Vol 127, no 61, November 10, 2017

Volume 127, No. 61 Friday, November 10, 2017

Inside The Lines

STATE PRIDE STATE PRIDE YOUR

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Inside The Lines Friday, November 10, 2017

Collegian sports pick-em’ Justin Michael Sports Director (23-17)

Colin Barnard Sports Editor (32-8)

Elliott Jerge Chief Sports Photographer (25-15)

Eddie Herz Sports Reporter (25-15)

CSU vs. Boise State

Boise

Boise

Boise

CSU

Michigan State vs.

Ohio State

OSU

OSU

Michigan St

OSU

Oklahoma State vs.

Iowa State

Oklahoma St

Oklahoma St

Oklahoma St

Oklahoma St

Georgia vs. Auburn

Georgia

Georgia

Georgia

Georgia

Notre Dame

Miami

Notre Dame

Miami

TCU vs. Oklahoma

OU

TCU

TCU

OU

Washington State vs.

Utah

WSU

WSU

WSU

WSU

Wyoming vs. Air Force

WYO

WYO

WYO

WYO

Nebraska

Nebraska

Minnesota

Minnesota

ASU

UCLA

UCLA

UCLA

Lory Student Center Box 13 Fort Collins, CO 80523

EDITORIAL STAFF | 970-491-7513

Randi Mattox | A&C Director entertainment@collegian.com Zoë Jennings | A&C Editor entertainment@collegian.com Casey Martinez | Design Editor design@collegian.com Tony Villalobos May | Photography Director photo@collegian.com Davis Bonner | Photo Editor photo@collegian.com Mikaela Rodenbaugh | Digital Production Manager mrodenbaugh@collegian.com Darby Osborne | Social Media Editor socialmedia@collegian.com

Notre Dame vs. Miami

Nebraska vs.

Minnesota Arizona State vs.

UCLA

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.

Erin Douglas | Editor-in-Chief editor@collegian.com Tatiana Parafiniuk-Talesnick | Managing Editor managingeditor@collegian.com Haley Candelario | News Director news@collegian.com Rachel Telljohn | News Editor news@collegian.com Allec Brust | Opinion Editor letters@collegian.com Justin Michael | Sports Director sports@collegian.com Colin Barnard | Sports Editor sports@collegian.com

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Inside The Lines Friday, November 10, 2017

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Rams looking to get back on track against Boise State

By Justin Michael @JustinTMichael

Coming off losses to Air Force and Wyoming, Colorado State football now turns its attention to Boise State, an opponent that the the Rams have never defeated. With the Broncos coming to town, the stakes are always raised for CSU. But 2017 provides a particularly important matchup for the green and gold.

After being embarrassed by Air Force at home and then losing in heartbreaking fashion to the Cowboys in Laramie, Wyo. last weekend, it would be very easy for this team to simply lay down and allow the Broncos to cruise into the Mountain West Championship.

But with a national TV audience and brand new alternate uniforms, both CSU players and coaches are hoping to put the last two weeks behind them and go compete with one of the conference’s perennial powerhouses.

“As a team, I think that the (Boise State) games have been kind of a downer for the last four or five years,” center Jake Bennett said. “Beating them would be something that’s never been done before, so I think guys are taking a lot of pride in that.”

Head coach Mike Bobo added similar sentiments, emphasizing that despite the team’s recent shortcomings, everyone in the Colorado State locker room kept their edge. The team has competed well in practice throughout

the week and now the mission is to execute on Saturday.

Due to daylight savings, one of the changes in practice this week was practicing under the lights. While the dark nights make most people want to get cozy on the couch, Bobo likes the change and believes that playing under the lights provides an extra spark to practice every day.

“Usually when you get out under the lights there is a little bit more energy,” Bobo said. “It was a little bit chilly but it wasn’t too cold. I think the guys moved around and competed well.”

While practicing under the lights may help raise the energy in practice and help prepare the team to once again play in the cold, it does little to help prepare the Rams for one of the most explosive and physical teams in the conference. Bobo knows that if the team comes out flat against the Broncos, they could potentially be in for a long night.

Boise State is extremely efficient with the football and can put big points on the board in any given matchup. Coming into the game, the Broncos have gone over four straight games without throwing an interception and have scored 30-plus points in three of the last four games.

Defensively, the Broncos are a fast and physical unit that knows how to limit an opposing offense. In nine games this season, the Broncos have surrendered more than two scores in a

single game only two times, their

times for 1,050 yards, finding the

themselves

as

a

dominant

Center Jake Bennett prepares to snap the ball during the first quarter against the Nevada Wolf Pack on Oct. 14. The Rams defeated the Wolf Pack 44-42. PHOTO BY ELLIOTT JERGE COLLEGIAN

only losses on the season.

If the Rams are going to reign supreme over the Broncos for the first time in program history, putting up big numbers offensively may be the key. In games where CSU scores at least 20 points, the Rams own a record of 6-2 in 2017.

