Colorado University Athletics

MBB Hits the Road to Waco

MBB Hits the Road to Waco
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Game #22 Notes at Baylor

GAME #22  at Baylor Bears (13-6, 3-3 Big 12)
Saturday, Jan. 29, 11:47 a.m. (MST); Ferrell Center (10,284)
Television: Big 12 Network  (Altitude Sports & Entertainment); ESPN Full Court

Announcers:  Mitch Holthus (p-b-p), Stephen Howard (analyst)
KKZN 760-AM: Mark Johnson (p-b-p), Chris Lewis (analyst)
Satellite Radio: Sirius: 126; XM: 231 (Baylor Broadcast)

Altitude Sports & Entertainment channel lineups for Big 12 Network:

Comcast: Channel 105 (Denver market)
http://www.altitude.tv/Alt2/Alt2Info/default.aspx

Direct TV: Channel 681 (Denver market)
Info:  http://www.expertsatellite.com/direct-tv/direct-tv-altitude-sports-entertainment.html

COMPLETE NOTES ATTACHED

QUICKLY: CU's other Big 12 starts after seven games: 6-1 (1996-97); 5-2 (2005-06); 4-3 (2003-04) GÇó CU is 11-1 at home this season and have won 14 of 15 home games since last year GÇó CU's three-game skid is the longest of the season.

IF CU wins at BAYLOR: The Buffs will have won three true road games this season, the most since winning three in 2007-08 (all those wins in state of Colorado) GÇó Wins at Baylor and K-State would equal two Big 12 roads in the same season since 2005-06 season (at Missouri, at Oklahoma State) .

CU/BU Series: The Buffaloes lead the all-time series against the Bears, 15-8, however are only 3-5 in Waco. In Big 12 play, CU leads 11-6. Baylor has won the last three of five games.  If CU wins today, it will be their first win in Waco since March 1, 2003 (72-59).

Big 12-Only Leaders: Alec Burks leads the Big 12 Conference in points per game at 21.7, he's also third in offensive rebounding (3.2), fourth in rebounding (8.2), and tied for sixth in defensive rebounding (5.0). Levi Knutson ranks third and fifth, respectively in three-point FG% (50%) and made (2.7). Cory Higgins is fifth in FT% (.903).

LAST YEAR vs. baylor: The Buffs upset the No. 22/24 Bears, 78-71, rallying from a five-point halftime deficit on 61.5 percent shooting in the second half. Five players scored over 10 points: Cory Higgins (18 pts.), Marcus Relphorde (17 pts.), Alec Burks (16 pts.), Nate Tomlinson (11 pts.), Dwight Thorne (10 pts.).

RECORD BREAKER: Cory Higgins now holds a pair of school records. He's the all-time free throw made leader (494) and he's the all-time leader in minutes played (3877). Higgins broke the FT throw record against OSU; the career minutes against OU. See page 7 for the all-time lists.

In elite company... Alec Burks (Through games of Tuesday, Jan. 25):

                        CU Leaders in Career Points Per Game

                 1. Cliff Meely                1969-71         24.3

                 2. Shaun Vandiver       1989-91         20.6

                 3. Donnie Boyce          1991-95         18.8

                 4. Chauncey Billups     1995-97         18.5

                 5. Alec Burks                 2009-pres.     18.2

- With 928 career points, Burks is closing in on joining only Chauncey Billups (1,020 points in two seasons) as the second Buff to reach the 1,000-point plateau as a sophomore.

- Getting to the line: Burks ranks third nationally in free throws made (131) and sixth nationally in free throws attempted (157).

FROSH LEADER ON THE BOARDS ... Andre Roberson: He is averaging 7.3 rebounds per game through Sunday, Jan. 23, placed 11th nationally among freshmen, second in the Big 12 among freshmen (Texas' Tristan Thompson with 7.6 rpg), and first nationally among both freshmen listed as guards and freshmen who have come off the bench in the majority of his team's games. In fact, Roberson is 12th nationally among guards of any class in rebounds per game.

- With 149 rebounds on the season, Roberson needs to average 6.9 per game in the 10 remaining conference games to surpass Stephane Pelle as CU's freshman rebounding leader (218 in the 1999-00 season). This does not factor any potential Big 12 tournament or postseason games. Pelle left CU as the Buffs only player to grab over 1,000 career boards, finishing with a CU record 1,054.

STREAKS: CU's upset of K-State and Missouri produced back-to-back wins over nationally ranked opponents in school history, a school first GÇó Coach Boyle is the first CU head coach to win his first two league games since H.B. Lee (1950-51) and the first CU coach since Henry Iba (1933-34) to win his first three conference games GÇó Against K-State, CU's first win on the road in 31 attempts against a nationally ranked opponent (Jan. 11, 1997, #20 at Texas Tech)-14 years GÇó The pair of nationally ranked upsets was a first since 2002-03 when the Buffs defeated four schools that season, it's also last time CU reached the NCAA Tournament.

