A physical battle and often choppy night, but another win.
The Colorado State men’s basketball team has found different ways to win and is now 4-0 after an 84-61 victory over visiting Missouri-Kansas City on Friday night.
The Rams had 11 different scorers and shot 58% for the game. They forced 18 UMKC turnovers.
“I love this group of guys. I love their makeup. I love how it feels like winning is the most important thing to them,” CSU coach Niko Medved said.
Here’s what we’ve learned about this team through an early unbeaten start as the most important nonconference stretch of the season approaches.
Deepest team Niko Medved has had at CSU
CSU’s NCAA Tournament team in 2021-22 had two superstars in David Roddy and Isaiah Stevens.
This team has one mega star in Stevens, but the depth through the top nine (and beyond) is likely better than those Rams two seasons ago.
It showed again Friday when Stevens wasn’t his best (six points, 2-for-5 shooting, four assists and two turnovers) but the Rams still poured in another 84 points.
There’s an argument that the offensive flow really clicks with the passing big men complimenting Stevens. Joel Scott and Patrick Cartier had three assists each Friday.
It’s led to an offense that hums. Even though the last two games have been choppier, the Rams are averaging 88.3 points per game and haven’t scored fewer than 81 in a game. The Rams average 23 assists per game.
CSU is rated No. 24 in the nation in offensive efficiency, per KenPom. Those are early-season numbers, but signs of high potential.
The athleticism level is way up and the depth shows on both offense and defense.
“Having eight, nine, 10 guys that can all interchange, play different positions, guard different positions is big time,” said Josiah Strong, who scored 10 points Friday.
New guys fit well
Scott (Black Hills State) and wing Nique Clifford (Colorado) are CSU’s two most important offseason additions. So far, it could not be working better.
Scott is tied with Stevens for the team lead in scoring at 16.8 points per game and is averaging 6.3 rebounds and has been very strong inside. Clifford leads CSU in rebounding (7.5 per game) and is third in scoring at 14.8 per game.
Clifford was in foul trouble and scoreless at the half against UMKC but finished with 13 points on 5-of-5 shooting. He brings a level of athleticism and versatility CSU needed.
They pair well with the returning pieces. Strong and Jalen Lake are excelling in perimeter defense. Cartier still scores efficiently.
The mix-and-match options available seem to give CSU plenty of ways to win.
Points to improve
Of course, it’s not all perfect. Medved wants improved ball-screen defense and CSU isn’t dominating on the glass.
CSU doesn’t need to be the best rebounding team in the country given how electric its offense is, but it’s something to watch. The Rams are minus-2.8 rebounds per game right now. The NCAA Tournament team two years ago was basically even in rebounding.
The defense will decide the season. It’s a fair bet that CSU will score at an efficient rate and if they can be solid on defense the Rams could be in business.
“I think we’re going to have to continue to get even tighter on the defensive end, especially with some of the ball-screen stuff at times,” Medved said.
Big tests upcoming
It’s a 4-0 start and a lot looks good, but we’ll learn a lot about this team in the coming weeks.
The Rams play in the Hall of Fame Classic in Kansas City this week, beginning against an unbeaten ACC foe in Boston College at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday. If CSU wins that one, top-10 Creighton could be next on Thanksgiving.
Then it’s home vs. top-25 Colorado (Nov. 29), neutral site vs. Pac-12’s Washington (Dec. 2) and home vs. perennial NCAA Tournament team St. Mary’s (Dec. 9). The stretch starting now through that St. Mary’s game will largely determine if CSU can enter Mountain West play in contention for an at-large NCAA Tournament berth.
“We’re going to go through a really tough stretch of games here, but I like a lot about this group so far,” Medved said. “We’re about to get tested.”
Follow sports reporter Kevin Lytle on Twitter and Instagram @Kevin_Lytle.