MBB: Texas Tech Game Notes & Thread

[Buffnik]

http://image.cdnl3.xosnetwork.com/pics11/640/OE/OEIDWTRRTSXBQVK.20090511162220.jpg
Dwight Thorne

MBB Hosts Red Raiders on Senior Day

GAME #30 vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders (16-13, 4-11 Big 12)

• Date: Saturday, March 6 • Tipoff: 2:01 p.m. (MST)

• Television: Big 12 Network (Altitude Sports & Entertainment), ESPN Full Court, ESPN360.com

• Announcers: Mitch Holthus (p-b-p), Rich Zvosec (analyst)

• Location: Coors Events Center (11,064)

• CU Radio: KKZN 760-AM: Mark Johnson (p-b-p), Charles Johnson (analyst);

• Satellite Radio: Sirius Channel 121, XM 141

• Series vs. Texas Tech: Colorado leads the all-time series, 16-12, while TTU leads in Big 12 play, 8-7. In Boulder, CU leads 4-2, however, TTU has won four straight in the series since 2007.

QUICKLY: CU's 14 wins and five Big 12 victories are bests under Coach Bzdelik in his three years • Cory Higgins has scored 1,343 points (12th place on the school's scoring list) and needs 23 points to make the top-10 • Alec Burks is one point from tying second place (464 points) on the school's all-time list freshman list. He's 17 points from breaking the freshman record (480) • Casey Crawford scored a career-best 20 points with six treys at Nebraska. Over his last two games, he's averaging 15 ppg. with eight treys and shooting 11-of-14 from the field (.786) • Higgins has surpassed his seasonal high for points in a season with 539 (fifth all-time of CU juniors).

IF CU WINS: A win today would be three-straight conference games, matching the 2002-03 team for wins to end the regular season.

SENIOR SENDOFF: Dwight Thorne II will play his final regular season game in Boulder today. Thorne has scored 737 career points (50th all-time on CU's scoring list) and has played in 115 games (12th all-time) with 37 starts. He's 17th in career minutes played (2,429). CU is 7-6 in the Big 12 era on Senior Day and has won three of their last four. CU last ended the regular season against Texas Tech on March 4, 2000 and took an 88-67 win.

NEXT WEEK: The Buffs will either be the No. 8 or No. 9 seed at next week's Big 12 Basketball Championships in Kansas City. If CU defeats Texas Tech today, they will be the No. 8 seed and play the Red Raiders again on Wednesday, March 10, 10:30 a.m. (MST). If CU loses today, TTU will be the eighth seed, CU the ninth. If CU/TTU match up next week, it will be first time since the 1984-85 season (Big Eight Conference) when CU played the regular season finale against the same opponent at the conference tournament.

http://www.cubuffs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3889&SPID=257&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=600&ATCLID=204901173

***************

First off: Thank you's go out to Dwight Thorne and Trent Beckley, who are being honored on Senior Day today. Those guys should be proud of what they've done and for being at CU when we were at rock bottom and then building this program up to being a tournament contender. :thumbsup:

The "NEXT WEEK" section actually has an error. CU is the 8th seed in the Big 12 tourney if we win. But there's a chance we play Oklahoma, not Texas Tech. If Oklahoma wins at home today versus Texas A&M and CU beats Texas Tech, Oklahoma will be the 9th seed and CU's first round opponent.

A lot on the line today for the Buffs. Get a win and we're likely only one win away from the postseason.

Let's pack Coors! If you can get to the game, make the trip and support our Buffs. We need to have the Keg rocking today.

:gobuffs:

[Duff Man]

Big game. I will be there with four others. Pretty nice to be excited about CU basketball for a change!

[Mick Ronson]

we are going to win today. i'll be at home grading essay exams, but watching on TV. have to get a handle on Singeltary but i like the way we are playing.

[Buffnik]

Texas A&M just beat Oklahoma 69-54 in Norman.

CU and TTU will be playing back-to-back games for sure now.

[L Buff]

I''ll be there today. :thumbsup:


Hope Dwight has a HUUUUGE game!

[Buffnik]

Leaving for the game right now.

This is the most excited I've been for a basketball game in years.

:gobuffs:


P.S. ESPN's Accuscore predicted a CU win in 70.8% of the simulations it ran (a CU 10+ point win in 41.9% of sims).

[buff4bcs1985]

chats up for those who arent at the game

[GoldenBuff]

24-9 with 11:11 left in the first. The buffs are looking good and coors is rockin!

