DENVER — Colorado State men’s basketball has put itself in tremendous position. Entering the Mountain West portion of the schedule, the Rams are presently ranked No. 20 in AP Poll and No. 19 in the Coaches Poll.
CSU did not get an opportunity to play against the University of Alabama — a matchup that the Ram faithful were extremely excited about — aside from having to go on pause for a COVID-19 outbreak within the locker room, though, something many teams are dealing with and will continue to struggle with, it’s been as close to a perfect start as anyone could have asked for.
The die-hards have already been treated to a month of being in the top-25, an MTE title in the Virgin Islands, multiple other quality wins over mid-majors, and most recently, a victory over an SEC squad that is expected to play a factor this year (Mississippi State). Not to mention that as of Monday, Jan. 3, the Green & Gold are just one of three undefeated teams in Division I. All things considered, there’s just not much for anyone to complain about when it comes to the start of the 2021-22 season.
When evaluating the successful start, naturally, the superstars get a lot of the shine and they should, especially considering their contributions on the floor. As talented as David Roddy and Isaiah Stevens are, though, it’s definitely been more than a two man show. CSU’s depth has overwhelmed opposing groups in crucial moments. And even Roddy himself has said on the DNVR Rams Podcast that this 2021-22 Rams team is talented enough to field a pair of capable starting lineups. He feels the depth the Rams possess is ultimately CSU’s greatest strength.
So with that in mind, let’s take a look at the impact of each individual on the roster, beginning with the starting five.
Starters
Isaiah Stevens | G | 14.3 Pts, 3.1 Reb, 7.3 Ast | Grade: A+
It’s not like I need to convince Ram Nation, but Stevens is one of the best point guards in the game today. His ability to create for himself, as well as everyone else on the floor, while rarely turning over the basketball is such a rarity at this level. He’s a smooth facilitator, kind of like a younger Chris Paul, but without the annoying flopping tendencies. And he has the killer instinct to really take over when the situation calls for it.
The reality is very few teams have a point guard like Stevens, a guy that just always seems to make the right play in the biggest moments. He will drill a tough shot or get to the free throw line if needed. If Tonje is wide open in the corner for the kick-out, though, Stevens is going to find him. He’s an unselfish superstar and he’s playing some of the best basketball of his already-impressive career.
Isaiah Stevens celebrates his team’s season-opening win against Oral Roberts on Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021, at Moby Arena in Fort Collins. PHOTO: Fort Collins Coloradoan
While Stevens is technically scoring about a point less per game and averaging one less rebound than he did a year ago, his offensive rating, or an estimate of the points a player scores or produces for a team over the course of 100 possessions, is actually up from 110.9 in 2020-21 to 121.2 in 2021-22. So what that shows is while Stevens is scoring slightly less as an individual, as a whole he’s making even more of a positive impact with the way he’s creating scoring opportunities for others and limiting his mistakes. He’s cut his turnovers in half this season (1.5 per game), while increasing his assist totals (7.3 per game). And although the averages don’t show an increase in his trips to the free throw line, having watched all of the games, it feels as if he’s really been able to draw more fouls in the crunch time. At 86 percent, you know you can trust him to knock down his free throws too.
Defensively, Stevens has been just about as impressive as he is on offense. He’s averaging roughly a pair of steals per game, which is about double what he averaged over his first two seasons. And he already has more blocks through 10 games (3) than he did in his freshman or sophomore campaigns. His defensive rating of 97.6, an estimate of the points he allows per 100 possessions, is the best it’s ever been as well.
He may not be the loudest guy in the room or the most explosive athlete on the court, but this 10 game stretch from Stevens has been one of the more impressive runs I’ve ever seen from a college point guard. If he keeps it up, hopefully CBB pundits across the country give him the proper recognition he deserves as we get closer to the postseason.
Kendle Moore | G | 6.0 Pts, 2.3 Reb, 2.1 Ast | Grade: B
It’s easy to look at Moore’s scoring production with no context and assume the senior guard is having a disappointing start. After all, he’s averaging the least amount of points per game in his four seasons as a Ram (6.0 PPG). However, those numbers are misleading on multiple levels. For starters, just like Stevens, Moore’s offensive rating is up roughly 10 points per 100 possessions from last year. So his positive impact on the offense is substantial, even if it’s not necessarily him putting the ball in the hoop. Without guys like Moore moving the basketball, cutting, setting screens, etc, the Rams wouldn’t be the potent offensive group that they are though. He’s playing winning basketball.
