Colorado State Rams
2021-2022 Overall Rank: #32
Conference Rank: #1 Mountain West
Coach Niko Medved has only been the head coach at Colorado State for three years, but it already feels like he has changed the program. The Rams have been pretty good over the last decade, but now they could be special. Last season CSU took another big step forward, finishing third in the Mountain West and reaching the semifinals of the NIT. This time around, with their top seven scorers back, Colorado State will be looking for a trip to the NCAA Tournament.
2020-21 Record: 20-8, 14-4
2020-21 Postseason: NIT
Coach: Niko Medved
Coach Record: 51-38 at Colorado State, 130-125 overall
Key Departed Players:
P.J. Byrd, Guard, 2.9 ppg
Key Returning Players:
David Roddy, Junior, Guard/Forward, 15.9 ppg
Isaiah Stevens, Junior, Guard, 15.3 ppg
Kendle Moore, Senior, Guard, 10.5 ppg
Adam Thistlewood, Senior, Forward, 9.1 ppg
John Tonje, Junior, Guard, 6.6 ppg
James Moors, Sophomore, Forward, 5.9 ppg
Dischon Thomas, Junior, Forward, 5.2 ppg
Isaiah Rivera, Sophomore, Guard, 2.6 ppg
Key New Players:
Baylor Hebb, Sophomore, Guard, Transfer from Loyola Chicago
Chandler Jacobs, Senior, Guard, Transfer from Dallas Baptist
Jalen Lake, Freshman, Guard
Jalen Scott, Freshman, Guard
Projection:
David Roddy had a huge sophomore season, averaging 15.9 points, 9.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists. He is only 6-5, but Roddy can do things big guys do in the paint. He can also be a threat to shoot the ball and he is extremely dangerous passing the ball. No defense has an easy time slowing Roddy down. Isaiah Stevens and Kendle Moore are a superb duo in the backcourt. Stevens averaged 15.3 points and 5.4 assists and shot nearly 43 percent from beyond the arc. Moore is an experienced senior who added 10.5 points per game. Adam Thistlewood is a dangerous shooter as well and the 6-6 forward adds yet another shooting threat to the team. James Moors is the more traditional big man and the sophomore plays an important role on the defensive end when Colorado State is going up against larger teams. With John Tonje, Dischon Thomas and Isaiah Rivera adding depth, this team has plenty of options. Baylor Hebb comes from Loyola Chicago and Chandler Jacobs was an All-American at the Division II following a 20.8 point season at Dallas Baptist. Colorado State has the depth, talent, experience and superstar in Roddy to reach the NCAA Tournament and do a lot of damage once they get there.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NCAA
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 74.0 (102nd in nation, 3rd in conference)
Scoring Defense: 66.8 (73, 4)
Field-Goal Percentage: 46.5 (51, 1)
Field-Goal Defense: 42.2 (109, 5)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 8.4 (68, 3)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 35.3 (102, 4)
Free-Throw Percentage: 79.2 (6, 1)
Rebound Margin: 0.9 (158, 8)
Assists Per Game: 14.6 (77, 2)
Turnovers Per Game: 13.5 (196, 7)