[Junction]

Relphorde appears to be off to a decent start...

[buff4bcs1985]

that was a horse **** call on higgins

[Rugged]

Big halftime lead. I need both teams to score less points in the second half so I can win my parlay Buffs and Under bet. :smile2:

[Buffnik]

53-35

Shannon Sharpe just called the National Guard.

The Buffs are killing the Red Raiders!

Relphorde's having a huge game.

[Buffnik]

Big halftime lead. I need both teams to score less points in the second half so I can win my parlay Buffs and Under bet. :smile2:

Haha!

Me, too. No way I thought the Buffs would hang 53 on Tech in a half. We'll see what happens in the 2nd half, but this TTU team may have quit. I believe today would make 8 straight losses after that big start they had to the season (top 25 after the non-con).

[MrFrumpylane]

100!

[Lt.Col.FrankSlade]

Buffs win!!! -- and if I read the standings correctly, the Buffs will play Texas Tech AGAIN on Wednesday in the 1st day of the Big 12 tournament.

A win in the 1st round of the Big 12 gives the Buffs a winning record. Amazing.

[Junction]

Buffs win!!! -- and if I read the standings correctly, the Buffs will play Texas Tech AGAIN on Wednesday in the 1st day of the Big 12 tournament.

A win in the 1st round of the Big 12 gives the Buffs a winning record. Amazing.

Yep, a rematch with the Zorros in the Big XII tourney. It will be interesting to see how the teams match up in a game without 61 personal foul calls. Obviously Tech was fouling late, but even before then the foul totals were counting up fast. Didn't get to see the game, but it had to be damn near unwatchable...

[Mick Ronson]

Burks and Higgins combined 17/22 from the floor. just 78%. pretty efficient.

[MrFrumpylane]

Seriously tho, does anyone feel comfortable playing the red raiders again for opening round in the XII tourny considering we just extended their losing streak?

[sweaty teets]

Seriously tho, does anyone feel comfortable playing the red raiders again for opening round in the XII tourny considering we just extended their losing streak?

i do, we are playing with a ton of confidence right now.

[exxon]

Seriously tho, does anyone feel comfortable playing the red raiders again for opening round in the XII tourny considering we just extended their losing streak?
I do. I think we're playing really well. We certainly have a bit of confidence going into the game. It looks like Tech has given up the season. You never know though.

[Mick Ronson]

I do. I think we're playing really well. We certainly have a bit of confidence going into the game. It looks like Tech has given up the season. You never know though.

i feel pretty good about where we are and playing Tech again....though, they did outscore us in the 2nd half and we shoot 48 FT's. i doubt we'll go to the line that much next time around. need an answer for Okorie. be nice to get a shot at someone looking at the NCAA in the second round, that isn't Missouri. MU and UT i consider bad matchups for us.

[exxon]

i feel pretty good about where we are and playing Tech again....though, they did outscore us in the 2nd half and we shoot 48 FT's. i doubt we'll go to the line that much next time around. need an answer for Okorie. be nice to get a shot at someone looking at the NCAA in the second round, that isn't Missouri. MU and UT i consider bad matchups for us.

I agree. Anyone but those two.

[Mick Ronson]

I agree. Anyone but those two.

and Kansas. i'm ok with beating them in the semis.

normally, or for anyone with an inside presence, UT has blood in the water (they got drilled by Baylor today) for a team that was in the top 5 most of December and Jan.....but, Pittman and James are scoring at will against us in the paint. ISU with a lead at KSU......thought ISU would be better with Brackins coming back but i don't see how McDermott is coaching next year.

[JimmyBuff]

i feel pretty good about where we are and playing Tech again....though, they did outscore us in the 2nd half and we shoot 48 FT's. i doubt we'll go to the line that much next time around. need an answer for Okorie. be nice to get a shot at someone looking at the NCAA in the second round, that isn't Missouri. MU and UT i consider bad matchups for us.


Since we are in the 8/9 game doesn't that automatically mean that if we win we play Kansas in the Quarterfinal?

[L Buff]

Since we are in the 8/9 game doesn't that automatically mean that if we win we play Kansas in the Quarterfinal?


Affirmative.

[Buffnik]

Great 1st half performance by the Buffs. 2nd half we couldn't keep up the intensity. Didn't play defense, didn't box out and didn't have any bounce in our legs (missed free throws and long jumpers). I think that's a good thing, though. Gives Coach Bz something to bitch about the next few days and likely keeps the team from being complacent on Wednesday.

