Colorado University Athletics
MBB Host Ranked Wildcats Saturday
GÇó Date: Saturday, Jan. 16 GÇó Tipoff : 2:01 p.m. (MST)
GÇó Television: Big 12 Network (Altitude 2 Sports & Entertainment)
GÇó Announcers: Chad McKee (p-b-p), Rich Zvosec (analyst)
GÇó Location: Coors Events Center (11,064)
GÇó CU Radio: KKZN 760-AM: Mark Johnson (p-b-p), Charles Johnson (analyst); Sirius Channel 127
GÇó Series vs. K-State: K-State leads 95-44 (in Boulder, 31-32; at Kansas State, 10-53; Neutral, 3-10). Big 12 Conference: Series
tied 14-14 (CU leads 8-5 in Boulder in Big 12 Play).
COLORADO Probable Starters
Pos/NoPlayer Ht Wt Yr Hometown PPG RPG APG
G 1 Nate Tomlinson 6-3 185 So. Sydney, Australia 6.7 2.9 4.1
G 5 Marcus Relphorde 6-7 220 Jr. Chicago, Ill. 11.1 3.5 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 3.4 2.8
F 13 Shane Harris-Tunks 6-11225 Fr. Liverpool, Australia 2.5 2.1 0.8
OFF THE BENCH
G 12 Dwight Thorne II 6-3 185 Sr. Arlington, Texas 8.5 2.1 1.9
G 35 Keegan Hornbuckle 6-7 205 Fr. Westlake Village, Calif. 2.8 1.9 0.5
F 33 Austin Dufault 6-9 230 So. Killdeer, N.D. 6.5 3.3 1.1
F 34 Casey Crawford 6-9 245 Jr. Overland Park, Kan. 3.5 2.1 0.1
KANSAS STATE Probable Starters
Pos/NoPlayer Ht Wt Yr Hometown PPG RPG APG
G 0 Jacob Pullen 6-0 200 Jr. Maywood, Ill. 8.1 6.2 2.1
G 21 Denis Clemente 6-1 175 Sr. Bayamon, Puerto Rico 19.8 2.5 3.4
F 23 Dominique Sutton 6-5 210 Jr. Durham, N.C. 2.6 4.3 0.9
F 24 Curtis Kelly 6-8 250 Jr. Bronx, N.Y. 11.1 6.2 1.4
C 15 Luis Colon 6-10 265 Sr. Carolina, Puerto Rico 14.9 2.5 4.2
QUICKLY: Alec Burks is the only true freshman in the country to score in double digits every game this season. Kennesaw State's Markeith Cummings has scored in double digits in every game, but is a redshirt freshman. Cody Ellis of Saint Louis has also scored in double digits in all his games, but has only played in two games GÇó CU is starting the conference season against three nationally ranked opponents - a school-first GÇó CU is 9-0 at home matching the 1982-83 season for consecutive wins at home to start a season. The last 10 in a row start was the 1979-80 season (first year of the Events Center) GÇó CU has never defeated ranked opponents in back-to-back games GÇó The last time CU had a winning record (over .500) to begin and end conference play was 2005-06 (9-7) GÇó CU is shooting 51.9 percent from the field after two games.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES: Alec Burks' last five games lead CU in 18.0 ppg., 6.6 rpg., .788 FT%, four blocks - all team highs. His .508 FG% (30-of-59) is second to Marcus Relphorde's 52.1 percent (30-of-59) GÇó Nate Tomlinson led the team with six assists at Texas, the eighth time he has led CU in assists this season, and fifth time with six or more. He leads the team with 66 assists. Last year, he had 52 assists after 15 games GÇó In two Big 12 games, Relphorde leads the team w/ 20.5 ppg., 6.0 rpg., 5 treys and second in FG% (.560) GÇó After two games, Alec Burks (18.5 ppg., 6.0 rpg.) and Cory Higgins (16.5 ppg.) rank second and third behind Relphorde in scoring.
AGAINST THE WILDCATS: Since Big 12 play began in 1997, the series is tied at 14 between Kansas State and Colorado. In Boulder, the Buffs hold an 8-5 edge, however the Wildcats have won the last three at the Events Center and the last seven in a row dating back to Feb. 18, 2006.
TEAM NOTES: CU has shot 50 percent or better in the second half nine times (6-3 in those games). They made 61.5 percent against Baylor (Texas Southern .636) GÇó CU is 7-0 when four of the five starters net double-digits GÇó CU is 8-2 when shooting over 50 percent from the field GÇó CU has scored over 70 points in 12 of 16 games and are 9-3 in those games GÇó Over the last 14 years, CU is performing a best in field goal percentage (.490), 3pt% (.388), FT% (.771) and a low in turnovers per game (12.8).