However, putting the points on the board may be slightly more difficult for a CSU offense that will be missing its red zone finisher in running back Izzy Matthews. That said, without Matthews in the mix, an opportunity is presented for senior running back Dalyn Dawkins.

In ten games this season, Dawkins has carried the ball 160

end zone five times on the ground and once through the air. In his CSU career, the Louisville, Ky. native has never finished a game in which he carried the ball 20 times with less than 94 yards on the ground.

“This year we have had a lot of explosive plays through the run game,” Bobo said. “Obviously what we do helps that, being balanced and the way we throw the ball. But our running backs at the line of scrimmage have done a terrific job. Particularly Dalyn Dawkins.”

Along with looking to attack the Broncos on the ground, the Rams will look to re-establish

passing offense. Statistically, Nick Stevens has been one of the more efficient players in the conference this season, but the senior quarterback has cooled off significantly over the last month.

“We have an opportunity to compete this week against Boise State. Yes, we don’t control our destiny but we represent a lot more than just us,” Bobo said.

“We’ve got pride in playing, pride in playing Boise (State), pride in playing for the state flag. There’s a lot to play for this week.”

Justin Michael can be reached at jmichael@collegian.com.

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Inside The Lines Friday, November 10, 2017

Rams’ new Colorado-themed uniforms are awesome Justin Michael @JustinTMichael

Colorado State football made national headlines this season with the release of its new Colorado-themed alternate uniforms. The new look is called “State Your Pride” and

features an all-white uniform with Colorado flags on both the shoulders and helmet.

The new alternate look received overwhelmingly positive reviews from fans around the country, and understandably so. The new design is fantastic, an absolute home run for the football program on every level.

First off, the decision to claim the state as their own by designing a Colorado-themed uniform before the Universi-

ty of Colorado was a brilliant marketing decision. In a state where locals love to stamp the state flag on everything, the Colorado brand is incredibly hot right now and the Rams were wise to capitalize on the momentum.

Not to mention, if the Buffs ever want to do a similar design, Ram fans will have the satisfaction of knowing that they were first.

Secondly, while a few tra-

CSU football released the State Pride uniforms in early September. The Rams will wear the uniforms for the first time this Saturday against Boise State. PHOTO COURTESY OF CSU ATHLETICS COLLEGIAN

ditionalists argued that the uniform should have featured green and gold, I firmly believe that the decision to use state colors was a wise one. The entire point of an alternate uniform is to show off a unique new design, so what is the point of coming out with a new uniform that is essentially the exact same look as the primaries?

I have long argued that both CSU and CU have unique uniforms to begin with, especially when it comes to helmet designs, so the programs do not necessarily need multiple looks. However, I certainly understand that in the modern arms race that is college football, there is definitely a need to market your brand and set your program apart from the pack.

CSU and Under Armour have done a terrific job with this aspect when it comes to the alternate designs. The orange and green Ag Day combo is both unique and purposeful, allowing the Rams to pay homage to the days of Colorado A&M. The all-grey design, which made its debut in the 2016 Wyoming game was also a fresh take for fans.

The “State Your Pride” theme is far and away CSU’s flyest look, though. The red and blue pops with the white, so it is generally just a good looking uniform. The sheer uniqueness of the look was a home run as well.

While other schools like Maryland have gone over the top with state-themed threads, CSU designed a uniform that highlights the best aspects of the state flag, keeping things sleek and simple.

Most importantly, though, the look gives the Rams a chance to truly establish themselves as a household name for college football fans from coast to coast.

Uniforms have become an opportunity for universities to market themselves and connect with fans in ways that never would have been possible just a few decades ago.

Programs like Oregon changed the game with the help of Nike.

Whether the football purists want to acknowledge it or not, swag matters more than ever.

The Rams raised the bar with the completion of a beautiful, new on-campus stadium.

Slick new uniforms are the next step to national relevance, especially if the program continues to compete and consistently win games.

I very much look forward to the Nov. 11 matchup with Boise State when the Rams will debut the alternate look. If the response is anything like this weekend, CSU football is going to be right where it wants to be, in the spotlight.

Justin Michael can be reached at jmichael@collegian. com.

Larry Eustachy announces latest CSU men’s basketball signings

By Justin Michael @JustinTMichael

Colorado State men’s basketball announced that the program has signed Jordan Brangers and Jack Schoemann to national letters of intent.

Brangers is a Radcliff, Ky. native and is in his second season at South Plains College in Levelland, Texas. Brangers was previously committed to both Texas Tech and Western Kentucky.

Following an extremely successful 2016-17 season in which Brangers set individual single-season school records with 151 made 3-point attempts on 46.2 percent shooting, the 6-foot-2 guard earned National Junior College Athletic Association’s (NJCAA) first-team All-American honors and was ranked the No. 3 JUCO prospect in the country by 247Sports.

