Colorado University Athletics
MBB Host Sooners Wednesday
GÇó Date: Wednesday, Feb. 17 GÇó Tipoff: 7:05 p.m. (MST)
GÇó Television: ESPNU GÇó Announcers: Carter Blackburn (p-b-p), LaPhonso Ellis (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. OU: The Sooners lead the all-time series, 87-48 and have a 12-4 advantage in Big 12 play. In Boulder, CU has won three straight games against OU and hold a 4-2 edge.
QUICKLY: Alec Burks has scored 384 points, fifth all-time among all CU freshmen. He's five points from tying Emmett Lewis (1975-76) for fourth overall GÇó Burks ranks fifth nationally among all freshmen in points per game (16.8 ppg.) and fifth in FG percentage (.520) GÇó Nate Tomlinson has led CU in assists 10 of his last 12 games (16 overall for the season).
Big 12-only games: Cory Higgins is first in steals (2.5); Alec Burks (.482) and Higgins (.465) are fifth and sixth in FG%; Nate Tomlinson fifth in assists (4.4).
SEASON/CAREER: Cory Higgins has connected on 39-of-45 (.867) free throws over his last seven contests GÇó In his last five games, Higgins is averaging 16.4 ppg., 5.0 rpg. and a team-best 14 steals GÇó Higgins is seventh all-time at CU with 357 career made free throws (442 attempts) and his career .808 FT percentage, ranking sixth all-time at CU GÇó Burks and Higgins have led or shared scoring team honors 20 of 24 games. Marcus Relphorde (three times), Dwight Thorne (once) are the others.
NCAA LEADERS: CU enters tonight's game as the nation's fifth ranked team in FT% (76.1); 30th in steals per game (8.5); 47th in turnover margin (2.7); 49th FG% (46.4); 61st in three-point FG% (37.2). Overall, CU ranks in five categories among the top-61.
INDIVIDUALS IN THE NCAA: Cory Higgins is the highest CU player ranked among the country stats leaders. Higgins is 48th in steals per game (2.0); 63rd in in points per game (18.1); and 64th in FT% (83.9). Alec Burks is No. 53rd in FG% (.520).
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT AT K-STATE: With Marcus Relphorde (tendinitis in left knee) nursing an injury, Trey Eckloff made his first career start against Kansas State. It's the fifth different starting lineup for the Buffs this season GÇó Cory Higgins led CU in scoring for the 12th time (twice shared) this season and netted his 10th 20-point game of the year; 22nd career GÇó Higgins moved into seventh place on the CU steals list with 142 GÇó Alec Burks led the team in rebounding for the 10th time GÇó CU committed a season-high 22 turnovers and CU's 19 field goals ties a season-low (19 at Colorado State) GÇó Fourth time CU placed only two players in double figures - all losses GÇó Higgins and Burks combined for 38 of the Buffaloes' 51 points at Kansas State. The duo is averaging 34.9 points and both rank in the top 10 in the Big 12 in scoring.
HOME vs. ROAD: CU is 10-3 at home and shoots .495 from the field and averages 77.8 ppg. (allows 67.8). Three players are stellar at home (Cory Higgins: 19.5 ppg., 4.1 rpg., .552 FG%; Alec Burks: 17.1 ppg., 4.8 rpg., .496 FG%; Marcus Relphorde: 11.9 ppg., 4.5 rpg., .486 FG%. On the road, CU is 1-8 and averages 67.1 ppg. (allows (76.1) and shoots .421 FG%. Only two players average double figures (Burks: 16.9 ppg., 4.9 rpg., .542 FG%; Higgins: 15.0 ppg., 3.2 rpg., .386 FG%).
TEAM BITS: The Buffs are shooting 76.1 percent (440-of-578) overall from the free throw line, a mark that is first in the league. Colorado has never led the Big 12 in the category.
CU's has lost four games by 17+ points this season (at Kansas State, Missouri, at Texas, at Tulsa). Not counting the K-State and Mizzou loss, CU's previous three Big 12 losses are a combined 11 points (3.7 points) GÇó CU has shot below 39 percent from the field in four straight games, longest draught in the 30s this season.
