Colorado University Athletics
MBB Round 2 with Texas Tech on Wednesday
GÇó Date: Wednesday, March 10 GÇó Tipoff : 10:37 a.m. (MST)
GÇó Television: Big 12 Network (Altitude Sports & Entertainment); ESPN Full Court, ESPN360.com
GÇó Announcers: Mitch Holthus (p-b-p), Reid Gettys (analyst) GÇó Location: Sprint Center (18,879)
GÇó CU Radio: KKZN 760-AM: Mark Johnson (p-b-p), Charles Johnson (analyst); Sirius Channel 125, XM 231
GÇó Series vs. Texas Tech: Colorado leads the all-time series, 17-12; series is tied in Big 12 play, 8-8. TTU leads 2-0 at the Big 12 Championships (wins in 2004, 2007). CU broke a four-game skid against the Red Raiders and first win over TTU since 2006.
QUICKLY: Alec Burks became the first CU player in Big 12 history to earn Rookie of the Year honors; Cory Higgins made his second straight all-Conference third team honor GÇó Higgins also was named Big 12 Player of the Week for the second time GÇó Burks became CU's all-time leader in freshman points (488) GÇó Higgins' 30 points against TTU last Saturday (his fifth career) moved him to ninth place on the school's all-time scoring list (1,373) GÇó Higgins' 569 season points are the most points scored by a CU player since Donnie Boyce scored 582 in 1993-94 GÇó Burks also named to the Sporting News All-Freshman second team.
TEAM: CU has won three-straight conference games, matching the 2002-03 team for wins to end the regular season GÇó Today's match up with Texas Tech is the 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 GÇó CU's 15 wins and six Big 12 wins are the most since 2005-06 (last NIT appearance).
BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES: Colorado enters the conference post-season with a 7-13 record. This season is CU's highest seed since being fifth in 2005-06. As the No. 8 seed, the Buffs are 1-0 (1998-99, defeating Iowa State).
LOOKING AHEAD: If CU is fortunate to defeat Texas Tech, No. 1 seed in the tourney isn't guaranteed to advance. Last season, No. 9 Baylor upset No. 1 Kansas, and in 2001, No. 8 BU upset No. 1 Iowa State in 2000.
Latest RPI: CU is now 103 with the third best RPI for a school with a non-winning record (.500 or worse) behind South Carolina (#82) and Georgia (#99). Strength of schedule is now No. 28.
Familiar Faces in League tourney: After a full slate of Big 12 games, the Buffaloes ended up as the No. 8 seed in the league and will face off against No. 9 Texas Tech. The matchup makes for a quick turnaround as the teams will play twice in five days. Overall, it is just the sixth time in the Big 12 era that two teams played the last game of the league slate and then matched up in the opening round of the conference tourney. First-Round Games Between Teams that Faced Off in the Regular-Season Finale:
Teams Season
Colorado / Texas Tech 2010
Nebraska / Baylor 2009
Nebraska / Oklahoma State 2007
Nebraska / Missouri 2006
Texas Tech / Baylor 2003
Texas A&M / Baylor 1998
Two other times (not listed) a team has played its regular-season finale against a foe that, after its first-round bye, it then faced in the quarterfinals. This season if Texas defeats Iowa State, the 'Horns will play Baylor, both played one another March 6.
FINAL Big 12-only games: Cory Higgins ranked first in steals for the second straight season at 2.1 spg. GÇó Higgins (19.4 ppg., third overall) and Burks (17.3 ppg., eighth overall) were one of two schools that placed a pair in the scoring top-10 (K-State is the other) GÇó Alec Burks was second in FG% (.524) and Higgins was third (.522); Nate Tomlinson was third in turnover-assist ratio (2.2) and fifth in assists (4.4).
SEASON SCORING: Alec Burks and Cory Higgins have led or shared scoring team honors 25 of 30 games. Marcus Relphorde (three times), Casey Crawford (once), Dwight Thorne (once) are the others GÇó Higgins and Burks are separated by 81 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.)].
