Vol. 128, No. 96 Friday, February 22, 2019

INSIDE THE LINES What’s next for CSU’s newest record holder? page 3

Vol. 128, No. 96 Friday, February 22, 2019

The template for a Border War triumph

page 6

Connection is key for Ali Farokhmanesh

page 7

YOUR PLACE TO CATCH LIVE SPORTS AND ENJOY BREWS

148 W Mountain Ave 970-221-5757

2 inside the lines

POWER FIVE PICK ‘EM Game

Luke

Sergio

Eddie

Junior

Ashley

vs CSU

Wyoming

#3

#18

vs Virginia

Louisville

#5

#13

vs LSU

Tennessee #6

vs Fresno State

Nevada

vs UNLV

San Diego State

COVER ILLUSTRATION BY ASHLEY POTTS COLLEGIAN

Lory Student Center Box 13 Fort Collins, CO 80523 This publication is not an official publication of Colorado State University, but is published by an independent corporation using the name ‘The Rocky Mountain Collegian’ pursuant to a license granted by CSU. The Rocky Mountain Collegian is a 6,500-circulation student-run newspaper intended as a public forum. It publishes four days a week during the regular fall and spring semesters. During the last eight weeks of summer Collegian distribution drops to 3,500 and is published weekly. During the first four weeks of summer the Collegian does not publish.

Corrections may be submitted to the editor in chief and will be printed as necessary on page two. The Collegian is a complimentary publication for the Fort Collins community. The first copy is free. Additional copies are 25 cents each. Letters to the editor should be sent to letters@collegian.com.

EDITORIAL STAFF | 970-491-7513 Haley Candelario | Editor-in-Chief editor@collegian.com Shelby Holsinger | Managing Editor managingeditor@collegian.com Austin Fleskes | News Director news@collegian.com Natalia Sperry | News Editor news@collegian.com Jayla Hodge | Opinion Editor letters@collegian.com Luke Zahlmann | Sports Director sports@collegian.com Ashley Potts | Sports Editor sports@collegian.com

Henry Netherland | A&C Director entertainment@collegian.com Elena Waldman | A&C Editor entertainment@collegian.com Meg Metzger-Seymour | Design Editor design@collegian.com Colin Shepherd | Photo Director photo@collegian.com Forrest Czarnecki | Photo Editor photo@collegian.com Mikaela Rodenbaugh | Digital Production Manager mrodenbaugh@collegian.com Gina Johnson Spoden | Social Media Editor socialmedia@collegian.com

Gab Go | Night Editor copy@collegian.com Natalia Sperry | Webmaster webmaster@collegian.com Marlo Lundak | Videography Director video@collegian.com

ADVISING STAFF

Leslie Cory | Student Media Advisor Kim Blumhardt | Advertising Manager Hannah Copeland | KCSU Adviser Austin Humphreys | Photo Advisor

KEY PHONE NUMBERS

Distribution | 970-491-1774 Classifieds | 970-491-1683 Display Advertising | 970-491-7467

inside the lines

Nico

3

Carvacho

Carvacho discusses rebounding record, what’s next for the big man

By Eddie Herz @Eddie_Herz

Leading rebounder in the NCAA: check. Most double-doubles in Colorado State history: check. Most rebounds in CSU history: check.

Redshirt junior center Nico Carvacho has crossed quite a few objectives off his list to make the 2018-’19 season a memorable one. Carvacho has improved in every way imaginable since last season and then some.

The center established himself as an unstoppable force in the paint. Carvacho averages 16 points per game along with 13.2 boards and fell just shy of his third 20-20 performance of the season Wednesday night in San Jose.

Though the team has spent a lenghty period adjusting a new coaching staff, the change has been vital to Carvacho’s success.

I set some time aside to sit down and talk with the Rams’ big man one-on-one to discuss obtaining the prolific rebounding record, as well as what is next for Carvacho and the Rams as a team.

What are your general reactions to breaking the record?