STEPPING UP: Ever since going scoreless at Tulsa, junior Marcus Relphorde has dominated the stat sheet. Over his last three games: 18.3 ppg., 5.0 rpg. and .594 from the field (19-of-32). His 19 field goals is tied with Alec Burks, however his six treys lead the team.
KANSAS STATE UPDATE: The Wildcats enters today's matinee as the No. 13 (AP)/No. 12 ESPN Coaches' Poll ranked team. Currently, K-State is 14-2 overall and 1-1 in Big 12 play having lost at Missouri (74-68) and defeating Texas A&M at home (88-65). The other loss occurred at Puerto Rico to Mississippi (86-74) back on Nov. 20. Four players in double figures and third year head coach Frank Martin (57-26, .663) returns four starters from last season's NIT team (second round).
ONE STREAK DOWN: The Buffaloes ended a nine-game losing streak to nationally ranked opponents by beating No. 22/24 Baylor last Tuesday, 78-71 in Boulder. It's the first win against a ranked opponent dating back to the 2006-07 season when they defeated No. 12/14 Oklahoma State, 89-77 (Feb. 3, 2007).
TODAY'S POSTER: Junior guard Levi Knutson is this afternoon's poster feature. Knutson has seen action in eight games this in 2009-10 (2.9 ppg., 1.3 rpg.). He has played in 70 games with two starts. Earlier this season, Knutson came off the bench to score 11 points on 3-of-5 shooting against the home win over Colorado Christian. With 1,128 minutes played, Knutson ranks seventh on the CU career list for consecutive minutes played without fouling out.
HOME vs. THE ROAD: CU is averaging 80.8 points per game with four players in double figures in eight home games (.527 FG%). Cory Higgins (20.3 ppg.), Alec Burks (15.9), Marcus Relphorde (12.0), Dwight Thorne (11.4). 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 16 games and netted over 10 or more points in every game. With 265 points for the season, Burks is 11th 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) Alec Burks, 2009-10 265
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 three of the last four games (Tulsa, Miami, Texas) GÇó has led CU in rebounding seven times, scoring six times 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% (.540); third in assists (30, 1.9) ; tied for third with 19 steals
THREE-YEAR REVIEW: Coach Bzdelik has 106 career collegiate wins GÇó CU has scored 80 points in seven of 16 games this season (previously 80+ five games in his first two years) GÇó
CU has scored 70 or more points 12 of 16 games (9-3 this season) GÇó team has shot 50 percent or better in 18 of 32 halves GÇó have made 102 3-pointers, the most in three years after 16 games GÇó team is shooting .490, another three-year best.
CLOSE CALLS: During the last three plus years, the CU men's team has suffered 48 losses. If you take a closer look, 23 of those losses have been 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 nine of 16 games (one shared); has seven 20-plus scoring efforts with 28 points against Arizona, his third highest scoring game, in addition to his 19 career 20-point efforts GÇó Scored 1,095 career, ranking 22nd overall. Next on the list is Jim Davis (1962-64, 1,110) GÇó Started every game as a Buff (79, 11th) GÇó 9th in career steals (121) GÇó 12th in minutes played (2,737) GÇó 23rd in assists (197) 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.).
TEAM NOTES: CU committed a season-low five turnovers against Baylor, the lowest any CU team has made since five against Cal Poly (Dec. 3, 2005 ) and five against Texas (Feb. 8, 2005), both CU wins GÇó This season marks only the third time in the Big 12 schedule (1998-99 & 2006-07) that CU has opened conference play with back-to-back games against the southern schools. The previous two years were a pair of losses each year to Texas and Oklahoma GÇó CU made 30 or more field goals in a game four times this season (30 at Texas). That's the second-most since having five in the 2006-07 season against the 'Horns GÇó CU is shooting 50 percent from the field in 18 of the 32 halves this year. CU tied a first-half best 61.5 percent at Texas GÇó
BIG 12 PLAY SETBACKS: Winning on the road is sometimes a difficult task, especially in the Big 12. CU has lost 30-straight Big 12 Conference road games since Feb. 5, 2006.
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.
ON THE ROAD: CU will bring a 22-game road losing streak into the game at Oklahoma State, Wednesday, Jan. 20. Ironically, it's the last time CU won on the road in Big 12 play. Last road win over a D-I opponent occurred Dec. 22, 2007 at Colorado State (73-70).
ON THE ROAD vs. RANKED FOES: CU has fallen on the road to ranked opponents 26-straight times. CU's last win on the road came at No. 20 Texas Tech, 80-78 (Jan. 11, 1997). The Buffs have also lost 33-straight nationally ranked games away from Boulder, including 26 on the road and seven on neutral courts. Their last win over a top-10 opponent on the road: never.