Colorado State University Athletics
Photo by: Javon Harris
Rams Begin Preparation for Season as a Group
9/24/2019 6:43:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Carvacho taking lead role with a host of newcomers
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – For the annual Rocky Mountain Showdown, Nico Carvacho stockpiled freshmen into his car and played the role of chauffeur.
Niko Medved has enforced "Team Together," and the mantra is on the T-shirts of the coaches, undershirts of players and engrained throughout the program.
Everything Colorado State is doing, they're doing as a unit. That group, led by Carvacho, is embracing the movement passed down by their leader.
"The best teams are player-driven," Medved said. "I'm the leader, but I value everyone's input and everyone is valuable to what we're doing here. Ultimately, I have to make the decisions and set the course, but I think the job of a leader is not to create more followers, it's to create more leaders. (I'm) trying to make these guys realize that everyone plays a part in what we're doing."
When the players are hungry, they dine together. If there's a video game battle brewing, it's in-house.
The team began hosting dinners throughout the offseason to start the process. While each player is together, they're not with their devices. Phones are off limits for both coaches and players.
The lines of communication start off the court.
"It's a way of life," Medved said. "We try to do as many things together as we can, we try to be intentional a little bit about some of our off-court leadership stuff and player and personnel-development stuff."
A cause to create unity would be all for naught without players doing their part. Carvacho taking teammates to a football game in Denver is just one example. The fifth-year senior also corrals others into his car after practice.
If they're going somewhere, they're going somewhere together.
"We got eight new guys, everybody is basically new. Everything is new for everybody," Carvacho said. "I've been here, (and) it's something I learned from people when I came here, Gian Clavell, Emmanuel Omogbo, they used to always have us come over and do stuff.
"I'm just trying to do that so they can get integrated and be inclusive with the team and everybody is a part. We need them this year."
When the Rams took the court for the first practice Tuesday, they were already united. Several players spread words of wisdom in between drills, coaches echoed the statements and the slogan had its first on-court showing.
The turnover looms large.
Only Carvacho, Kris Martin, Kendle Moore, Adam Thistlewood and Hyron Edwards are returning players under Medved. The rest of the roster – eight players – are all unfamiliar to the program beyond offseason programs.
The five returners can't do it on their own though.
On last year's team, eight different players averaged double-digit minutes. A whopping 13 suited up and played in at least eight games.
The newcomers – five freshmen and four transfers, though only two can play – will all be needed this year.
"November 1st is our first game. We've got to hurry up," Carvacho said. "These guys are brand new and we've got to get them going because we need them. We don't have time for the first part of the season to be brand new, we have to get to it."
The first game for the Rams is an exhibition against Western Colorado. Only a week later, they go to Durham, North Carolina to play one of the nation's top programs: Duke.
A bevy of offseason communication has already put the Rams ahead of schedule on the court.
"I feel like we're light years ahead of what I expected in our first practice," David Roddy said. "Coaches are always complimenting us like 'Hey, you guys are hoopin' out and it's the first day.' It's just only up from here. We just have to take it day by day and work hard."
Each day, the bond throughout CSU men's basketball grows stronger. Behind the sentiments of their coaching staff, the connections are ahead of schedule,.
Niko Medved has enforced "Team Together," and the mantra is on the T-shirts of the coaches, undershirts of players and engrained throughout the program.
Everything Colorado State is doing, they're doing as a unit. That group, led by Carvacho, is embracing the movement passed down by their leader.
"The best teams are player-driven," Medved said. "I'm the leader, but I value everyone's input and everyone is valuable to what we're doing here. Ultimately, I have to make the decisions and set the course, but I think the job of a leader is not to create more followers, it's to create more leaders. (I'm) trying to make these guys realize that everyone plays a part in what we're doing."
When the players are hungry, they dine together. If there's a video game battle brewing, it's in-house.
The team began hosting dinners throughout the offseason to start the process. While each player is together, they're not with their devices. Phones are off limits for both coaches and players.
The lines of communication start off the court.
"It's a way of life," Medved said. "We try to do as many things together as we can, we try to be intentional a little bit about some of our off-court leadership stuff and player and personnel-development stuff."
A cause to create unity would be all for naught without players doing their part. Carvacho taking teammates to a football game in Denver is just one example. The fifth-year senior also corrals others into his car after practice.
If they're going somewhere, they're going somewhere together.
"We got eight new guys, everybody is basically new. Everything is new for everybody," Carvacho said. "I've been here, (and) it's something I learned from people when I came here, Gian Clavell, Emmanuel Omogbo, they used to always have us come over and do stuff.
"I'm just trying to do that so they can get integrated and be inclusive with the team and everybody is a part. We need them this year."
When the Rams took the court for the first practice Tuesday, they were already united. Several players spread words of wisdom in between drills, coaches echoed the statements and the slogan had its first on-court showing.
The turnover looms large.
Only Carvacho, Kris Martin, Kendle Moore, Adam Thistlewood and Hyron Edwards are returning players under Medved. The rest of the roster – eight players – are all unfamiliar to the program beyond offseason programs.
The five returners can't do it on their own though.
On last year's team, eight different players averaged double-digit minutes. A whopping 13 suited up and played in at least eight games.
The newcomers – five freshmen and four transfers, though only two can play – will all be needed this year.
"November 1st is our first game. We've got to hurry up," Carvacho said. "These guys are brand new and we've got to get them going because we need them. We don't have time for the first part of the season to be brand new, we have to get to it."
The first game for the Rams is an exhibition against Western Colorado. Only a week later, they go to Durham, North Carolina to play one of the nation's top programs: Duke.
A bevy of offseason communication has already put the Rams ahead of schedule on the court.
"I feel like we're light years ahead of what I expected in our first practice," David Roddy said. "Coaches are always complimenting us like 'Hey, you guys are hoopin' out and it's the first day.' It's just only up from here. We just have to take it day by day and work hard."
Each day, the bond throughout CSU men's basketball grows stronger. Behind the sentiments of their coaching staff, the connections are ahead of schedule,.
Players Mentioned
F/C
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G/F
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballColorado State Basketball (M): Ali Farokhmanesh Post-Game (Boise State)
Saturday, March 07
Colorado State Basketball (M): Kyle Jorgensen (L) & Jevin Muniz (R) Post-Game (Boise State)
Saturday, March 07
Rams Live: Jevin Muniz MBB Senior Spotlight
Friday, March 06
Rams Live: Ali Farokhmanesh Boise State Pregame Preview
Friday, March 06