CU/ISU LOOK FOR FIRST BIG 12 WIN SATURDAY
Colorado (8-7, 0-4 Big 12) at Iowa State (8-6, 0-3 Big 12)
Saturday, Jan. 22, 2005, 6 p.m. (MST.)
Arena: Hilton Coliseum (14,092); Television: ESPN Regional
Announcers: Dave Armstrong (P-by-P), Gary Thompson (analyst)
Radio: KKZN-760 AM, Mark Johnson (P-by-P), Charles Johnson (analyst)
Buff Bits ...
Julius Ashby returned to action at Baylor playing 16 minutes with six points, three rebounds. Ashby missed the last seven games with a tendon tear in his left foot ... Chris Copeland is averaging 16.7 ppg., 7.0 rpg. in his last six games with two double-doubles ... Glean Eddy (267) and Copeland (206) are the lone players with over 200 career rebounds ... Richard Roby's 14.9 ppg. ranks tied for third all-time of any CU freshman. He leads CU in points (14.9), steals (1.9 apg.), minutes played (30.0), field goals made (83), shot attempts (188) ... Copeland and Marcus Hall are a combined 60-of-76 (.790) from the charity stripe, the rest of the team is .583 ... Eddy made his fourth start of the season at Baylor ... Hall is averaging five assists in his last three games (15) and has led CU in that category nine times with two shared ... Roby's 28 steals is 10 from cracking the CU single-season top-30 list ... Copeland's 24 blocks are tied for 26th on the single-season list ... TEAM: CU is 0-4 in conference play for the first time since 1995-96 (Big 8); the last time 0-5 was that same year with its fifth loss coming against Iowa State ... In Big 12 play, CU has only scored 48 points from its bench in four games, an average of 12 points ... Since 1996-97, CU is 17-49 in Big 12 road play ... Four conference losses are an average of 15 points, scoring average of 59.0 ppg. ... CU outrebounded in its last four games ... Team Leaders: Roby (14.9 ppg.), steals (1.9); Ashby (6.8 rpg.); Copeland 3-pointers made (29), FG percentage (.486), blocked shots (1.5); Hall in assists (3.6).
Scouting THE CYCLONES - Iowa State enters tonight's game on a four-game losing streak that includes its last three in a row in Big 12 play. However, the Cyclones are very impressive at home with a 25-2 record over the last two seasons with losses to No. 13 Oklahoma State last season, and to No. 2 Kansas this year. Head Coach Wayne Morgan is in the middle of his second season in Ames with a 38-19 record.
CU vs. IOWA STATE - Colorado has not faired well in Ames over the 13 years losing every year at Hilton Coliseum. Not since Feb. 19, 1991 has CU claimed the winners' circle. Coach Patton and the boys are also 0-9 since 1996-97.
Last TIME OUT - Aaron Bruce scored 14 points and Tommy Swanson added 13 points and 10 rebounds to lead Baylor to a 67-59 win over Colorado on Wednesday night. Baylor (9-4, 1-2 Big 12) opened the second half with an 11-5 run and took a 45-34 lead over Colorado with just under 15 minutes remaining. CU's Richard Roby led all scorers with 15 points, and Glean Eddy added 12 for the Buffaloes (game box on pg. 29).
ROBY AMONG GREATNESS - Freshman guard Richard Roby is setting his mark among the all-time greats at CU. Roby ranks third among the top freshmen scorers in Buffs history:
1) Chauncey Billups 17.9 1995-96
2) Emmett Lewis 15.0 1975-76
3) Richard Roby 14.9 2004-05
Donnie Boyce 14.9 1991-92
5) David Harrison 13.9 2001-02
6) Matt Bullard 12.7 1985-86
7) Randy Downs 11.9 1982-83
WHAT THE NATIONAL MAGAZINES are saying about CU's opponent tonight against Iowa State:
Athlon Sports: 5th in conference; All Big-12 First Team: Curtis Stinson; Big 12 Most Underrated Player: Jared Homan; Curtis Stinson and Jared Homan become stars for underrated Cyclones.
