Colorado Probable Starters
Pos/NoPlayer Ht Wt Yr Hometown PPG RPG APG
G 5 Marcus Relphorde 6-7 220 Jr. Chicago, Ill. 9.2 3.3 2.0
G 10 Alec Burks 6-6 185 Fr. Grandview, Mo. 16.2 3.7 1.5
G 11 Cory Higgins 6-5 190 Jr. Danville, Calif. 20.5 4.0 2.7
G 12 Dwight Thorne II 6-3 185 Sr. Arlington, Texas 7.5 1.8 1.5
F 33 Austin Dufault 6-9 230 So. Killdeer, N.D. 9.3 4.7 1.5
OFF THE BENCH
G 1 Nate Tomlinson 6-3 185 So. Sydney, Australia 8.0 3.7 5.3
F 34 Casey Crawford 6-9 245 Jr. Overland Park, Kan. 4.2 2.2 0.7
G 35 Keegan Hornbuckle 6-7 205 Fr. Westlake Village, Calif. 2.7 2.0 0.5
SAN FRANCISCO Probable Starters
Pos/NoPlayer Ht Wt Yr Hometown PPG RPG APG
G 1 Kwame Vaughn 6-3 195 So. Oakland, Calif. 14.2 3.7 2.5
G 11 Dontae Bryant 6-3 175 Sr. Portland, Ore. 5.7 4.7 3.0
C 22 Perris Blackwell 6-8 240 Fr. Etiwanda, Calif. 7.8 3.7 1.3
F 32 Angelo Caloiaro 6-7 225 So. San Jose, Calif. 7.8 2.3 2.8
F 33 Dior Lowhorn 6-7 230 Sr. San Francisco, Calif. 20.3 5.8 1.0
GAME #7 vs. San Francisco Dons (2-4, 0-0 West Coast Conference)
• Date: Tuesday, Dec. 1 • Tipoff: 7:07 p.m. (MST);
• Television: FSN Rocky Mountain (ESPN Full Court) • Announcers: Drew Goodman, Ceal Barry, Alanna Rizzo
• Location: Coors Events Center (11,064) • Boulder, Colo.
• Radio: 760-AM: Mark Johnson (p-b-p), Charles Johnson (analyst)
• Series vs. San Francisco: USF leads 2-0
SERIES WITH SAN FRANCISCO: The Dons lead the all-time series, 2-0. USF took a 34-30 win in Boulder on Dec. 16, 1946, and at the NCAA Tournament Final Four semifinal, 62-50 on March 19, 1955. USF was the No. 1 ranked team in the nation, winning the NCAA championship that season led by Bill Russell and K.C. Jones. The Buffaloes were ranked as high as No. 15.
USF UPDATE: The Dons bring a four-game losing streak into tonight's game and are coming off a double-overtime loss at Colorado State, 91-75. The Rams scored 18 points in the second extra session for their fourth win in six games. USF has defeated Cal Poly and Dominican at home, and have lost on the road to Arizona State (104-65), UC Santa Barbara (76-65) and CSU. They have also lost to Montana State at home (70-66). The Dons are CU's second West Coast Conference school on the schedule (Gonzaga).
BROADCAST: All Colorado men's basketball games can be heard live on KKZN AM 760. Mark Johnson will deliver play-by-play with Charles Johnson color commentary. Live internet audio of all CU basketball games is available on BuffsRadio, a subscription service through CUBuffs. com. Live internet video streaming of Sunday's game is available on BuffsTV, also a subscription service through CUBuffs.com. Please note the BuffsRadio audio and BuffsTV video are separate subscriptions.
QUICKLY: CU broke an 18-game road losing skid after the NCAA determined the Buffaloes 73-58 win over Chaminade at the EA Sports Maui Invitational was declared a road victory. Therefore, CU's last road win came on Dec. 22, 2007 at Colorado State, 73-70.