Nico Carvacho: It’s just a dream come true, a blessing for all the hard work I’ve put in. Coming here that wasn’t even a goal of mine. Just being able to accomplish that is awesome. Pat Durham actually called me a couple of times. He called me before I broke it and after I broke it, so that was really cool of him to actually call me and congratulate me and everything. He is a great guy. It means a lot to me.

What specifically did you talk to Pat about?

NC: He was amazed that it’s only my third year. It takes a different type of person to do that. He gave me a lot of confidence moving forward.

Since you hadn’t ever talked to him before, was it surprising that he reached out to you?

NC: I wouldn’t say surprising. It was his record. I think it is just really cool of him to do that. He wasn’t upset he just told me to leave a couple of his scoring records (laughs).

How cool was it to break that record at Moby? I heard you had family in attendance.

NC: It was really cool. My mom, dad and grandma actually came up for the game spur of the moment. (I was) three rebounds away so I was definitely going to get it with them there.

I wish we would have gotten a (win) with it though. But it was really cool hearing the people in the crowd cheering and all of that.

What are the most memorable congratulations you have received?

NC: I hit 1,000 likes on my Instagram picture. That was the first time I’ve done that ever.

That was big-time (laughed).

Friends, family and everyone were just hitting me up too, texting me. Everybody in the crowd congratulating me too.

It was really cool; it means a lot.

Did any other former CSU players reach out to you?

NC: Yeah, Prentiss (Nixon), Gian (Clavell), Tiel (Daniels) hit me up. Pretty much everyone I’ve played with hit me up.

Individually, what are you focusing on to keep improving?

Nico Carvacho prepares to dunk the ball during the game against No. 6 Nevada Feb. 6. The Rams fell to the Wolfpack 98-82. PHOTO BY ASHLEY POTTS COLLEGIAN

NC: Getting some more wins.

Now that breaking the record is in the past, what is your next step?

NC: I think I can get better in all types of ways. I can be more efficient down low. This offseason I’m going to try to work on that outside game and get really confident with it, once I fix my shoulder. And then just expand my game and continue to get better every single day.

As a team, what do you need to do to finish this season on a high note?

NC: Just go out there and have some fun. This is my third year, fourth year here. It goes by so fast. I want to look back on it and feel like I had fun and made the most of it.

Is having fun part of what you preach to the younger players?

NC: I think these six games are going to be very key for that.

(We’re) going out there with momentum and just continuing to play hard, have fun, and never give up.

NC: I tell Adam and Kendle to just have some fun all the time. I might get on them a little bit, but it is going to help them out a lot.

Obviously the pieces are in place like the coaching staff, young players and solid recruits. How do you feel about where this team is headed in the future?

The overall record doesn’t show it, but CSU has played a lot of close games. Could this team make a run in the Mountain West Tournament?

NC: I don’t like to talk about the next year when we are in this year. But I think we are in great hands right now.

Eddie Herz can be reached at sports@collegian.com.

4 inside the lines

WYOMING COWBOYS

75.2

PPG

58.5

76.5

OPPG

72.6

u

34.3

RPG

27.3

u

14.8

APG

9.5

u

11.7

TOPG

15.8

u

47.6

FG%

41.3

u

Nico Carvacho 16.0 PPG, 13.2 REB, 60.1% FG

J.D. Paige 15.0 PPG, 3.7 REB, 39.2% 3PT

Anthony Masinton-Bonner 11.4 PPG, 51.9% FG, 40.6% 3PT

Kendle Moore 8.6 PPG, 2.5 REB, 34.0 STL

u

CSU RAMS

Justin James 29.4 PPG, 7.2 REB, 4.4 AST

Jake Hendricks 9.4 PPG, 3.4 REB, 38.5% 3PT

Hunter Thompson 8.3 PPG, 2.5 REB, 38.8% 3PT

Trace Young 7.0 PPG, 3.7 REB, 37.1% FG

Kris Martin

Trevon Taylor

8.8 PPG, 3.3 REB, 2.6 AST

6.6 PPG, 3.0 REB

The Rocky Mountain Collegian | Friday, February 22, 2019

PRESENTS

AT

h t 7 2 l i Apr

stival e F m l i F r o o Free Outd ema.com For More Info

ing riccin Before Show Check Out ly k e e W e n O able Tickets Avail

5

6 inside the lines

CSU must follow simple template to avoid Border War loss

By Luke Zahlmann @lukezahlmann

Spanning back to 1911, Colorado State and Wyoming have brought their annual Border War to the hardwood.

