CSU Rams earn highest AP ranking in school history

One week after making the AP Poll in November for the first time ever, Colorado State men’s basketball earned its highest ranking in program history on Monday.

Fresh off of a win over the Washington Huskies, CSU’s fourth consecutive victory against high major competition, the Rams jumped from 20th to 13th in the most recent rankings.

The No. 13 ranking is CSU’s highest-ever standing in the AP Poll. Prior to Monday, CSU had not been ranked in the teens since February of 1954. The Rams reached as high as No. 18 that season before losses to Santa Clara and Idaho State dropped CSU out of the poll in March.

Along with being a new high water mark for the program, Monday marks only the fourth time this century that the Rams have been ranked in consecutive weeks. CSU most recently was in the top 25 for four straight weeks in the 2021-22 season, however, the Rams played no games during three of them due to a COVID pause.

With a win over Denver on Wednesday night, the Rams could tie the 2014-15 squad with three straight victories as a ranked team. CSU has never won four consecutive games while being in the top 25. So if CSU can take down Saint Mary’s on Saturday as well, the Rams can play their way into the history books yet again.

Finally, in addition to making a jump in the AP Poll, the Rams moved from 21st to 12th in the weekly coaches poll conducted by USA TODAY. CSU also came in at No. 7 in the initial NET rankings of the year, which is a testament to the phenomenal scheduling done by Niko Medved and his staff.

It’s been a killer start to the year for this team. While most projected the Rams to be much improved, nobody thought we’d see them make this type of leap.

Soak it in, ram fans. This team is special.