Colorado State Rams
2020-2021 Overall Rank: #117
Conference Rank: #6 Mountain West
After a rough debut season for head coach Niko Medved, Colorado State’s win total increased by eight games in year two. The Rams finished 2019-20 with their fifth 20-win season in the last nine years. Colorado State is still searching for their first NCAA Tournament berth since 2013 however. This year’s team returns a hefty portion of production last season, making them a dark horse candidate to finish near the top of the Mountain West.
2019-20 Record: 20-12, 11-7
Coach: Niko Medved
Coach Record: 32-32 at Colorado State, 111-119 overall
Key Departed Players:
Nico Carvacho, Forward, 12.9 ppg
Kris Martin, Guard, 7.4 ppg
Hyron Edwards, Guard, 4.0 ppg
Nico Carvacho, Forward, 12.9 ppg
Kris Martin, Guard, 7.4 ppg
Hyron Edwards, Guard, 4.0 ppg
Key Returning Players:
Isaiah Stevens, Sophomore, Guard, 13.3 ppg
David Roddy, Sophomore, Forward, 11.4 ppg
Adam Thistlewood, Junior, Forward, 10.2 ppg
Kendle Moore, Junior, Guard, 9.0 ppg
Dischon Thomas, Sophomore, Forward, 3.8 ppg
John Tonje, Sophomore, Forward, 3.6 ppg
P.J. Byrd, Junior, Guard, 3.0 ppg
Isaiah Stevens, Sophomore, Guard, 13.3 ppg
David Roddy, Sophomore, Forward, 11.4 ppg
Adam Thistlewood, Junior, Forward, 10.2 ppg
Kendle Moore, Junior, Guard, 9.0 ppg
Dischon Thomas, Sophomore, Forward, 3.8 ppg
John Tonje, Sophomore, Forward, 3.6 ppg
P.J. Byrd, Junior, Guard, 3.0 ppg
Key New Players:
Jacob Jennissen, Freshman, Center
Isaiah Rivera, Freshman, Forward
Ignas Sargiunas, Sophomore, Guard, Transfer from Georgia
Isaiah Rivera, Freshman, Forward
Ignas Sargiunas, Sophomore, Guard, Transfer from Georgia
Projection:
Four of last season’s top five scorers are back at Colorado State. Isaiah Stevens led the Rams in scoring, assists and minutes as a true freshman. Stevens was named Mountain West Freshman of the Year behind 13.3 points, 4.5 assists, 3.1 rebounds and 38% shooting from three. With Nico Carvacho graduated, this will be Stevens’ team and he is primed for an all-conference sophomore season. David Roddy and Adam Thistlewood return after each averaged double-digit points last season. Roddy is a combo guard/forward who started 19 games as a freshman, averaging 11.4 points and 5.6 rebounds. Thistlewood started 28 games, averaging 10.2 points while shooting 39.3% from three-point range on 5.0 attempts per game. Kendle Moore started all 32 games as a sophomore, averaging 9.0 points and leading the team with a 43.5% shooting mark from three. These four returning starters should form one of the best cores in the conference with high-level continuity and scoring ability. Role players Dischon Thomas, John Tonje and P.J. Byrd also return to give Colorado State one of the more experienced rosters in the conference. The top newcomer is Georgia transfer Ignas Sargiunas. Sargiunas played in 20 games at UGA, averaging 1.8 points in 5.8 minutes per game. Sargiunas is from Lithuania, where he played in the U17 World Championships and led his team with 13.0 points per game. The Rams will also welcome freshmen Isaiah Rivera and Jacob Jennissen this season. Colorado State brings back a good amount of production from a 20-win team. With that amount of consistency, the Rams are in position to make a run at the Mountain West title.
Projected Postseason Tournament: CBI/CIT
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 75.5 (62nd in nation, 5th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 72.1 (252, 7)
Field-Goal Percentage: 46.9 (31, 1)
Field-Goal Defense: 44.3 (251, 7)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 8.1 (90, 7)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 36.6 (35, 4)
Free-Throw Percentage: 67.9 (272, 11)
Rebound Margin: 2.7 (100, 6)
Assists Per Game: 15.5 (22, 2)
Turnovers Per Game: 13.1 (174, 8)