It’s also important to factor health into the equation. Moore was not even 100 percent to begin the season, and then re-aggravated a foot injury early, which combined with an increase in the overall depth of the roster, has caused his minutes to dip from about 30 to 22 a night. So it makes sense that Moore’s scoring totals are lower as a senior. Unless he was out there forcing shots up, how could his numbers not be impacted?
He may not be responsible for producing as many points as he did, say two years ago, guys like Moore and Adam Thistlewood are paramount to a team’s success, though, because night after night they go out there and do the dirty work. They play relentless defense, run in transition, cut to the hoop and draw the attention of backside defenders to free up opportunities for others. But you can still count on them to make a play when the chances are there, lead by example on and off the floor, and potentially drop 20+ points if the situation calls for it. Moore is a crucial part of the foundation of the team.
David Roddy | G/F | 20.5 Pts, 7.7 Reb, 2.4 Ast | Grade: A+
David Roddy’s ascension to one of the most talented and unique scorers in the country has been an absolute pleasure to watch these past couple of years. We saw flashes of his potential from the beginning. And he came on extremely strong as a sophomore in 2020-21, but with CSU now in the spotlight, Roddy has taken his game to a new level as a junior.
As it currently stands, the versatile superstar out of Minneapolis, MN is averaging a career-best 20.5 points per game on 59 percent from the floor. And what really stands out is the fact that he’s getting buckets anywhere he wants them. Despite attempting threes at a higher volume, Roddy is shooting nearly 20 percent better from beyond the arc than he has at any point in his young career. He currently has an average of 47 percent from 3-point range for the season. That’s absurd in itself. And even though he’s currently responsible for just north of 30 percent of CSU’s field goal attempts this season, Roddy’s efficiency numbers are up and he’s only producing two turnovers per game. So he’s scoring and really limiting the amount of the opportunities that he fails to capitalize on.
David Roddy celebrates with CSU fans as the Rams go on to beat Saint Mary’s Gaels 74-58, Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021, at Moby Arena.
PHOTO: Fort Collins Coloradoan
Considering the amount of touches he gets in any given contest, the way Roddy has been able to consistently make the right play time and time again has been so incredibly impressive, particularly when factoring in that he often gets double-teamed or matched up against a much taller opponent. Roddy may be listed at 6-foot-6, but he plays with the nimbleness of a 6-foot-2 guard and with the physicality of a 6-foot-10 power forward. And now that he’s also knocking down perimeter jump shots, Roddy is pretty much an impossible cover. He’s too quick on the drive for most big men to handle, but he’s too strong to put a smaller guy on. Roddy is the strongest guy on the floor and he often has the best touch of anyone in the paint. Honestly, I have no idea what you’re supposed to do to slow him down at this point, other than just hope that he forces some things or misses open shots, but those have been rare occurrences.
Conversely, on the defensive end, Roddy has grown into one of the more complete players on the roster. He’s learned to deal with the physicality of the game down low without picking up a bunch of fouls for getting too handsy. His blocks and steals are both up, and although I don’t have the data to back it up, it feels like many of them have come in crucial situations. His defensive rating is the best it’s ever been as well (92.3).
There really isn’t any area of the game where Roddy needs to improve significantly. You could nitpick and say that he tends to rely on the 3-point shot a little too frequently early in games, before ultimately settling in and establishing his presence in the paint. When you’re knocking them down the way he is, though, those are considered good shots too.
He has been the Swiss Army Knife that makes CSU’s unique roster work, even despite frequently being outsized by bigger schools on the big stage. And at this portion of the 2021-22 season, Roddy has to be considered the frontrunner for Mountain West Player of the Year. If he continues to score this way he may end up being in the All-American conversation too.
Adam Thistlewood | F | 4.6 Pts, 2.6 Reb, 1.1 Ast | Grade: C+
I think everyone would like to see a little bit more production from one of the most veteran players. Much like Moore, though, Thistlewood’s minutes have been impacted by injury and by having more talent on the team. Also like Moore, despite scoring the least amount of points per game of his career, his offensive rating is actually the best it’s ever been at 127.8. So take the slightly lower grade with a grain of salt. He is playing winning basketball, I just have high expectations for the local product from Golden.