On the season, Brangers averaged 21 points, three rebounds and two assists per game. South Plains finished the season 32-2 and finished third

in the NJCAA national championship tournament.

“Jordan is the best JUCO guard in the country,” head coach Larry Eustachy said. “He is really, really skilled and has the ability to not only score, but impact the game on the defensive end. We are excited he has signed.”

Brangers is the fifth player from South Plains to commit to CSU under Eustachy. Brangers joins the list of Che Bob, Emmanuel Omogbo, Raquan Mitchell and Stanton Kidd as Texans that went on to be Rams.

Schoemann is a 6-foot-7 forward and is currently a senior at Shawnee Mission East High School in Prairie View, Kan. The left-handed wing is coming off a 2016-17 season in which he finished Honorable Mention All-Sunflower League.

“I really like Jack (Schoemann),” Eustachy said. “I have known his dad forever so that helped in knowing the quality of kid he is. He can really shoot it and is intelligent, so that, along with growing up in a family with

Head coach Larry Eustachy expresses his displeasure with a Mountain West official last season. PHOTO BY

JAVON HARRIS COLLEGIAN

a basketball background, makes him coachable. We are glad he will be with us next season.”

Schoemann’s father, Chris-

topher, was a multi-sport athlete at Whittier College in California where he played basketball, baseball and golf.

Justin Michael can be reached at jmichael@collegian. com.

The Rocky Mountain Collegian | Friday, November 10, 2017

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Inside The Lines Friday, November 10, 2017

CSU’s passing game poised to bounce back against Boise State

By Eddie Herz @Eddie_Herz

Moving the ball through the air has been the focal point of offensive success for Colorado State this season.

Senior wide receiver Michael Gallup’s 1,196 receiving yards lead the FBS. Quarterback Nick Stevens has already thrown for 2,865 yards, the ninth highest total in the FBS and nearly 1,000 more yards than he threw for last season.

CSU’s second receiving threat, Olabisi Johnson, is only one catch away from matching his 28 receptions from last season.

Detrich Clark has also already surpassed his reception and yardage totals from last season by a long shot.

However, over the last two games, the Rams’ passing attack has been uncharacteristically quiet. Granted, last

week’s underwhelming performance through the air against Wyoming was in large part due to inclement weather.

“It’s definitely frustrating with all that snow,” Clark said.

“When our defense played as well as they did, the offense is supposed to put up points. If we could have passed, honestly, it would have been a different game, but I’m not making excuses.”

Gallup put up typical numbers for him in the first half against Air Force two games ago when he gathered 121 yards and caught a long touchdown pass. But since then, the senior hasn’t been a factor.

Gallup only made three receptions in the second half against the Falcons for 40 yards.

Last week, Gallup only recorded four receptions for a season-low 29 yards. While the weather did play a factor, three

consecutive halves of unproductive football is uncommon for Gallup. If anything, this leaves him a little extra motivated to get back to his old ways against Boise State this Saturday.

“Against Boise State I just want to have a full four quarters where the offense is dominating, myself included,” Gallup said. “I just want to play, I just want to have a good game.

That’s all I ever practice for, having good games.”

In addition to the weather, injuries have been inhibiting the success of some of CSU’s receivers lately.

After finding the end zone for the first time this season against New Mexico, Johnson was forced to miss the Rams’ next game against Air Force with a sprained MCL. Johnson returned to play Wyoming the following week, but failed to

record a catch.

Though he didn’t make an impact against the Cowboys, getting some game action was crucial for his rehabilitation.

The junior shook off some rust and adjusted to the game against Wyoming, rather than having to do so against Boise State this week. Now, Johnson is feeling 100 percent.

“I probably wasn’t as confident in myself as I am now,” Johnson said. “Percentage-wise, I was maybe at like 80-85 percent. But, honestly, it was just good for me to go out there and get the feel for the game again. Just because game speed is a lot different than practice, so it was good. I liked the way the coaches handled it.”

Clark has also had his fair share of injury woes as of late. The senior was sidelined against New Mexico with a

shoulder injury. He returned to face Air Force, but didn’t see many snaps and failed to record a catch. Though he was at full health against Wyoming, Clark’s seven-yard reception was his only of the game.

Regardless of if this decrease in production has to do with his shoulder or not, Clark believes he is making the necessary adjustments in order to hit his stride again.

“I just try to stay in sync with Nick (Stevens) every practice and just try to make sure I’m running my routes right and on time,” Clark said.

“Hopefully it will carry over to the game.”

Johnson and Clark have proven that they can be difference makers when healthy.

