University of Colorado Athletics
MBB Travels to Texas A&M Saturday
GÇó Date: Saturday, Jan. 23 GÇó Tipoff: 11:47 a.m. (MST)
GÇó Television: Big 12 Network (Altitude Sports Entertainment), ESPN360.com, ESPN Full Court
GÇó Announcers: Brad Sham (p-b-p), Reid Gettys (analyst)
GÇó Location: Reed Arena (12,292)
GÇó CU Radio: KKZN 760-AM: Mark Johnson (p-b-p), Charles Johnson (analyst); Sirius Channel 122
GÇó Series vs. A&M: CU leads the series, 9-7; CU leads 8-7 in Big 12. A&M has won the last six in a row.
COMPLETE NOTES ATTACHED
Colorado Probable Starters
Pos/NoPlayer Ht Wt Yr Hometown PPG RPG APG
G 1 Nate Tomlinson 6-3 185 So. Sydney, Australia 5.9 2.7 4.2
G 5 Marcus Relphorde 6-7 220 Jr. Chicago, Ill. 11.1 3.4 1.8
G 10 Alec Burks 6-6 185 Fr. Grandview, Mo. 16.8 5.2 1.8
G 11 Cory Higgins 6-5 190 Jr. Danville, Calif. 18.6 3.6 2.6
F 33 Austin Dufault 6-9 230 So. Killdeer, N.D. 6.6 3.4 1.0
OFF THE BENCH
G 12 Dwight Thorne II 6-3 185 Sr. Arlington, Texas 9.1 2.0 1.9
G 35 Keegan Hornbuckle 6-7 205 Fr. Westlake Village, Calif. 2.5 1.7 0.6
F 13 Shane Harris-Tunks 6-11225 Fr. Liverpool, Australia 2.3 1.9 0.7
F 34 Casey Crawford 6-9 245 Jr. Overland Park, Kan. 3.9 2.1 0.4
TEXAS A&M Probable Starters
Pos/NoPlayer Ht Wt Yr Hometown PPG RPG APG
G 5 Dash Harris 6-1 175 So. Los Angles, Calif. 5.1 3.3 3.4
G 15 David Sloan 6-3 205 Sr. Dallas, Texas 17.5 3.9 2.2
F 00 Bryan Davis 6-9 250 Sr. Dallas, Texas 9.6 7.1 1.9^
F 22 Khris Middleton 6-7 215 Fr. S. Charleston, S.C. 5.7 3.7 0.9
F 45 Nathan Walkup 6-7 210 Jr. Houston, Texas 6.4 3.7 0.9
QUICKLY: Today marks the first time in Big 12 play that CU has opened the first five games of the conference season against opponents from the south GÇó CU entered the week ninth nationally in FT percentage, 14th in FG%, 47th in scoring offense and 49th in steals per game GÇó Cory Higgins notched his 200th career assist with a pair at OSU. He's tied for 22nd place and is the 23rd player in school history to tally 200 hand-outs GÇó CU has shot 50 percent or better in three of four Big 12 games (.505).
STREAKS: CU has lost 31-straight Big 12 Conference road games since Feb. 5, 2006. Last Big 12 road win: Jan. 21, 2006 at Oklahoma State, 80-78 (ot). CU has also dropped 23-straight road games against Division I opponents. CU last won on the road over a D-I opponent Dec. 22, 2007 at Colorado State (73-70).
INDIVIDUAL NOTES: Dwight Thorne is shooting .680 (17-of-25) over his last five games and leads CU with nine treys GÇó Alec Burks remains the only true freshman in the nation to score in double-digits every game this season GÇó Burks' last five games lead CU: 18.4 ppg., 6.6 rpg., .778 FT%, and three blocks GÇó Cory Higgins has made 324 career FTs made, just outside 10th place all-time at CU (334, Wilky Gilmore, 1959-62). Higgins is a career .801 percent FT shooting, ranking tied for seventh all-time at CU GÇó Burks and Higgins are tied with 31 made FGs over the last five games GÇó Marcus Relphorde was named Big 12/Phillips 66 Co-Rookie of the Week GÇó Cory Higgins tallied his third career 30-point effort against K-State GÇó Nate Tomlinson has led the team in assists 10 times, including six times with six or more. He leads the team with 75 assists GÇó Casey Crawford has played the last three road games (15.7 mpg., 7.3 ppg., 2.3 rpg., with 5 three-pointers) .
AGAINST THE AGGIES: Colorado leads the all-time series, 9-7 and hold an 8-7 edge in Big 12 play. However, Texas A&M has won the last six in a row in the series since 2005 (three in Boulder, twice in College Station, once neutral court). CU is 2-3 at Reed Arena.