Thistlewood hasn’t been letting it fly from deep at the same rate as previous seasons. Over 100 possessions he’s currently averaging a career-low 7.2 attempts from beyond the arc. What’s good to see, though, is he’s hitting them at a 41 percent rate and that’s the highest of his four seasons at CSU. So while his scoring totals are down, he’s actually shooting the ball more efficiently. Personally, I’d just like to see him be just a little bit more aggressive on the offensive end. He has a gorgeous jump shot and the potential to be one of the more lethal scorers on the court in the right situation. We just haven’t seen a ton of offensive production from him individually to this point.
In past seasons we’ve seen Thistlewood peak earlier in the year and then kinda fizzle out as the campaign goes on. And while I don’t have exact answers for why that is, my best guess is that it’s the result of him having to log so much time on the floor. Prior to 2021-22, Thistlewood had never averaged less than 27 minutes per game for any given season. He averaged close to 30 minutes a night in two of his first three years in the program.
It’s not easy being a wing defender and often getting tasked with trying to stop other team’s best scorers all season, and then still going down and being expected to be an elite jump shooter on the other end. I’m not trying to make excuses for him or anything like that, but it makes sense that he might have been running on fumes by the end of the season. It will be interesting to see if playing 17 minutes per game over the first 10 wins allows Thistlewood to go into conference play with fresher legs and potentially be a more impactful shooter when CSU really needs him the most this spring.
Dischon Thomas | F | 9.0 Pts, 4.6 Reb, 1.3 Ast | Grade: B+
Niko Medved has said on a couple of occasions that Dischon Thomas is the most improved player in the program and that’s pretty tough to argue with right now.
He continues to stretch the floor for CSU with timely threes. ‘DT’ is presently shooting 47 percent from 3-point range in his career. Really, Thomas has quietly become one of the most important players on the floor for CSU. He looks much more confident guarding big men in one-on-one situations. And his ability to keep opposing defenders honest with his outside jump shot is such an advantage for the Green & Gold. When the other team’s center has to come out past the free throw line to defend Thomas along the perimeter, not only does it open up the paint for Roddy down low, but it also creates space for DT to put the ball on the floor and drive to the rim himself. It presents chances to effectively run the pick-and-roll from the top of the key as well, or it allows for someone to cut through the open space and potentially get hit for a layup. Thomas’ versatility opens up the entire floor for Medved’s offense. And it’s that offensive flexibility, as well as a more consistent showing on defense, that’s allowed Thomas to take back his starting role after briefly losing it to James Moors last year.
I look forward to seeing if ‘DT’ can build off of his strong showing in the non-conference slate and improve even further on the defensive side. We all know that the Rams can score, if you can’t defend the paint, however, chances are you won’t make a serious run in the postseason. Thomas may not get the recognition that many of his teammates do, but he very well may be one of the biggest ‘x-factors’ for CSU’s success this spring.
Rotation
The starters have obviously been huge for Niko Medved this season, but again, this team goes deep. CSU frequently plays nine or more players in any given contest. Those aren’t just filler minutes either. On both ends of the floor, the Rams have rotational guys that are extremely impactful and capable of taking over a game on any given night.
Let’s get into the impact they make.
John Tonje | G | 12.0 Pts, 3.4 Reb, 1.4 Ast | Grade: A
John Tonje kicked off the season with a career-best 31 points in the opening night victory over Oral Roberts and he’s continued to be one of the most consistent scorers for CSU since. Tonje is currently scoring the third-most points on the team (12.0 PPG). And his ability to come off the bench and be a spark plug offensively has been massively important over the 10 game winning streak.
Over the last four victories for the Rams, the junior from Omaha, NE has finished with double-digit scoring figures three times. And with 120 points scored through just 10 games played, Tonje is on pace to obliterate his previous high mark of 185 points over 28 games in 2020-21.
John Tonje makes a move toward the basket during a game against Saint Mary’s Gaels, Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021, at Moby Arena.
PHOTO: Fort Collins Colordoan
His shooting numbers are through the roof, as he’s shooting 59 percent from deep and 63 percent from the floor. And despite seeing an increase in volume of touches, Tonje’s efficiency is up while his turnover totals are about the same. So essentially he’s producing way more despite only seeing an increase of about 3 minutes per game. And he’s putting up points without making bad decisions or trying to force things.
Defensively, Tonje still has some room to grow, at least when it comes to consistency. But the effort is there and he is a guy that Medved has shown he trusts to play over the final 10 minutes of a game.
