Games #24: Denver (12-11, 5-3 SL) vs. IUPUI (5-21, 0-9 SL)
Thursday, February 13, 2014 • 5 p.m. MT
The Jungle (1,215) • Indianapolis, Ind.
TV: ESPN+ • Radio: AM 1510 & FM 93.7 • Web: ESPN3 (Video) & Pioneer Vision (Audio)
About Denver:The Pioneers are 12-11 overall, 5-3 in The Summit League and 4-5 on the road this season. Denver has won five of its last six games, including a 75-67 victory over South Dakota on Feb. 8. Denver is fourth in The Summit League, just 1.5 games behind North Dakota State (7-2). DU returns 10 players, including their top two scorers, from last year’s squad that went 22-10, claimed a share of the WAC regular season title and won a game in the NIT for the first national postseason victory in team history. Denver returns Preseason All-Summit League First Team member Chris Udofia and Second Team selection Brett Olson, as well as starting guard Jalen Love. DU was picked to finish second in the Summit League’s Preseason Poll.
About IUPUI: The Jaguars are 5-21 overall, 0-9 in The Summit League and 1-11 on the road. The Jags have lost nine straight and 14 of their last 15 games. IUPUI’s wins have come at home against IU Northwest, North Carolina Central, Cincinnati Christian and Judson, as well as on the road at Bradley. The Jags are led by Ian Chiles’ 15.9 points per game, although Chiles is expected to miss Thursday’s game due to injury. Mitch Patton is averaging 12.6 points and 5.9 rebounds, and Khufu Najee is contributing 10.1 points per game. IUPUI was picked to finish last in The Summit League Preseason Poll, and Patton was selected to the All-League Second Team.
The Matchup: Denver won the only previous meeting 66-45 at Magness Arena on Jan. 18.
Last Time Out: Junior Brett Olson set a new career high with 30 points to secure DU’s 75-67 win over South Dakota on Feb. 8. Olson, who went 6-for-8 from behind the arc and 6-for-6 from the free throw line, became the first Pioneer to score 30 points in a game since Brian Stafford on Nov. 11, 2011. Junior Cam Griffin and redshirt sophomore Marcus Byrd scored 14 and 11 points, respectively, and Griffin just missed a double-double as he added nine rebounds. Senior Chris Udofia tied a season high with five blocks. Denver held a slim one point lead before going on a 19-8 run to end the first half, building the halftime lead to 38-26 over South Dakota. The Pioneers scored 21 points off 11 USD turnovers, including eight DU steals, and hit a season-high 13 three-pointers in the game. Denver turned the ball over a season-low five times.
Olson Well: Junior guard Brett Olson was named Summit League Player of the Week for the second time this season after recording career-bests of 30 points and six three-pointers made in a win over South Dakota on Feb. 8. Olson went 9-of-14 (64.3 percent) from the field, 6-of-8 (75.0 percent) from three-point range and a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line. Olson’s 30 points equaled the highest single-game scoring total in a Summit League game this season, and he also became the first Denver player to reach the 30-point plateau since Brian Stafford scored 32 against Portland State on Nov. 11, 2011. Olson, who was named The Summit League Athlete of the Month for December, ranks third in the NCAA and first in The Summit League in free throw shooting at 93.0 percent (80-of-86). In his career, Olson has hit 92.7 percent (140-of-151) of his free throw attempts, the second-best mark in the NCAA among current players behind only Northern Colorado’s Tate Unruh (93.0 percent). Olson has missed consecutive free throws only twice in his career, both of which were spread over consecutive games, and he has missed two free throws in a game only once (Alaska Anchorage on Nov. 30) in his career. The Summit League Player of the Week on Dec. 16, Olson also ranks 13th among current D-I players with a 44.1 three-point percentage, and his 179 career three-pointers made are the seventh most in DU history. In addition to leading The Summit League in free throw percentage and minutes played, Olson is third in three-pointers made (2.1), fourth in scoring (15.3), fifth in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.8), sixth in three-point percentage (.430), seventh in assists (3.5), and 13th in both field goal percentage (.491) and steals (1.1). Olson has started all 85 games in his career, the ninth-longest current streak in the NCAA.
The Long Ranger: The Pioneers hit a season-high 13 three-pointers against South Dakota on Feb. 8, the most by DU since making 14 against UTSA on Jan. 6, 2013. Denver’s season average is now 8.0 three-pointers per game and their three-point percentage improved to .378, which are both second in The Summit League. Denver is 5-0 this season and is a combined 23-2 over the last three seasons when hitting 10 or more three-pointers. The Pioneers have at least one three-pointer in 247-straight games, dating back to Feb. 2, 2006.
Talking Turnovers: The Pioneers turned the ball over a season-low five times against South Dakota on Feb. 8, the 14th time this season that DU has had 10 turnovers or fewer. On the season, the Pioneers have averaged only 10.3 turnovers per game and recorded a 2.7 turnover margin, the 25th and 36th best marks in the NCAA. Denver has a 1.47 assist/turnover ratio, first in The Summit League and the 15th best mark in the NCAA. Senior Chris Udofia is third in the Summit with a 2.1 assist/turnover ratio, and junior Brett Olson is fifth at 1.8. Last season, DU was first in the WAC and fifth in the nation with a 1.45 assist/turnover ratio, and second in the WAC with a +4.56 turnover margin, the eighth best mark in the nation.
