What are Colorado State March Madness all time stats and records? Colorado State comes out of the Mountain West Conference tournament with something to prove. Part of the First Four, the CSU Rams toppled Virginia to get into the NCAA Tournament proper. Now they will face Texas and you can bet on them below:
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The Rams lost in the conference tournament to eventual champion New Mexico and have won a First Four game. Ahead of that, let’s take a look at how the Rams have fared in the Big Dance before.
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Early Years and Participation
The Rams might not have a history of success in the tournament –they have only managed to advance twice since 1969 – but their NCAA tournament history is important, no less.
Colorado State March Madness First Appearances
CSU made the NCAA tournament for the first time in 1954, their first of 12 appearances. The Rams lost in the Sweet 16 to Santa Clara that year, though the tournament looked much different. From 1954 to 1990, the team made the tournament seven times.
CSU would make its first appearance in the tournament in 13 years, losing to #7 Duke in the first round in 2003. Since then, CSU has only been part of Selection Sunday four times (including this year), though they have made it in two of the last three years.
Colorado State’s Joe Palmer, center, reacts after winning a jump ball during the first half of a First Four college basketball game against Virginia in the NCAA Tournament in Dayton, Ohio, Tuesday, March 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Colorado State March Madness Successes and Milestones
There is a game or two that stands out in CSU history. Defeating No. 7 seed Florida in the first round in 1989 is big. Making it to the Elite Eight in 1969 was the biggest in school history. If they can advance on Thursday into the second round, men’s basketball and March can become synonymous in Fort Collins.
1969
The best year in the history of the program. They defeated Dayton in the round of 25 and Colorado in the Sweet 16. Unfortunately, they would run out of steam against #11 Drake in the Elite Eight, their deepest run in March.
1989
It took 20 years to get back into the tournament, with a lot of good CSU teams coming up short between. They not only made it to the Dance but toppled Florida in the first round. Syracuse, a No. 2 seed, would end their run in the round of 32.
2003
The first appearance in the tournament in 13 years. They got in by winning the Mountain West Conference tournament that year but ran into No. 3 seed Duke in the round of 64.
Colorado State guard Isaiah Stevens (4) greets forward Joel Scott after a basket during the second half of the team’s NCAA college basketball game against Loyola Marymount on Friday, Dec. 22, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Notable Players and Contributions
It might not be a program like Kentucky, North Carolina, or Duke, but this team has had its share of great players. There are three names, in particular, that stand a cut above the rest in the annals of Colorado State men’s basketball history.
Pat Durham
The all-time leader in scoring for CSU basketball. Durham played from 1985-1989, registering 1980 points (still the record). He was even part of the team that made it back to the tournament for the first time in 20 years.
Isaiah Stevens
Stevens is still going but the senior has carved out a niche with this team and program. His game is a complete one and his ability as a scorer and distributor is evident. This season has been one of the best in CSU history for Stevens.
Bill Green
Look at the record books and you will find Green’s name everywhere. His play was a staple for the Rams teams of the early 1960s. He is third in points, has the second-highest scoring season in CSU history, and owns four of the top 10 scoring games in program history.
Coaching Legacy and Influence
While the players get it done on the floor, the head coach is behind it all. The men’s basketball team has had a few coaches that will stand the test of time. Their teams throughout the years have achieved many of the notable moments in CSU history.
Larry Eustachy
Eustachy started strong, taking the Rams to the round of 32 in his first year. He and the Rams were even ranked by the Associated Press twice during his tenure. Few have had the kind of record that Eustachy has had.
Niko Medved
The current coach might be the best. He’s made his second tournament in three years and the Rams were ranked 13th at one point this year. The best is yet to come for Medved and his Rams teams.
Tiny Grant
He spent just four years at the helm, but it was an impactful one. The Rams made the tournament twice in that span and won 21 or more games in three of four seasons. How would the program look if he had stayed?
Recent Years and Current Outlook
The Rams have become a solid team in the Mountain West conference. They have hung tough against teams like New Mexico, Air Force, Utah State, Boise State, Wyoming, and the rest of the Mountain West. Getting out of the first round of the tournament for the first time since 2013 is the next goal.
Guard Isaiah Stevens leads the way. Averaging nearly seven assists per game during the regular season, Isaiah Stevens led the Rams in nearly every major category. CSU is the last team in and make it to the first round in Dayton, Ohio, where they will play Texas.
Fan Support and March Madness Traditions
Fort Collins, like any campus, has a few traditions that aren’t exclusively related to men’s basketball. Whether it be Cam the Ram, the fight song, or cans around the Oval, Fort Collins comes alive to support CSU.
Conclusion
Isaiah Stevens, Jalen Lake, and the Rams barely made it into Selection Sunday. Now, they won against Virginia in a First Four game to reach Dayton, OH, and the Midwest region bracket.
CSU couldn’t get it done against New Mexico but can right those wrongs by getting the win in the first round and truly entering the madness of March.
Hello Charlotte! #TeamTogether x @AlpineGardens pic.twitter.com/VJlGLQBcuT
— Colorado State Men’s Basketball (@CSUMBasketball) March 20, 2024
