Colorado men’s basketball had three more reasons to celebrate after ending the regular season on a high note with a victory over rivals Nebraska.
Those three reasons came in the form of sophomore guard Alec Burks and senior guards Cory Higgins and Levi Knutson.
Burks was named to the All-Big 12 First Team and Higgins was voted to the Third Team. Knutson earned Colorado’s first Sixth Man Award, an honor he shared with Baylor forward Quincy Acy.
The trio’s awards were announced Sunday afternoon by the conference in Irving, Texas. The recipients were chosen by the league’s head coaches, who are not allowed to vote for their own players.
This is Higgins’ third straight Third Team appearance. Burks was last year’s Big 12 Conference Freshman of the Year in addition to being on the All-Rookie Team.
Colorado golf trio earns first, second, third in men’s tournament
Two sophomores on the CU men’s golf team really know how to put on a show.
Sophomore Derek Fribbs captured the inaugural Front Range Individual Championship in Erie, Colo., after posting a 4-under 68 on Sunday. Jason Burstyn, also a sophomore, finished in second going 71 for 71 on the green, while junior Sebastian Heisele earned third with a scorecard of 73-72—145 (+1).
“This was a really good weekend to stay in Colorado and compete to get ready for the remainder of the season,” CU head coach Roy Edwards said. “It was much better than qualifying as it was a tournament that will count towards individual rankings. Derek and Jason played well and we are proud to have the top three finishers from the event.”
CU had six finishers in the top 10, including another trio of players who tied for seventh place.
Fribbs will look to capture another individual title as he and the rest of the men’s golf team head to the Bandon Dunes Invitational in Bandon, Ore., from March 11 – 12.
Bohn begins planning for NIT Tournaments, Big 12 Tournament foe announced
Colorado Athletic Director Mike Bohn announced Thursday that the Buffs are lobbying “aggressive bids” to host both the NIT and WNIT.
Note, the bids were announced prior to the men’s win over Nebraska. The bids were a response to the men’s basketball loss at Iowa State.
The National Invitational Tournament is traditionally known as the second-tier college basketball tournament after the NCAA Basketball Championships. The tournament is held for both women’s and men’s teams.
Since early rounds are played on campus sites, Bohn said he is reaching out to both tournaments to host matches in Boulder. A season boasting five sellout crowds at the Coors Events Center is one of Bohn’s more impressive pitches to convince the NIT.
“The probability of both teams getting into the postseason, whichever tournament it is, is very, very high,” Bohn said. “That’s exciting for us. I think both new coaches have seized the opportunity and done a great job.”
Inclusion in the NIT this season would be the ninth tournament berth for the men’s team since a 2006 appearance. The women last qualified for the WNIT in 2008.
Started in 1938, the NIT is the oldest college basketball tournament in the country. CU has a bit of a history with the tournament—the Buffs men’s squad won it during the 1939-40 season.
The Big 12 Tournament seeds were also announced Saturday.
The men’s team, seeded fifth, will look to avenge a loss in Ames as they take on Iowa State on Wednesday, while the ninth seeded women’s team will face the Kansas Jayhawks.
Contact CU Independent Sports Editor Esteban L. Hernandez at Esteban.hernandez@colorado.edu.