MAUI INVITATIONAL WRAP: The Buffaloes lost a pair of close games in their first-ever visit at the EA Sports Maui Invitational falling to Gonzaga, 76-72 and Arizona, 91-87 (overtime). CU defeated Chaminade on day three, 73-58. In the first game against the Bulldogs, four players scored double-digits with Cory Higgins scoring a team-high 19 points with six rebounds. The following day, the Buffs, again placed four players in double-figures with Higgins and Alec Burks scoring 28 and 20 points, respectively. On day three, the Buffs received 13 points each from Burks and Marcus Relphorde against Chaminade.
WHAT'S AHEAD: After tonight's game, CU travels to Oregon State in the Big 12/Pac-10 Harwood Series on Dec. 4 on FSN. CU will then host Colorado Christian, then travel to in-state rival Colorado State on Dec. 10. The Buffaloes are 5-1 all-time against the Beavers, having last played in 2004 (OSU), 98-87; CU is 1-0 against CCU (last played in 2007); and against the Rams, hold an 87-33 advantage. Since 2000, the Buffs are 7-2 against the Rams and have won the last two games.
SIX GAME REVIEW: CU's 4-2 start matches the 2007-08 season after six games • CU has placed four or more double-digit scorers in six straight games • CU has shot 50 percent from the field 9 of 12 halves this season • CU has shot 50 percent from the field four of six games • The Buffs are shooting 50.8 percent from the field, 81.3 percent at the free throw line and averaging 81.7 points per game. Cory Higgins (20.2 ppg.) and Alec Burks (16.2 ppg.) lead the team in scoring; Austin Dufault leads on the glass (4.7 rpg.); Nate Tomlinson with 32 assists (5.3 apg.); Shane Harris-Tunks in blocked shots (7); Higgins in steals (8) and 10 three-pointers (10).
TEAM NOTES: Colorado has out-rebound three opponents this year (Arizona, Chaminade, Coppin State) • Colorado is now 4-5 on the Hawaiian Islands (Maui Invite, two Rainbow Classics) • All six games, CU has placed at least four players in double digits • CU's overtime loss to Arizona drops them to 0-4 in overtime in the last two years (0-3 last year) • CU committed a season-low nine turnovers against Arizona with eight were in the first half.
TONIGHT'S FEATURE: Freshman forward Shane Harris-Tunks is tonight's poster feature. The native of Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia has played in all six games off the bench averaging 10 minutes. He is a perfect 8-for-8 from the field with a pair of three-pointers, and is averaging 2.8 points and 2.3 rebounds per game. At the EA Sports Maui Invitational, Harris Tunks averaged 3.7 points, 3.0 rebounds per game, and was 5-for-5 from the field. He collected a season-best six points and seven rebounds in the win over Chaminade. Harris-Tunks is an open option major in CU's College of Arts and Sciences. On the season, he leads the team in blocks with seven.
HIGGINS UPDATE: Cory Higgins has led the team in scoring five of six games (one shared); he netted his fourth 20-plus scoring effort with 28 points against Arizona, third highest scoring game and 16th career 20-point effort of career • He has 927 career points (30th at CU) and has started every game as a Buff (69).
CU SINCE 1996-97... In the 14-year history of the Big 12 Conference, CU is performing a best in every category listed below except wins in a season.
Years PPG FG % 3-Pt.% FT% To W's
2009-10 81.7 .508 .454 .813 13.2 4
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
1998-99 73.1 .414 .344 .702 14.7 18
1997-98 71.4 .404 .346 .688 14.3 13
1996-97 73.1 .420 .362 .681 13.9 22
CLOSE CALLS: During the last three plus years, the CU men's team has suffered 44 losses. If you take a closer look, 22 of those losses were by single-digits, an average of 4.6 points.
2009-10: 2 games (8 points, 4.0 ppg.)
2008-09: 11 games (three non-conference, eight Big 12 games): 50 points (4.5 ppg.)
2007-08: nine games (three non-conference, six Big 12 games): 43 total points (4.8 ppg.).