CBS Sportsline.com (43): 6th in conference; Conference First Team: Stinson; Iowa State's guards are as good as any other team's in the Big 12.
The Sporting News: 5th in conference; All-Conference First Team: Stinson; Three returning starters from a team that made an unexpected run to the NIT semifinals is a good place to start.
Lindy's: 6th in conference; All-Conference Second Team: Stinson; Stinson is one of Big 12's rising stars, and supporting cast is solid; If newcomers are as good as last season's, Iowa State could be dark horse in race.
Street & Smith's: 6th in conference; All-Big 12 Team: Stinson; Cyclones and "mature" sophomore Curtis Stinson set to build on late-season run of NIT semifinals
THIRD-YEAR CHARM - The following is a list of the national Division I players with the biggest scoring improvement from last season to this season. CU junior Chris Copeland fits this category.
Biggest Scoring Improvement, Last Year to This Year (minimum 18 games played last season & 9 games played this season).
Through Games of 01/16/05
Source: STATS, Inc. ? Chicago
Last Year, This Year, Improve
1) Dan Grunfeld, Stanford: 3.4, 18.1, 14.7
2) Will Whittington, Marist: 4.0, 17.6, 13.6
3) Pele Paelay, Cstal Carolina: 5.5, 17.5, 12.0
4) Chad Maclies, Centenary: 7.4, 19.1, 11.8
5) Chris Copeland, Colo.: 2.9, 14.2, 11.4
6) Levi Rost, W Michigan: 6.9, 18.0, 11.13
7) Anthony Harris, Miami (FL): 1.4, 12.4, 11.0
8) Matthew Knight, Loyola Mrymount: 4.9, 15.7, 10.8
9) Josh Almanson, Bowling Green: 8.0, 18.7, 10.7
10) Peter Mulligan, Manhattan: 10.9, 21.5, 10.6
SEEING DOUBLE - Richard Roby and Chris Copeland each recorded double-doubles in the home win over Northwestern. The last time CU had a pair of double-doubles was Jan. 17, 2004 at home against Iowa State (CU, 88-70), David Harrison 16 pts., 10 reb., Lamar Harris 10 pts., 19 rebounds. So far this season, CU has recorded SIX double-doubles with Copeland recording a team-best four:
Double-Doubles this season
Chris Copeland 22 pts., 11 rebs., vs. KU
Chris Copeland 22 pts., 14 rebs., vs. NU
Chris Copeland 12 pts., 13 rebs. vs. CSU Julius Ashby 11 pts., 17 rebs. at Cal
Chris Copeland 15 pts., 10 rebs. vs. N'Western
Richard Roby 16 pts., 13 rebs. vs. N'Western
CU IN 8th PLACE - In the final fall NACDA/United States Sports Academy Directors' Cup Standings, the Colorado is in eighth place as the gears switch into the winter sports competitions. Notre Dame leads a tight race with 337 points, followed by Michigan (333), Stanford (332) and Duke (327) as just 10 points separate the top four schools. The fifth through eighth schools are bunched together by just 22 points: UCLA (5th, 297), Maryland (6th, 280), Ohio State (7th, 286) and Colorado (8th, 275).
The Buffs earned 100 points each for national championships in men's and women's cross country, only the fourth sweep of those crowns by the same school in one year. CU also earned 50 points when the women's soccer team reached the second round of the NCAA tournament, and 25 more when volleyball earned an invitation to the NCAA postseason. Football, despite an 8-5 record, the Big 12 North Division title and a EV1.Net Houston Bowl win over UTEP, did not earn any points as only those schools that were the final Top 25 received points; CU was 31st in the coaches and 32nd in the Associated Press. CU is atop the Big 12 standings, just ahead of Texas (9th, 262) but well up on Nebraska (31st, 137), Missouri (48th, 107) and Kansas and Texas A&M (tied for 49th, 100).
LIFE Without Ashby - In the last seven games and 33 minutes of the UMKC game (Dec. 21) when junior Julius Ashby was sidelined with a tendon tear, CU went 4-4 and 1-4 in its last five. Chris Copeland was the leading scorer (16.4), rebounder (6.4), shot blocker (15), and FGs made (46-of-96, .479).
