Homecoming Scrimmage Highlights Positives for Medved

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FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Team Together was such an important part of Niko Medved's first steps in building a program, especially considering what he walked into at Colorado State.

Even now, it's still a vital part of what he's doing with the men's basketball program as a crowd of homecoming visitors watched the team run through three periods of play at Moby Arena on Saturday afternoon. With seven new players to watch, their acclimation within the returning roster was always going to be key long before point guard Isaiah Stevens was lost for a spell with a foot injury.

In their short time on campus, that's what's stood out to them. For a freshman like Taviontae Jackson learning the college ropes, it's been comforting.

"This is a great group of guys," Jackson said. "I have learned a lot from them, the vets. I'm one of the youngest on the team, so they can teach me a lot. I've learned a lot, and I'm still learning since I left high school. We've got a great culture. We're disciplined too, and the coaches have helped us bring that chemistry together faster."

Medved pointed out a saying that on bad teams, no one leads; on average teams, the coaches do. But on good teams, it's the players driving the bus and he and his staff feel by bringing in the right players they've created the type of culture which is welcoming to newcomers who are open to follow the set path.

It's a culture they worked hard to create, one which has been passed down from players no longer with the program.

"I think we're recruiting the right kind of guys and it really speaks to the leadership of the guys who have been here. That's led by the players, the older guys who have been here and the culture and the connectivity that they have," Medved said. "I'm glad they've made the new guys feel a part of that, then you bring in the right guys who want to be part of that and that's where it happens."

Homecoming weekend gives the program a chance to reintroduce the team and the season to fans, with admission free for those who wanted to attend four hours before the football game kicks off. Getting a few thousand people in the arena was a glimpse of what gameday will be like for those new to the uniform.

One of the highlights for the players is a chance to show what they've been working on, maybe show off a bit too. That's the atmosphere the scrimmage creates.

"It was an awesome experience. We had a pretty good turnout for homecoming weekend," Josiah Strong said. "It's great to show, because we've got a new team, so it's a super fun experience.

"You want to get better every day, but it's about having fun. We had a lot of guys come out and show what they can do, and obviously we have a chance to show them a little bit more."

The blend is what Medved likes best. A competitive scrimmage in front of the fans who saw some very positive things, such as a healthy John Tonje looks ready to go and a few of the newcomers are ready to do their part.

The real season is just a few weeks away, and while the team still has much to shuffle through in that time. Saturday was a special reminder for all of them.

"For me it's being back in here again and seeing the fans and feeling that again. It's a signal that basketball season is getting close to started," Medved said. "The great thing about today is the Rams are still undefeated; that's my other favorite part.

"It's great for these guys to get back out here and some of the new guys to get out here in front of the fans and our fans to connect with guys they know and some of our new players. One of the reasons why we've had such an investment in our community is obviously we've won, but I think our fans feel a connection to our program and our team, and I think that's a big deal for us. I think that's one of the main reasons why they come out and support these guys. We're going to find the same thing from this new group of players."

Colorado State will play its exhibition game with Metro State on Oct. 28, with the first game which counts slated for Nov. 7 at Moby Arena against Gardner-Webb (7 p.m.)

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