Colorado State Team Report

GETTING INSIDE

Colorado State has won just four conference games in coach Tim Miles’ reign, and the Rams might not win too many more this season either.

The departure of star guard Marcus Walker hurts, but the real concern revolves around the health of Jesse Carr, the third-leading freshman scorer in the Mountain West last season.

Carr suffered through groin pain for much of last season, and it was discovered after the season that he has a pelvis injury that could sideline him for a portion of this season.

If the season arrives and Carr isn’t close to ready, it’s possible he’d miss the entire season—something that would severely hurt the Rams’ chances at being more competitive.

Without Carr, the Rams will be a shorthanded group that will often face mismatch issues. Juniors Andy Ogide and Andre McFarland will be asked to carry the team with hope that a newcomer can emerge as a solid third scoring option.

NOTES, QUOTES

• Colorado State went 2-11 on the road last season, but the wins were welcome and the second one (at Air Force) ended a 19-game road losing streak in Mountain West play.

—F Andy Ogide is the only returning Colorado State player to score in double figures last season. Ogide averaged 10.2 points per game.

—F Andre McFarland was the only player to appear in all 31 games last season despite the Rams using 15 different players over the season.

Last Year:   9-22 overall, 4-12 in the Mountain West.

Head Coach:   Tim Miles (career 228-179); Third year at Colorado State (16-47).

Quote To Note:   “We haven’t done anything to deserve anything better than eighth. It’s our job to go out and do it.”—Coach Tim Miles at Mountain West Conference media day on the Rams being picked to finish eighth in the nine-team conference.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

Scouting The Newcomers:   Freshman C Trevor Williams may need some time to adjust to the Division I level, but the 7-footer could someday pay big dividends. Freshman F Greg Smith will get immediate playing time while freshman G Dorian Green adds backcourt depth.

Key Early-season Games:   The Rams have a mix of soft and challenging foes, with the toughest games being Pac-10 trips to UCLA (Dec. 22) and Oregon (Nov. 15). Colorado State also plays Colorado (Dec. 10 at home) and visits Fresno State (Dec. 28), two games that may reveal how they’ll fare in conference play.

Program Direction:   Major rebuilding is still needed for this program to rise up from the bottom of the Mountain West. Colorado State remains at least two years away from being in position to be a top-four team in the conference.

Probable Starting Lineup:   PG Jesse Carr, SG Harvey Perry, SF Andre McFarland, PF Travis Franklin, C Andy Ogide.

Roster Report  

• G Wes Eikmeier has transferred into the program after playing his freshman season at Iowa State. Eikmeier has three years of eligibility remaining, beginning with the 2010-11 season.

• G/F Travis Busch joined the program after graduating from Minnesota and was ruled immediately eligible by the NCAA because he enrolled in grad school at Colorado State. Busch will be a senior.

• Assistant coach Mark Amaral left Colorado State for a coaching position on Cal Poly’s staff.

• C Dan Vandervieren, who averaged 6.2 points and 3.9 rebounds, left the program and joined the team at Division II Concordia-St. Paul in Minnesota.