WOODEN TOP 30 LIST: Alec Burks was one of 30 student-athletes named to The John R. Wooden Award Midseason list. Burks leads the Buffs in scoring with 19.8 points per game and has led the team in scoring10 times in 2010-11 GÇó Alec Burks was named Big 12 Player of the Week (Jan. 3-9) averaging 28 points and eight rebounds, CU's first conference weekly honor this season.

SIXTH MAN (see more on page 5): In his six Big 12 games, senior Levi Knutson is making his name known as a solid sixth man. He's averaging 11.7 points (third overall) with a team-best 16 three-pointers.

Game              Pts.                      FG           %                 3FG                    %

at OU       7 pts.         3-of-7    .429        1-of-2          .333

at NU     17 pts.       6-of-12  . 500        6-of-8          .455

OSU         5 pts.         2-of-7    .286        1-of-5          .200

at KSU   20 pts.       7-of-17    .700      5-of-11          .750

Mizz.      13 pts.         5-of-9    .556        1-of-3          .750

KU                              8 pts. 3-of-4           .750      2-of-3      .667

Total  11.7 ppg.   26-of-49    .531    16-of-32             .500

NATIONAL RANKINGS: If CU is ranked this season, it will be the first time since the Buffaloes appeared in any ranking since the USA Today/Coaches' Poll during the 2005-06 season at No. 25 in back-to-back weeks (Jan. 30-Feb. 5; Feb. 6-12). During those two weeks, CU was 15-3 and 5-2 in the Big 12, then lost at Iowa State and at Texas A&M. Last time CU was ranked in the AP poll was the final poll at No. 24 during the 1996-97 season.

TRENDS: Four players are averaging 10 or more points a game in the team's 14 wins GÇó CU has forced more turnovers than committed in 16 of 21 games and committed single-digit turnovers in eight of 21 games GÇó The Buffs are 11-1 when scoring 80+ points GÇó CU has shot 47 percent from the field in seven of 10 games (13 of those are wins) GÇó CU is holding opponent under 41.7 percent shooting from the field in six of 10 games (OSU: 47.3%; NU: 56.6%; OU: 52.4%); KU: 50.9%).

MORE TRENDS: CU is 11-0 with a higher shooting percentage; 11-1 when outrebounding the opponent (at OU only loss); 9-1 when their bench outscores the opponent (at OU); 7-0 when shooting 50 percent or higher; 11-1 when leading at the half; and 11 of 14 wins have occurred when taking care of the ball (having fewer turnovers).

SCORING: Alec Burks and Cory Higgins have led CU one-and-two in scoring 31 of their 51 games together, including 12 times this season  GÇó Led team in scoring: Burks 13 times (one shared); Higgins four times (one shared); Levi Knutson three times; Austin Dufault once GÇó Dufault and Marcus Relphorde are the only players to start every game (21) GÇó Burks has netted scoring double figures 20 of 21 games; Higgins 18 of 21 games; Relphorde 15 of 21, Knutson 14 of 21.

ANOTHER SELLOUT: The Buffs played in front of back-to-back sell out home crowds for the first time ever against KU (11,203) and Oklahoma State (11,086), re-adjusting the all-time top-10 at the Coors Events Center since the building's first season in 1979-80.

Top 10 Coors Events Crowds

1)   11,363     Kansas, Jan. 22, 2001 (KU, 85-75)

2)   11,291*   Wyoming, Mar. 18, 1991 (CU, 83-75)

3)   11,203     Kansas, Jan. 25, 2011 (KU, 82-78)

4)   11,199     Kansas, Jan. 23, 1993 (KU, 82-51)

       11,199    Oklahoma, Feb., 27, 1991 (OU, 69-68)

       11,199    Nebraska, Jan. 22, 1983 (CU, 72-69

7)   11,198     Kansas, Jan. 26, 1997 (KU, 77-68)

8)   11,198     Kansas, Jan. 20, 1996 (KU, 80-78)

9)   11,096     Oklahoma State, Jan. 15, 2011 (CU, 75-71)

10) 11,076     Kansas, Jan. 22, 2003 (CU, 60-59)

       11,076    Kansas, Jan. 5, 2002 (KU, 97-85)

* 1991 National Invitational Tournament

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT (upset at K-State, Jan. 15): CU broke a nine-game losing streak to Kansas State, first win in Manhattan since Feb. 5, 2005 GÇó Last time CU went 10-1 over an 11-game stretch was the first 11 games in 2005-06; last time CU went 11-1 over a 12-game span, 1996-97 GÇó Largest margin of victory over a ranked team on the road since Dec. 16, 1963 (93-70 at No. 4 Arizona State) GÇó CU committed 20 turnovers in the win over K-State, the last time they committed that many in a Big 12 game and won occurred at Iowa State, 54-52 (ot), Jan. 22, 2005.

