Colorado State University Athletics
Rams Travel to Denver to Face Pioneers Wednesday
11/28/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 28, 2006
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GAME NO. 6
COLORADO STATE (3-2/0-0) at
DENVER (1-5/0-0)
Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2006 | Denver, Colo. | Magness Arena (7,200) | 7:00 p.m. MT | Fox Sports Net Rocky Mountain
THE MATCHUP
The Rams will return to the hardwood for the first time in nine days when they travel to Denver to take on the University of Denver Pioneers Wednesday in Magness Arena. Colorado State will be in search of its first three-game winning streak since they defeated Pepperdine, Western Michigan and Hawai'i in December of 2005. CSU captured a 67-50 victory over Boise State last Monday following a 74-56 win over Montana State Northern Nov. 18. Junior forward Jason Smith continues to lead Colorado State averaging 16.6 points and 10.4 rebounds per game for the Rams.
ABOUT DENVER
Denver holds a 1-5 overall record following a 73-63 loss at Southern Utah Monday. The Pioneers' lone win this season came in a 74-68 home victory over Northern Colorado on Nov. 19. Senior Deshawn Walker is Denver's leading scorer with 13.7 points per game while freshman Tyler Bullock is hitting for 10 points per night. Walker also leads DU on the glass grabbing seven rebounds per contest. As a team, the Pioneers are shooting 39 percent from the floor and are being outrebounded by 6.3 boards per game.
SINCE 1902
Colorado State is in the school's 103rd season of intercollegiate competition in 2006-07. CSU has a cumulative record of 1,044-1,071 in 2,115 previous games dating back to 1902.
LONGEST RIVALRIES
The Colorado State/Denver rivalry dates back to the 1902-03 season making it CSU's second-oldest rivalry next to Northern Colorado. The Pioneers and Rams/Aggies have met 155 times in the history of the schools making this series the second-longest at CSU next to Wyoming (203). Following is a list of CSU's longest rivalries: Wyoming 203, Denver 155, Utah 135, BYU 125, Colorado 116, New Mexico 99, Northern Colorado 92
THE RAMS IN NOVEMBER
Colorado State holds a 25-9 regular season record in the month of November under head coach Dale Layer. CSU was a perfect 5-0 in the 11th month last season.
ON WEDNESDAYS
The Rams hold a 6-15 record in Wednesday games during the Dale Layer era. CSU is 0-1 on Wednesdays this year (lost to Rice) and held a 4-7 Wednesday record a year ago.
NOTING THE BOISE STATE GAME
-Tyler Smith's six steals ranked as the sixth most in a single game in school history. His six steals were the most by a CSU player since Milt Palacio had eight against New Mexico in 1999.
- Freddy Robinson secured his 200th career rebound.
- Jason Smith's six points were his fewest in a game since scoring six at Kansas State on Dec. 7, 2005.
- Boise State's 50 points marked the lowest point total by a CSU opponent since BYU had 50 against CSU in 2005.
- Xavier Kilby became the third different Ram to lead the team in scoring with career-highs of 12 points and seven rebounds in the game.
- Tim Denson went for a career-best 10 points in the game.
PRESEASON PICK
Colorado State junior forward Jason Smith was tabbed as one of five players on the preseason all-Mountain West Conference team. Smith was CSU's leader in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots a year ago.
PRESEASOSN PLAYBOY ALL-AMERICAN
Junior forward Jason Smith was named 2006-07 preseason Playboy All-American team. He was one of 10 players selected to the team. Others listed include: Morris Almond (Rice), Taurean Green (Florida), Ronald Steele (Alabama), Alando Tucker (Wisconsin), Glen Davis (LSU), Nick Fazekas (Nevada), Tyler Hansbrough (North Carolina), Joakim Noah (Florida) and Greg Oden (Ohio State).
WOODEN WATCH LIST
Colorado State forward Jason Smith was named as one of 50 preseason candidates for the Men's 2006-07 Wooden Award All-American Team. The list is composed of 50 student athletes who, based on last year's individual performance and team records, are the early frontrunners for college basketball's most coveted trophy. These top 50 candidates are comprised of returning players, although transfers, freshmen, medical redshirts and other players who excel throughout the season will be evaluated and considered for both the Midseason Top 30 list and the National Ballot. Players not on the preseason list are eligible for the midseason Top 30 and ballot.
