Colorado State
Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2011 3:26 amColorado State's basketball team has shown year over year improvement every season under 5th year coach Tim Miles, culminating in last years NIT bid, and 19-13 record. This might be the year the Rams have to take a step backwards, though, after losing 3 of their best players from last season. Last year Andy Ogide and Trevor Franklin averaged 30 points and 13.2 rebounds between them, While Adam Ogino was the team's best perimeter threat, making 54 three point shots on 131 attempts (41.2%). Their graduation leaves CSU with some major holes to fill.
At first glance, two things stand out about CSU, first they are a relatively short team, and what size they do have is woefully inexperienced. Secondly, they have played very poor defense in their two exhibition games.
Trevor Williams, a 7-foot 282 pound sophomore will start at center for the Rams. Williams has a big body, but little experience, he appeared in just two games last year. Unfortunately, thats two more than the only other center available, redshirt freshman Chad Calcaterra (6'10, 228) spent last season in street clothes, sitting out his redshirt year. After Williams and Calcaterra, CSU doesnt have a player over 6'6â€. Colton Iverson, a former starter at Univ. of Minnesotta, will help when he's eligible, but thats still a long way down the road. The leading rebounder for CSU in their exhibition games has been Pierce Hornung, a hardnosed but undersized (6'5†210) power forward, who pulled down 24 boards in those 2 games. Hornung plays tough on the boards and on defense, but he's never been a real offensive threat. Two 6'6†forwards, Will Bell and Greg Smith, saw only limited minutes in exhibition play due to nagging injuries and foul trouble. Hornung and Smith both struggle to stay out of foul trouble, especially when playing against taller lineups. Williams averaged 4 points and 4 rebounds in exhibition play, and the kindest thing you could say about him is that he's a work in progress. Will Bell is struggling with chronic knee problems, at a time when CSU could definitely use him, Bell is not just one of their taller players, he is the only senior on scholarship.
In exhibition play CSU gave up over 80 points to both CSU-Pueblo, and SW Minnesotta State. Both opponents shot over 40% from the field, and SWMSU shot a blistering 56% from the floor in the first half. CSU also struggled with handling the ball, turning it over 36 times in 2 games. The Rams are short, and young (no seniors in the starting 5), but they do have a good group of guards.
Junior guard Wes Eikemeir, a transfer from Iowa State, averaged 9.1 points per game last year, making him teams leading returnee. CSU is counting on him to lead the offense this year, and so far he's meeting expectations, averaging 24 ppg in the 2 exhibition games. Most impressively, he's shown he can score in different ways, he shot 6/13 from outside the arc against CSU-Pueblo, but didnt make a single 3-pointer against SWMSU. Instead he got his points by driving the lane for layups, and drawing fouls. He's a diverse player who looks like he will be CSU's leader this season. Eikemeir will be joined in the backcourt by 6'2†junior Dorian Green, the teams assist leader, and Jesse Carr, another 6'2 junior, will also see extensive minutes. Freshman Cody Mann was a highly touted recruit out of Florida, who should also see time in the backcourt.
Expect to see a starting lineup of:
Wes Eikemeir, 6'3†Jr. Guard
Dorian Green, 6'2†Jr. Point Guard
Trevor Williams, 7'0†Soph. Center
Greg Smith, 6'6†Jr. Forward
Pierce Hornung, 6'5†Jr. Forward.
At first glance, two things stand out about CSU, first they are a relatively short team, and what size they do have is woefully inexperienced. Secondly, they have played very poor defense in their two exhibition games.
Trevor Williams, a 7-foot 282 pound sophomore will start at center for the Rams. Williams has a big body, but little experience, he appeared in just two games last year. Unfortunately, thats two more than the only other center available, redshirt freshman Chad Calcaterra (6'10, 228) spent last season in street clothes, sitting out his redshirt year. After Williams and Calcaterra, CSU doesnt have a player over 6'6â€. Colton Iverson, a former starter at Univ. of Minnesotta, will help when he's eligible, but thats still a long way down the road. The leading rebounder for CSU in their exhibition games has been Pierce Hornung, a hardnosed but undersized (6'5†210) power forward, who pulled down 24 boards in those 2 games. Hornung plays tough on the boards and on defense, but he's never been a real offensive threat. Two 6'6†forwards, Will Bell and Greg Smith, saw only limited minutes in exhibition play due to nagging injuries and foul trouble. Hornung and Smith both struggle to stay out of foul trouble, especially when playing against taller lineups. Williams averaged 4 points and 4 rebounds in exhibition play, and the kindest thing you could say about him is that he's a work in progress. Will Bell is struggling with chronic knee problems, at a time when CSU could definitely use him, Bell is not just one of their taller players, he is the only senior on scholarship.
In exhibition play CSU gave up over 80 points to both CSU-Pueblo, and SW Minnesotta State. Both opponents shot over 40% from the field, and SWMSU shot a blistering 56% from the floor in the first half. CSU also struggled with handling the ball, turning it over 36 times in 2 games. The Rams are short, and young (no seniors in the starting 5), but they do have a good group of guards.
Junior guard Wes Eikemeir, a transfer from Iowa State, averaged 9.1 points per game last year, making him teams leading returnee. CSU is counting on him to lead the offense this year, and so far he's meeting expectations, averaging 24 ppg in the 2 exhibition games. Most impressively, he's shown he can score in different ways, he shot 6/13 from outside the arc against CSU-Pueblo, but didnt make a single 3-pointer against SWMSU. Instead he got his points by driving the lane for layups, and drawing fouls. He's a diverse player who looks like he will be CSU's leader this season. Eikemeir will be joined in the backcourt by 6'2†junior Dorian Green, the teams assist leader, and Jesse Carr, another 6'2 junior, will also see extensive minutes. Freshman Cody Mann was a highly touted recruit out of Florida, who should also see time in the backcourt.
Expect to see a starting lineup of:
Wes Eikemeir, 6'3†Jr. Guard
Dorian Green, 6'2†Jr. Point Guard
Trevor Williams, 7'0†Soph. Center
Greg Smith, 6'6†Jr. Forward
Pierce Hornung, 6'5†Jr. Forward.