Chandler Jacobs | G | 4.8 Pts, 3.1 Reb, 0.7 Ast | Grade: A-
Nobody knew what to expect when Chandler Jacobs came over from Dallas Baptist University. He was one of the most accomplished Division II players of all-time, with accolades for his abilities as a scorer and a defender, but it’s tough to forecast someone’s success when coming over to a new team for one final season. It’s pretty much a guessing game as far as trying to project how someone will fit into the makeup of a locker room normally, let alone factoring in a step up in competition and a short window of time to make things click.
CSU needed Jacobs to be a guy that could come in and fill a rotational role for the Rams, not necessarily be the leading man that he was for most of his college career. So far, he’s done exactly that. Jacobs plays 17.5 hard minutes a game. He comes in, plays solid defense and scores at all levels. He can run the offense, guard an opposing team’s point guard or their best perimeter scorer, and he just gives all of his effort all of the time. His transition into the rotation has been pretty much seamless. And I have a feeling that the best of Chandler Jacobs in a Rams uniform has yet to come.
Jalen Lake | G | 5.5 Pts, 1.7 Reb, 0.8 Ast | Grade: B
Jalen Lake is a freshman that plays with the confidence of a senior. When the ball is in his hands, he is likely going to try to score. Fortunately for Ram fans, though, the up-and-comer is a bucket and plays with poise. He’s confident but not arrogant, and most importantly he plays his role on the floor. When his number is called, he tries to make a play. But he’s not out there trying to play hero ball or putting up selfish shots during his 17 minutes of action on average.
Lake is an above-average athlete that possesses the ability to score anywhere on the floor. He’s currently shooting 39 percent from deep on about three attempts from beyond the arc each night. We’ve already seen his ability to finish through traffic in the mid-range game, as well as the paint on multiple occasions too.
There’s room to grow on the defensive end for Lake, as there are for all first-year players, but the numbers back up what the eyes show and that’s that his effort is consistent enough to trust him to play valuable minutes. His defensive rating of 100.8 is slightly higher than his experienced counterparts, but he’s not a liability by any means. He’s also averaging about two blocks and a steal per 100 possessions, which is impressive for a 6-foot-4 guard in his first season playing Division I basketball. The sky’s the limit for Jalen Lake.
Isaiah Rivera | G | 3.9 Pts, 1.5 Reb, 0.4 Ast | Grade: B-
Isaiah Rivera’s impact this season has been limited by the arrival of Chandler Jacobs and Jalen Lake. He’s made some nice plays in a limited role and is currently averaging 12 minutes per game. I think after watching Rivera flash as a freshman last season most anticipated he’d be playing a slightly bigger role in 2021-22 though.
While it would be easy for Rivera to pout about the situation, his effort has never been in question at any point. And it’s easy to see why the coaches are so high on his potential. He has a smooth handle and a good looking release on his jumper. If a defender gets caught sleeping, Rivera has the ability to throw it down too.
I hope that all of these guys end up staying in town for the years to come and don’t test the transfer portal in search of expanded roles. Alas, when you have as much talent as Medved does on the roster, it’s always a possibility. But there’s no doubt that Rivera has the potential to be a high-level player in the Mountain West. I like his game a lot.
James Moors | F | 3.6 Pts, 1.3 Reb, 0.6 Ast | Grade: C+
James Moors has not played as many minutes as I expected coming into the year, but that’s largely due to the success of the small ball lineups and the reemergence of Dischon Thomas in the starting five.
In about 9 minutes per game, Moors has come in and provided relief for ‘DT’ and Roddy. And while his numbers don’t exactly stand out, he’s done a particularly good job on the defensive end. His frame makes him an effective defender down low. And he moves well laterally for a guy with his size.
On the offensive end there is still room for Moors to grow. We’ve seen his footwork improve significantly since the first time he ever suited up for the Green & Gold, but he hasn’t quite found the touch consistently. On numerous occasions this season Moors has beaten his man in the paint with a nice spin move and then come up too strong on the finish. Once he starts knocking those down, though, he’ll be really dangerous.
For CSU to make the type of run that everyone believes this group is capable of, the Rams are going to have to survive teams with a lot more size than them. At some point, whether it’s due to the matchup, foul trouble or injuries, Moors is going to need to step up and assume a larger role than he’s served to this point. I believe in his ability to do it.