Last, I just wanted to say how proud I am of this team. 15-15 regular season, 6-10 in the Big 12, 13-3 at Coors. Individually, Corey Higgins moved into the Top 10 on the all-time CU scoring list today. Alec Burks moved to #1 on the all-time CU freshman scoring list. What a season this has been. And we may just have a postseason to look forward to.

[Duff Man]

Very nice win. This team is growing up.

[Mick Ronson]

ISU still leading in manhatten. however, KSU is already in the double bonus with 9 minutes to play. they are active on the glass, but talk about shooting 40 FTs a game. that's KSU.

[GoldenBuff]

I went back and tried to find some preseason basketball threads just to see how we measured up to people's expectations for the year. I think it's safe to say we exceeded them. Both the coaches and a number of magazines picked us to finish last. The camera said we would have a hard time getting a winning record and we're just one game away now. I never would have expected us to be where we are today 6 months ago. It's almost like we have a real basketball team.

[Mick Ronson]

I went back and tried to find some preseason basketball threads just to see how we measured up to people's expectations for the year. I think it's safe to say we exceeded them. Both the coaches and a number of magazines picked us to finish last. The camera said we would have a hard time getting a winning record and we're just one game away now. I never would have expected us to be where we are today 6 months ago. It's almost like we have a real basketball team.

i think a lot of us had 5-7 conference wins in mind. big step forward for the program....after the last couple years and coaches picking us last.

[Mick Ronson]

now in OT, i think ISU might win this one at K-State. great game to watch. Bramlage is a nice arena.

ISU brainfarts and fouls Pullen on a 3. not over yet.

edit: ISU wins. 75 fts in the game. KSU plays 12 guys, 10 of whom take shots. that's depth. i thought Frank Martin was a cheap hire but i have to admit, despite this loss and the creepy Beasley and Miami high school cheating thing, he's got some game.

[CarolinaBuff]

KjSU just blew their shot at a #1 seed.

[OUBuff]

KjSU just blew their shot at a #1 seed.

Guess that made the vBetting a little easier

[CarolinaBuff]

Guess that made the vBetting a little easier

Yea good point. :lol:

[UrbanaBuff]

Tough game to go the Under.


Big halftime lead. I need both teams to score less points in the second half so I can win my parlay Buffs and Under bet. :smile2:

[UrbanaBuff]

DT's pic in the original post got me thinking.... have we worn WHITE home unis at all this year? I'm feeling the gold and silver alternates, but the white uni looks so crisp.

[sweaty teets]

DT's pic in the original post got me thinking.... have we worn WHITE home unis at all this year? I'm feeling the gold and silver alternates, but the white uni looks so crisp.

they did away with the white unis this year. i'm sure they'll bring them back at some point in the future.

[buff4bcs1985]

Are we post season eligble

[sweaty teets]

Are we post season eligble

i believe with a win on wednesday we will be guaranteed a .500 season, so if we take care of business, yes.

[BehindEnemyLines]

Game wasn't on the telly down here. Anyone wanna give some insight on how the game went, how our team looked, etc?

[Buffnik]

Game wasn't on the telly down here. Anyone wanna give some insight on how the game went, how our team looked, etc?

We had open shots all day even though Tech tried to extend its defense. Allowed a lot more posting up by the Buffs than we usually see (often by our guards, which I like for us). Also opened up drives to the basket.

In the 2nd half, CU stopped playing defense or we would have won by 30. But between the letdown from having such a big lead and the over-officiated whistle blowing, it became a very choppy and low intensity game for the last 15 minutes (for the most part).

As an aside:
College basketball, especially the Big 12, needs to do something about its officiating. It's inconsistent and sometimes it's just plain bad. I never thought I'd say this, but college basketball needs to look to the NBA for how to officiate a game. Except for blatantly tilting the wheel for home teams and favoring stars, the NBA does a great job these days. College needs to start by painting the circle under the rim to define the area where a defender cannot set up to draw a charge. And all levels of basketball also need to stop rewarding players for driving into people and getting rewarded with a foul call. Too often games, especially in crunch time, get decided on guys just putting their heads down and barreling toward the basket. If a defender doesn't swat at the ball and end up hitting arm/shoulder/head, the ref needs to swallow his whistle.