SMITH NAMED ALL-DISTRICT
Junior forward Jason Smith was named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) all-district second team following the 2005-06 season. It marked the second-straight year that a CSU player had secured a spot on the second team after Matt Nelson's appearance in 2005.
FIRST TEAM...FIRST TIME
CSU junior Jason Smith was a first team all-MWC selection in the 2005-06 season. He is Colorado State's first ever selcetion to the first team in Mountain West Conference history.
SINCE 2002...
As a team, Colorado State has blocked at least one shot in every game since its Jan. 28, 2002 matchup with New Mexico, a span that encompasses 104-straight contests.
16-WIN SEASONS
With CSU's 16-win season in 2005-06, the Rams tied for 19th in single-season victories in the history of the program.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Rams host Kansas State Saturday in Moby Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:05 p.m.
PLAYER TIDBITS & TRENDS
#3 Xavier Kilby
• Kilby's 12 points versus Boise State marks the most single game points by a CSU freshman this season.
• Is 6-of-9 from the floor in his last two games.
#4 Cory Lewis
• Lewis has had an assist in 34 of 35 games in his career including 29 multi-assist games.
• Lewis has recorded an assist in 33 straight games.
• Has led CSU in assists 27 times in his career.
• Has played 30 or more minutes in 21 of 35 career games at CSU.
#5 Tyler Smith
• Tyler Smith's 26 points against CSU-Pueblo marked the most points by a CSU player in their debut game in the modern era. CSU's Ronnie Clark netted 25 in his first game with the Rams in the 2001-02 season.
• Smith's six steals in CSU's win over Boise State ties for the sixth-most single-game steals in CSU history.
• Has seven assists in his last two games.
• Has hit 8-of-25 (.320) from the floor in the first period this season (19 points) while hitting 17-of-35 (.486) in the second half for 45 points.
#12 Tim Denson
• Denson has recorded an assist in all five games this year.
#13 Freddy Robinson
• Robinson has scored in 17 straight games.
• Recorded his 200th career rebound against Boise State.
#14 Jason Smith
• Scored in double figures in 43 of 60 games in his collegiate career.
• Had six points versus Boise State, his lowest offensive output since posting six against Kansas State (12/7/05).
• Has had four or more rebounds in 23 straight games.
• Has had six or more rebounds in 15 of his last 18 games.
• Has had an assist in 25 of his last 26 games.
#30 Stuart Creason
• Creason is 41-of-64 (.641) from the field in his last 16 games.
• Creason has posted five or more rebounds in each game this season.
#33 Stephan Gilling
• Has hit a three-pointer in 29 of 36 games and has had multiple three-pointers in 21 games.
• Ranks third in the CSU freshman record books in games started (24).
• Has hit a three in nine of his last 11 games.
• Currently ranks 8th in all-time 3-point field goal percentage (.422) at CSU.
THEY COME FROM ALL OVER
Colorado State's roster, in 2006-07, is comprised of players from nine different states. The CSU roster broken down by state is: California (6), Colorado (2), Arizona (1), Louisiana (1), Maryland (1), Mississippi (1), Oklahoma (1), Texas (1) and West Virginia (1).
THE MAGIC NUMBER IS 70
Over the past three seasons, Colorado State is 5-19 when scoring less than 70 points in a game. In contrast the Rams are 24-14 when hitting 70 and 13-4 when reaching the 80-point plateau.
TELEVISION STARS
Colorado State will play on television more times this season than they ever have in the history of the program. Fans will be able to catch the Rams at least 19 times on television this season. CSU will play on the mtn. 15 times and on CSTV and Fox Sports Net twice.
GREAT STARTERS
Colorado State has started its season 3-2 for the third time under Dale Layer. CSU has started 5-0 twice and 4-1 twice in Layer's seven years.
FOES UNDER 40
Colorado State is 2-1 when holding an opponent to less than 40 percent shooting from the floor including the following games:
Date Game FG-A Pct.