THREE-YEAR SUCCESS: Coach Bzdelik has 100 career collegiate wins and even though he is not coaching, it's still his team • CU scored 80 points in four of six games this season (previously 80+ five games in first two years) • Team has shot 50 percent or better in nine of 12 halves; 44 3-pointers after six games, second most since 2000-01 season (49) in 1998-99 season (30) • Team shooting .508 after six games from field, a best in Coach Bzdelik's three years (previous: .491: 2008-09; .484: 2007-08).
GREAT COMPANY: Since 1995-96 (Chauncey Billups' freshman year), Cory Higgins has scored 123 points thru six games, only second to Billups' 141. Freshman Alec Burks is making great strides in his initial season racking up 97 points after six games, ranking fourth behind David Harrison (117 points), who ranks third behind Billups and Higgins.
BUFF NOTES (individual): Austin Dufault recorded his first career double-double (14 points, 11 rebounds); he's the first CU player to tally a double-double since Cory Higgins last year (Western State, 24 pts., 10 rebounds) • Nate Tomlinson scored a career-best 20 points; first CU player other than Higgins and Dwight Thorne to score 20 or more in a game since Richard Roby scored 22 at Oklahoma State (Feb. 6, 2008) • Tomlinson had a career-high eight assists against Gonzaga and Chaminade, also had a career-best five steals against the Silverswords • CU placed a pair of 20-point scorers against Arizona (Higgins 28, Tomlinson 20), that's twice this year with a pair w/ a least 20+ a game (the other, Texas Southern) • Alec Burks tallied 19 points against Arizona, his second highest scoring game and sixth game over double-digits • Associate Head Coach has replaced Head Coach Jeff Bzdelik four of the six games this season due to family concerns. McClain is 2-2, however Coach Bzdelik is credited with the wins/losses.
FRESHMAN STARTERS: In his first three years, Coach Bzdelik has started at least one freshman in the starting line up on opening night. Against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Alec Burks started (10 pts., three assists, two rebounds). Cory Higgins started his first game (Nov. 9, 2007) with a 10-point, five-rebound, three-assist performance against New Mexico. Last year, Austin Dufault (13 pts.) and Nate Tomlinson (12 pts.) started against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
NEW UNIFORMS: The 2009-10 season marks the first time in 19 years the Colorado men's basketball team will don new home uniforms. This season's new look will be silver, a first since the 1990-91 season. They also wore black and silver for both home and away games. This season, the 2009-10 Buffs will have silver, gold and black jerseys.
ENTERING 2009-10: This will be the third year of head coach Jeff Bzdelik and his staff. Here's a brief synopsis who and what is returning for the 2009-10 season:
Starters Returning/lost: 4/1
Top Returning Scorer: Cory Higgins 17.4 ppg.
Top Rebounder: Cory Higgins 5.4 rpg.
Top Returning FG Shooter: Dwight Thorne II 48.1%
Top Returning FT% Shooter: Cory Higgins 83.0%
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 9/3
OUT FOR SEASON: Freshman guard Shannon Sharpe will miss the 2009-10 basketball season with season-ending knee surgery after injuring his left knee during pre-season workouts. Sharpe successfully had a microfracture procedure. Sharpe, a 6-1, 200-pound guard from Corona, Calif. is one of four true freshmen on the 2009-10 roster. He will be medically redshirted.
DEFENDING THE OPPOSITION (Scoring Defense): In the last two years under Coach Bzdelik, CU's defense has allowed the opposition an average of 66 points per game (67.5: 2008-09; 64.4: 2007-08). That two-year total ranks only second to the 1980-81 season (64.5 ppg.) and 1979-80 (67.3 ppg.). Those two years averaged out to 65.9 ppg.
Big 12 Age Averages: With only one senior on the Colorado roster, the men's team is the second youngest school in the Big 12 Conference. The following breakdown is courtesy of Mike Noteware of Oklahoma State. These averages are as of Oct. 15, 2009.
