About Denver: The Pioneers, who earned a No. 3 seed in the National Invitation Tournament have won 11-of-their-last-12, 18-of-their-last-20 and 21-of-their-last-25 games. Denver won a share of the WAC regular season championship with Louisiana Tech, as both finished with a 16-2 WAC record. The Pioneers rank fourth in the NCAA in assist/turnover ratio (1.47); eighth in scoring defense (55.7), assists per game (16.4) and turnover margin (4.8); 12th in field goal percentage (.481); 16th in steals per game (9.0); and 19th in three-pointers per game (8.2).
Last Time Out: Sophomore Cam Griffin recorded his first career double-double with 14 points on 5-of-5 shooting and 10 rebounds, as the Pioneers defeated Ohio 61-57 on Tuesday evening in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament at Magness Arena. The win was DU’s first-ever in the postseason. Sophomore Brett Olson had 15 points and three steals, 10 of which came in the second half, and junior Chris Udofia scored 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting, and blocked three shots, including one with a one-point lead with 21 seconds remaining. Sophomore Royce O’Neale tallied eight points and a career-high four blocks. The Pioneers finished the contest shooting 53.7 percent (22-of-41) from the field, but only hit a season-low 2-of-10 (20.0 percent) from three-point range and 15-of-29 (51.7 percent) from the free throw line. Ohio shot 41.5 percent (22-of-53) from the floor and 50.0 percent (6-of-12) from three-point range. DU also had a season-high 10 blocked shots, as well as grabbing 10 steals.
WAC Championship: Denver won a share of the WAC regular season title in DU’s lone year in the conference, going 16-2 and tying Louisiana Tech for the crown. DU’s only other league title since returning to NCAA Division I in 1999-00 came when the Pioneers won the 2005 Sun Belt Conference West Division and earned the No. 1 seed to the SBC Tournament, although the SBC did not officially recognize an overall regular season conference champion.
Postseason Honors: Junior Chris Udofia and senior Chase Hallam were named to the All-WAC First Team and Second Team, respectively, and both earned a spot on the WAC All-Defensive Team. Sophomores Brett Olson and Royce O’Neale were both voted to the All-WAC Third Team.
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