Head coach Mike Bobo knows that, and he has no plans to abandon the ways in which he see BOISE STATE on page 7 >>

Senior wide reciever Michael Gallup hauls in a reception against Wyoming on Nov. 4th. The Rams lost the contest 16-13. PHOTO BY JAVON HARRIS COLLEGIAN

Inside The Lines Friday, November 10, 2017

Senior wide reciever Michael Gallup runs in the open field against Air Force on Oct. 28. PHOTO BY JAVON HARRIS COLLEGIAN

Boise State >> from page 6 keeps the two involved.

After all, Johnson averaged 3.4 receptions and 48.1 receiving yards in the Rams’ eight games before his recent injury.

Similarly, Clark averaged 3.9 receptions and 50.7 receiving yards in seven games before getting injured.

“Those guys (Johnson and Clark) in the nature of our offense get looks,” Bobo said.

“Basically, those two didn’t play against Air Force and then last week was last week, a blizzard. They are part of our offense, they’re playmakers, they’re guys that can make explosive plays. We want to get them the ball. I think everybody is healthy this week, so

I think all three of those guys will probably get some opportunities.”

Senior running back Dalyn Dawkins, who rushed for over 1,000 yards this season, picked up the slack on offensive during the passing slump.

Dawkins gained 141 yards on the ground and scored a touchdown against Air Force before shouldering the load for 154 yards against Wyoming.

Despite Dawkins’ success, the Rams still dropped both of those games. In each game, CSU’s high-powered offense fell below its weekly average of 483.6 yards.

CSU players acknowledge that balancing the run and pass offense is crucial to the team’s success.

“We most definitely need to get the passing going,” Clark said. “It’s for the run game, too.

Because if you pass and run to keep them off balance, it helps us and will help Dalyn, too.”

Boise State’s secondary and defense as a whole is put-

ting together an ideal season as the Broncos rank 15th in yards per game allowed in the FBS. Despite the defensive success, CSU’s wide receivers are confident they can get back on track.

Gallup, Johnson and Clark choose to focus on how they can successfully execute their game plans rather than focus on their opponents. The Rams’ wide receiver core believes it just needs to focus on what it can control in order to recapture the rhythm they have held for the majority of the season.

“Boise State always has athletes,” Johnson said. “They get good guys because they’ve been a good team for so long.

I don’t treat this game any different honestly though. All defensive backs are the same to me. I just have to focus more on myself and my assignments and go out there and execute.”

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

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Inside The Lines Friday, November 10, 2017

Bobo, Rams recognize program-defining potential that Saturday presents

By Colin Barnard @ColinBarnard_

The Colorado State football team is set for arguably its toughest competition of conference play against Boise State. While the Rams no longer control their own destiny, Saturday’s game is more than just another conference showdown.

Boise State has been the pinnacle of the Mountain West since joining in 2011. In that time, they have won two MW Championships, finished in the top 25 three times and won four bowl games in six appearances.

More importantly for

CSU, they have never beaten the Broncos in six previous attempts. CSU and San Jose State are the only two MW teams who are winless against Boise State. For a team desperately trying to move itself into a new threshold, Saturday’s game presents the Rams an opportunity to do just that.

“You never know, but it’s something that we haven’t done here at Colorado State, is beaten Boise. So if you go out and you’re able to do that, who knows where that could lead,” head coach Mike Bobo said. “You don’t know until you look back on it. But it’s one of those hurdles that, if you get it done, it could be something

program-defining.”

A program-defining moment is not something that you can pin beforehand, as Bobo reiterated. A win in a certain week may be meaningless weeks down the road, or players thought to make a lasting impact on the university could fizzle away.

Given that Boise State is the lone MW team the Rams have failed to beat, however, there is no denying that doing so would give the program a sort of completion it has never experienced.

For senior offensive lineman Zack Golditch, who has been a part of four losses to the Broncos already, this is the

hump they need to conquer.

“It’s something that no one has done at this program, it’s the hump that we’ve got to get over,” Golditch said. “Bodies are starting to hurt a little bit more, you’ve been in it for so long and you kind of just want to relax, but you can’t. I think that, if things go well with this team, you move past a hump.”

Senior wide receiver Michael Gallup, who was the first receiver in the FBS to eclipse 1,000 receiving yards on the season, is looking to add another first come Saturday night.

“We ain’t never beat Boise, I always like being the first to do something. We’ve been

working as hard as we ever have,” Gallup said. “We don’t control our own destiny anymore, so you might as well go out there and get a win these last two weeks.”

In addition to the hoopla that Boise State presents, the Rams will be the first college from Colorado to wear Colorado-themed uniforms this weekend. Not only have these created buzz throughout the nation, they give CSU players something else to play for.

