Colorado University Athletics

MBB Travels to Iowa State Saturday

MBB Travels to Iowa State Saturday
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Game #21

 

 

QUICKLY: Cory Higgins and Alec Burks are separated by 21 points, the closest 1-2 scoring punch a CU team has had since 2003-04 [David Harrison (497, 17.1 ppg) and Michel Morandais (467, 16.1 ppg.)] GÇó CU enters the week among the nation's best in a variety of categories: fourth nationally in FT percentage (.769), 17th in FG% (.487), 46th in steals per game (8.5), 49th in scoring offense (76.4) GÇó CU is 10-1 at home matching the 2005-06 season after 11 games GÇó CU has shot 50 percent or better in three of six Big 12 games (.489 overall) GÇó Alec Burks leads the Buffaloes in conference scoring (19.2 ppg.).

 

INDIVIDUAL NOTES: Alec Burks remains the only true freshman in the nation to score in double-digits every game this season (he's fourth nationally of all freshmen in points per game) GÇó Burks' last five games lead CU: 18.8 ppg., 4.6 rpg. (see more on Burks on page 5) GÇó Cory Higgins is averaging 18.2 ppg., 4.6 rpg. and a team-best 13 steals GÇó Dwight Thorne is shooting a team-best .615 (16-of-26) over his last five games in a reserve role and leads CU with eight treys GÇó Higgins is t-10th with 334 career FTs at CU and is a career .805 percent FT shooter, ranking sixth all-time at CU GÇó Burks and Higgins have led or shared scoring team honors 18 of 20 games. Dwight Thorne and Marcus Relphorde are the others GÇó Nate Tomlinson has led the team in assists 12 times, including seven times with six or more. He has led in assists six straight games, seven of the last eight. Tomlinson leads the team with 86 assists GÇó Marcus Relphorde was named Big 12/Phillips 66 Co-Rookie of the Week.

AGAINST IOWA STATE:  The Cyclones lead the all-time series, 75-67 and a 14-13 edge in Big 12 play.  CU is 1-12 in conference play at Hilton Coliseum. Coach Bzdelik is 2-2 against ISU with both wins coming in Boulder. Since 2007, the schools have split the last six games at three apiece. The Buffs last won in Ames, 54-52 (ot) back on Jan. 22, 2005, breaking 13-game losing streak in Ames. 

CYCLONES UPDATE: Iowa State comes into the game on a three-game losing (their second three-game skid of the season). ISU is 1-4 in Big 12 play with their lone win coming at Nebraska (56-53). Conference losses are to Texas (90-83), at Texas Tech (78-71), Kansas (84-61) and at Oklahoma (89-84). with the exception of the KU loss, Iowa State's other three Big 12 losses are an average of six points. The Cyclones are 9-3 at home this season under fourth-year head coach Greg McDermott (56-59, .487).

POINT DIFFERENTIAL: Six games into the 2010 Big 12 Conference schedule (1/3-plus into the 16-game trek), Colorado has been outscored by 20 points, or an average of 3.3 per game; that's the fifth best figure for the Buffs in 14 seasons of Big 12 play.  The 76.3 offensive average is the third best six games into the league slate, the best since the 2000 team averaged 76.8 points per game a six-pack of the way in.

2010        2-4           458-76.3                  478-79.7  -20           -3.3

2009        1-5           364-60.7                  435-72.5  -71           -11.8       

2008        1-5           350-58.3                  401-66.8  -51           -8.5

2007        1-5           390-65.0                  462-76.0  -72           -12.0

2006        4-2           443-73.8                  420-70.0  +23          +3.8

2005        2-4           359-59.8                  410-68.3  -51           -8.5

2004        3-3           430-71.7                  426-71.0  +  4          +0.7

2003        2-4           386-64.3                  410-68.3  -24           -4.0

2002        2-4           432-72.0                  460-75.7  -28           -4.7         

2001        2-4           451-75.2                  441-73.5  +10          +1.7

2000        2-4           467-76.8                  509-84.8  -42           -7.0

1999        1-5           383-63.8                  433-72.2  -50           -8.3

1998        2-4           427-71.2                  489-81.5  -67           -11.2

1997        6-0           468-78.0                  418-69.7  +50          +8.3

   

TEAM NOTES: CU has not out-rebounded the opponent in the last 11 games GÇó With a minimum of 90 shots taken, CU has four of its top five players shooting over 50 percent or better GÇó Of the six players averaging 21 minutes or more minutes a game, all are shooting 64 or better from the FT line GÇó CU has shot 50 percent or better in the second half 11 times (7-4 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 15 of 20 games and are 10-5 in those games GÇó 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 Over the last 14 years, CU is performing a best in field goal percentage (.487), 3pt% (.383), FT% (.769) and a low in turnovers per game (12.9).

 

STREAKS: CU has lost 32-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 24-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).