U-Tube: At six-foot-six, senior Chris Udofia, who tied a season high with five blocks against South Dakota on Feb. 8, is ranked 29th in the nation and first in The Summit League with 2.65 blocks per game, and his 247 career blocks are the most in DU history. The DU captain is playing in his 117th career game, the 10th most in team history. Udofia sits in sole possession of sixth on DU’s all-time scoring list with 1,408 points, just nine points shy of Peter Faller (1984-88) for fifth place. Udofia played a career-high 49 minutes at UTEP on Dec. 29, and now has a season average of 34.8 per game, third in the Summit League. Udofia also ranks third in The Summit League in assist/turnover ratio (2.1), fourth in both assists (3.8) and steals (1.6), eighth in both rebounding (5.5) and offensive rebounding (1.9), and 13th in scoring (12.5). Udofia has started 90-straight games for DU, the seventh-longest current streak in the nation. A Preseason All-Summit League First Team selection, Udofia was named the Most Underrated Player in the Nation by Bleacher Report, the No. 6 Under-the-Radar Performer by CBSSports.com and a Preseason All-Mid Major Third Team member by College Sports Madness.
U-Tube 2.0: Senior Chris Udofia is one of just 12 players in DU history in the 1,000-point, 500-rebound club (page 3). Udofia and Nate Rohnert (2006-10) are the only players in Denver history to record 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 250 assists. Both Udofia and Rohnert have at least 100 steals, as well. Udofia stands alone as the only DU player with 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 250 assists, 100 steals and 100 blocks. Overall, Udofia ranks among Denver’s top 10 career marks in seven different categories (see Milestone Watch on page 2).
Lights, Cameron, Action: Junior guard Cam Griffin scored 14 points off 6-of-8 from the field against South Dakota on Feb. 8. In eight conference games, Griffin has a .684 field goal percentage (26-of-38). At just 6-foot-3, Griffin is fifth in The Summit League in all games in both total rebounds (6.3) and offensive rebounds (2.0), and eighth in defensive rebounds (4.2). Griffin also has 1.5 steals and 8.5 points, which rank fifth and 30th in the conference, respectively. The San Antonio native recorded his second career double-double at UTEP (Dec. 29), tying his career high with 15 points and pulling down 10 rebounds. Griffin moved to the starting lineup this season after being named the WAC 6th Man of the Week five times by StatSheet.com.
Play Three Byrd: Redshirt sophomore Marcus Byrd scored 11 points off 4-of-8 from the field and 3-of-6 from three-point range against South Dakota on Feb. 8. After hitting just nine three-pointers all of last season, Byrd is third in The Summit League in three-point percentage (.444), fifth in three-pointers per game (2.0) and 28th in scoring (8.6). Byrd had a career day in DU’s win over Southern on Dec. 3, setting career highs with 20 points and six three-pointers. It was the first time a DU player made six three-pointers in a game since Brian Stafford did so against Louisiana-Monroe on Feb. 18, 2012. At UTEP on Dec. 29, Byrd doubled his previous career high with eight rebounds.
Ruck-n-Roll: Sophomore guard Bryant Rucker scored 12 points against North Dakota State on Feb. 1, going 5-for-7 from the field. Rucker had a career day in his first-ever start at Omaha on Jan. 23. Rucker scored a game-high and career-high 19 points off 7-of-9 shooting and 4-of-5 from three-point range. In addition to points, Rucker set or tied then-career highs in field goals, three-pointers, rebounds (5), assists (3), steals (2) and minutes played (37). In conference play, Rucker ranks fifth in The Summit League in steals (1.6), 10th in three-point percentage (.423), 12th in three-pointers made (1.4) and 29th in scoring (8.5).
Hitting the Mark: Denver shot 62.5 percent (30-of-48) from the field at Omaha on Jan. 23, the team’s best shooting performance since hitting 62.9 percent (22-of-35) of its shots at Colorado State on Jan. 11, 2012 (chart on page 2). It was also the second-highest output by any Summit League team this season. The game at Omaha marked the second time this season that DU shot better than 60 percent, also doing so against Saint Francis (Pa.) with 60.8 percent (31-of-51) on Dec. 31. DU has hit 50 percent or better in nine games this season, including a 51.4 percent (19-of-37) performance against North Dakota State on Feb. 1, and is 7-2 in those games. In the past two seasons, the Pioneers are a combined 22-3 when hitting at least half of their shots.
Feeling Unlucky: According to kenpom.com, the Pioneers rank 316 out of 351 teams in luck, which is “a measure of the deviation between a team’s actual winning percentage and what one would expect from its game-by-game efficiencies. Denver’s 67-63 win over North Dakota State on Feb. 1 marked just the third victory for DU in nine games this season that have been within one possession in the final minute of regulation, which has happened in each of the last five losses. Three of those games went to overtime.
