NSW, Australia 2.4 2.2 0.7^
F 34 Casey Crawford 6-9 245 Jr. Overland Park, Kan. 3.5 2.1 0.1
^-blocked shots
BAYLOR Probable Starters
Pos/NoPlayer Ht Wt Yr Hometown PPG RPG APG
G 24 LaceDarius Dunn 6-4 196 Jr. Monroe, La. 18.4 3.9 2.3
G 45 Tweety Carter 5-11 180 Sr. Reserve, La. 16.5 3.2 6.9
F 13 Ekpe Udoh 6-10 240 Jr. Edmond, Okla. 14.1 11.3 4.7^
F 41 Anthony Jones 6-10 186 So. Houston, Texas 7.1 5.6 1.8
C 50 Josh Lomers 7-0 276 Sr. Boerne, Texas 6.9 3.5 0.9^
QUICKLY: CU is 8-0 at home for the first time since the 1982-83 season. That season they began the home campaign 9-0 GÇó This season marks only the third time in the Big 12 schedule (the others 1998-99 & 2006-07) that CU has opened conference play with back-to-back games against the south. The previous two years were a pair of losses each year to Texas and Oklahoma; and the third time opening against the 'Horns GÇó For the first time in school history, CU opens the conference season against three nationally ranked opponents (at Texas, Baylor, Kansas State).
TEAM NOTES: CU is shooting 50 percent from the field in 17 of the 30 halves this year. CU tied a first-half best 61.5 percent at Texas GÇó CU made 30 or more field goals in a game for the fourth time this season. That's the second-most since having five in the 2006-07 season GÇó CU is 6-0 when four of the five starters net double-digits GÇó CU is 7-2 when shooting over 50 percent from the field GÇó CU has scored over 70 points in 11 of 15 games and are 8-3 in those games.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES: Alec Burks last five games lead CU in 17.6 ppg., 6.6 rpg., .844 FT%-all team highs. His .500 FG% (29-of-58) is second GÇó Marcus Relphorde led CU in scoring for the second time with a team-high 24 points at Texas. He connected on a season-best eight field goals made GÇó Nate Tomlinson led the team with six assists at Texas, the seventh time he has led CU in assists this season, and fifth time with six or more. He leads the team with 62 assists. Last year he had 51 assists after 15 games.
Baylor UPDATE: The Bears, ranked No. 22/24 nationally, are 13-1 on the season and 1-0 Big 12 play after dismantling Oklahoma in Waco last Saturday, 91-60. It was their first win over OU in Big 12 ever (1-26). Baylor is 3-0 on the road and their lone loss on the season came against Alabama (79-76) at the Old Spice Classic (Lake Buena Vista, Fla.). Baylor averages 79.6 points per game with a 19 points per game scoring margin over the opposition. Head Coach Scott Drew enters his seventh year in Waco (94-96, .495) and returns two starters from last year's 24-15 team the advanced to the N.I.T. final losing to Penn State, 69-63.
vs. RANKED OPPONENTS: The Buffaloes have lost nine 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). Baylor enters Boulder ranked No. 22 in AP and No. 24 in the Coaches' Poll.
BIG 12 OPENERS: Colorado has now dropped 13-straight Big 12 openers after Saturday's 103-86 loss at No. 2 Texas, including seven on the road. The Texas game was also the fourth time the Buffs played Texas and second time in Austin (2005-06). CU's lone conference opening win came in the first season of the Big 12 (Jan. 4, 1997, Nebraska, 79-73).
AGAINST THE BEARS: Colorado leads the head-to-head series 14-8 and hold a 7-2 mark in Boulder. Since 2007, Baylor has won three of four games, including a win the last time at the Events Center (Feb. 27, 2008, 68-57). Coach Bzdelik is 1-2 against the Bears having knocked off BU at the Big 12 Championships, March 13, 2008 (91-84, 2 ots). CU came into the game as the 12 th seed becoming the first team in conference tournament to upset the fifth seed. In Big 12, CU leads the series, 10-6 including a 5-1 edge with games played in Boulder.
TONIGHT'S POSTER: Sophomore guard Nate Tomlinson is tonight's poster feature in the Big 12 home opener. Tomlinson, a 6-3 guard from Sydney, Australia, is the team leader in assists (62, 4.3 apg.). In fact, Tomlinson is ahead of last year's assist pace totaling 62 this season after 15 games, compared to 51 a year ago. He has led CU in assists seven times and has recorded six or more assists five times. In scoring, Tomlinson's best game this season was a 20-point effort on 7-for-9 shooting against Arizona with a season-best three three-pointers along with four assists.
HOME vs. THE ROAD: CU is averaging 81.1 points per game with four players in double figures in eight home games (.530 FG%). Cory Higgins (20.6 ppg.), Alec Burks (15.9), Marcus Relphorde (11.4), Dwight Thorne (11.6). In the seven combined away/neutral court games, the Buffs are averaging 72.6 ppg., shoot .447 from the field and average only two players in double figures (Alec Burks 17.4 ppg., Cory Higgins 15.4 ppg.).
FRESHMAN STUD: Alec Burks has started all 15 games and netted over 10 or more points in every game. With 249 points for the season, Burks is 12th overall of all CU freshmen. Here's the list including a trio of current Buff players.
Freshman Bests - Season (Most Points)
1) Richard Roby, 2004-05 480
2) Chauncey Billups, 1995-96 465
3) Donnie Boyce, 1991-92 417
4) Emmett Lewis, 1975-76 389
5) David Harrison, 2001-02 375
6) Matt Bullard, 1985-86 356
7) Randy Downs, 1982-83 322
8) Xavier Silas, 2006-07 301
9) Stephane Pelle, 1999-00 272
10) Cory Higgins, 2007-08 266
11) Austin Dufault, 2008-09 254
12) Alec Burks, 2009-10 249
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 16.6 2009-10
3. Richard Roby 15.8 2004-05
4. Emmett Lewis 15.0 1975-76
5. Donnie Boyce 14.9 1991-92
MORE BURKS: His 21-point effort at Texas, was his third game this season over 20 points (Texas Southern, Colorado State) GÇó
Led team in rebounding in his last three games (Tulsa, Miami, Texas) GÇó has led CU in rebounding seven times, scoring six times GÇó 12th all-time among CU freshmen scorers (249 points) GÇó 11 games this season shooting over 50 percent from the field; six games over 60 percent GÇó Second in team scoring 16.6 ppg.; first in rebounding (5.1 rpg.) and FG% (.546); third in assists (28, 1.9) ; tied for second with 18 steals
THREE-YEAR REVIEW: Coach Bzdelik has 105 career collegiate wins GÇó CU has scored 80 points in seven of 15 games this season (previously 80+ five games in his first two years) GÇó Team has shot 50 percent or better in 17 of 30 halves GÇó have made 96 3-pointers, the most in three years after 15 games GÇó team is shooting .489, another three-year best.