Colorado State University Athletics
The Dish: Rams Push For More Starts On Senior Day
2/29/2020 5:02:00 PM | Men's Basketball
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – The last five games sat in the stomachs of Colorado State like expired milk.
Three of the five games were losses. Even the two wins lacked much of the gusto head coach Niko Medved's squad has shown many times this year.
Air Force coming to town for Senior Day was only right. Several of the two team's matchups in recent years turned salty. What was once a mere in-state rivalry has ballooned into a hasty one. The 87-74 win Saturday was about continuing the dominance of the rivalry, as well as ending the year on a high note before heading to Las Vegas, standings be damned.
"You have some peaks and valleys in the season and we kind of had ours against UNLV," Medved said. "Like these guys have done all year, they've really responded and played hard. I was really disappointed we didn't get the job done at San Diego State, but the guys really performed well. They came out today and did what they needed to do."
Everyone enjoyed a piece of the rejuvenation.
After going scoreless against San Diego State, Adam Thistlewood tallied 11 points. Kendle Moore had a game-high 21 and seven other Rams found their way into the scoring column.
The spread-out scoring was a direct testament to the sharing ways Medved requires of his teams. In the game, the Rams finished with 25 assists on 29 made field goals, including all 15 of their first half makes. If the ball is being dealt from side to side, the results are sure to follow in the coach's mind – as they did en route to a 29-for-52 mark from the field.
"We've been a team that, when we're at our best, we're really sharing the ball," Medved said. "Sharing the ball and making the extra pass, that's what we preach. That's how I think the game's supposed to be played. I love the way that we moved the ball and shared it."
The same style is what Medved wants in the Mountain West Tournament. Only three days separate the season finale and the Rams' opening matchup – there wasn't much time to adjust if Saturday had gone awry.
Maintaining the hot streak and trekking deep into the tournament is a far better reward for the seniors than having their names celebrated in the team's final home game.
"Senior Day is one game," Carvacho said. "It wasn't going to determine the rest of our season – next week will. Hopefully we'll play in a postseason tournament, but that conference tournament is where it really matters."
Carvacho's been through the trenches of a conference postseason. Several Rams, including starters David Roddy and Isaiah Stevens, haven't.
The lessons the senior will carry into the Thomas and Mack Center are going to be needed. His opening checkmark was going in on a win.
Before the game, Medved made sure his team knew the last Rams' team to win the tournament entered as a six seed.
Now, it's time for a déjà vu moment.
Three of the five games were losses. Even the two wins lacked much of the gusto head coach Niko Medved's squad has shown many times this year.
Air Force coming to town for Senior Day was only right. Several of the two team's matchups in recent years turned salty. What was once a mere in-state rivalry has ballooned into a hasty one. The 87-74 win Saturday was about continuing the dominance of the rivalry, as well as ending the year on a high note before heading to Las Vegas, standings be damned.
"You have some peaks and valleys in the season and we kind of had ours against UNLV," Medved said. "Like these guys have done all year, they've really responded and played hard. I was really disappointed we didn't get the job done at San Diego State, but the guys really performed well. They came out today and did what they needed to do."
Everyone enjoyed a piece of the rejuvenation.
After going scoreless against San Diego State, Adam Thistlewood tallied 11 points. Kendle Moore had a game-high 21 and seven other Rams found their way into the scoring column.
The spread-out scoring was a direct testament to the sharing ways Medved requires of his teams. In the game, the Rams finished with 25 assists on 29 made field goals, including all 15 of their first half makes. If the ball is being dealt from side to side, the results are sure to follow in the coach's mind – as they did en route to a 29-for-52 mark from the field.
"We've been a team that, when we're at our best, we're really sharing the ball," Medved said. "Sharing the ball and making the extra pass, that's what we preach. That's how I think the game's supposed to be played. I love the way that we moved the ball and shared it."
The same style is what Medved wants in the Mountain West Tournament. Only three days separate the season finale and the Rams' opening matchup – there wasn't much time to adjust if Saturday had gone awry.
Maintaining the hot streak and trekking deep into the tournament is a far better reward for the seniors than having their names celebrated in the team's final home game.
"Senior Day is one game," Carvacho said. "It wasn't going to determine the rest of our season – next week will. Hopefully we'll play in a postseason tournament, but that conference tournament is where it really matters."
Carvacho's been through the trenches of a conference postseason. Several Rams, including starters David Roddy and Isaiah Stevens, haven't.
The lessons the senior will carry into the Thomas and Mack Center are going to be needed. His opening checkmark was going in on a win.
Before the game, Medved made sure his team knew the last Rams' team to win the tournament entered as a six seed.
Now, it's time for a déjà vu moment.
Players Mentioned
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