Colorado University Athletics
MBB Travels to Columbia to Take on the Tigers
GAME
#24 at 14/15 Missouri Tigers
(17-5, 3-4 Big 12)
Saturday, Feb. 5, 5:30 p.m.
(MST); Mizzou Arena (15,061)
Television: Mizzou
Sports Network; Announcers: Chris Gervino
(p-b-p), Scott Highmark (analyst)
ESPN Full Court;
ESPN360; Channel 452 Dish Network
KKZN 760-AM: Mark Johnson (p-b-p), Chris Lewis
(analyst)
Satellite
Radio: Sirius 113 (Mizzou Broadcast)
COMPLETE NOTES ATTACHED
QUICKLY: CU improved to 12-1 at home this season and have won 15 of 16 home games since last year GÇó Tonight Cory Higgins will hold his third school record for starting his 117th career game. The previous record was 116 held by Richard Roby. Higgins already owns the CU record in career FT made (501) and career minutes (3,977).
SCORING/REBOUNDING: Alec Burks and Cory Higgins have led CU one-and-two in scoring 33 of their 55 games together, including 14 times this season GÇó Burks has led CU in scoring five-straight games (one shared), and eight of the last 10 GÇó On the boards, Burks has led CU four of the last six games GÇó Higgins is averaging 16.5 ppg. over his four games; Burks 20+ point games in six of the last nine.
TELEVISION at MIZZOU: The Mizzou Sports Network will televise 13 Tiger contests this season as part of the program's third-tier television package. Mizzou games on MSN will be televised in St. Louis on FSN Midwest and in Kansas City on Metro Sports. The game can be seen on ESPN Full Court; ESPN360; Channel 452 Dish Network.
IF CU wins at MISSOURI: 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 No. 14/15 Missouri and No. 21/20 K-State would equal two Big 12 roads in the same season since 2005-06 season (at Missouri, at Oklahoma State) GÇó The two road wins over ranked opponents would be a school-first.
CU MILESTONE CLUB: Cory Higgins is the 18th player in school history to score over 1,000 points (1764) with 500 rebounds in a career (506). However, he's only the third player in school history to score over 1,000 points, grab 500 rebounds, handout over 200 assists (284), and have 150 steals (182). The others are Donnie Boyce (1991-95) and Richard Roby (2004-08).
CU at MIZZOU: The Buffaloes have not fared well in Columbia trailing in the series, 13-54 and 2-12 on the road in Big 12 play. CU's lone wins in Columbia occurred once at Mizzou Arena (2006) and the Hearnes Center (1997). Overall counting CU's win in Boulder back on Jan. 8 (89-76), the Buffs are 10-19 against the Tigers in Big 12 play.
Big 12-Only Leaders: After seven games in Big 12 play, Alec Burks continues to lead the Big 12 Conference in points per game at 21.1. He's also third in rebounding (8.1). Only KU's Marcus Morris ranks in the top-5 in both categories.
Other top-5 CU performers in Big 12-only categories are: Andre Roberson (1st in offensive rebounds, 3.4); Levi Knutson (t-second 3-Pt. FG% .500 and t-third in 3-pt. FGs made 2.6); Cory Higgins (third FT%, .917), Marcus Relphorde (fifth steals, 1.8); Burks is fourth in defensive rebounds (5.3).
ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICAN (District 7): CU senior guard Levi Knutson was named to the District 7 College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-American first team. Knutson is a business administration major with an emphasis in finance and carries a 3.92 grade point average.
FROSH LEADER ON THE BOARDS ... Andre Roberson: He is averaging 7.5 rebounds per game through Thursday, Feb. 3. Entering this weekend's play, Roberson is the highest ranking freshman in conference-only games (7.3), overall he's tied with Texas' Tristan Thompson with 7.5 rpg) for sixth (all games).
- With 173 rebounds on the season, Roberson needs to average 5.6 per game in the eight 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.
In elite company... Alec
Burks (Through Wednesday, Feb.
3):
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. 18.3
- With 967 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 (139) and sixth nationally in free throws attempted (165).