Why the Rams have a chance to ring in the new year on a positive note

 

FORT COLLINS, Colo. —  To paraphrase a well-known ‘hooper’, Dwight K. Schrute, all credit where credit is due — mad props to the holidays. Was it, however, the most wonderful time of the year? NO, not by a long shot.

As we all know, the most wonderful time of the year is college basketball season. And with conference play just around the corner, the time to invest in a reliable TV package, a comfy recliner and a 12 pack of something cold is now.

Admittedly, watching Colorado State men’s basketball (8-6, 0-2) has been a rollercoaster experience through the first half of the season — mostly fun but occasionally nauseating.

There have been high points like taking down Loyola (IL) and Washington State in the Cayman Islands or beating Tulsa on the road in triple overtime last Saturday.

In the 111-104 thriller, Isaiah Stevens (26) and Kendle Moore (23) combined for 49 points on 47 percent shooting from the floor. Nico Carvacho and David Roddy each recorded double-doubles as well. Carvacho scored 15 points and pulled down a team-high 18 rebounds, while Roddy finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds in his first career double-double.

There have also been some low moments for the Rams. Blowing a double-digit lead against Arkansas State was brutal. And getting held to 48 points on their home floor against the Buffs was extremely deflating, especially because it was the first time all season that the fans really packed Moby Arena.

That said, with the majority of conference play still to be played, the Rams can still accomplish most of their goals this season so there is no reason to panic. Reaching the postseason is still very much in play and technically so is the league title. If we’re being realistic, though, that race will ultimately come down to San Diego State and Utah State.

Even so, all it will take to get Moby rocking again is a couple of winning performances — which is good because looking at the upcoming slate, the Rams really have a chance to get back on track over the next month.

On Saturday, CSU will host Doane College in a game that will be likely be ignored by most of the country because it conflicts with the CFB Playoff. As Niko Medved explained to me earlier this season, though, the matchup ensures that the Rams won’t have to break back into the league portion of the schedule cold.

After facing Doane, the Rams will hit the road again for a difficult but winnable game against the Nevada Wolf Pack on New Year’s Day.

Nevada (8-5, 1-0) is not a squad that can be ignored. Since losing three of their first five games, the Wolf Pack are 6-2 over their last eight. However, it’s been almost a month since Nevada has beaten a team with a winning record — and looking at the roster, they’re just not as deep as they have been in recent years.

Following the first of two matchups with Steve Alford in January alone, the Rams will host the Wyoming Cowboys (4-9, 0-2) on Saturday, Jan. 4.

CSU found out the hard way in Laramie, Wyo., last season that if they don’t take the Pokes seriously, things can turn sour quickly. But the Cowboys are 1-6 over their last seven games and without Justin James to light it up from beyond the arc, I just don’t see them coming into Moby Arena and winning this year.

After a trip to San Jose State (3-10, 0-2) on Jan. 11, the Rams will host New Mexico in their only regular season matchup this year. The Lobos (12-2) are off to a great start but with JJ Caldwell and Carlton Bragg both currently suspended from the team, it could have an impact on the squad moving forward.

Finally, after playing the Lobos, CSU will travel to Air Force (6-7, 1-1) on Jan. 18 and host Fresno State (4-8, 0-2) on Jan. 22, before closing out the month with a trip to Utah State (12-2, 2-0) on Jan. 25 and a second game against Nevada at Moby Arena on the 29th.

Although there are some things to clean up, the Rams should be feeling relatively good right now. Of the eight conference games that CSU will play in January, half of them will be against teams with losing records.

Obviously, the trips to Logan, UT., and Reno, NV., will be challenging but SJSU and Air Force are definitely road games that CSU should expect to win.

If the Rams can win the matchups they’re favored in at home and maybe steal a game or two against some of the better teams, they’ll have a chance to go into February around .500 in league play — and if they do that, they’ll be able to control their own destiny over the final month.

I’ve said all season that it’s not about how this young squad starts the season, it will be about how they finish. Would it have been nice to beat CU or Boise State? Absolutely, but the college basketball season is not a sprint, it’s a marathon.

CSU has already hung tough against quite a few quality opponents in the early portion of the season. As the young players continue to develop, the Rams are going to continue to become more and more dangerous as the schedule progresses.

By March, if everyone stays healthy, the Rams should be a group that nobody in the league wants to deal with in Las Vegas. And as we all know, in a single elimination tournament, anything can happen.