Colorado State University Athletics
RamWire Mailbag: Looking at Basketball Moving Forward
3/5/2020 4:23:00 PM | RamWire
Promising weekend makes ballpark inviting
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Las Vegas should be taken in small doses, but the Colorado State contingent would have preferred to avoid the travel room at the Thomas & Mack Center a little longer.
Tucked down the hall from the locker rooms, it's the one place every director of basketball operations wants to avoid, sliding in there after the game to meet with a travel agent on hand to change flights originally scheduled for after the championship.
To the bag …
How big a setback was Wednesday's loss for the men's team?
The loss definitely stung on so many levels. Not only did the Rams lose to their biggest rival, but in the process, Wyoming became the first No. 11 seed to advance in the bracket.
Inside the program, there's no doubt improvement has been made and the future is still bright with two sophomores and two true freshmen in the starting lineup. They lose Nico Carvacho, obviously, and key bench pieces in seniors Hyron Edwards and Kris Martin. On the flip side, there were a lot of reserve minutes collected by freshmen Dischon Thomas and John Tonje. Transfers Tayvion Kirk and Ignas Sargiunas will finally get their chance to suit up and play.
So in Fort Collins, the future still looks good. Outside perception may be altered slightly now with the first-round loss. There is still a good chance the team can see postseason action in the CBI, but it would have looked much better if the Rams made the NIT field. To have done that, they definitely needed to beat Wyoming, and in all likelihood, Nevada the next night.
They won't sneak up on people next year, especially not in the Mountain West, but the program is currently riding a three-year streak of being bounced in the first round of the conference draw, and that has to stop. The past two seasons, it was expected. This year, it was simply a bad loss at the wrong time.
What does the women's team need to do to start moving back up the conference ladder?
Staying healthy would help. Hitting in recruiting will too.
Ryun Williams' group was not the most athletic group in the Mountain West, and recruiting can help alter that course, and they are excited about the recruiting class coming to Fort Collins. Even so, the Rams, for the most part, played with a solid defensive foundation throughout the season.
They're going to have to find a way to score consistently, for sure. Tori Williams is a shooting guard who was forced to play the point this season, pointing out a definite need for the team. The Rams need a playmaker who can help get their teammates open and create opportunities for players like Williams and Bonnarens to shoot in rhythm. Such a player would help Lore Devos, as well, in the blocks, but she also needs to regain confidence in her knee in the offseason.
It's a team which suffers key losses in Andrea Brady and Makenzie Ellis, not easy roles to fill. On any given night, either of them could have a big game. On other nights, they could be quiet. That was a team-wide problem, a lack of offensive punch.
Two of the newest Rams will come from Colorado in Cali Clark out of Cherry Creek, who can fit into the post plans. Makayla Hemingway out of Cherokee Trail is a big guard who has the promise to help offensively from the perimeter. Out of Washington, Ellie Boni can too. But the recruiting hasn't stopped, and a playmaker will make a huge difference for the roster.
Looks like a great weekend in Fort Collins. What should I do?
A fabulous March weekend with temps expected in the upper 60s throughout. So, go to the store, grab some peanuts and Cracker Jacks, a big bag of sunflower seeds and cozy up at Ram Field all three days.
Colorado State's softball team is finally at home, with five games planned for the Colorado State Classic. As the host, the Rams will play Kennesaw State and Purdue twice, Idaho State once. Jen Fisher's team is currently 9-9 on the season and will be looking for the bats to heat up at home. They are only hitting .245 as a team, with Tyler Trott the only Ram who has started at least 10 games to be batting better than .300 (she's at .304). Corina Gamboa has produced some thunder with nine doubles, and Ashley Ruiz has hit .291 with a team-leading 12 RBI, but the Rams need more consistent production at the plate.
The pitching has been pretty solid, with a 2.21 staff ERA as four different hurlers have made starts, limiting teams to a .231 batting average. Maybe some home cooking is what the team needs to start a hot streak heading into Mountain West play and the chance to defend their conference crown.
CSU will face Kennesaw State (1:30 p.m.) and Purdue on Friday (3:45 p.m.); Kennesaw State (1:30 p.m.) and Idaho State (3:45 p.m.) on Saturday, then close with Purdue on Sunday (12:15 p.m.)
Kap Dede is listed as having a PhD. That has to be a new one for Colorado State.
We are pretty sure the designation of Doctor of Philosophy is new for a Rams football coach, and Dede will be recognized as so on the roster.
The newest coach to the staff, Dede – Karibi is his full first name -- will coach outside linebackers and nickels for the Rams as he holds on on-field position for the first time, after serving in quality-control roles at Florida, Mississippi State and Arkansas.
After starring at Auburn as a linebacker and safety, he signed a free agent contract with the New York Giants. He's coached high school, as well, but earned his PhD., in Administration of Higher Education from Auburn.