A&M UPDATE: Texas A&M brings a perfect 10-0 record at home similar to CU's previous three road opponents (Tulsa, Texas, Oklahoma State). The Aggies are 2-2 in Big 12 play having defeated Nebraska and Oklahoma at home, falling at K-State and at Texas. Head Coach Mark Turgeon is in his third year in College Station (62-26, .705) and has tallied back-to-back 20-wins season with the Aggies (fifth overall in his 12 full years as a head coach). Texas A&M was a NCAA Tournament team a year ago (second round) and return four starters from a year ago.
TEAM NOTES: With a minimum of 60 shots taken, CU has five players shooting 50 percent or better GÇó Of the six players averaging 21 minutes or more minutes a game, all are shooting 65 or better from the FT line GÇó CU has shot 50 percent or better in the second half 10 times (6-4 in those games). They made 61.5 percent against Baylor (Texas Southern .636 was the highest) GÇó CU is 7-0 when four of the five starters net double-digits GÇó CU is 8-3 when shooting over 50 percent from the field GÇó CU has scored over 70 points in 14 of 18 games and are 9-5 in those games GÇó Over the last 14 years, CU is performing a best in field goal percentage (.490), 3pt% (.385), FT% (.765) and a low in turnovers per game (13.1).
STEPPING UP: Ever since going scoreless at Tulsa, junior Marcus Relphorde has dominated the stat sheet. Over his last four games: 18.3 ppg., 4.5 rpg. and .615 from the field (24-of-39). His 24 field goals is second to Cory Higgins (28), however his eight treys lead the team.
On Monday, he was named Co-Big 12 Rookie of the Week.
BIG 12 HONOR: Marcus Relphorde was named Co-Big 12 Phillips 66 Rookie of the Week for games played Jan. 11-17 in voting by a panel of media covering the Conference. This is Relphorde's first rookie of the week honor and first CU player to earn the award since Dec. 27, 2004 (Richard Roby). Relphorde helped the Buffaloes to a 1-1 week against two nationally ranked opponents. He started with 17 points and seven rebounds as CU topped No. 22 Baylor, 78-71. The junior guard then chipped in 18 points and three boards as Buffs dropped an 87-81 decision to No. 12 Kansas State. In two outings, he averaged 17.5 points and 5.0 rebounds, and shot 57.9 percent (11-of-19) from the field. He also made 4-of-7 (.571) from 3-point range while adding three assists and two steals.
AFTER FOUR BIG 12 GAMES: CU has placed four players in double-figures, average 80.8 points per game and shooting .505 percent from the field. However, on the negative, they are getting outrebounded by an average of a 39.8 to 24.5 margin, and are being outscored by seven points.
ONE STREAK DOWN: The Buffaloes ended a nine-game losing streak to nationally ranked opponents by beating No. 22/24 Baylor (Jan. 12), 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 at home, 89-77 (Feb. 3, 2007).
HOME vs. THE ROAD: CU is averaging 80.8 points per game with four players in double figures in 10 home games (.527 FG%). Cory Higgins (21.8 ppg.), Alec Burks (15.7), Marcus Relphorde (12.6), Dwight Thorne (11.4). In the eight combined away/neutral court games, the Buffs are averaging 73.2 ppg., shooting .448 from the field and average only two players in double figures (Alec Burks 18.3 ppg., Cory Higgins 15.1 ppg.).
FRESHMAN STUD: Alec Burks has started all 18 games and netted over 10 or more points in every game. With 303 points for the season, Burks is eighth overall of all CU freshmen.
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) Alec Burks, 2009-10 303
9) Xavier Silas, 2006-07 301
10) Stephane Pelle, 1999-00 272
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 16.8 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: Has four games over 20 points GÇó has led CU in rebounding nine times (three shared) and scoring seven times (twice shared) GÇó 12 games this season shooting over 50 percent from the field; seven games over 60 percent GÇó Second in team scoring 16.8 ppg.; first in rebounding (5.2 rpg.) and FG% (.535); third in assists (33, 1.8) ; tied for second with 22 steals.
THREE-YEAR REVIEW: Coach Bzdelik has 106 career collegiate wins GÇó CU has scored 80 points in eight of 18 games this season (previously 80+ five games in his first two years) GÇó CU has scored 70 or more points 14 of 18 games (9-5 this season) GÇó team has shot 50 percent or better in 19 of 36 halves GÇó have made 114 3-pointers, the most in three years after 18 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 52 losses. If you take a closer look, 24 of those losses have been by single-digits, an average of 4.7 points.
2009-10: 4 games (19 points, 4.8 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 10 of 18 games (one shared); has eight 20-plus scoring efforts this season, in addition to his 20 career, 20-point efforts GÇó Scored 1,138 career, ranking 20th overall GÇó Started every game as a Buff (81, t-10th) GÇó 9th in career steals (125) GÇó 12th in minutes played (2,810) GÇó t-22nd in assists (200) 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 CU committed 36 fouls against Kansas State, the most a CU has made since being called for 35 at Kansas, Jan. 31, 1995 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 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 19 of the 34 halves this year. CU tied a first-half best 61.5 percent at Texas.