I am probably higher on Colorado State than most people. But I really like this Rams squad. I had them as my last team in heading into Selection Sunday last March, and I still feel like they should have gotten in. Pretty much that entire squad is returning this year. Of the nine players who played significant minutes last season, eight of them are returning for this season. That includes the top seven players in minutes per game. To add to that mix, they bring in a very intriguing Division 2 transfer. The talent they possess and the experience they all have playing together has them, in my eyes, the favorites in the Mountain West and primed for their first trip to the Big Dance for the first time since 2012-2013.
The Rams
When thinking of basketball in the Mountain West, usually you’re going to think of San Diego State. And rightfully so. They’re almost always at or near the top. But this year you should think about Colorado State. The Rams are led by juniors Isaiah Stevens and David Roddy. They both averaged over fifteen points per game last season, which ranked ninth and sixth in the Mountain West respectively.
Isaiah Stevens is an electric scorer that can do it all levels. He shot 47% from the field, good enough for third in the MWC. He also led the conference in free throw percentage. Stevens is also the team’s best passer, and had the second-highest assists per game average in the conference, second only to Nevada’s Grant Sherfield. Roddy is also a great scorer. At 51% from the field, he was one of only two players in the Mountain West that shot better than Stevens did last season. His 9.4 rebounds per game was only bested by Utah State’s Neemias Queta, who is now in the NBA. Roddy was sixth in the MWC in free throw percentage as well.
There is also Kendle Moore, a rising senior who averaged over ten points a game last season and would have led the conference in free throw percentage had he qualified. In addition, he was seventh in the conference in steals per game. Keeping in mind how good the Mountain West was last season, those are excellent numbers. Adam Thistlewood is a key player too and New Zealander James Moors provides size on the inside.
The one addition the Rams made is an intriguing one. Chandler Jacobs is a graduate transfer from D2 Dallas Baptist. The guard was excellent in his four seasons with the Patriots. He was a NABC, D2SIDA, and National Collegiate Christian Athletic Association All-American last year. That was the first-ever for the school. Jacobs averaged 20.8 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 2.5 steals per game last season. He also earned the Lone Star conference’s Defensive Player Of The Year and Academic Player Of The Year awards as well as being first-team all-conference. In his career at DBU he led the Patriots to four straight NCAA Division 2 Tournament appearances and became the school’s all-time leading scorer with 1,919 points scored. He won’t start for Colorado State, but if he transitions well to D1 ball, he could be a great player off the bench for the Rams.
The Rams will have plenty of chances to prove themselves before even getting to conference play. They play Bradley and could also play Creighton and Colorado in the Paradise Jam. They play Mississippi State and Tulsa in two different events in Fort Worth, Texas. The Rams also have home games against Oral Roberts, who fans fell in love with during their run to the Sweet Sixteen in March, and WCC power Saint Mary’s. The biggest opportunity for a huge win for Colorado State is the C.M. Newton Classic on December 21st at Alabama. How they play in that game will tell people a lot. Then of course you have conference play, which should provide plenty of opportunities for good wins as the Mountain West should be strong again this season.
Projected Lineup
PG – Kendle Moore (10.5 PPG/2.9 RPG/1.5 APG/1.4 SPG)
SG – Isaiah Stevens (15.3 PPG/4.3 RPG/5.4 APG/1.1 SPG)
G/F – David Roddy (15.9 PPG/9.4 RPG/2.6 APG)
SF – Adam Thistlewood (9.1 PPG/3.6 RPG)
PF – James Moors (5.9 PPG/3.5 RPG/1.1 APG)
Main Photo:
Embed from Getty Images