In that time, Wyoming has held the advantage, with 134 wins compared to just 95 for the team south of the border. In their last 43 meetings dating back to 2000, the Rams have gone 19-23, falling to the Cowboys a majority of the time.

As part of that span, Wyoming has also gone on streaks of five or more wins in a row twice.

In the two team’s latest bout, the Rams fell 74-66 in Laramie, plagued by a 36-point effort from Justin James in his final year with the program.

For the Rams to reverse their current two-game losing streak in the Border War, limiting James will be one of several keys.

Limit the impact James makes With all of the hype that rightfully surrounds Nevada in their trek towards a top seed in the tournament, one would think Jordan Caroline or Caleb Martin leads the conference in scoring.

At 20.9 points per game, the real apex of the scoring leaderboard is James.

In the two teams’ first matchup James padded that total, besting his season average with his aforementioned season-high 36-point outburst. His success was a byproduct of a 10-of-14 mark from the field, sinking 11-of-12 attempts from the free-throw line to boot.

Where James killed the Rams was in isolation.

On the perimeter and from midrange, James had his way, scoring at will. Though a handful of his attempts were contested, James still converted.

“You’ve got to play more physical,” Medved said after the first loss against Wyoming. “We would guard him and then late in the clock, we would allow him to just beat us off the dribble… We were hoping that would miss instead of trying to make them miss.”

Nico Carvacho attempts a shot through the Wolfpack defense during the game against No. 6 Nevada Feb. 6. PHOTO BY ASHLEY POTTS COLLEGIAN

A big key for the Rams to avoid James’ acrobatic conversions is stoking the fires early. The Cowboys’ guard had 14 points at halftime alone, lending to an explosion in the second half. A trio of other scorers for Wyoming was able to generate a make from outside, garnering further room for James to operate.

If Medved’s squad has any hopes of overcoming their losing spree to the Cowboys, concealing James and forcing others to beat them will be crucial.

Let Carvacho take hold of the reigns As the “Big Chile” finds his way on the court, so too do the Rams.

Among his myriad of dominant outings this year, Nico Carvacho has accrued 17 double-doubles, passing Emmanuel Omogbo for the program record.

Among his season averages, his scoring (15.9) and nation-leading rebounding (13) both stand out.

His scoring output sits at ninth in the conference.

As Medved would put it, Carvacho has played with his “hair on fire” this year, a feat that he completed in their last loss. His 15-point, 17-rebound effort went to waste as only three players scored seven or more points sans J.D. Paige’s 22-point mark.

The Cowboys are without a defender capable of limiting the big man. Taking advantage of the mismatch is pivotal for the Rams to find success, especially with another conference-leading tyrant on the other end in James.

Hug the 3-point line As a middle-of-the-pack team from beyond the arc, Wyoming wasn’t supposed to drill over half of their attempts from deep in the first matchup.

They did, hitting 54.2 percent, with their 39 points from outside serving as a catalyst for their defeat over the visiting Rams. To ensure they juxtapose their prior loss, the Rams need to control their opposition’s success from

deep.

Unfortunately for the Rams, their woes against the Cowboys weren’t anomalous.

On the year, Medved’s squad has allowed opposing teams to nail 37.2 percent of their attempts from outside, the worst mark in the conference.

With Trace Young, Hunter Thompson and the aforementioned James lurking on the outside, the Rams backcourt will need to swarm. Carvacho has shown many times that he is a force down low, warding off driving lanes, but his teammates buoying the team’s blockage from the outside will be pivotal.

Modifying their approach to defense outside will be important, not only for their chances against the Cowboys but also their final stretch of the year.

“Our mentality has to be grind it out, play tough, fight every possession and take no possessions off,” Kris Martin said. “(If we do

that), I think we’ll have success.”

