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The men’s basketball team finished the nonconference season with an 8-6 record for the second consecutive year under coach Jeff Bzdelik.

The pre-Big 12 portion of the season included a victory over rival Colorado State and a disheartening home loss to Texas Christian in early December.

Bzdelik has tried to keep a long-term perspective when it comes to his young Buffs. The 12-man active roster at the start of 2009 included 10 players who were either freshmen or sophomores.

“We’re just so blasted young and we’re playing against teams that have juniors and seniors,” Bzdelik told the Boulder Camera.

“I’m not disappointed. I’m just realistic.”

On Jan. 5 sophomore guard Cory Higgins set a ���������� and Big 12 record by making his 40th consecutive free throw. In December, after scoring 33 points against CSU, Higgins became the first ���������� man in three years to be named Big 12 Player of the Week.