MBB Hosts Red Raiders on Senior Day - University of Colorado Athletics

TICKETS AVAILABLE FOR SEASON FINALE: The CU men's basketball team hosts Texas Tech on Saturday for its final home game of the 2009-10 season. The support of CU fans throughout the season has made this one of the most exciting seasons at the Coors Events Center. The Buffs have won three of the last five games and need your support to make it three straight conference victories heading into the Big 12 Basketball Championships in Kansas City next week. A victory on Saturday puts the Buffs at .500 and in position to earn a potential invitation to play in the NIT. The final home game will also feature seniors Dwight Thorne II and Trent Beckley, who will be recognized during pre- and post-game ceremonies. Tickets are still available for this pivotal game and can be purchased at CUBuffs.com or by calling 303-49-BUFFS.

COMPLETE NOTES ATTACHED

GAME #30 vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders (16-13, 4-11 Big 12)

GÇó Date: Saturday, March 6 GÇó Tipoff: 2:01 p.m. (MST)

GÇó Television: Big 12 Network (Altitude Sports & Entertainment), ESPN Full Court, ESPN360.com

GÇó Announcers: Mitch Holthus (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);

Satellite Radio: Sirius Channel 121, XM 141

GÇó Series vs. Texas Tech: Colorado leads the all-time series, 16-12, while TTU leads in Big 12 play, 8-7. In Boulder, CU leads 4-2, however, TTU has won four straight in the series since 2007.

QUICKLY: CU's 14 wins and five Big 12 victories are bests under Coach Bzdelik in his three years GÇó Cory Higgins has scored 1,343 points (12th place on the school's scoring list) and needs 23 points to make the top-10 GÇó Alec Burks is one point from tying second place (464 points) on the school's all-time list freshman list. He's 17 points from breaking the freshman record (480) GÇó Casey Crawford scored a career-best 20 points with six treys at Nebraska. Over his last two games, he's averaging 15 ppg. with eight treys and shooting 11-of-14 from the field (.786) GÇó Higgins has surpassed his seasonal high for points in a season with 539 (fifth all-time of CU juniors).

IF CU WINS: A win today would be three-straight conference games, matching the 2002-03 team for wins to end the regular season.

SENIOR SENDOFF: Dwight Thorne II will play his final regular season game in Boulder today. Thorne has scored 737 career points (50th all-time on CU's scoring list) and has played in 115 games (12th all-time) with 37 starts. He's 17th in career minutes played (2,429). CU is 7-6 in the Big 12 era on Senior Day and has won three of their last four. CU last ended the regular season against Texas Tech on March 4, 2000 and took an 88-67 win.

Big 12-only games: Cory Higgins ranks first in steals (2.1); Alec Burks is second in FG% (.513) and Higgins is fourth (.503); Nate Tomlinson is third in turnover-assist ratio (2.0) and sixth in assists (4.3). Higgins (18.7 ppg., fourth overall) and Burks (16.9 ppg., ninth overall) and are one of two schools ranked with a pair in the scoring top-10 (K-State is the other).

SEASON/CAREER: Cory Higgins has connected on 62-of-72 (.861) free throws over his last 12 contests GÇó Marcus Relphorde is 12.8 ppg., 4.6 rpg. in his last five games GÇó Higgins is fifth all-time at CU with 380 career made free throws (469 attempts) and his career .810 FT%, ranking sixth all-time at CU GÇó Burks and Higgins have led or shared scoring team honors 24 of 29 games. Marcus Relphorde (three times), Casey Crawford (once), Dwight Thorne (once) are the others GÇó Crawford tied Kenny Price (6-of-7 vs. Georgia on Dec. 9, 1997) for the CU record for three-point percentage in a game with a minimum of seven attempts by also going 6-of-7 (85.7 percent) from beyond the arc. Crawford made all four three-pointers he attempted in the second half.

TEAM NOTES (after defeating NU): CU won in Lincoln for only the third time in 14 games in Big 12 play and first win at the Devaney Center since Jan. 14, 2004 (68-60) breaking a five-game losing streak GÇó CU swept Nebraska for the first time since the 2003-04 season GÇó First two-game Big 12 winning streak since the 2005-6 season GÇó CU shot a season-best from the field (.619) and a best from the three-point arc (.706) at Nebraska GÇó CU made a season-high 12 three-pointers. CU tied a season first half high seven 3-pointers.

MORE TEAM STATS: CU is 8-0 when four of the five starters net double-digits and 11-2 when shooting over 50 percent from the field GÇó CU went a perfect 12-of-12 from the free throw line against Iowa State. The last time CU was perfect at the charity stripe was Feb. 18, 2006 at Kansas State (11-of-11). Against Iowa State was the ninth time since 1952-53 CU has made all free throws in a game GÇó CU is 8-1 this season when shooing 50 percent or better in each half GÇó CU committed nine turnovers against ISU, the seventh time they have performed nine and under this season. The team's 380 turnovers after 29 games is the second lowest in school history since 1977-78 when turnovers were kept as a stat GÇó Colorado is 12-3 at home, its most victories since a 14-2 home mark in 2005-06 GÇó CU is 12-4 when leading at half.

NEXT WEEK: The Buffs will either be the No. 8 or No. 9 seed at next week's Big 12 Basketball Championships in Kansas City. If CU defeats Texas Tech today, they will be the No. 8 seed and play the Red Raiders again on Wednesday, March 10, 10:30 a.m. (MST). If CU loses today, TTU will be the eighth seed, CU the ninth. If CU/TTU match up next week, it will be first time since the 1984-85 season (Big Eight Conference) when CU played the regular season finale against the same opponent at the conference tournament.

