THE MADNESS CONTINUES: After earning its first national Division I postseason tournament victory since 1964, Seattle University enters the quarterfinals of the 2015 College Basketball Invitational, where it will host the Colorado Buffaloes. Once again, because KeyArena is unavailable in the aftermath of the NCAA Second and Third Rounds, the game will be played on campus at the Connolly Center.
WHERE TO CATCH THE GAME: Monday’s game will be streamed live on GoSeattleU.com, and live stats will also be available on the Seattle U official athletics website. It will also be broadcast on 770 AM KTTH, with Dave Grosby and Gary Hill Jr. calling the action from courtside starting with the pregame show shortly before tipoff.
HOME SWEET HOME: Seattle U completed a 6-1 WAC home record, the most home conference victories as a Division I program since winning six home games within the West Coast Athletic Conference (WCAC) in the 1976-77 season. In those seven home games, the Redhawks allowed just 46.9 points per game, holding opponents to 34.2 percent field goal shooting while hitting 47.9 percent of their field goal attempts. Overall, Seattle U is 12-5 at home entering Monday’s game, averaging 66.1 points per game and giving up 56.2 points per contest. Isiah Umipig has scored 18.4 points per game in home contests this season, while Jarell Flora has chipped in 15.5 points per game at home.
SCOUTING COLORADO: The Buffaloes enter Monday’s game with a 16-17 overall record after advancing to the CBI quarterfinals with an 87-78 victory over Gardner Webb. Colorado is just 2-10 in true road games this season, with the two wins coming against USC in triple overtime and against Washington. The Buffaloes are scoring 69.1 points per game and giving up 68.0 points per contest. As a team, Colorado is shooting 43.9 percent from the field, including 33.7 percent from behind the three-point line, and 71.5 percent from the free throw line. Senior Askia Booker, the leading player for Colorado during the regular season at 17.2 points, 3.2 assists, and 1.4 steals per game, has decided not to play in the CBI for the Buffaloes. That leaves Josh Scott as the player to watch, as he is averaging 14.4 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.8 blocked shots per game, plus he is shooting 54.3 percent from the field and 76.6 percent from the free throw line. Scott led Colorado against Gardner Webb with 23 points and 15 rebounds.
SEATTLE U VS. COLORADO: This will be the second meeting all-time between Seattle U and Colorado, with the first meeting taking place almost 50 years ago. On Dec. 17, 1965, in the first round of the Sun Devil Classic in Tempe, Ariz., Seattle U defeated Colorado, 86-69.