TURNOVERS: CU's 390 turnovers as a team are its lowest since the 1997-98 season when they committed 386 (27 games) GÇó CU had a season-low four turnovers at Iowa State (Jan. 30), the lowest in 28 years. On the season, CU has committed single-digits miscues seven times CU committed nine turnovers against ISU (Feb. 27), the seventh time they have performed nine and under this season.
TEAM NOTES: The Buffs are shooting 76.8 percent (546-of-711) overall from the free throw line, a mark that is first in the league. Colorado has never led the Big 12 (all games) 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 20 of 21 games (tied Oklahoma at 33-33) GÇó Four times CU has placed only two players in double figures - all losses.
MORE FT: 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 The Buffs have been ranked in the nation's top-10 all season. They were ranked No. 1 earlier this season.
TEAM TRENDS: CU is 8-0 when four of the five starters net double-digits and 12-2 when shooting over 50 percent from the field GÇó CU has shot 50 percent or better in the second half 16 times (11-5 in those games) GÇó CU has scored over 70 points in 20 of 30 games and are 14-6 in those games GÇó CU is 9-1 this season when shooing 50 percent or better in each half GÇó Colorado is 13-3 went at home, its most victories since a 14-2 home mark in 2005-06 GÇó CU is 13-4 when leading at half GÇó 15 times CU has started Burks, Higgins, Tomlinson, Relphorde, Dufault. CU is 8-7 in those games.
HIGGINS: Cory Higgins has led CU in scoring in five of the last seven games (22.1 ppg.) and shooting 584 percent from the field and 52.4 from the three-point arc GÇó Higgins has scored in double digits in all but one game this season and has moved into ninth on the Buffaloes' all-time scoring list with 1,373 points.
THREE-YEAR SUCCESS: Coach Bzdelik has 111 career collegiate wins GÇó CU has scored 80 points in 10 games this season (previously 80+ five games in his first two years) GÇó
CU has scored 70 or more points 20 of 29 games (14-6 this season) GÇó team has shot 50 percent or better in 29 of 60 halves GÇó team is shooting .475, a school-best since the 1989-90 season (.479).
HOME vs. ROAD: CU went 13-3 at home and shot .505 from the field and averaged 79.1 ppg. (allows 69.4). Three players were stellar at home (Cory Higgins: 20.9 ppg., 4.1 rpg., .577 FG%; Alec Burks: 17.1 ppg., 4.7 rpg., .524 FG%; Marcus Relphorde: 12.4 ppg., 4.6 rpg., .483 FG%. On the road, CU went 2-10 and averaged 68.5 ppg. (allows (79.2) and shoots .437 FG%. Three players averaged 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%).
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.).
16 BIG 12 GAMES: CU is 6-10 with wins over Texas Tech, Iowa State, Baylor, Nebraska and Oklahoma - all at home, and Nebraska on the road. They have placed three players in double-figures, averaging 73.4 points per game and shooting .465 percent from the field. However, on the negative, they are getting outrebounded by an average of 38.6 to 27.2 margin, and are being outscored by a mere 4.7 points.
#1 in SCORING: Alec Burks sits atop the school's all-time freshman list in points scored in a season. Last Saturday, he passed Chauncey Billups and Richard Roby on the same day.
Freshman Bests - Season (Most Points)
1) Alec Burks, 2009-10 488
2) Richard Roby, 2004-05 480
3) Chauncey Billups, 1995-96 465
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
5) Jay Humphries, 1980-81 41
6) Cory Higgins, 2007-08 36
7) Alec Burks, 2009-10 33
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) Alec Burks, 2009-10 140
10) Cory Higgins, 2007-08 136
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
TEAM NOTES (after road win at 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 2005-06 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.
ROAD WINS: Yes, I said it! 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