FOR STARTERS: Colorado has lost 21-straight games in Norman and has not won there in 27 years (Feb. 9, 1980). That’s 13 days before for the infamous Miracle on Ice when the USA Hockey Team upset the Soviet Union at the Winter Olympics at Lake Placid, 4-3.
Starting 0-2 in BIG 12 Play: Seven times in 10 years the Buffaloes have begun the Big 12 Conference season 0-2. In 1996-97 (NCAA Tournament), CU started the season 6-0; in 2003-04 (NIT year) started 1-1, and in 2002-03 (last NCAA Tournament team), CU also went 1-1. The others seasons beginning 0-2 are: 2005-06, 2004-05, 2001-02, 2000-01, 1999-2000, 1998-99, 1997-98.
CU vs. ou: Oklahoma leads the all-time series against CU, 84-47, including a 45-12 advantage in Norman. The Buffaloes have better luck in front of the home folks in recent years having won the last two seasons in Boulder. CU last won on Feb. 9, 1980 when they shot 29-of-59 (.492) from the field in a 60-59 triumph in Norman.
BROADCAST: Tonight’s game will be televised on Fox Sports Net Rocky Mountain. All Colorado men’s basketball regular and post season games are broadcast live on KKZN AM 760, Boulder’s Progressive Talk station. Mark Johnson will handle play-by-play duties and is joined by Charles Johnson with the color commentary. Live internet audio can be accessed through Yahoo! Sports. Live video streaming of Wednesday’s battle will be available to Stampede Online subscribers at CUBuffs.com.
oklahoma UPDATE: The Sooners fell at Texas Tech in their conference opener, 68-54. OU is also on a two-game losing streak having also lost at Alabama back on New Year’s Day. Prior to their two-game set back, OU had won six of seven and bring a 6-1 home record into their conference opener. First-year head coach Jeff Capel (Duke ‘97) inherits a 20-9, NCAA Tournament team from a year ago with eight returners and a final AP final ranking of No. 24.
LAST TIME OUT: Freshman Kevin Durant scored a career-high 37 points to go with 16 rebounds as Texas won its ninth straight Big 12 Conference opener in a 102-78 victory Saturday over Colorado. Durant was 5-for-7 on 3-pointers as he outgunned CU’s Richard Roby. Roby led CU with 30 points. Xavier Silas added 17 points for the Buffaloes, who lost their 10th consecutive conference opener. CU hasn’t won a conference opener since beating Nebraska 79-73 on Jan. 4, 1997.
ON THE ROAD IN THE BIG 12: Since the Big 12 formed (1996-97), CU has played 80 regular season games on the road. Heading into 2006-07, the Buffaloes under coach Patton are 21-59 (.263). That means an average of 2.1 wins a season and 5.9 losses in eight road games. The highest win total was 4-4 in 1996-97; their lowest was one win in each of the 2002-03 (Baylor), 2001-02 (Texas A&M) and 1999-2000 Kansas State) seasons.
HOOK SHOTS: Richard Roby netted his fifth career 30-point game (30 points vs. Texas), second of the season...Roby has made 10 or FGs in a game twice (Texas, Pepperdine) and has accomplished that eight times...Dominique Coleman has come off the bench in his last three games: 10.7 ppg., 5.3 rpg., 4.0 apg., 2.7 spg., 11-of-24 FG (.458), 9-of-10 FT (.900), 25.7 mins. per game...Xavier Silas has started the last five games (12.8 ppg., 3.6 rpg., 2.4 apg.)...In three road games, CU is averaging 60 ppg, .379 FG%, .265 3FG%, .636 FT%. Roby is the leader in points (16.7) and rebounding 5.0 rpg.), Kal Bay leads in assists (3.0); In eight home games, 75.0 ppg., .416 FG%, .302 3FG%, .680 FT%. Roby leads with 19.9 ppg., J.Jackson-Wilson 8.3 rpg., Coleman 4.0 apg. TEAM: CU has not played on the road since Nov. 29 (UNC Wilmington)...CU is 21-59 (.263) in Big 12 road games since 1996-97 and 4-12 (.250) in the last two seasons...OU leads the series 84-47 (45-12 at OU)...CU made 10 3-pointers vs. Texas for the first time this season compared to making 10+ 11 times last season...CU’s 27 rebounds against Texas are the fewest for a Buffs team since 24 in home loss to K-State, March 26, 2005...CU has used seven different starting combos through 11 games...Roby is the only one to start all 11 games...First time CU opens conference season with three straight opponents who made NCAA Tournament a year ago.
BIG 12 OPENER WRAP: CU fell for the 10th straight time in a conference opener, this time to Texas. The Buffs have not won a conference opener since Jan. 4, 1997 and are 0-3 against the Longhorns.
1997-2007 Big 12 Openers
Jan. 6, 2007 Texas L, 78-102
Jan. 7, 2006 at Texas L, 64-89
Jan. 8, 2005 at Oklahoma L, 55-85
Jan. 5, 2004 KANSAS L, 62-77
Jan. 11, 2003 at Oklahoma L, 54-69
Jan. 5, 2002 KANSAS L, 85-97
Jan. 6, 2001 at Baylor L, 56-61
Jan. 8, 2000 KANSAS L, 69-84
Jan. 2, 1999 TEXAS L, 68-73
Jan. 3, 1998 OKLAHOMA L, 68-69
Jan. 4, 1997 Nebraska W, 79-73
THE REST OF THE BIG 12: CU was the only team not to play a game during their extended holiday break due to the inclement weather, the Christmas holiday and final exams. Texas, Iowa State and Nebraska played the most games (5) from Dec. 10-31. The schools playing four games were Baylor, Kansas State, Missouri, Texas A&M and Oklahoma State; Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas Tech have played three.
SCOUTING THE NEXT TWO: The Buffs will take on two more members of the Big 12 South Division (Oklahoma and Texas A&M). Next up for the Buffs is Oklahoma led by Co-Big 12 Player of the Week (Jan. 2) Longar Longar. The junior leads the team in scoring (12.4 ppg), rebounding (7.4 rpg) and blocked shots (18). Texas A&M, which comes to town this Saturday will counter CU with a powerful lineup including sophomore forward Josh Carter who was also the Co-Big 12 Player of the Week (Jan. 2). Carter tied a conference record with seven three-pointers in the first half against Grambling State, finishing with 24 points. The Aggie sharpshooter is second on the team in scoring (13.5 ppg.) and second in the conference in three-point FG percentage (.526).
TRENDS AGAINST THE NEXT Two: The Buffs are 4-6 against their next two opponents in the combined last 10 contests between each team:
Oklahoma (CU is 2-3 in last five games): The Buffs have taken two of the last five contests between the schools with the two wins coming at home. CU beat No. 19 Oklahoma 84-75 last season in Boulder behind 28 points by Richard Roby and 18 points by Chris Copeland.
Texas A&M (CU is 2-3 in last five games): The Aggies have won the last three games between the two teams, although CU still leads the all-time series 9-4, including 4-1 at home. Last season, the No. 25 Buffs traveled to College Station and could not hold a one-point halftime advantage, losing to the Aggies 61-58. In the second round of the Big 12 tournament, the two teams met again with the Buffs opening a quick 9-2 lead over A&M before succumbing to poor shooting in an 86-53 defeat.
NONCONFERENCE PLAY: CU finished 4-6, their first losing season in nonconference play since 1988-89 when they finished 5-8. It’s also the fewest nonconference games the Buffaloes have played since the 1997-98 campaign when they finished 6-4.
Courtesy: Larry Harwood, University of Colorado