Nov. 15 Rice 17-49 .347
Nov. 18 Montana State Northern 21-54 .389
Nov. 20 Boise State 19-52 .365
RAMS PLUS 50
Colorado State is 1-0 when shooting better than 50 percent from the floor this year including:
Date Game FG-A Pct.
Nov. 18 Montana State Northern 32-58 .552
WINDOW WASHERS
Colorado State has held the rebounding average in all five games that they have played this season. The Rams currently lead the Mountain West Conference holding a +6.0 rebounding margin this season.
CONSECUTIVE FREE THROWS
Following is a list of consecutive free throws made by current Colorado State players along with their all-time longest streak at CSU:
Player Current All-Time
Cory Lewis 0 20
Jason Smith 13 19
Stuart Creason 4 11
Freddy Robinson 0 11
Tim Denson 8 8
Stephan Gilling 2 6
Alton Robinson 5 5
Tyler Smith 0 4
Xavier Kilby 0 3
RAMS SELECTED TO PLAY IN TOP OF THE WORLD CLASSIC IN 2007
The field for the 2007 BP Top of the World Classic was announced during halftime of the championship game between Weber State and Utah State. The 12th Top of the World field will include teams from the PAC-10 and Mountain West Conferences among others. Tournament host the University of Alaska Fairbanks will again be joined by seven NCAA Division I teams in the Golden Heart City. The field will include the University of Akron, Colorado State University, Indiana University/Purdue University at Indianapolis, Oregon State University and Portland State University. The 2007 BP TOWC will take place Nov. 15-18, 2007 at the Carlson Center.
CSU BASKETBALL ADDS THREE
Colorado State head coach Dale Layer today announced that three players have signed National Letters of Intent to play basketball at Colorado State.
Jesse Woodard (6-1, 190, Guard, Compton, Calif./Centennial HS)
Jesse Woodard was ranked as a top 30 player in the nation and was a top five West Coast point guard at Centennial High School in Compton, Calif. He averaged 10 points, four rebounds and seven assists for Centennial HS and helped his team reach the sectional finals as a junior. He competed for the Compton Magic AAU team and was a three-time all-star at the renowned Adidas All-Star camps. Woodard chose CSU over Iowa State, Virginia Tech, Utah and UNLV.
Shane Edwards (6-7, 190, Forward, Gilbert, Ariz./Northeastern JC)
Shane Edwards averaged eight points and five rebounds in his freshman season at Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, Colo. Currently, Edwards is averaging better than 20 points, 10 rebounds per game for the Plainsmen after helping the team to a 30-4 overall record and a top 20 ranking in 2005-06. The athletic 6-7 forward was widely regarded as one of the best high school athletes to come out of the State of Arizona, sporting a wing span of 7-feet, one-inch. Edwards played at Mountain Pointe High School before coming to NJC.
Omar Leary (5-10, 170, Guard, Portland, Ore./Northeastern JC)
Leary, a 5-10, 170 point guard, averaged 10 points, four assists and two steals per game for Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, Colo., as a freshman in 2005-06. The Portland, Ore., native was regarded as one of the top 10 players to come out of Oregon as an all-city and all-state selection for Lincoln High School in Portland. He is regarded as one of the best point guards in the western U.S. coming out of NJC after helping the Plainsmen to a 30-4 record as the team's starting point guard in 2005-06.
THE GREEN MACHINE
Following a vote by the student body at Colorado State, the CSU student section will be referred to as "The Green Machine" in all 2006-07 home basketball contests.
CSU BASKETBALL TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets to all home games are available by calling 1-800-491-RAMS or online at CSURAMS.com, or at any King Soopers or City Market grocery store location throughout the state of Colorado.
PEPSI SIX-PACK
Colorado State University basketball fans can take advantage of two ticket promotions being offered by the school for the 2006-07 season. The "Pepsi 6-Pack" features tickets to six games at a reduced price. Ram fans can purchase tickets to six games (Boise State, Kansas State, Northern Colorado, Air Force, New Mexico and TCU) for $60, and $10 savings. For information, call the CSU Ticket Office, 1-800-491-RAMS, or visit online, CSU RAMS.com.
LIVE STATS
Live statistics for all Colorado State home games may be obtained by going to CSURams.com and going to the men's basketball schedule/results page. Live statistics are tracked through College Sports Online's Gametracker.
