The Iowa State men’s basketball team will jump back into action on Saturday against Big 12 opponent Colorado.

The Buffaloes, who are currently second in the Big 12, are led by returning stars Chauncey Billups and Martice Moore. Billups, a 6-3 point guard for CU, was last year’s Big Eight freshman of the year, second-team all Big Eight selection, and he finished third in the conference in scoring and assists. Billups also scored more points (465) than any other freshman in Colorado history.

Billups is averaging 18.3 points per game, fourth in the Big 12. Billups’ strengths are his stunning defense and his ability to get to the free-throw line.

Billups has collected 25 steals this season while making 68 of 81 free throw attempts. Billups went to the line 18 times while connecting on 15 attempts against Missouri on January 7.

Free throw attempts will make or break the Buffaloes. Colorado has been to the foul line 402 times this season, connecting on nearly 66 percent of them as a team.

The Buffaloes also play a very aggressive style of defensive ball that has resulted in 131 steals this season, second in the Big 12 only to Kansas who has tallied 171.

Moore, who averages 9.7 points per game, is expected to be the second man in the Buffaloes’ one-two scoring punch this season. Moore was the team’s leading rebounder (7.6 rpg) and shot blocker (43) last season. Moore finished the year sixth in the conference in scoring (15.5 ppg). Moore is also a solid force on the defensive glass. Moore is currently ranked 12th in the Big 12 averaging 4.2 defensive boards a game behind ISU senior center Kelvin Cato, who averages 4.5 defensive boards per game.

6-6 senior forward Fred Edmunds is also one of the Buffaloes’ big threats. Edmunds is averaging 12.9 points per game while grabbing an average of 6.5 rebounds per game.

Iowa State senior forward Kenny Pratt will probably be splitting the duties of guarding Edmunds with senior forward and defensive specialist Shawn Bankhead.

Billups and Moore will receive help from senior forward Greg Jensen. Starting center for CU is Charlie Melvin.

Finally, junior guard Howard Frier will back up Billups in the Buffalo back court.

Off the bench for CU, expect to see 6-9 senior center Dennis Griffin, who grabbed a career high seven rebounds against Oklahoma State last season.

Will Smith, an exciting 6-6 freshman forward from Memphis, Tenn. should also see some action.

Colorado’s solid core has the team off to a running start with a 12-3 record overall and a 3-0 record in the Big 12.

The task of shutting down Billups will more than likely fall on the shoulders of Cyclone point guard Jacy Holloway.

Bankhead will probably be guarding Moore on the baseline. Depending on the health of Cyclone guard Dedric Willoughby, ISU could have their hands full with a team that Dick Vitale picked to be the sleeper of the Big 12 conference.