Colorado State University Athletics
Rams Not Caught Up by What is Coming
1/19/2021 12:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball, RamWire
Four-game stretch poses toughest test of the season
This doesn't fit the narrative. Not even close.
One game at a time. Take them as they come. And that's true. But even Colorado State men's basketball can't deny he knows what's coming – the most challenging stretch of the season for his team.
Two games on the road at Utah State, the defending Mountain West tournament champions. Oh, the Aggies are undefeated in conference play. What follows is a two-game set at home against Boise State. The Broncos are also unbeaten in conference play.
"I hate to do, but of course they're big. The worst thing you can do is start doing that – looking behind or looking ahead," Medved said as he was about to leave town on Monday. "Of course they're big. Everybody is going to tell you what the standings are. The challenge is when you have stretch like this is to continue to stay in the moment. That's the biggest challenge. Everybody is going to talk about it; people are aware of what's going on in the stretch that's coming. The key within that is to not get caught up in that and keep focused on the moment and what you can control."
And then he finished with the kicker – one that very much fits nicely into coach speak: The Rams can't win the fourth game tonight in Logan, Utah.
So we're back into the comfort zone of one game at a time. Which the players are in full agreement with, also admitting they know exactly what games are on the schedule.
"I wouldn't say it's hard to escape. As a team, we love to compete no matter when and no matter where," forward David Roddy said. "We have a great slate of games coming up these next two weeks, and the team is really excited to be on the stage once again and compete our hearts out."
Medved said the team uses an acronym to keep them on track: RNME, which translates to Right Now Means Everything. It will be true tonight with each and every possession, but it also carried a lot of weight the past few days.
The Rams completed a sweep of San Jose State on Saturday night, pushing them to 10-2 on the season, 7-1 in Mountain West play. They flew back that night, had a day at home and then left for Logan. The quick turnaround is not unlike playing in the conference tournament, Medved said, but it is also very unlike it, too.
The reason being by the time the tourney rolls around, you've played that team twice, most likely. So you know what's coming, or are at least familiar with strengths and weaknesses. This time, the teams haven't played, and both are playing well. One day to break down film and devise a game plan means for some hectic work schedules and a focused practice plan.
They know Utah State is really good, coming off a two-game sweep at home against San Diego State. Neemias Queta is playing really well, as is Justin Bean. The Aggies are a team which plays connected, is strong at its core and is battle tested.
The reason Medved isn't worried about his team looking too far ahead is his is a similar group, one which likes the big moments. This stretch doesn't concern the Rams, it excites them.
"Like these guys would say, you've got to want the smoke," Medved said. "You have to have that group of guys. I think we have that, and most good teams, that's what you're going to find. When you're playing against teams that are also playing at a high level, that's what you get. It's not just us, but it's our opponents, they have the same thing. They live for these moments."
So yeah, the Rams have looked ahead. Yes, they know what's coming. They also know they've been in some tight games this year and have the aptitude to handle the situation.
That's what Roddy likes best about the team this year. It's that they play unselfish. They encourage each other. The character trait of being there for each other is what he considers their greatest strength.
Besides, you don't go to college to play basketball and hope you never play anybody good. This team is not scared of the challenge.
"If it did, then that's a problem. Those big games, and Utah State allowing fans, it's going to be a combination of big game atmosphere," Roddy said. "If you shy away from it, then this sport isn't for you and that moment isn't for you. Everybody on this team is definitely excited to be in that big-game atmosphere again."
So they've looked ahead. They can admit it, but looking beyond tonight, Medved is confident they won't, because practice was good. Because Utah State will challenge them defensively, and it can be potent on the offensive glass, and that's been a problem for the Rams in the past, having yielded 10 or more offensive rebounds to an opponent seven times this year. Though they've won six of t hose contests, the Aggies are one of the better teams when it comes to converting second chances.
The moment is big, and for a very important reason to Medved – his team has earned the right to be in these big moments. The Rams are playing well, and they feel confident. But they're not playing so well they can get lost in the shuffle of what it can all mean.
To make it count, the whole can't matter more than each individual step.
"You can't get caught up in that," he said. "You have to get caught up in what you're doing in the moment."