Obviously, Dede has taken full advantage of all the opportunities presented him by football, which makes him a great role model for the players.
Tucked down the hall from the locker rooms, it's the one place every director of basketball operations wants to avoid, sliding in there after the game to meet with a travel agent on hand to change flights originally scheduled for after the championship.
To the bag …
How big a setback was Wednesday's loss for the men's team?
The loss definitely stung on so many levels. Not only did the Rams lose to their biggest rival, but in the process, Wyoming became the first No. 11 seed to advance in the bracket.
Inside the program, there's no doubt improvement has been made and the future is still bright with two sophomores and two true freshmen in the starting lineup. They lose Nico Carvacho, obviously, and key bench pieces in seniors Hyron Edwards and Kris Martin. On the flip side, there were a lot of reserve minutes collected by freshmen Dischon Thomas and John Tonje. Transfers Tayvion Kirk and Ignas Sargiunas will finally get their chance to suit up and play.
So in Fort Collins, the future still looks good. Outside perception may be altered slightly now with the first-round loss. There is still a good chance the team can see postseason action in the CBI, but it would have looked much better if the Rams made the NIT field. To have done that, they definitely needed to beat Wyoming, and in all likelihood, Nevada the next night.
They won't sneak up on people next year, especially not in the Mountain West, but the program is currently riding a three-year streak of being bounced in the first round of the conference draw, and that has to stop. The past two seasons, it was expected. This year, it was simply a bad loss at the wrong time.
What does the women's team need to do to start moving back up the conference ladder?
Staying healthy would help. Hitting in recruiting will too.
Ryun Williams' group was not the most athletic group in the Mountain West, and recruiting can help alter that course, and they are excited about the recruiting class coming to Fort Collins. Even so, the Rams, for the most part, played with a solid defensive foundation throughout the season.
They're going to have to find a way to score consistently, for sure. Tori Williams is a shooting guard who was forced to play the point this season, pointing out a definite need for the team. The Rams need a playmaker who can help get their teammates open and create opportunities for players like Williams and Bonnarens to shoot in rhythm. Such a player would help Lore Devos, as well, in the blocks, but she also needs to regain confidence in her knee in the offseason.
It's a team which suffers key losses in Andrea Brady and Makenzie Ellis, not easy roles to fill. On any given night, either of them could have a big game. On other nights, they could be quiet. That was a team-wide problem, a lack of offensive punch.
Two of the newest Rams will come from Colorado in Cali Clark out of Cherry Creek, who can fit into the post plans. Makayla Hemingway out of Cherokee Trail is a big guard who has the promise to help offensively from the perimeter. Out of Washington, Ellie Boni can too. But the recruiting hasn't stopped, and a playmaker will make a huge difference for the roster.
Looks like a great weekend in Fort Collins. What should I do?
A fabulous March weekend with temps expected in the upper 60s throughout. So, go to the store, grab some peanuts and Cracker Jacks, a big bag of sunflower seeds and cozy up at Ram Field all three days.
Colorado State's softball team is finally at home, with five games planned for the Colorado State Classic. As the host, the Rams will play Kennesaw State and Purdue twice, Idaho State once. Jen Fisher's team is currently 9-9 on the season and will be looking for the bats to heat up at home. They are only hitting .245 as a team, with Tyler Trott the only Ram who has started at least 10 games to be batting better than .300 (she's at .304). Corina Gamboa has produced some thunder with nine doubles, and Ashley Ruiz has hit .291 with a team-leading 12 RBI, but the Rams need more consistent production at the plate.
The pitching has been pretty solid, with a 2.21 staff ERA as four different hurlers have made starts, limiting teams to a .231 batting average. Maybe some home cooking is what the team needs to start a hot streak heading into Mountain West play and the chance to defend their conference crown.
CSU will face Kennesaw State (1:30 p.m.) and Purdue on Friday (3:45 p.m.); Kennesaw State (1:30 p.m.) and Idaho State (3:45 p.m.) on Saturday, then close with Purdue on Sunday (12:15 p.m.)
Kap Dede is listed as having a PhD. That has to be a new one for Colorado State.
We are pretty sure the designation of Doctor of Philosophy is new for a Rams football coach, and Dede will be recognized as so on the roster.
The newest coach to the staff, Dede – Karibi is his full first name -- will coach outside linebackers and nickels for the Rams as he holds on on-field position for the first time, after serving in quality-control roles at Florida, Mississippi State and Arkansas.
After starring at Auburn as a linebacker and safety, he signed a free agent contract with the New York Giants. He's coached high school, as well, but earned his PhD., in Administration of Higher Education from Auburn.
Obviously, Dede has taken full advantage of all the opportunities presented him by football, which makes him a great role model for the players.
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