NEAR MISSES: CU has lost 27 single-digit games under coach Bzdelik, 18 of those in the Big 12. The 27 losses are an average of 4.6 points.
2009-10: 7 games (three non-conference, four Big 12): 30 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.).
SOONERS UPDATE: Oklahoma is 4-5 in the Big 12 Conference along with a 1-6 record away from the Lloyd Noble Center in conference play. OU is 2-3 over the their last five games and bring a two-game losing into Boulder. At press time, it is not certain whether sophomore guard Willie Warren (mononucleosis) and freshman center will return to the lineup. Both missed last Saturday's game at Oklahoma State. The Sooners have excellent ball distribution as five players average double figures. Tommy Mason-Griffin leads the Big 12 in 3-point field goal percentage with a .452 mark. He is third on the all-time Oklahoma list for 3-point field goals by a freshman (57) and needs 10 to match the school record.
BUFF TIDBITS: Before his injury at Iowa State, Alec Burks reeled off 20-straight games in double-digits. After sitting out against top-ranked Kansas, Burks came back the following game with season-best 27 points at home against Missouri (nine FGs), his sixth 20-point effort. His 27 points as a freshman ranks eighth among all CU freshman in school history (see page 5) GÇó Cory Higgins and Alec Burks are separated by 48 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 Marcus Relphorde recorded the team's third double-double of the year with an 18-point, 11-rebound performance against KU. His four offensive and seven defensive boards were season-bests GÇó Levi Knutson chipped-in a season-best 13 points and five field goals versus the Jayhawks. His three three-pointers and 34 minutes were career-bests GÇó CU is 10-3 at home GÇó CU is 8-3 when shooting 50 percent or better from the field; first three Big 12 games shot over 50 percent from the field, however haven't shot over 50 percent in the last seven games GÇó CU had a season-low four turnovers at Iowa State, the lowest in 28 years (Dec. 8, 1982, CU defeated Colorado State, 57-55). On the season, CU has committed single-digits miscues five times.
TEAM NOTES: CU has been out-rebounded in the last 15 games, however grabbed a season-high 41 against Kansas GÇó Of the six players averaging 21 minutes or more minutes a game, five are shooting 71 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 and 8-3 when shooting over 50 percent from the field GÇó CU has scored over 70 points in 15 of 24 games and are 10-5 in those games GÇó Over the last 14 years, CU is performing a best in field goal percentage (.464), 3pt% (.372), FT% (.761) and a low in turnovers per game (13.0).
AFTER 10 BIG 12 GAMES: CU is 2-8 with wins over Baylor and Nebraska and have placed three players in double-figures, averaging 70.4 points per game and shooting .436 percent from the field. However, on the negative, they are getting outrebounded by an average of 39.6 to 27.8 margin, and are being outscored by a mere 6.2 points.
MOVING ON UP: Alec Burks has started 23 games and netted over 10 or more points in 22 of 23 games. With 387 points for the season, Burks is fifth overall in points and seventh 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) Alec Burks, 2009-10 387
6) David Harrison, 2001-02 375
7) Matt Bullard, 1985-86 356
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) Alec Burks, 2009-10 28
8) Pete Hefty, 1992-93 27
9) Michael Lee, 1984-85 26
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 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: Six games over 20 points GÇó led CU in rebounding 10 times (three shared) and scoring 10 times (three shared) GÇó 15 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 (4.8 rpg.) and FG% (.520); fifth in assists (39, 1.6); fourth with 28 steals.
HIGGINS UPDATE: Cory Higgins has led the team in scoring 12 of 24 games (one shared); he has 10, 20-plus scoring efforts this season, in addition to his 22 for his career efforts GÇó Scored 1,239 career, ranking 17th overall GÇó Started every game as a Buff (87, 8th) GÇó t-6th in career steals (143) GÇó 11th in minutes played (3,018) GÇó 20th in assists (211) 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 24 games this season (previously 80+ five games in his first two years) GÇó
CU has scored 70 or more points 15 of 24 games (10-5 this season) GÇó team has shot 50 percent or better in 21 of 48 halves GÇó have made 153 3-pointers, the most in three years after 24 games GÇó team is shooting .464, tying the 2003-04 season.