AFTER LAST FIVE BIG 12 GAMES: CU is 2-3 with wins over Baylor and Nebraska and have placed three players in double-figures, average 74.4 points per game and shooting .478 percent from the field. However, on the negative, they are getting outrebounded by an average of a 37.6 to 25.8 margin, and are being outscored by 1.4 points.

MOVING ON UP: Alec Burks has started all 20 games and netted over 10 or more points in every game.  With 343 points for the season, Burks is seventh overall in points and ninth in steals 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)     Alec Burks, 2009-10                           343         

8)     Randy Downs, 1982-83            322

9)     Xavier Silas, 2006-07                 301

10)  Stephane Pelle, 1999-00          272

Freshman Bests - Season (Most Steals)

1)     Donnie Boyce, 1991-92              68

2)     Jose Winston, 1998-99               53

3)     Richard Roby, 2004-05                48

4)     Chauncey Billups, 1995-96        42

5)     Jay Humphries, 1980-81             41

6)     Cory Higgins, 2007-08                36

7)     Pete Hefty, 1992-93                    27

8)     Michael Lee, 1984-85                 26

9)     Alec Burks, 2009-10                              25

10)                          Stevie Wise, 1987-88          24

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.

1.      Chauncey Billups        17.9        1995-96

2.      Alec Burks                    17.2        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 five games over 20 points GÇó

has led CU in rebounding nine times (three shared) and scoring nine  times (three shared) GÇó 14 games this season shooting over 50 percent from the field; seven games over 60 percent GÇó Second in team scoring 17.2 ppg.; first in rebounding (5.0 rpg.) and FG% (.531); third in assists (37, 1.9); second with 25 steals.

CLOSE CALLS: During the last three plus years, the CU men's team has suffered 51 losses. If you take a closer look, 25 of those losses have been by single-digits, an average of 4.6 points.

2009-10: 5 games (23 points, 4.6 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 19 games (one shared); has eight 20-plus scoring efforts this season, in addition to his 20 career, 20-point efforts GÇó Scored 1,168 career, ranking 20th overall GÇó Started every game as a Buff (83, 9th) GÇó 9th in career steals (132) GÇó 12th in minutes played (2,877) GÇó 22nd in assists (201) 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.).

THREE-YEAR REVIEW: Coach Bzdelik has 107 career collegiate wins GÇó CU has scored 80 points in eight of 20 games this season (previously 80+ five games in his first two years) GÇó

CU has scored 70 or more points 15 of 20 games (10-5 this season) GÇó team has shot 50 percent or better in 21 of 40 halves GÇó have made 128 3-pointers, the most in three years after 20 games GÇó team is shooting .487, another three-year best.

Freshman Guard Alec Burks Notes:                

  • Only freshman in country to score in double digits in all his team's games this season (20).
  • 17.2 points per game is second highest scoring average among freshmen in CU history, behind only Chauncey Billups (17.9 ppg in 1995-96).
  • Fourth nationally among all freshman in points per game (prior to Jan. 27 game).
  • Leads team in scoring (19.2) and rebounding (4.8) through six conference games.
  • Fifth in Big 12 with 19.2 points per game in conference games (first among freshmen).
  • Eighth in Big 12 with 17.2 points per game overall (first among freshmen).
  • Leads all Big 12 in field goal percentage in all games at 53.1 percent (fourth in conference games at 49.4).
  • Through Jan. 24, 53.2 field goal percentage ranks 52nd in the nation and sixth among freshmen.
  • Second among Big 12 freshmen with 5.0 rebounds per game in all games (fourth in Big 12 games with 4.8).
  • Has averaged 17.5 points and 5.3 rebounds, and shot 52.0 percent from the field in six games against teams currently ranked or receiving votes in the AP Top 25.
  • 12th in Big 12 in free throw percentage in all games at 77.9 percent (first among freshmen).
  • Fourth in Big 12 in all games in both free throws made and free throws attempted (first among freshmen).
  • Has led team in scoring nine times (three shared), led team in rebounding nine times (three shared), and led team in assists four times (two shared).
  • Has accounted for 25.1 percent of CU's scoring in Big 12 games.
  • Five 20+ scoring games; shot 50 percent or better 14 times; over 60 percent seven times.
  • Scored 343 points and needs 13 points to move into sixth on the CU freshman scoring list (Richard Roby, 480, 2004-05; Chauncey Billups, 465, 1995-96).
  • Recorded double-double (17 points, 10 rebounds) in 67-65 win over Miami (Ohio).

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 80.0 points per game with four players in double figures in 11 home games (.524 FG%). Cory Higgins (20.4 ppg.), Alec Burks (16.2), Marcus Relphorde (12.3), Dwight Thorne (10.8). In the nine combined away/neutral court games, the Buffs are averaging 72.1 ppg., shooting .446 from the field and average only two players in double figures (Alec Burks 18.3 ppg., Cory Higgins 15.6 ppg.).