Been Caught Stealing: Denver had eight steals against South Dakota, scoring 21 points off 11 Coyote turnovers. In eight league games this year, DU is averaging 17.25 points off 13.25 opponent turnovers. The Pioneers are 29-1 when making 10 or more steals in a game under head coach Joe Scott. On the season, Denver is averaging 7.5 steals per game, second most in The Summit League. According to kenpom.com, the Pioneers have stolen the ball on 12.4 percent of opponents’ possessions, the 12th best mark in the nation.
A Little Help from Their Friends: The Pioneers have recorded assists on 66.9 percent (351-of-525) of their shots this season, the second highest mark in the nation according to KenPom.com. Chris Udofia (3.8) and Brett Olson (3.5) are ranked fourth and seventh in The Summit League in assists, respectively. In Joe Scott’s first six seasons at DU, the Pioneers recorded an assist on 66.4 percent of their field goals (2,636 assists on 3,967 field goals made), ranking among the top six highest percentages in the nation every year.
Magness Magic: The Pioneers are 82-19 (.812) at Magness Arena under head coach Joe Scott, including a 49-8 (.860) mark in conference games. DU was 14-2 overall and 9-0 in WAC games at home in 2012-13 after going 15-2 at home in 2011-12. In February 2012, ESPN.com’s Ken Pomeroy wrote that Magness Arena was one of the top two home-court advantages in the nation.
Working Overtime: Denver fell to UTEP 60-54 in double overtime on Dec. 29, marking DU’s first multi-overtime game since Jan. 3, 2009, at Louisiana-Lafayette. Earlier this season, the Pioneers played back-to-back overtime games for the first time since 2009. The Pioneers beat Southern on Dec. 3 for the team’s first overtime win of the season and first since beating Utah State in Logan, Utah, on Feb. 14, 2013, and they fell at Mercer on Dec. 7 for the first overtime loss since falling at Louisiana-Lafayette on Dec. 2, 2012. Denver is 5-21 in overtime games since returning to NCAA Division I in 1998-99, and 4-13 in such games since head coach Joe Scott took over the program in 2006-07, including a 76-75 neutral-site win in Norman, Okla., against East Central University in the 2K Sports College Hoops Classic on Nov. 8, 2008, in Scott’s first game with the Pioneers.
Road More Traveled: Senior Chris Udofia is playing in his 50th and 51st arena, and his 27th state this week in Indiana. By the end of this regular season, the Pioneers will have played 68 different opponents in 53 arenas, 28 states, three conferences and three countries during Udofia’s career, including a trip to Spain and Andorra prior to his freshman year.
To a Point: The Pioneers eclipsed the 80-point mark for the third time this season, when they beat Saint Francis 83-61 on Dec. 31. DU’s game against Belmont on Dec. 17 marked the first time a Joe Scott-coached team scored 90 points. In his 14th season, Scott is now 17-0 when his team (Air Force, Princeton, Denver) scores at least 80 points, which also includes an 80-70 win at Colorado State on Dec. 11.
Short Stop: At 5-foot-4, senior Charles Webb is the shortest player in college basketball. The walk-on guard appeared in seven games last season, scoring his first career points against Southern Utah (Dec. 21, 2012).
The Year that Was: The Pioneers won 24 games in the 2013 calendar year, tying the team record. However, when DU won 24 games each year from 1982-84, the team was a member of NAIA. Denver has won 20 games in a calendar year only three times: 2013, 2005 and 1943 (see chart).
Out of the Gate: Nine of Denver’s first 11 games were against teams that played in the postseason last year, including Cal, Harvard, Southern, Colorado State and Belmont, which all played in the NCAA Tournament. The Pioneers are 3-2 this season against 2013 NCAA Tournament teams. Overall, Denver’s schedule includes 16 postseason teams from last year.
From the Stripe: The Pioneers were 12-for-12 from the free throw line against Saint Francis on Dec. 31, the team’s first 100 percent performance of the season. DU did so twice last year with both coming against San Jose State: 11-for-11 at Magness Arena on Jan. 17, 2013, and 8-for-8 in San Jose, Calif., on Feb. 16, 2013.
National Letters of Intent: DU signed Cameron Delaney and Jake Pemberton to a National Letter of Intent to join the Pioneers in 2014-15. A 6-foot-3 guard from Harker Heights High School in Harker Heights, Texas, Delaney was selected as All-District First Team as a junior, averaging 12.4 points per game. Harker Heights named him the team’s most valuable player and defensive player of the year. Pemberton was named to the Colorado State All-Tournament Team last year after leading Mountain Vista High School to the Final Four. The Highlands Ranch, Colo., native was named All-State Second Team as a junior.
Catch-22, Again: Denver had 22 wins each of the past two seasons, tying the most in the team’s 90-year Division I history.
Preseason Honors: Senior forward Chris Udofia was voted to the 2013-14 Preseason All-Summit League First Team and junior Brett Olson made the Second Team in a vote by the league coaches, media and SIDs.
Oh Captain, My Captain: For the second-straight year, Chris Udofia will serve as Denver’s team captain. Brett Olson and Cam Griffin were selected as assistant captains.