For hometown guys like Golditch and wide receiver Olabisi Johnson, that cannot be overstated.

see BOBO on page 10 >>

Head coach Mike Bobo and quarterback Nick Stevens discuss a play during the first half against Air Force. The Rams lost to the Falcons 28-45. PHOTO BY JAVON HARRIS COLLEGIAN

The Rocky Mountain Collegian | Friday, November 10, 2017

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Inside The Lines Friday, November 10, 2017

Head coach Mike Bobo reacts to a call early in the first half against Air Force. The Rams were defeated by the Falcons 45-28. PHOTO BY JAVON HARRIS COLLEGIAN

Bobo >> from page 8 “Personally for me, the State Pride is gonna be huge,” Golditch said. “Not just the outcome of the game, but going out and playing my best, because now it’s not just about CSU, it’s about the state of Colorado. I think a lot of guys are gonna rally behind that.”

“You’ve got family coming out just to see these jerseys and to see us play in the jerseys, so it’s really cool,” Johnson added. “I can tell just atmosphere-wise that fans are excited, they want to see our jerseys. We have to get a win for them.”

To add to the excitement, the Rams are coming off their most competitive contest against Boise State last season.

Trailing by 25 points midway through the fourth quarter, the Rams rattled off 20 unanswered points before ultimately falling 28-23.

While they were unable to complete the comeback, their ability to compete and fight against the Broncos is something this year’s players have not forgotten.

“Even though we didn’t beat them last year, that fourth quarter comeback, everyone was like, ‘Hey, we can really do something special,’” Golditch said.

With so much added distraction surrounding the game, it is easy for the Rams to lose focus of the ultimate goal.

Bobo understands what is really at stake on Saturday, though: the opportunity to do something CSU has never done.

“It’s gonna represent the state of Colorado, not just Colorado State. That’s something that’s really cool for our state,” Bobo said. “But at the end of the day, we’ve got to go play…It’s great that we’re honoring our state, it’s something unique. What would make it even better is if we went out and found a way to win the ballgame.”

Colin Barnard can be reached at sports@collegian.

Inside The Lines Friday, November 10, 2017

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CSU basketball can survive without Gian Clavell and Emmanuel Omogbo Eddie Herz @Eddie_Herz

There is a popular skeptical opinion circulating that Colorado State cannot survive in the Mountain West without Gian Clavell and Emmanuel Omogbo.

The departure of the senior duo presents the Rams with the most significant loss they have had to deal with in quite a while.

After all, Clavell’s 20.4 points per game last season led the conference, to go along with his 6.3 rebounds per game as a guard. Omogbo paced the conference in rebounds with 10.4 points per game and his 13.6 points per game made him CSU’s second-leading scorer.

It is evident that Clavell and Omogbo were a dominate duo. Clavell won Mountain West Player of the Year and was a member of the All-Mountain West Defensive and First teams. Joining him on both teams was Omogbo.

Undoubtedly, there will be growing pains for the 2017-18 team. However, the new faces of CSU, Prentiss Nixon and J.D. Paige, are beyond ready to lead CSU. Nixon and Paige were the Rams’ third and fourth leading scorers last season. They av-

eraged 13.2 and 8.8 points per game, respectively.

By looking at the numbers, one can clearly see they did not put together the historic seasons that Clavell and Omogbo did. Part of the reason for that, however, is because Clavell and Omogbo were there, leading the Rams. The two guards now have their chance to make their mark on the history of CSU basketball, and they are ready for it.

It is not as if their newfound leadership comes as any surprise to either of them. Nixon and Paige, who both were three-star recruits coming out of high school that drew interest from many programs, chose CSU under the impression that they would one day be called upon to take the torch. Luckily for them, they have had plenty of time to prepare for that day.

Losing 46.6 percent of their scoring and 43.9 percent of their rebounding from the graduations of Clavell and Omogbo, the Rams were picked to finish fifth in the Mountain West this season. Additionally, many players who figured to contribute this season have transferred. Devocio Butler, Kevin Little, Kimani Jackson, Kevin Dorsey and Braden Koelliker are all no longer with the program, and Alonzo “Zo” Tyson will miss the entire season with an injury.

As they proved last year, though, the Rams can exceed see BASKETBALL on page 14 >>

12 Friday November 10, 2017 | The Rocky Mountain Collegian

The Rocky Mountain Collegian | Friday, Novemeber 10, 2017

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Inside The Lines Friday, November 10, 2017

Basketball >> from page 11

expectations. It is as if the Mountain West media only evaluated what CSU was losing, and not what they are gaining and still have this season.

Nico Carvacho has nearly as much experience as the two guards. More importantly, Carvacho’s size helps fill the void that Omogbo left.

As a redshirt freshman last season, the 6-foot-11 forward picked up two double-doubles in addition to scoring in double figures on five other occasions and collecting 10-plus rebounds four other times.

Finding the floor so much as a raw, inexperienced player last season (21.9 minutes per game) allowed Carvacho to grow into a player capable of significant contributions this season. In fact, Carvacho collected 16 rebounds in each of CSU’s two exhibition games this season. The forward also scored 20 points over the two games, proving he is a valuable asset.