Even when the coach looks ahead, it still comes back to the narrative. There must be a reason they all say the same thing.
One game at a time. Take them as they come. And that's true. But even Colorado State men's basketball can't deny he knows what's coming – the most challenging stretch of the season for his team.
Two games on the road at Utah State, the defending Mountain West tournament champions. Oh, the Aggies are undefeated in conference play. What follows is a two-game set at home against Boise State. The Broncos are also unbeaten in conference play.
"I hate to do, but of course they're big. The worst thing you can do is start doing that – looking behind or looking ahead," Medved said as he was about to leave town on Monday. "Of course they're big. Everybody is going to tell you what the standings are. The challenge is when you have stretch like this is to continue to stay in the moment. That's the biggest challenge. Everybody is going to talk about it; people are aware of what's going on in the stretch that's coming. The key within that is to not get caught up in that and keep focused on the moment and what you can control."
And then he finished with the kicker – one that very much fits nicely into coach speak: The Rams can't win the fourth game tonight in Logan, Utah.
So we're back into the comfort zone of one game at a time. Which the players are in full agreement with, also admitting they know exactly what games are on the schedule.
"I wouldn't say it's hard to escape. As a team, we love to compete no matter when and no matter where," forward David Roddy said. "We have a great slate of games coming up these next two weeks, and the team is really excited to be on the stage once again and compete our hearts out."
Medved said the team uses an acronym to keep them on track: RNME, which translates to Right Now Means Everything. It will be true tonight with each and every possession, but it also carried a lot of weight the past few days.
The Rams completed a sweep of San Jose State on Saturday night, pushing them to 10-2 on the season, 7-1 in Mountain West play. They flew back that night, had a day at home and then left for Logan. The quick turnaround is not unlike playing in the conference tournament, Medved said, but it is also very unlike it, too.
The reason being by the time the tourney rolls around, you've played that team twice, most likely. So you know what's coming, or are at least familiar with strengths and weaknesses. This time, the teams haven't played, and both are playing well. One day to break down film and devise a game plan means for some hectic work schedules and a focused practice plan.
They know Utah State is really good, coming off a two-game sweep at home against San Diego State. Neemias Queta is playing really well, as is Justin Bean. The Aggies are a team which plays connected, is strong at its core and is battle tested.
The reason Medved isn't worried about his team looking too far ahead is his is a similar group, one which likes the big moments. This stretch doesn't concern the Rams, it excites them.
"Like these guys would say, you've got to want the smoke," Medved said. "You have to have that group of guys. I think we have that, and most good teams, that's what you're going to find. When you're playing against teams that are also playing at a high level, that's what you get. It's not just us, but it's our opponents, they have the same thing. They live for these moments."
So yeah, the Rams have looked ahead. Yes, they know what's coming. They also know they've been in some tight games this year and have the aptitude to handle the situation.
That's what Roddy likes best about the team this year. It's that they play unselfish. They encourage each other. The character trait of being there for each other is what he considers their greatest strength.
Besides, you don't go to college to play basketball and hope you never play anybody good. This team is not scared of the challenge.
"If it did, then that's a problem. Those big games, and Utah State allowing fans, it's going to be a combination of big game atmosphere," Roddy said. "If you shy away from it, then this sport isn't for you and that moment isn't for you. Everybody on this team is definitely excited to be in that big-game atmosphere again."
So they've looked ahead. They can admit it, but looking beyond tonight, Medved is confident they won't, because practice was good. Because Utah State will challenge them defensively, and it can be potent on the offensive glass, and that's been a problem for the Rams in the past, having yielded 10 or more offensive rebounds to an opponent seven times this year. Though they've won six of t hose contests, the Aggies are one of the better teams when it comes to converting second chances.
The moment is big, and for a very important reason to Medved – his team has earned the right to be in these big moments. The Rams are playing well, and they feel confident. But they're not playing so well they can get lost in the shuffle of what it can all mean.
To make it count, the whole can't matter more than each individual step.
"You can't get caught up in that," he said. "You have to get caught up in what you're doing in the moment."
Even when the coach looks ahead, it still comes back to the narrative. There must be a reason they all say the same thing.
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