Isaiah Stevens’ return for final season raises stakes for veteran CSU Rams team | College Basketball Preview
FORT COLLINS — There’s an unspoken expectation when a player of Isaiah Stevens’ caliber returns for their final season of eligibility.
Already one of the most decorated players in Colorado State history, Stevens is not using is not back in Fort Collins for a fifth year to go 15-18 like the Rams did a season ago.
The preseason player of the year in the Mountain West wants to compete for a conference title and take CSU back to the NCAA Tournament. Everyone knows it, too.
Colorado State head coach Niko Medved looks on during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against San Diego State, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
“You have a leader and player like him, and yeah that’s a huge jolt to our program,” Rams coach Niko Medved told The Denver Gazette. “I know what he expects. He expects to win and compete at the highest level and I think that’s the standard we’re trying to create here.”
Luckily for Medved, he figures to have a team that is capable of playing up to the standard in 2023-24.
Yes, CSU lost its second and fourth leading scorers — John Tonje and Isaiah Rivera — from last season. But the Rams added three quality veteran wings to the mix, as well as a talented freshman guard to go along with the quasi-addition of Josiah Strong, who missed almost all of last season with an illness and was granted a medical waiver.
Former Colorado starter Nique Clifford, Division II player of the year Joel Scott and New Mexico transfer Javonte Johnson will all have sizable roles this year and bring an athleticism and defensive versatility that Medved simply hasn’t had in his tenure.
Colorado guard Nique Clifford (32) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
“I feel like it’s the most athletic group top to bottom that we’ve had,” Medved said. “How that depth plays out this year, we have to make it a strength of ours.”
The reintroduction of Strong to the mix gives the Rams a really capable two-way player at the second guard spot alongside Stevens and it also allows promising freshman Kyan Evans to take a back seat for now as he gets his feet wet in college basketball.
“He’s been massive,” Medved said of Strong. “He’s a terrific defender. He can really move his feet. Just having a year in our system, even last year as much time as he missed, there’s just a different comfort level starting the year. He’s been a proven shotmaker at this level. He’s a big part of what we’re doing. I think fans will see soon enough how big of an impact we planned on him making last year.”
Colorado State guard Josiah Strong (3) watches the play during a game against Weber State on Monday, Nov. 14, 2022 at Moby Arena in Fort Collins.
Maybe the biggest key to success in Fort Collins this year is big man Patrick Cartier, another veteran player in his sixth and final year of eligibility.
The Wisconsin native and former Division II transfer was an instant contributor on offense last year as he quickly established himself as one of the conference’s best low-post scorers, and even he was a little surprised by how well his offensive game translated.
But Cartier will be the first to admit he had his fair share of defensive struggles and it’s something he attacked head on in the offseason.
“Working on your offensive game is a lot more fun than working on your defensive game sometimes,” Cartier told The Denver Gazette. “A lot of defensive stuff is just positioning, communicating, just being down and ready. I think that’s stuff that I’ve really taken a step with this offseason and I think it’s reflected in the fall and summer and I’ve been really intentional about that.”
His coach has noticed the work he’s put in as well.
“Pat’s been absolutely terrific this offseason,” Medved said. “He’s taken everything he learned last year and has taken it to the next level. I think his conditioning is at a high, high level. He’s really focused on the defensive end. I just see a guy who’s really, really comfortable (and) confident. Honestly, I see a guy who’s hungry.”
The season begins on Monday night against Louisiana Tech and although Medved has yet to decide on a starting lineup, it’s almost certain Cartier and Stevens will be a part of it. That alone is enough to raise the ceiling of what this Rams team can accomplish.
“Isaiah is obviously a great, great player,” Cartier said. “Just the standard that he has for not only himself, but his teammates, we feel a certain sense of pressure to live up to that every single day. We feel like we owe it to each other and owe it to him, too, because he’s such a good player and such a good talent.”
Full 2023-24 schedule
Nov. 6: vs. Louisiana Tech (8 p.m., Mountain West Network)
Nov. 10: vs. Wright State (7 p.m., MW Network)
Nov. 14: vs. Northern Colorado (6 p.m., ESPN+)
Nov. 17: vs. Kansas City (7 p.m., MW Network)
Nov. 22: vs. Boston College in Kansas City, Mo. (11:30 a.m., CBSSN)
Nov. 23: vs. Creighton OR Loyola Chicago (TBD)
Nov. 29: vs. Colorado (7 p.m., CBSSN)
Dec. 2: vs. Washington in Las Vegas (5 p.m., CBSSN)
Dec. 6: vs. Denver (7 p.m., MW Network)
Dec. 9: vs. Saint Mary’s (4:30 p.m., CBSSN)
Dec. 17: vs. CSU-Pueblo (4 p.m., MW Network)
Dec. 22: at Loyola Marymount (8 p.m., ESPN+)
Dec. 29: vs. Adams State (7 p.m., MW Network)
Jan. 2: vs. New Mexico (8:30 p.m., FS1)
Jan. 6: at Utah State (7 p.m., MW Network)
Jan. 9: at Boise State (7 p.m., MW Network)
Jan. 16: vs. Air Force (7 p.m., MW Network)
Jan. 19: vs. UNLV (8:30 p.m., FS1)
Jan. 24: at Nevada (8:30 p.m., FS1)
Jan. 27: at Wyoming (2 p.m., MW Network)
Jan. 30: vs. San Diego State (7 p.m., CBSSN)
Feb. 3: at Fresno State (8 p.m., CBSSN)
Feb. 6: vs. Boise State (7 p.m., CBSSN)
Feb. 9: vs. San Jose State (7:30 p.m., FS1)
Feb. 13: at San Diego State (7 p.m., CBSSN)
Feb. 17: vs. Utah State (3:30 p.m., CBSSN)
Feb. 21: at New Mexico (8 p.m., CBSSN)
Feb. 24: at UNLV (6 p.m., CBSSN)
Feb. 27: vs. Nevada (8:30 p.m., FS1)
Mar. 2: vs. Wyoming (2 p.m., MW Network)
Mar. 9: at Air Force (2 p.m., MW Network)
CSU women searching for first tournament berth in seven years
Colorado State senior guard McKenna Hofschild (4) surveys the defense during the second quarter of a game against Wyoming on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023 at Moby Arena in Fort Collins.
It’s year 12 for Ryun Williams in Fort Collins and he’s got his most talented Rams team since the program had four straight first place regular season finishes in the Mountain West from 2013-17.
CSU won the conference tournament just once during that time (2016) and that’s the team’s only NCAA Tournament berth since 2002. There’s a chance the Rams get back there this season, though, after a 20-12 record and trip to the semifinals of the Mountain West tournament last season.
They have the reigning conference player of the year and honorable mention all-american in fifth-year senior guard McKenna Hofschild, who was also recently named the preseason player of the year. She’s been an electric offensive player since arriving in Fort Collins and is the program’s most exciting player since Becky Hammon.
Hofschild has plenty of help as well, including three other returning starters. But the biggest boost will be brought by Wofford transfer Jackie Carman, a 15 point-per-game scorer last season who is the Mountain West’s preseason newcomer of the year.
The Rams were picked to finish second in the league behind only reigning conference champion UNLV.
CSU opens the season on Monday night against Le Moyne at 6:30 p.m. in Fort Collins.
Colorado State guard Isaiah Stevens (4) drives against UNLV guard Jackie Johnson III (24) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Las Vegas on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023. Stevens is Colorado State’s all-time assists leader.