Aside from the big three of Nixon, Paige and Carvacho, it’s pretty up in the air as to who will be able to step up and contribute

consistently. But, two players who Larry Eustachy is confident will do so are Che Bob and Raquan Mitchell. If this is the case, that would round out a solid potential starting five for CSU. Bob averaged 9.7 points over the Rams’ first 14 games last season before only playing a combined nine minutes the next two games, and then getting suspended. Bob recorded double-digit point totals in six of those games and also averaged 5.3 rebounds in that time.

Given that success last season, it’s no shocker that Bob scored 28 points and collected 13 rebounds in CSU’s first exhibition game. He followed that up with a 25-point, 9-rebound performance in the next game.

As for Mitchell, the guard may have no Division I experience, but his showings in the two exhibition contests are extremely promising.

Mitchell displayed efficient shooting, going 6-9 from the floor in those games for 18 total points.

Sure, the Rams have lost a significant amount of talent and experience from last season. However, the bottom line is that if everything plays out how it should, CSU will once again be right in the thick of the Mountain West race during the 2017-18 season.

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

Forward Nico Carvacho drives through the lane against Regis University last season. PHOTO BY JAVON HARRIS COLLEGIAN

Colorado State University junior guard Prentiss Nixon goes up for a dunk against CMU defenders Damon Dubots (23) and CJ Davis (3) during the exhibition game’s first half. PHOTO BY DAVIS BONNER COLLEGIAN

Inside The Lines Friday, November 10, 2017

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22 J.D. Paige G Junior

Elliot Jerge Rocky Mountain Collegian

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Inside The Lines Friday, November 10, 2017

CSU Men’s Basketball

2016-17 Season in Review

Key Non-conference Games

Overall record: 24-12 (13-5 MW)

Florida State (11/19) New Mexico State (11/22)

Lost to Nevada in Mountain West Tournament Championship game

Colorado (12/2) Arkansas (12/5)

Advanced to second round of NIT

Oregon (12/8)

New Faces

Returning Starters Prentiss Nixon

J.D. Paige

Nico Carvacho

13.2 points per-game. Led team with 37 charges in 2016-17

8.8 points, 2.5 assists per game

5.4 points, 5.7 rebounds pergame

Deion James

Previously played at Pima Junior College (AZ).

Raquan Mitchell

Previously played at South Plains Community College (TX)

Lorenzo Jenkins

Previously played at Arkansas University.

Robbie Berwick

Previously played at Florida State University.

Logan Ryan

Previously played at Canton High School (MI) and International Sports

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Inside The Lines Friday, November 10, 2017

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On the road to redemption, Che Bob has found his role with Colorado State

By Colin Barnard @ColinBarnard_

Che Bob’s redemption tour is already in full force.

Though it took some searching, the lone senior on Colorado State’s men’s basketball team has found his role in Fort Collins. Now entering year two at the Division I level, Bob’s confidence is soaring.

It wasn’t long ago that he was one of three Rams ruled academically ineligible for the second half of the 2016-17 season. Along with former Rams Devocio Butler and Kimani Jackson, Bob failed to attain the necessary grades to play for CSU. And so the journey began. The 6-foot-6, 220-pound forward missed the final 15 games of the regular season and watched as his teammates moved through the Mountain West Tournament and into the NIT. The more time he missed,

the larger his yearning to play grew. It’s something that guard Prentiss Nixon noticed in Bob throughout the difficult process.

“It made him hungry,” Nixon said. “It made him not take this thing for granted and really just get down and get to work.

It’s paying off right now.”

If the first two exhibition games are any indication, that renewed work ethic is certainly paying off. In the team’s first exhibition against Colorado Mesa, Bob led the Rams with 28 points in 31 minutes of action.

He added 13 rebounds while shooting 60 percent from the field. Then against Northern Colorado, Bob again led the Rams in scoring, this time with 25.

Bob showed glimpses of promise both before CSU and in his first year as a Ram. As a sophomore at South Plains College Levelland, Texas, Bob averaged 16 points per contest and earned All-Western Junior College Athletic Conference

First Team honors.

Through his first 16 games as a Ram, Bob eclipsed the 20-point mark twice and averaged 8.5 points per game. Had he played and maintained that average for the rest of the season, he would have finished fifth on the team in scoring.

After being sidelined for half of the season, Bob envisioned his long-awaited return.

“With my situation last year, I was ineligible for the second half of the season,” Bob said. “I waited a long time to get back on the court and prove myself.”

Perhaps the most noteworthy thing of Bob’s early performances this season is his propensity to get to the charity stripe. Through the exhibitions, Bob accumulated 27 attempts from the line, converting on 20 of them.

Playing with more aggression so far, this could be just the beginning to Bob’s offensive prowess.

“He’s very aggressive, very

aggressive going to the rim and he gets to the free throw line a lot,” Nixon said. “That helps his game a lot, getting in a rhythm, and then he starts knocking down threes. He’s very aggressive, so as long as he’s scoring, we’re gonna keep feeding him.”