The easiest way to get upset on your home floor is allowing teams to get hot, a fate that is all too common for the Rams this year.

Ignite the Moby faithful In a rivalry, the first crowd plays a sizable role. As shown by their loss in Wyoming, an electric crowd pays dividends.

Thus far for the Rams, their draw for fans has been modest. At a mere 2,584 average attendance, the hosts of Saturday’s contest are ninth in the conference in fan influence, a far cry from the oft-used “Moby Madness” moniker.

Whether it’s a Paige streak from outside early, an Anthony Masinton-Bonner breakout from the bench or an early fast break from Kendle Moore, the Rams need to generate momentum.

Adorned in orange, noise from their fanbase would augment their runs.

Luke Zahlmann can be reached at sports@collegian.com.

Collegian archives: Rams break streak with play-in win

By Collegian Staff @CSUCollegian

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published Thursday, March 13, 2008. It has been republished in its original form.

Junior guard Marcus Walker scored 22 points and freshman forward Andre McFarland had 18 to lead CSU to a 68-63 win over Wyoming in Wednesday’s play-in game of the men’s Mountain West Conference tournament.

Walker added five assists and shot 9-of-17 from the field,

while McFarland was 4-of-6 from 3-point range. The win followed a surprising victory by the CSU women’s team the previous night.

“Andre started it off for us and we fed off the girls’ game from yesterday,” CSU coach Tim Miles said, according to the athletic department’s Web site.

“It finally felt like we could win.

Down the stretch, we made the plays and started believing we are going to do this.”

Ninth-seeded CSU (7-24) did not win a regular-season conference game in 16 tries. The victory ended a program-record 17-

game losing streak and keep the Rams’ season alive for another day.

FINAL SCORES ■ CSU: 68 ■ WYO: 63

They will play top-seeded BYU in the quarterfinal round Thursday afternoon.

No. 8 Wyoming (12-18) was led by Brandon Ewing’s 29 points, 19 coming from the first-

half. Ewing was 13-of-13 from the free-throw line.

Wyoming built its largest lead of the game, 46-39, with 14:33 left. But the Rams went on a 17-4 run and took the lead for good at 51-50 with 9:10 left on a layup by sophomore guard Adam Nigon.

Nigon, who said he was inspired by the women’s win, finished with 10 points, all of them coming in the second half.

The Rams led 64-63 when Ewing went for a go-ahead layup with 32 seconds left in the game, but was stripped by Nigon. After two free-throws from

Walker with 28 seconds left, Ewing missed a potential typing 3-pointer from the left arc with 17 seconds left.

“I just felt like I had to get back and make a play,” Nigon said. “I saw (Ewing) breaking long and Andre was coming, and if he could get him to put a shot up, I could get in there and get my hand on it. And they didn’t call anything on it. I swept it clean. It felt good.”

CSU freshman guard Willis Gardner later made two free throws to seal the win.

Jess Boxrud can be reached at sports@collegian.com.

inside the lines

7

Farokhmanesh installs irreplaceable lessons as CSU assistant coach

By Eddie Herz @Eddie_Herz

Being coached by someone who recently played creates the illusion of a non-existent hierarchy.

An illusion that solely benefits communication and development of productive relationships between the coach and his players.

Assistant Coach Ali Farokhmanesh fits the bid in his first season with Colorado State since coming over from Drake University with Head Coach Niko Medved.

Farokhmanesh instantly demonstrated his ability to connect with CSU players by putting what he learned from playing to work, developing a highly respected, well-liked stance on the coaching staff.

Prior to his five-year coaching tenure, Farokhmanesh endured a lengthy playing career. Upon transferring from a junior college, the former guard and 3-point specialist spent two seasons playing for Northern Iowa through 2010.

Farokhmanesh played a crucial role in orchestrating back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances for the Panthers, including the program’s only Sweet 16 appearance during his senior year.

The former guard averaged 9.7 points per game in two years with UNI and shot over 37 percent from the deep. Farokhmanesh will be forever known as a Panther-legend because of his decisive 3-pointer against top-seeded Kansas in the 32nd round.

