Colorado University Athletics
MBB Travels to Missouri
GÇó Date: Wednesday, Feb. 24 GÇó Tipoff : 5:30 p.m. (MST)
GÇó Television: No local Colorado TV; ESPN Full Court, ESPN360.com
GÇó Announcers: Chris Gervino (p-b-p), Jon Sundvold (analyst)
GÇó Location: Mizzou Arena (15,061)
GÇó CU Radio: KKZN 760-AM: Mark Johnson (p-b-p),Charles Johnson (analyst); Sirius Channel 154
GÇó Series vs. Mizzou: Missouri leads all-time series, 97-52 and an 18-9 edge in Big 12 play in Columbia. Mizzou has won seven straight in the series. The Tigers are 4-1 vs. CU at Mizzou Arena.
QUICKLY: After scoring 17 points in three straight games, Alec Burks has moved into third place on the CU freshman scoring list with 421 points (Richard Roby (2004-05, 480); Chauncey Billups (1995-96, 465). Burks scored a season-high 27 points against Mizzou back on Feb. 6 (eighth most of a CU f freshmanGÇó Burks ranks tied for fifth nationally among all freshmen in points per game (16.8 ppg.) and fifth in FG% (.522) GÇó CU is 8-0 when four of the five starters net double-digits and 9-2 when shooting over 50 percent from the field GÇó Marcus Relphorde is averaging 14.5 points and 7.0 rebounds over his last two games.
Big 12-only games: Cory Higgins ranks first in steals (2.3); Alec Burks is third in FG% (.493); Nate Tomlinson sixth in assists (4.3). Burks (17.5 ppg., seventh overall) and Higgins (17.3 ppg., eighth) are the only two from the same school ranked in the scoring top-10.
SEASON/CAREER: Cory Higgins has connected on 48-of-55 (.873) free throws over his last nine contests GÇó In his last five games, Higgins is averaging 16.2 ppg., 4.8 rpg. and a team-best 11 steals GÇó Marcus Relphorde is grabbing 7.5 rebounds in his last five games GÇó Higgins is seventh all-time at CU with 366 career made free throws (452 attempts) and his career .810 FT%, ranking tied for sixth all-time at CU GÇó Burks and Higgins have led or shared scoring team honors 22 of 26 games. Marcus Relphorde (three times), Dwight Thorne (once) are the others.
NCAA LEADERS (at the start of the week): CU enters today's game as the nation's sixth ranked team in FT% (76.6); 25th in steals per game (8.5); 41st in three-point FG% (37.9); 44th in turnover margin (2.6); 47th FG% (46.5). Overall, CU ranks in five categories among the top-50.
INDIVIDUALS IN THE NCAA: At the beginning of the week, Alec Burks is CU's highest ranked player among the nations leaders. Burks is No. 51 in FG% (.522), while Cory Higgins is 57th in steals per game (1.9), 60th in FT% (.842), No. 73 in points per game (17.9).
HOME vs. ROAD: CU is 11-3 at home and shoots .496 from the field and averages 77.8 ppg. (allows 67.8). Three players are stellar at home (Cory Higgins: 19.4 ppg., 4.1 rpg., .538FG%; Alec Burks: 17.1 ppg., 4.6 rpg., .512 FG%; Marcus Relphorde: 12.0 ppg., 4.9 rpg., .484 FG%. On the road, CU is 1-9 and averages 67.8 ppg. (allows (77.9) and shoots .424 FG%. Only two players average double figures (Burks: 16.9 ppg., 5.1 rpg., .528 FG%; Higgins: 14.8 ppg., 3.1 rpg., .389 FG%).
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.).
BUFF TIDBITS: Cory Higgins and Alec Burks are separated by 43 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 is 11-3 at home GÇó CU is 9-2 when shooting 50 percent or better from the field, shot 50 percent against Oklahoma breaking a string of seven straight games not at least 50 percent GÇó CU had a season-low four turnovers at Iowa State, the lowest in 28 years. On the season, CU has committed single-digits miscues six times GÇó Four times CU has placed only two players in double figures - all losses GÇó 12 times CU has started Burks, Higgins, Tomlinson, Relphorde, Dufault. CU is 6-6 in those games.
TEAM NOTES: The Buffs are shooting 76.6 percent (471-of-615) 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 five games by 17+ points this season (at KU, at K-State, Missouri, at Texas, at Tulsa) GÇó CU has been out-rebounded in the last 16 of 17 games (tied Oklahoma at 33-33) GÇó CU has shot 50 percent or better in the second half 13 times (8-5 in those games). They made 61.5 percent against Baylor (Texas Southern .636 was the highest) GÇó CU is 8-0 when four of the five starters net double-digits GÇó CU has scored over 70 points in 17 of 26 games and are 11-6 in those games GÇó Over the last 14 years, CU is performing a best in field goal percentage (.465), 3pt% (.379), FT% (.766) and a low in turnovers per game (13.0).
AFTER 12 BIG 12 GAMES: CU is 3-9 with wins over Baylor, Nebraska and Oklahoma and have placed three players in double-figures, averaging 71.2 points per game and shooting .442 percent from the field. However, on the negative, they are getting outrebounded by an average of 39.1 to 28.0 margin, and are being outscored by a mere 6.0 points.
MOVING ON UP: Alec Burks has started 25 games and netted over 10 or more points in 24 of 25 games (he misses one game due to an injury and only played two minutes of another when getting injured). With 421 points for the season, Burks is third 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) Alec Burks, 2009-10 421
4) Donnie Boyce, 1991-92 417
5) Emmett Lewis, 1975-76 389
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 29
Freshman Bests - Season (Most Rebounds)
1) Stephane Pelle, 1999-00 218
2) Richard Fox, 1999-00 191
3) David Harrison, 2001-02 188
4) Matt Bullard, 1985-86 179
5) Chauncey Billups, 1995-96 165
6) Larry Vaculik, 1974-75 158
7) Carlton Carter, 1998-99 146
8) Marcus Hall, 2004-05 143
9) Cory Higgins, 2007-08 136
10) Donnie Boyce, 1991-92 133
11) Alec Burks, 2009-10 121
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
THREE-YEAR REVIEW: Coach Bzdelik has 108 career collegiate wins GÇó CU has scored 80 points in eight games this season (previously 80+ five games in his first two years) GÇó CU has scored 70 or more points 16 of 26 games (11-6 this season) GÇó team has shot 50 percent or better in 23 of 52 halves GÇó have made 167 3-pointers, the most in three years after 26 games GÇó team is shooting .465.
ON THE ROAD vs. RANKED FOES: CU has fallen on the road to ranked opponents 27-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 34-straight nationally ranked games away from Boulder, including 27 on the road and seven on neutral courts. Their last win over a top-10 opponent on the road: #5 at Missouri, 81-79 (ot), Jan. 15, 1973. CU has also dropped 27-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).
CU SINCE 1996-97: In the last 14 years (the history of the Big 12 Conference) CU is performing a best in a number of categories listed below after 26 games. CU is shooting a best in FG%, 3-PT%, FT% and turnovers.