Border rivalries and conference matchups, top-ranked teams and up-and-comers, the Front Range college basketball schedule this weekend has it all, from big schools and small:
CSU men at Wyoming, Saturday, 4 p.m. (Mtn.). The highest-ranked Front Range team, Colorado State is No. 22 this week in the NCAA’s RPI rankings (a number used to peg at-large teams in the NCAA Tournament). And the Rams are climbing. CSU (13-4) is undefeated at home, but a tough road game greets them Saturday against Wyoming (15-3) at the Arena-Auditorium in Laramie.
“I think we have been playing well,” Rams junior guard Dorian Green said in a release after the Rams’ eighth consecutive victory, Tuesday against Boise State. “But we have to keep it going.”
Rams coach Tim Miles also is looking forward: “I’ll be happier when it’s nine,” he said.
DU men at North Texas, Saturday, 6 p.m. Two teams in the top tier of the Sun Belt Conference will battle for position Saturday. Denver (14-4), coached by Joe Scott, is 4-1 in the SBC and looking to catch Arkansas-Little Rock (8-11, but 5-0 in the SBC) atop the West Division standings.
The Pioneers are also trying to fend off the Mean Green of North Texas (11-8, 4-2) in a game at Denton, Texas.
CU women at Arizona, Sunday, 2:30 p.m. (Root). Linda Lappe’s squad, after starting the season 12-0, has faltered in recent weeks.
The Buffs (13-4) have lost three in a row after a 64-43 rout Thursday at Arizona State in which CU scored just nine points in the first half. Colorado will look to rebound Sunday against the Wildcats.
Arizona at CU men, Saturday, 4 p.m. (Root). After the first stage of the Pac-12 season, Colorado and Arizona found themselves battling among the middle of the pack. They had identical 3-2 league records before late Thursday games and were within a half game overall.
Check out the rebounding battle, as Colorado’s André Roberson (11.4 boards per game) and Arizona’s Solomon Hill (8.1) rank No. 1 and 2 in the Pac-12.
Fort Lewis women vs. Metro State, today, 5 p.m. Tonight’s game at Auraria will be the first in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference history pitting two top-five teams against each other.
No. 5 Metro State (14-1) got ranked as high as second in Division II this season before a loss to Colorado Christian dropped it down a few spots.
Fort Lewis (14-1) lost only to UC-San Diego this season. The game with Metro State should decide the league’s regular-season title.
STAY ON THE COUCH
It’s hard to believe it was April 4, 2010, when the Avalanche’s Peter Mueller previously scored a goal. That he got two goals on Wedneday night, plus an assist, in a 4-3 victory over Florida was a well-won, overdue good night for No. 88.
Mueller had been sidelined by concussions from a series of hits to the head. Mueller is now back after a long, sometimes frustrating recovery. And it’s good to see a guy who struggled and suffered the last 18 months, get to throw his arms in the air again.
And the Avs will need him. They travel to the West Coast for back-to-back games starting Saturday against the Kings in Los Angeles at 8:30 p.m. (airing on Altitude). On Sunday, they go across town to play the Ducks in Anaheim at 6 p.m. (also on ALT).
Adrian Dater, The Denver Post
GET OFF THE COUCH
It was near 60 degrees Thursday. But the temperature doesn’t really need to be cold to enjoy the winter-themed races this weekend.
On Saturday, Frosty’s Frozen Five and 10 will race five miles and 10 at Hudson Gardens in Littleton. The course traces the paved Platte River Trail starting at 9 a.m. ().
On Sunday, check the Polar Bear 5K at Washington Park. The 10 a.m. race should be a casual and fun jaunt around park and it’s part of the Run Denver Series of races ().
WHAT WE’D LIKE TO SEE
Nearly six years after Denver MMA fighter Duane “Bang” Ludwig used a single-punch to knockout Jonathan Goulet in Las Vegas, fans have wondered if it was the fastest ever KO in UFC history.
On Dec. 24, UFC president Dana White settled the debate, using video replays to document Ludwig’s KO as the fastest in UFC history at 6.06 seconds.
But it’s all in the past now, as Ludwig (21-11) fights Iowa’s Josh Neer (32-10-1) tonight in a nationally televised bout on FX. The card also includes Melvin Guillard vs. Jim Miller from Nashville, Tenn. The fights start at 7 p.m.
“I wanna play the technical role,” Ludwig said this week. “I feel that I’m technically better. But we’re both tough as nails. It’s gonna be fun.”
The co-main event is part of the premier card on Fox’s cable network, and the second fight in a seven-year deal between the UFC and Fox.