Though Bob said he always envisioned himself as an offensive threat, his development on both sides of the court is noticeable. The bruising forward still has more than enough strength to battle in the low post. But Bob’s expanded range adds another tool to his scoring arsenal.

That development reminds head coach Larry Eustachy of a familiar face to CSU basketball fans, Emmanuel Omogbo. Also an attendee of South Plains College, Omogbo developed his offensive game to new levels in his senior year at CSU. The long, physical forward proved he was more than just a threat down low, and it’s something Eustachy hopes to see in Bob as the season progresses.

“Emmanuel was not allowed to do anything but dunk the ball in junior college. So was Che,” Eustachy said. “So that’s another reason why you do expand your game, and he’s expanded it. He’s got a lot of freedom.”

Bob’s progress on the offensive end is encouraging, but his improvement on defense is something he worked on even more vigorously leading up to the season. Last season, his time on the court was limited due to his defensive ineptitude, Bob said.

He made the necessary improvements this offseason to stay on the court and impact both ends of the floor.

“Last year, my time was limited because of my lack of defensive positioning, knowing where I’m supposed to be,” Bob said. “I spent some extra time with (assistant) coach Willie (Glover) and coach Eustachy and I found my niche and found out the position I need to be see CHE BOB on page 18 >>

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Inside The Lines Friday, November 10, 2017

CHE BOB >> from page 17 defensively.”

Once again, the effort seems to have paid off. In two games, Bob has recorded three steals and two blocks while leading the Rams in minutes in both games. While it is just an exhibition, Bob’s ability to recognize weaknesses in his game and improve upon them is certainly an encouraging sight.

As the regular season lies on the horizon, Bob’s leadership on the court is paramount. Players like Nixon, J.D. Paige and Nico Carvacho are the unquestioned leaders of this team. But adding another veteran leader to that mix in Bob would negate the losses of Omogbo and Gian Clavell.

“He’s been very vocal lately, really just leading us,” Nixon said. “His numbers lead, too, the way he’s been playing the last couple of games. So really we’re just following Che’s lead right now.”

While he continues to settle into his newfound role with the Rams, Bob may soon be forced to deal with something he has not experienced in the last few years: success.

The script has been largely negative for him to this point at CSU, as Bob has forced himself into an abnormal amount of adversity in Fort Collins.

Battling through his struggles, Bob now finds himself on the cusp of completing his redemption.

Eustachy notices the tides changing for the senior.

More importantly, as a man who has overcome his fair share of downfalls, he understands how to keep Bob on the straight and narrow.

“When he first got here, it was just a struggle with him to get him to even be coachable.

But he’s engulfed and believes in us, and we believe in him,” Eustachy said. “I think now he’s up to a new level of challenge of how he’s handling success. He’s got the perfect tutor, he’s got the perfect teacher on how it works.”

Colin Barnard can be reached at sports@collegian.

Senior forward Che Bob brings the ball past mid-court against Northern Colorado last December. PHOTO BY JAVON HARRIS COLLEGIAN

Forward Che Bob is mobbed by a pair of Colorado Mesa defenders in CSU’s opening exhibition contest. PHOTO BY JAVON HARRIS COLLEGIAN

The Rocky Mountain Collegian | Friday, November 10, 2017

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Inside The Lines Friday, November 10, 2017

CSU Women’s hoops develops offensive identity

By Christian Hedrick @ChristianHCSU

Without a standout player in the lineup for the first time in years, the Colorado State women’s basketball team will rely on a balanced scoring attack heading into the 2017-18 season.

From Gritt Ryder to Ellen Nystrom, the Rams have taken home the last three Mountain West Player of the Year honors. Without the help of Ryder, Nystrom or their all-conference teammate Elin Gustavsson, CSU will need to work hard as a team to be productive on offense and compete for a fifth consecutive Mountain West title.

“Do we have a player of the year? No. Do we have a freshman of the year? No. Do we have a newcomer of the year?

No,” head coach Ryun Williams said. “So who do we want to be?

We better be tough. We better compete. We better do this together and so that has to be our approach.”

Although entering the season without a former player of the year is something new for this program, it’s not unique for Williams and his staff. Now, in his sixth season as head coach of the women’s basketball team, Williams has had success using a balanced scoring attack in the past and believes it can work with this group too.

“In our second year here, we had four kids that were voted on the second-team All-Conference team and we were really hard to beat,” Williams said. “I think our leading scorer was like 10.1 points a game, so I see us being like that - very balanced. On different nights it’s going to be different kids.”

To see what a successful balance on offense looks like, Williams suggests tuning in to watch the reigning NBA champion Golden State Warriors.

The Rams are nowhere close to the Warriors’ ability, but their balanced scoring attack and the freedom with which they orchestrate it is something CSU is trying to emulate.