FROSH PHENOM - Freshman Richard Roby is making huge strides during his initial season leading the Buffaloes in scoring at 14.9 ppg. He has scored in double figures in 14 of 15 games with 15 starts. Not since the 1995-96 season has a freshman led CU in scoring (Chauncey Billups, 17.9 ppg.). Roby also leads CU in steals (28), minutes played 30.0), field goals made (83), and ranks third in rebounds (4.9).
WHO'S COOL AT THE FREE THROW LINE??? - Here are the updated stats of the CU players who have been at the charity stripe under five minutes to play. Richard Roby, Marcus Hall, and Chris Copeland are the best trio of the bunch.
Free Throws in last 2 minutes
Marcus Hall 14-of-16 .875
Richard Roby 10-of-12 .833
Chris Copeland 9-of-11 .818
Julius Ashby 3-of-4 .750
Glean Eddy 6-of-11 .546
Jayson Obazuaye 8-of-15 .533
Free Throws in the last 3-5 minutes
Chris Copeland 2-of-2 1.000
Jayson Obazuaye 3-of-5 .600
Richard Roby 5-of-9 .556
Glean Eddy 3-of-6 .500
Marcus Hall 2-of-6 .333
Julius Ashby 1-of-3 .333
Martane Freeman 1-2 .500
Lamont Arrington 0-1 .000
STARTING LINEUPS - There are no seniors on the current roster with the exception of walk-on Mac Mattingly. With the injury to Julius Ashby, CU is on its SEVENTH combination this season. Here are the different lineups against the opponent and record:
Starting Lineup Combinations
1) Eddy, Osborn, Ashby, Obazuaye, Roby:
1-0 (vs. Charleston)
2) Eddy, Osborn, Arrington, Obazuaye, Roby: 0-1 (at Michigan)
3) Copeland, Ashby, Obazuaye, Hall, Roby: 4-1 (vs. Northwestern, at Oregon St.,
at California, Colorado State, UMKC)
4) Copeland, King-Stockton, Obazuaye, Hall, Roby: 1-0 (Radford)
5) Copeland, Arrington, Obazuaye, Hall, Roby:
1-2 (Gardner-Webb, at Utah. Nebraska)
6) Copeland, Arrington, Obazuaye, McGee, Roby: 1-1 (at Richmond, at Oklahoma)
7) Copeland, Eddy, Obazuaye, Hall, Roby: 0-2 (Kansas, at Baylor)
NEWCOMERS vs. RETURNEES - There are six players each representing the returnees and newcomers (walk-ons don't count). The Buffs are broken down into their respective groups of production. The returnees have a slight advantage over the newcomers:
Eddy, Obazuaye, Senger, Copeland, Hall, McGee = 571 points (38.1), 283 rebounds (18.9), 126 assists (8.4)
Osborn, Freeman, Roby, Arrington, King-Stockton, Ashby = 439 points (29.3), 244 rebounds (16.3), 108 assists (7.2)
BENCH SCORING - CU matched its highest bench point total of the season with 38 points against Gardner-Webb. In Big 12 play, CU has only scored 48 points from its bench in four games, an average 12 points.
at Baylor 6 pts.
Kansas 14 pts.
Nebraska 8 pts.
at Oklahoma 20 pts.
at Richmond 8 pts.
at Utah 21 pts. Gardner-Webb 38 pts.
Radford 17 pts.
UMKC 23 pts.
Colorado State 21 pts.
at Cal 6 pts.
at Oregon state 4 pts.
Northwestern 6 pts.
at Michigan 38 pts.
Col. of Charleston 19 pts.
SPORTS ILLUSTRATED - Congratulations are in order to former CU student assistant Jody Woodman who recently accepted a job with SI as the associate producer for the men's college basketball web site in NYC. Jody worked with the media relations staff for two years and graduated from CU last May. Not a bad gig after graduating from CU seven months ago!