IN CASE YOU MISSED (upset over Mizzou, Jan. 8): CU's first win over a nationally ranked top-10 opponent since Feb. 4, 2003 (Texas). GÇó CU's first win in 20 outings over the nation's top-10 GÇó CU broke a 13-game Big 12 Conference streak in openers;  won their first in 1997 and last in 2011 GÇó CU grabbed 16 offensive rebounds and 47 total rebounds, the most by a CU team in Big 12 play since the 2005-06 season; and the 33 FGs made in Big 12 play since making 33 in 97-90 loss at TTU Tech (Feb. 2,005).

WINS/LOSSES: In 14 victories, the Buffs are averaging 86.6 points per game (opponent 67.5 ppg.); shooting 51.1 percent from the floor (oppt: 41.2), and outrebounding the opponent by 8.6 a game. Four players are averaging 10 or more points (another at 9.8) with a team average of 16.1 assists per contest. In seven losses, CU averages 71.7 points a game; shoots 43.3 percent from the floor, average only 9.6 assists, and have two players average double digits (Burks 22.4; Higgins 16.6)

FRESHMAN SENSATION: Andre Roberson is making a run at CU history by becoming the first freshman to lead the team in rebounding, steals and blocked shots in the same season. Here's the breakdown of all three categories.

Note: No freshman has led in all three at season's end (Scott Wilke 1987-88 and Joe Cooper 1980-81 are the only players of any class to lead all three). Note: Only Matt Bullard as a freshman in 1985-86 led CU in two of these three categories (rebounds and blocks).

Freshmen led in rebounds:

Matt Bullard                      179        1985-86

Alec Burks                          150        2009-10

Andre Roberson                149        2010-11        

Freshmen led in steals:

Donnie Boyce                      68        1991-92

Jose Winston                       53        1998-99

Richard Roby                       48        2004-05

Chauncey Billups                42        1995-96

Jay Humphries                   41        1980-81

Andre Roberson                  35        2010-11        

Freshmen led in blocks:

Carlton Carter                      39        1998-99

David Harrison                    34        2001-02

Matt Bullard                       32        1985-86

Stephane Pelle                    27        1999-00

Andre Roberson                  24        2010-11

Shane Harris-Tunks            14        2009-10

21 GAME REVIEW: Head coach Tad Boyle is 14-7 after his first 21 games. He ranks second all-time among first-year head coaches in their respective first full year at the helm. Ricardo Patton went 16-5.

charity stripe: Alec Burks and Cory Higgins are a combined 231-for-269 (85.9 percent) from the free throw line this season. The rest of the team is 165-for-237 (69.6).  Three players are shooting over 80 percent: Higgins (100-for-112, 89.3); Burks (111-for-157, 83.4) and Levi Knutson at 90 percent (27-for-30). In the Big 12 (all games), the Buffs are the top shooting team at 78.3 percent.

MOVING UP THE CHARTS: Cory Higgins is now in fifth place on the CU scoring list with 1,732 career points (only five CU players have ever scored that many). Up next is Shaun Vandiver (1,876) in fourth place. Scoring isn't the only list Higgins appears on:

                1st in free throws made (496); 2nd in career starts (114)

                1st in career minutes (3,912); 3rd in steals (182)

                4th in guard rebounding (496)

                5th in free throw attempts (602); 5th in FT% (82.4)

                7th in FG attempts (1,185)

                8th in FGs Made (563); 12th in games played (115)

                13th in assists (281)

               

100 FROSH BOARDS: After playing just his 14th game, Andre Roberson tied the school mark for fastest freshman to the 100-rebound plateau. He grabbed 10 at Cal State Bakersfield tying Richard Fox with 14 games to reach 100 rebounds.

Andre Roberson (2010-pre.)                      14 games (149 currently)

Richard Fox (1999-2000)                        14 games (191 for season)

David Harrison (2001-02)                      15 games (188 for season)

Larry Vaculik (1974-75)                          15 games (158)

Stephane Pelle (1999-2000)                  16 games (218 - school rec.)

Matt Bullard (1985-86)                          16 games (179)

Levi Knutson Best shooter in the country?
-As calculated by Ken Pomeroy, through games of Sunday, Jan. 23, Knutson is first nationally in effective field goal percentage (69.6) among players who play at least 40 percent of his team's minutes. Effective field goal percentage measures the same as regular field goal percentage, except made three-pointers are appropriately giving 50 percent more credit. 

-Additionally, Pomeroy shows that Knutson is third nationally in true shooting percentage (71.8). True shooting percentage is similar to effective field goal percentage, but also factors in trips to the free throw line. The 71.8 percentage approximates what two-point percentage Knutson would need to shoot to score the points he produces on all his shooting attempts.

-Knutson remains first nationally in Offensive Rating (144.7) as calculated by Pomeroy. Offensive Rating is a complex formula developed by Dean Oliver and explained in his book Basketball on Paper. Essentially, the rating measures the points a player produces per 100 possessions in which that player ends the possession through a made field goal or free throw, missed field goal or free throw rebounded by the defense, or turnover.

-Knutson ranks first in the Big 12 and tied for 12th nationally in three-point shooting percentage at 50.0 percent (42-of-84).