Strike 2: It certainly wasn’t the ending the Colorado State Rams were looking for, but it can’t overshadow what a terrific season Niko Medved and his team put together for 2023-24. A 25-11 record, including wins over the likes of Creighton, Virginia, Washington, Boston College and oh yes, Colorado. Every Rams fan would have taken that if it was offered before the season started.
After five games in eight days in four different time zones, the tank was empty at the end. Now the question is this: Where does CSU basketball go from here?
For starters, can the program retain Medved, whose name had been mentioned for the opening at Michigan before the Wolverines hired Florida Atlantic’s Dusty May, and will probably have other suitors? Ohio State, Washington, Louisville and who knows who else will be looking for a new head man in a couple of weeks. Medved was raised in Big Ten country. Maybe he feels the tug and sees some additional green?
CSU is without an athletic director at the moment, which can’t help the situation. Regardless, this has to be priority No. 1 for the CSU administration.
While everyone in Rams Country wants to keep the talented head coach, whoever is leading this program next year has a big roster rebuild ahead of him.
The Rams lose stalwart point guard Isaiah Stevens, who’s been a star in Fort Collins since the Bush Administration. But he’s not the only one departing. Fellow starters Joel Scott, Patrick Cartier, Josiah Strong and Nique Clifford are all seniors. Reserves Joe Palmer and Javonte Jackson are also out of eligibility.
Clifford could return if he chooses to, or he may opt for the NBA Draft where he’s considered a possible selection in the two-round event. The 6-foot-6 guard from Colorado Springs has NBA athleticism, and his outstanding rebounding and offense in the paint certainly hasn’t been lost on professional scouts. He needs to become a better 3-point threat and probably a little thicker to be a viable NBA two-guard, so staying in school one more season might benefit him. Would that be in Fort Collins is the question.
The identity of the head coach will likely factor in on his decision. Unless Clifford comes back, you will see an entirely new starting five and then some next season.
Meanwhile, Medved (or whomever) will need to take a long look at how things went down this season and hopefully notice that the Rams – as gritty and tough as any team around – were short on talent where they needed to be tall. While Cartier and Scott did an admirable job in the paint, they were both undersized and could not play the role of rim protector or get that key inside bucket when it mattered most. Medved’s scrappy bunch was one (or two) seven-footers away from being a truly great team.
Can they find a standout big man for next season?
High school recruiting isn’t the only answer anymore of course. Medved has been adept at using the transfer portal – especially with lower division guys like Cartier and Scott – to make key roster additions. He does already have 6-foot-10 center Kyle Evans coming back as a sophomore next year, and after nine-months in the weight room perhaps he’s an impact guy. Then if Medved (or the new guy) could somehow find a 7-footer to pair him with, maybe that hole gets plugged. Rashaan Mbemba returns to the front court, and if the backcourt can see some development from Kyan Evans and Taviontae Jackson, maybe the rebuilt Rams can be formidable once again?
It will certainly be a challenge for Medved and his staff, provided that CSU can keep Medved on the bench.