CAMPUS VIEWING: Next week's conference tournament can be seen on the CU campus (Channel 2). CU's first round game will be shown on Altitude 2 locally, which is not a regular station (Comcast channel 5 if you have cable; direct TV channel 682 if satellite). For those not on campus, CU's first round game can be seen on Altitude.

HIGGINS: Cory Higgins has led CU in scoring in four of the last six games (20.8 ppg.) and shooting 54.4 percent from the field and 50.0 from the three-point arc GÇó Higgins has scored in double digits in all but one game this season and has moved into 12th on the Buffaloes' all-time scoring list with 1,343 points. He needs 23 points to move into the top 10 of the school list.

THREE-YEAR SUCCESS: Coach Bzdelik has 110 career collegiate wins GÇó CU has scored 80 points in nine games this season (previously 80+ five games in his first two years) GÇó CU has scored 70 or more points 19 of 29 games (13-6 this season) GÇó team has shot 50 percent or better in 27 of 58 halves GÇó team is shooting .471, a school-best since the 1989-90 season (.479).

HOME vs. ROAD: CU is 12-3 at home and shoots .496 from the field and averages 77.6 ppg. (allows 68.1). Three players are stellar at home (Cory Higgins: 20.3 ppg., 4.2 rpg., .559 FG%; Alec Burks: 16.6 ppg., 4.4 rpg., .511 FG%; Marcus Relphorde: 12.0 ppg., 4.7 rpg., .478 FG%. On the road, CU is 2-10 and averages 68.5 ppg. (allows (79.2) and shoots .437 FG%. Three players average double figures (Burks: 16.8 ppg., 4.9 rpg., .546 FG%; Higgins: 15.7 ppg., 3.3 rpg., .429 FG%; Relphorde 10.2 ppg., 3.7 rpg., .330 FG%).

ROAD WINS: From the stats office of sports information director Dave Plati, CU's 13-point win at Nebraska ranks among double-digit road wins in Big 12 play.

Colorado's Largest Big 12 Road Wins

17 Feb. 28, 1998 Colorado 81, @Texas 64

17 Feb. 20, 1999 Colorado 73, @Baylor 56

17 Jan. 20, 2001 Colorado 88, @Texas Tech 71

15 Feb. 26, 2002 Colorado 92, @Texas A&M 77

13 March 1, 2003 Colorado 72, @Baylor 59

13 March 2, 2010 Colorado 81, @Nebraska 68

10 Feb. 24, 1999 Colorado 78, @Texas Tech 68

10 Feb. 21, 2004 Colorado 72, @Kansas State 62

10 Feb. 5, 2005 Colorado 70, @Kansas State 60

TEAM NOTES: The Buffs are shooting 77.2 percent (512-of-663) 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 six games by 17+ points this season (at Mizzou, at KU, at K-State, Missouri, at Texas, at Tulsa) GÇó CU has been out-rebounded in the last 19 of 20 games (tied Oklahoma at 33-33) GÇó CU has shot 50 percent or better in the second half 15 times (10-5 in those games). They made 61.9 at Nebraska, 61.5 percent against Baylor (Texas Southern 63.6 was the highest) GÇó CU has scored over 70 points in 19 of 29 games and are 13-6 in those games GÇó Over the last 14 years, CU is performing a best in field goal percentage (.471), 3pt% (.388), FT% (.772) and a low in turnovers per game (13.1).

AFTER 15 BIG 12 GAMES: CU is 5-10 with wins over Iowa State, Baylor, Nebraska and Oklahoma - all at home, and Nebraska on the road. They have placed three players in double-figures, averaging 71.6 points per game and shooting .458 percent from the field. However, on the negative, they are getting outrebounded by an average of 38.6 to 27.0 margin, and are being outscored by a mere 5.7 points.

MOVING ON UP: Alec Burks has started 28 games and netted over 10 or more points in of 27 games (he missed one game due to an injury and only played two minutes of another when getting injured). With 464 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, 2009-10 464

4) Donnie Boyce, 1991-92 417

5) Emmett Lewis, 1975-76 389

Freshman Bests - Season (Most Steals)

1) Donnie Boyce, 1991-92 68

3) Richard Roby, 2004-05 48

4) Chauncey Billups, 1995-96 42

6) Cory Higgins, 2007-08 36

7) Alec Burks, 2009-10 31

Freshman Bests - Season (Most Rebounds)

1) Stephane Pelle, 1999-00 218

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, 2009-10 131

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 16.6 2009-10

3. Richard Roby 15.8 2004-05

4. Emmett Lewis 15.0 1975-76

5. Donnie Boyce 14.9 1991-92

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 29 games. CU is shooting a best in FG%, 3-PT%, FT% and turnovers.

Years PPG FG % 3-Pt.% FT% To W's

2009-10 73.7 .471 .388 .772 13.1 14

2008-09 62.9 .454 .346 .731 14.1 9

2007-08 62.4 .451 .343 .684 13.4 12

2006-07 69.1 .417 .313 .655 17.5 7

2005-06 76.8 .434 .342 .646 14.0 20

2004-05 71.6 .435 .353 .629 14.4 14

2003-04 74.2 .464 .372 .621 14.6 18

2002-03 75.2 .443 .326 .669 14.0 20

2001-02 79.7 .453 .357 .677 17.0 15

2000-01 80.6 .460 .359 .715 16.5 15

1999-00 75.2 .426 .339 .686 14.3 18