Exhibition Game 1: Colorado State (0-0) vs. Regis (0-0) Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009 | 7 p.m. MT | Fort Collins, Colo | Moby Arena (8,745)
Up next The Colorado State men's basketball team opens the 2009-10 season with its first exhibition game on Tuesday evening at Moby Arena. The Rams play host to the Regis University Rangers. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. MT.
A quick look at the Rams Colorado State returns to the court in 2009-10 with 10 letterwinners, including three starters - Andy Ogide, Andre McFarland and Jesse Carr - from last season's team that posted an overall record of 9-22 (4-12 MWC) and finished eighth in the MWC standings.
Ogide, a junior forward, is the Rams leading returner in both scoring (10.2 ppg.) and rebounding (5.8 rpg.). Junior forward Andre McFarland returns as one of the top three-point threats in the Mountain West Conference. In 2008-09 McFarland connected on 55 treys and a 42.3 percent clip, and averaged 8.4 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. Carr started 18 games as a true freshman in 2008-09, recording 8.8 points and 2.9 assist per game at the point guard position before missing the final six games of the year with a groin injury.
Other key returners include senior guard Harvey Perry, who averaged 5.1 points and 4.3 rebounds per game, and junior forward Travis Franklin, who averaged 6.5 points and 3.6 boards. Junior guard Adam Nigon, a former walk-on, returns after averaging 2.6 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.0 steals per contest. Senior walk-on Arin Dunn, who saw significant playing time in the second half of the season, is back to bolster the Rams back court. Mame Bocar Ba, saw action in 22 games (four starts) a season ago is also back after recording 2.0 points and 2.5 rebounds per game.
The team added seven newcomers into the mix. Four freshman - Peirce Hornung (Arvada, Colo./Ralston Valley High School), Dorian Green (Lawrence, Kan./Lawrence High School), Trevor Williams (Denver, Colo./Lutheran High School), and Greg Smith (Omaha, Neb./Ralston High School) - could make an immediate impact along with junior college addition Johnny Del Bene, a guard from San Diego Mesa College, and transfer Travis Busch, a senior forward from the University of Minnesota who is pursuing his master's degree at CSU and was granted a waiver by the NCAA to become immediately eligible. Wes Eikmeier, a sophomore guard from Fremont, Neb., will sit out the 2009-10 season after transferring from Iowa State University.
Key losses for the Rams include departed senior guards Marcus Walker and Willis Gardner. Walker ranked as the Rams top scorer in each of the previous two seasons and was named to the 2007-08 all-MWC second team and MWC Newcomer of the Year, and 2008-09 all-MWC third team. Despite playing just two seasons, Walker reached 15th on CSU's all-time scoring list (1,009 points). Gardner provided toughness and leadership and was a top performer on the court, starting 53 of 57 career games for the Rams and averaging 9.6 points and 2.5 assists per game.
About Regis Coming off a 7-20 season, the Rangers return five players, including 2009 First Team RMAC All-East selection Matt Rosinski. The senior guard led Regis with 17.3 points per game, while shooting very consistently all across the floor, sinking 42.2 percent of his shots, including 35.2 from three-point range, and 87.5 percent from the free-throw line. Also returning is junior Bill Brandenburg, who started in all but one game for Regis last year, averaging 7.1 points per game.
Rams vs. the Rangers The Rams are 22-7 all-time in regular-season contests against the Rangers, and have won the past 10 meetings dating back to 1961. The last time the two schools met in exhibition play was Nov. 1, 2007, Tim Miles first appearance at Moby Arena as the Rams' Head Coach. Senior center Stuart Creason paced the Rams with 24 points and 10 rebounds to lead CSU to an 81-74 victory.
Excellent in exhibition Head Coach Tim Miles is 4-0 in exhibition contests since taking over the reigns of the CSU men's basketball program in 2007-08. In those contests, the Rams have averaged 90.75 points per contest, while holding opponents to an average of 70.75 points. The following is a list of CSU's exhibition games under Miles:
Date
Opponent
Result
Nov. 1, 2007
vs. Regis
W, 81-74
Nov. 3, 2007
vs. Chadron State
W, 107-76
Nov. 3, 2008
vs. Chadron State
W, 94-78
Nov. 8, 2008
vs. Adams State
W, 81-55
Mid-season form Juniors Andre McFarland, Andy Ogide and Adam Nigon have performed well in exhibition games during their time at Colorado State. McFarland posted 25 points in just his second outing in a Rams' uniform against Chadron State on Nov. 3, 2007. He enters Tuesday's contest vs. Regis averaging 15.75 points and 3.75 rebounds in four career exhibition showings. Ogide led the Rams with 15 points and four rebounds in last seasons' exhibition finale vs. Adams State. He is averaging 12.5 points and 3.0 rebounds in two career exhibition outings. Nigon has been dead-on shooting in exhibition contests, converting 11 of 15 shots with an average of 6.75 points.
Colorado talent The 2009-10 Rams roster features five players - Mike Annese, Arin Dunn, Pierce Hornung, Michael Lebsack, Adam Nigon and Trevor Williams - from the state of Colorado. You have to go back 28 seasons, all the way to the 1981-82, to find a CSU basketball team that featured more local talent. Six players from the 1981-82 squad listed Colorado as their home state.
Since 1902 The 2009-10 season marks the 106th in the history of the Colorado State men's basketball program. The Rams are 1,074-1,129 (.488) in 2,203 games all-time.
MWC preseason poll The Mountain West Conference released its preseason poll at the league's annual Media Day, Oct. 6 at The Mtn. Studios in Denver, Colo. Colorado State was predicted to finish eighth. Below is the complete poll:
