NCAAB Colorado State Rams

NCAA Division: Division I

Conference: Mountain West

Past Conferences:: MWC, WAC, MSAC, Ind

City: Moby Arena

Stadium: Fort Collins, Colorado

NCAA Tournaments: 1954, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1969, 1989, 1990, 2003, 2012, 2013, 2022

Championships:

         National Championships: 0

       Conference Titles: 1

Team History

The Colorado State Rams men’s basketball started as an intercollegiate program in the 1902 season. The school went through a few incredible highs and some unfathomable lows as the program have been trying to find its identity. The institution was originally called Colorado Agricultural College.

As an intercollegiate team, the school didn’t play double-digit games until they joined the Mountain States Athletic Conference; it would take until the 1915 season to play ten games. The Rams wouldn’t get much attention from the national stage as the team needed to build a solid foundation.

The program would get its first NCAA Tournament under head coach Bill Strannigan’s leadership. Compared to today’s bracket, the 1954 tournament’s bracket was quite different as the school made its first Sweet 16 appearance, but would lose both their games against the Santa Clara Broncos and the Idaho State Bengals in their Regional 3rd Place Game.

After a few more years, Jim Williams would take control of calling the shots. The team would leave the MSAC and become an intercollegiate program once again. In the beginning, Williams’ tenure was underwhelming; however, he helped the team punch four tickets to the dance as things turned around.

The Rams would face the Oklahoma City Stars in the opening round of the 1965 and 1967 Tournament. Unfortunately, the team would lose both games by one possession and a similar box score. The 1966 season would end in a similar outcome, as they would lose to the Houston Cougars in the first round.

Williams in the Second Round

All the losses in the first round helped the team learn through adversity. Williams ignited a flame: the school has never seen better odds in its history. The Colorado State team stats also showed that they weren’t going to back down without putting up a fight.

In the opening round, the Rams would escape with a narrow victory against the Dayton Flyers. In the second round, they would face their biggest rival in a classic in-state showdown. Colorado State would take care of business against the Buffaloes. Regrettably, all good things must come to an end, with the Drake Bulldogs crushing their hopes in the Elite 8.

In the following two decades, the program remained dormant since their luck ran out. During the 1989 Tournament, the team finally had a chance to make up for the lost time.

They would cruise past the Florida Gators before falling to the Syracuse Orange in the following round as a member of the Western Athletic Conference. Tiny Grant would lead the school to another appearance the next year, but the Alabama Crimson Tide’s offensive and defensive tactics were too much to bear.

The program’s struggles would return once again, and the lows would remain with the men’s basketball team for more than a decade. The school would join the Mountain West Conference and stay there, but the 2003 season ended quickly as the ranked Duke Blue Devils were too overwhelming.

They would punch their next ticket to the dance nine years later, and lose to the Murray State Racers. Coach Larry Eustachy would finally bring the school back to the win column in the 2013 NCAA Tournament by beating the Missouri Tigers. In the next round, the Louisville Cardinals would dominate the Rams, since they lost by more than 25 points.

Niko Medved, who is currently running the team, would bring the program back to the promised land after a strong 2022 regular season campaign. He will be entering his fourth season, and Colorado State has some tough NCAAB odds to win the Conference.

All-Time Records

• Points Scored

  • Pat Durham 1,980

  • Bill Green 1,682

  • Matt Nelson 1,637

• Rebounds

  • Nico Carvacho 1,292

  • Pat Durham 851

  • Rich Strong 805

• Assists

  • Ryan Yoder 529

  • Isaiah Stevens 443

  • Milt Palacio 425

• Steals

  • Pierce Hornung 156

  • Kendle Moore 153

  • Milt Palacio 152

FAQs

1. What Is the Highest Win Total in Program History?

The highest win total in the program’s history was 27 wins, which was achieved in the 2015 season. With that, they would receive a bid from the NIT but lose in the first round against the South Dakota State Jackrabbits.

2. Who Is the Winningest Coach in Program History?

Jim Williams had the longest tenure as head coach of the program, as it lasted 26 years. He played a huge role in rebuilding the program and posted a record of 352-293. He is the only coach that has surpassed the 300-win milestone in the program’s history.

3. Who Is the Greatest Player in Program History?

Bob Rule is the greatest player in the program’s history and was selected in the second round by the Seattle SuperSonics in the 1967 NBA Draft. By beating all odds, he was named to the All-Rookie team and has one All-Star appearance on his resume. He averaged 17.4 points per game and 8.3 rebounds per game in his career.