The Dish: Rams Have Found a Winning Formula

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FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Niko Medved describes Colorado State men's basketball as a work in progress. Much like an artist continuously adding brush strokes to get a finished product, he's looking to find the right mixture.

Part of the equation, as recently as a week ago, was the prolonged wait for shots to fall. The openings have been available, but the bottom of the net hadn't been reached nearly enough. Medved knew it would change. The players knew it would change.

In a 105-72 win over New Mexico, it did. They sank 19 3-pointers, the most in program history for a single game and tied for the most across the nation this year. Even when the shot shouldn't have gone in, it did.

"After CU, I was like, 'We better have one of these games,'" Adam Thistlewood said. "You shoot up any shot, like the one I hit at the shot-clock buzzer, almost like a prayer, and it goes in."

The Rams hit each of their first four attempts from deep as part of a 67.9-percent night from outside.

Medved sent out a lineup of Kendle Moore, Isaiah Stevens, Thistlewood, David Roddy and Nico Carvacho – a starting five which is slowly becoming normal. In their three games together, the group has yet to lose.

Kris Martin, John Tonje, Hyron Edwards and Dischon Thomas are becoming an improved bench crew as well. As the pieces have begun to fit, the full puzzle is also becoming clear.

After 19 games, Medved has found the formula to taking the Rams to a new level.

"We've pared down some of the stuff we're doing – tried to simplify it," Medved said. "We've thrown the ball inside to David even more, and he's been a huge force for us. We're still a work in progress, but guys are getting more and more comfortable in their roles, where we can get shots, and anytime you get that continuity of playing together more, I think it helps you."

Each piece contributed in the win. Every starter had double-digit scoring, complementing each other throughout. Roddy drove to the hoop, opening up the outside for the team's shooters. When he didn't, Carvacho was battling down low to create similar space. The inside-out nature of the Rams, one which leaned outside Wednesday, is the formula Medved expects.

Isaiah Stevens, who led the pack with 19 points, hit five of his six attempts from deep. Kendle Moore hit all four of his, finishing with 17 points, and Thistlewood missed just once from behind the arc in five attempts, closing with 16.

Only one member of the starting lineup has played collegiate basketball for more than two years. While they're figuring out how to play together, they're learning to make their way at CSU just the same.

"I think we're finally evolving and playing our best basketball at the right time," Thistlewood said. "Obviously, we didn't play perfect tonight, we still have some things to work on, but we're going to keep taking the right steps in the right direction."

Instead of falling back after a hot start, Medved implored his team to treat the game as a tie entering the second half. He even went as far as telling them each possession needed to be a winning one – when they all add up, the score will handle itself.

The strategy is one which will stick. When they head to Clune Arena to face Air Force on Saturday, it'll be there. The rest of the season will be more of the same.

In a year which began with grand turnover and change, Medved has found stability.

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