Not only does Farokhmanesh know what it takes to succeed in collegiate basketball, he knows precisely what goes into doing so at a mid-major program like Colorado State. The coach integrates his experiences as a player in his coaching methodology.

Resulting from playing as a smaller, less-athletic guard compared, Farokhmanesh garnered an appreciation for detail.

“Just the work ethic side of things and the one thing I learned as I went on was the details of things,” Farokhmanesh said.

“There are too many kids that worry about the flashy things you do in workouts and what not. It is more about the tiny little details of these workouts ... so you need to be detailed with every little thing to get an advantage.”

Following his collegiate career, Farokhmanesh bounced around Europe playing basketball. While he learned how to adjust to a much faster-paced game overseas, the former guard also started to gain a greater admiration for life.

In contrast to playing under scholarship, Farokhmanesh was “playing for (his) livelihood” and “(his) next paycheck” in Europe while his wife stayed in America.

Though still playing, priorities beyond basketball settled in for Farokhmanesh.

Farokhmanesh found a balance between building a family and playing basketball when

Colorado State University Assistant Coach Ali Farokhmanesh, second from the right, watches the game against Boise State Jan. 29. The Rams fell to the Broncos 70-68. PHOTO BY SKYLER PRADHAN COLLEGIAN

he realized there is more to life than the game. Not only does Farokhmanesh coach his players to improve on the court, but he also makes a concerted effort to help CSU players grow as individuals.

“I love coach, he is like a mentor. He is one of the closest mentors i’ve had on this staff. He has helped me since day one, been there for me, kept me in the gym. He is always inspiring. He has that experience too from being a player. It’s easy to relate to him, and he can relate to us.”

KRIS MARTIN REDSHIRT JUNIOR GUARD

“We talk a lot. He has made me a much better person since he has gotten here, a much better player too,” redshirt junior guard Anthony Masinton-Bonner said.

“We have gotten close during the offseason and season. It definitely carries over to life. He is always asking questions about life. It is more than basketball for him.

That is what I like about him.”

The precise, often philosophical coach fits in nicely with the Rams in part to his friendly de-

meanor. Farokhmanesh has the power of shifting all ears to him when making a point. The assistant coach nitpicks disheartening circumstances for players by basing them off his past.

Instead of only using the high moments of his career as examples, Farokhmanesh reflects on the process of his underdog story leading up to the everlasting Kansas shot as words of encouragement.

“I try to use examples of certain things I went through when I was playing,” Farokhmanesh said.

“Like, if a guy is coming off the bench, I’ll use that and be like, ‘My coach benched me one game because whatever,’ and I came back and started the rest of the way through.”

In the midst of a grueling season, the inspiration and specific insight Farokhmanesh provides goes a long way. His growth-inspired mindset has done wonders at uplifting the Rams’ spirits, promoting an enthusiastic locker room.

“They aren’t just going to walk out of here just with an idea of how to play basketball,” Farokhmanesh said. “But they are going to leave Colorado State with the ability to be a great father, be a great husband, whatever they decide to do they will be great at it. That starts with showing up on time and treating people with respect.”

Eddie Herz can be reached at sports@collegian.com.

COLLECTOR WILL PAY CASH $ For Pre-1980 Sports Cards and Sports Memorabilia!

Have old Black & White Sports Photos?

Old baseballs, Bats, or Gloves?

3-Stooges Cards?

Text or call (970) 690-5387 and Ask For Tony

CLASSIFIEDS www.collegian.com 970-491-1683

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

check us out CLASSIFIEDS online at www.collegian.com

Local Realtor looking for 3rd submit classified & Deadline 4th yeartostudents inter- ads is 4pm the day prior to publication. ested in getting a license to or click “Classifieds’ at Collegian.com.

To place an ad call 970-491-1683 practice real estate. To learn about me, search “David Nance Realtor”. Send www.collegian.com resume to davidnance4@ gmail.com.

970-491-1683

Deadline to submit classified ads is 4pm the day prior to publication.

To place an ad call 970-491-1683 or click “Classifieds’ at Collegian.com.

8 Friday, February 22, 2019 | The Rocky Mountain Collegian

of