“We are the farthest thing from the Warriors, but when you watch the Warriors play, they’re all shooting it. The ball is moving,” Williams said. “I know they’re all stars, but there’s no thought in their mind like, ‘Is this a good shot, or is this a bad shot.’ There’s just a freedom to it. The ball doesn’t stick to anybody’s hands and I think that’s what we need to evolve into.”

Although a more balanced scoring front is a departure from the offensive identity that guided the Rams to their most recent Mountain West titles, redshirt senior Hannah Tvrdy

Senior Hannah Tvrdy moves the ball up the court beating any CU defenders in her path. PHOTO BY ELLIOTT JERGE COLLEGIAN

thinks this new-look offense will be even harder for the opposition to defend.

“We’re not needing one person to do it (score) and I think that’s better for us honestly because one team can’t just take away our one player,” Tvrdy said. “We have all of us. If they take away one person, we have someone else who can step up.”

Tvrdy and the Rams got a chance to show off their balanced offense for the first time in an exhibition game last Wednesday against UCCS at Moby Arena. The Rams’ starters found themselves in a 23-15 hole after the first quarter, but production throughout the lineup eventually lifted CSU to a convincing 78-60 win. Williams said he was pleased with the team’s overall performance in the exhibition, but the highlight of the night for him was watching the freshmen flourish.

“Man, that group just went out there and played,” Williams said. “They weren’t intimidated by anything that was on the scoreboard. They just went and played. That was cool to see.”

Freshman Lena Svanholm set the pace for Rams with a team-high 14 points, followed by ten points from Lore Devos in her first action as a Ram. Newcomers may have stolen the show in the exhibition, but a 10-point, 12-rebound outing from CSU’s most experienced returner, Tvrdy, balanced out the debut performance.

If not for last Wednes-

day’s game being an exhibition, Tvrdy’s 10 rebounds would have broken her personal record for most boards in a single game.

Even though her numbers in the exhibition won’t count, production off the glass may be a trend for Tvrdy this season, as the Rams try to fill the void from the departure of Nystrom and Gustavsson.

“I think a big part that we lost last year was rebounding with Ellen (Nystrom) and Elin (Gustavsson),” Tvrdy said. “(Williams is) really encouraging us guards to go in and get those rebounds and that’s something I love to do.”

Beyond her consistency on both ends of the court, Tvrdy’s relentless competitiveness gives the Rams, who are the 18th youngest team in the nation, a blueprint for how to compete at the collegiate level.

“If you’re a young player on our team and you want to understand how hard it is to play in a college basketball game, you just have to watch one-zero,” Williams said. “Just watch that kid ‘cause that kid will show just how to compete at this level.”

Along with learning plenty of new faces and a more balanced offense, being the underdog will be another adjustment for Tvrdy as she heads into her final season as a Ram. “We’re not so much the upper-dog anymore, we’re kind of the underdog with a lot of teams,” Tvrdy said. “It’s kind of a different role that we haven’t really had in past years, but I think it will be

cool to see how we respond to that.”

Despite four consecutive conference titles, the Rams may find themselves in the underdog role for the season opener against Idaho.

“It’s a really tough opener. I think it’s probably the toughest opener we’ve had in our time here to be honest with you,” Williams said.

Williams said Idaho’s prolific numbers come from beyond the arc, coupled with their ability to score on the floor, make them a tough matchup for the Rams.

Winning the home opener would

be a positive start to the year, but Williams is more concerned with how his team competes through the early stages of the season.

“I want to see if these kids got that fire in their belly,” Williams said. “Regardless of who walks in here, regardless of what’s on their resume, it doesn’t matter. We’re going to fight you and that’s what I want to see.”

The Rams tip off the 20172018 season from Moby arena at 5:30 p.m. on Friday.

Christian Hedrick can be reached at sports@collegian.com.

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The Rocky Mountain Collegian | Friday, November 10, 2017

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Inside The Lines Friday, November 10, 2017

12 Callie Kaiser G Junior

Elliot Jerge Rocky Mountain Collegian

COLLEGIAN.COM Friday, November 10, 2017

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle 26 Geppetto, for one 27 “__ kidding!”

29 Decorative curtain fabric 30 Source of relief 33 Accord 37 Electronic control mechanism 40 Pines, say 44 Menu heading 46 Italian “Eat!” 48 Frontal and temporal 50 Lip application 51 1998 Sarah McLachlan hit 52 Mark for attention Rocky Mt. Collegian 11/9/17 Sudoku 53 Three-time speed skating gold medalist Karin 54 1914 battle river 55 the Kegger quaff To solve Sudoku puzzle, each row, column and

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49 Novelist Hunter 50 Litmus test for fun?

56 Judicious 57 “But wait! There’s more!” knife 58 Property attachment 59 Campus official 60 Tatted up 61 Sting target 62 USMC rank 63 New __

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