Games #23: Denver (11-11, 4-3 SL) vs. South Dakota (9-13, 3-4 SL)
Saturday, February 8, 2014 • 4 p.m. MT
Magness Arena (7,200) • Denver, Colo.
TV: ROOT SPORTS • Radio: AM 1510 & FM 93.7 • Web: Pioneer Vision (Audio)
About Denver: The Pioneers are 11-11 overall and 4-3 in The Summit League. Denver has won four of its last five games, including a 67-63 victory over North Dakota State on Feb. 1. Denver is fourth in The Summit League, just 1.5 games behind NDSU and Fort Wayne, which are both 6-2. 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 South Dakota: The Coyotes are 9-13 overall, 3-4 in The Summit League and 1-10 away from home with their only road win coming at Texas State on Nov. 25. South Dakota is in a three-way tie for fifth place in The Summit League. USD is second in the league in field goal defense (.441) but seventh in field goal percentage (.441). The Yotes are led by Brandon Bos’ 12.8 points per game, and Trevor Gruis is averaging 12.5 points and a team-high 6.2 rebounds, fifth most in the conference. Trey Norris is first in The Summit League with 4.6 assists per game and a 2.3 assist-to-turnover ratio. South Dakota was picked to finish seventh in The Summit League Preseason Poll, and Gruis was selected to the All-League Second Team.
The Matchup: The all-time series is tied 2-2. South Dakota beat Denver 59-54 at the DakotaDome in their previous meeting this season on Jan. 11. DU’s wins came in 1909 and 1946, and the loss was in 1982.
Last Time Out: Junior Brett Olson scored 19 points to lead four Denver scorers in double digits, as the Pioneers beat North Dakota State 67-63 at Magness Arena on Feb. 1. Senior Chris Udofia tallied 16 points, six rebounds and three blocks, while sophomore Bryant Rucker and redshirt sophomore Marcus Byrd added 12 and 10 points, respectively. The Pioneers led the entire game, shooting 51.4 percent (19-of-37) from the field, 56.3 percent (9-of-16) from three-point range and 90.9 percent (20-of-22) from the free throw line. The Bison, who entered the game tied for first in the Summit League and ranked ninth in the NCAA in free throw shooting, made just 15-of-25 (60.0 percent) from the line to go along with 48.8 percent (21-of-43) from the field and 42.9 percent (6-of-14) from beyond the arc. Denver had six steals and scored 21 points off 15 turnovers by the Bison, who ranked 10th in the nation in fewest turnovers.
Broadcast Info: Saturday’s game against South Dakota will air live on ROOT SPORTS. Vic Lombardi (play-by-play) and Greg Lackey (color) will call the action. ROOT is available on Comcast (Ch. 26 or 665HD), DirecTV (Ch. 683) or Dish Network (Ch. 414).
U-Tube: At six-foot-six, senior Chris Udofia, who scored 16 points and had three blocks against North Dakota State on Feb. 1, is ranked 35th in the nation and first in The Summit League with 2.55 blocks per game, and his 242 career blocks are the most in DU history. The DU captain is playing in his 116th career game, tied for 10th most in team history. Udofia sits in sole possession of sixth on DU’s all-time scoring list with 1,403 points, just 14 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 35.0 per game, third in the Summit League. Udofia also ranks third in The Summit League in assist/turnover ratio (2.0), fourth in both assists (3.8) and steals (1.5), sixth in offensive rebounding (2.0), eighth in rebounding (5.6), 13th in scoring (12.9) and 15th in field goal percentage (.488). Udofia has started 89-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. On Saturday, Udofia will rank among Denver’s top 10 career marks in seven different categories (see Milestone Watch on page 2).
Olson Well: Junior guard Brett Olson went 5-for-6 from the free throw line while recording 19 points against North Dakota State on Feb. 1, snapping a streak of 18-straight free throws made. Olson, who was named The Summit League Athlete of the Month for December, ranks fifth in the NCAA and first in The Summit League in free throw shooting at 92.5 percent (74-of-80). In his career, Olson has hit 92.4 percent (134-of-145) 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 17th among current D-I players with a 43.5 three-point percentage, and his 173 career three-pointers made are tied for seventh on DU’s all-time career list with Arthur Ireland (1997-00). Olson, who was named to the Great Alaska Shootout All-Tournament Team, is second in The Summit League and 29th in the NCAA in minutes per game (36.5). Olson is also third in the conference in three-pointers made (2.0), fifth assist/turnover ratio (1.8), sixth in scoring (14.7), seventh in both assists (3.5) and three-point percentage (.406), and 12th in steals (1.1). Olson has started all 85 games in his career, the ninth-longest current streak in the NCAA.
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 fourth in The Summit League in steals (1.6), sixth in three-point percentage (.478), 10th in field goal percentage (.533), 11th in three-pointers made (1.6) and 27th in scoring (9.3).
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 327 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.
Lights, Cameron, Action: Junior guard Cam Griffin scored 11 points off 4-for-4 from the field against South Dakota State on Jan. 30. In seven conference games, Griffin has a .667 field goal percentage (20-of-30). At just 6-foot-3, Griffin is sixth in The Summit League in both total rebounds (6.1) and offensive rebounds (2.0), and eighth in defensive rebounds (4.2). Griffin also has 1.5 steals, which ranks fifth in the conference. 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 16 points off 6-of-8 from the field and 4-of-5 from three-point range at Omaha on Jan. 23. After hitting just nine three-pointers all of last season, Byrd is fourth in The Summit League in three-point percentage (.441), fifth in three-pointers per game (2.0) and 30th in scoring (8.5). 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.
Talking Turnovers: The Pioneers turned the ball over only eight times against South Dakota State on Jan. 30, the 13th time this season that DU has had 10 turnovers or fewer. On the season, Denver has a 1.44 assist/turnover ratio, first in The Summit League and the 20th best mark in the NCAA, and only 10.6 turnovers per game, which is second in the league and 36th in the nation. Senior Chris Udofia is third in the Summit with a 2.0 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.
The Long Ranger: The Pioneers made only nine three-pointers against North Dakota State on Feb. 1, raising their season average to 7.8 three-pointers per game and improving their three-point percentage to .376, which are second and third in The Summit League, respectively. Denver is 4-0 this season and is a combined 22-2 over the last three seasons when hitting 10 or more three-pointers. The Pioneers have at least one three-pointer in 246-straight games, dating back to Feb. 2, 2006.
Been Caught Stealing: Denver had only six steals against North Dakota State, tying its fewest in conference play this season, but scored 21 points off 15 Bison 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, tied for the most in The Summit League.
A Little Help from Their Friends: The Pioneers have recorded assists on 67.3 percent (335-of-498) 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 eighth 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: Denver has lost two of its last four home games, snapping a 15-game-home winning streak against conference opponents, dating back to Dec. 31, 2011 (Sun Belt/WAC/Summit). The Pioneers are 81-19 (.810) at Magness Arena under head coach Joe Scott, including a 48-8 (.857) 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 has played in 49 arenas, 26 states, and against 68 opposing teams. 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.