Team Yrs Months Days Experience
Oklahoma State 19 11 25 1.1
Colorado 20 2 20 1.3
Iowa State 20 3 27 1.3
Oklahoma 20 4 1 1.2
Missouri 20 5 23 1.3
Texas A&M 20 6 0 1.4
Baylor 20 6 6 1.1
Kansas 20 6 26 1.2
Kansas State 20 7 15 1.3
Texas 20 8 24 1.6
Nebraska 20 9 14 1.3
Texas Tech 20 11 14 1.8
The "experience" category basically is the average number of years the members of the team have been playing (i.e. A senior is given a 3, a junior a 2, a sophomore a 1 and a freshman a 0). The findings did not take into account redshirt years, and it's obviously not based on Division I experience, since a juco transfer would be assigned a 2 just like a third-year junior. Missouri's Tyler Stone is the youngest player in the Big 12 (born Sept. 8, 1991), while Brady Morningstar of Kansas is the oldest (born Jan. 23, 1986).
Defense through the yearS): In his six years as a collegiate coach and two-plus seasons in the NBA, head coach Jeff Bzdelik has installed playing defense as a major part of the game. Here's a look at his teams over the years. His 2005-06 season at Air Force was a nation's best in scoring defense of all 970 collegiate schools in Division I (326), D-II (265), and D-III (379).
1986-87 UMBC 70.1 ppg. (28 games)
1987-88 UMBC 78.0 (28 games)
2002-03 Denver (NBA) #92.4 (82 games)
2003-04 Denver (NBA) 96.1 (82 games)
2004-05 Denver (NBA) 97.4 (28 games)
2005-06 USAFA *54.7 (31 games)
2006-07 USAFA **56.0 (35 games)
2007-08 Colorado ^64.4 (32 games)
2008-09 Colorado **67.5 (31 games)
* - nation's best ** - runner up nationally (Princeton 53.3)
^ - lowest in CU history 46 years; 12th all-time at CU
# - franchise record (shattering mark by more than five points)
** ranks 20th in school history
CAPTAINS NAMED: Colorado men's basketball head coach Jeff Bzdelik announced that senior Dwight Thorne II and junior Cory Higgins were named captains for the 2009-10 season. Both earned the honor for the second straight year. Thorne II, the lone senior on the team, enters his senior campaign coming off his best season-to-date finishing second in team scoring (12.0 ppg.), steals (35), made field goals (128) and made free throws (70). He was the team leader with 45 3-pointers. Higgins, originally from Danville, Calif., also enters the new season after a stellar sophomore campaign that earned him an All-Big 12 Conference third team selection. Higgins was also associated with elite company last year as one of 13 players nationally ranked first or second on their team in five major statistical categories (points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks). He was the only sophomore on that list. Last season, he averaged a team-best 17.4 points per game.
BIG 12 PLAY SETBACKS: Winning on the road is sometimes a difficult task, especially in the Big 12. CU has lost 29-straight Big 12 Conference road games since Feb. 5, 2006. All eight games in 2008-09, 2007-08 and 2006-07; and the last five games of the 2005-06 season.
Last Big 12 Road Win: Jan. 21, 2006 at Oklahoma State, 80-78 (ot)
Last Big 12 Road Win (Regulation): Jan. 14, 2006 at Missouri, 74-71
vs. RANKED OPPONENTS: The Buffaloes have lost eight straight games to nationally ranked opponents dating back to the 2006-07. Their last win came in Boulder against then-No. 18/19 Oklahoma State, 84-75 (Feb. 15, 2007).
ON THE ROAD vs. RANKED FOES: CU has fallen on the road to ranked opponents 25-straight times. CU's last win on the road came at No. 20 Texas Tech, 80-78 (Jan. 11, 1997). The Buffs have lost 32-straight nationally ranked games away from Boulder, including 25 on the road, seven on neutral courts. Their last road win against a nationally ranked school came at No. 20 Texas Tech, 80-78, Jan. 11, 1997; last win over a top-10 opponent on the road: never.
