Hoops playing strong in non-conference

After only one senior departed from last year’s team, CSU figured it should be pretty good this year. Through 10 games, the men’s basketball team is proving itself right.

The Rams knew they had their top three scorers - guard Andy Birley, forward Brian Greene and center Matt Nelson - all coming back, along with a number of significant contributors, such as Matt Williams and Ronnie Clark. What they didn’t know about was the surprise contribution from a couple newcomers. And it’s been on defense.

Take for example Darien Chavis, a 5-foot-11 guard who played last year at Kansas City Community College. He’s played in every single game so far, and is leading the team in steals. He has 20 on the year while the next closest player is Greene with 11.

Then there’s Micheal Morris, the true freshman point guard from Katy, Texas. The son of former NBA star Chris Morris, Micheal won the starting point guard job in the preseason after showing his incredible amount of athleticism. He’s leading the team in assists (44), as a point guard should.

But surprisingly, Morris is also leading the team in blocked shots. That’s right, a point guard (although he is 6-4) is the blocked shots leader on a team that features a 7-foot center. Granted, Nelson was hurt to start the year and has played in only eight games, but Morris has 18 blocks compared to Nelson’s 10.

No wonder Greene, who head coach Dale Layer has tabbed as possibly “the most complete all-around player in the Mountain West,” has high aspirations for his senior year.

“This is, overall, the most talented team we’ve had since I’ve been here,” Greene said.

When Greene got here, CSU was coming off it’s last National Invitational Tournament appearance. His freshman year, he believes the Rams should have gone back to the NIT with their 18-12 record. With this year’s squad, he almost thinks the postseason is a lock.

“As long as we keep winning at home, but get a couple on the road, we’ll be fine,” Greene said.

Winning on the road has been about the only problem this year for the Rams. Of their 10 games, only two have been played away from Moby Arena, and those are their two losses.

Should that trend continue, CSU will be in fine shape heading into Mountain West play, when home and away games even out. Five non-conference games stand between the Rams and a Jan. 13 ESPN Big Monday showdown with New Mexico, the start of conference play. Their next two are at home - against South Carolina and Prairie View A&M - before they travel to face Purdue Dec. 30. The Rams are back at home Jan. 3 for South Florida, then head down to Boulder to face Colorado on Jan. 7.

In case you lost count, that’s 11 games at home, just four on the road before league play. With the way things are looking - a favorable schedule, a solid core of experienced players and some surprising newcomers - the CSU football team may not be the only one with postseason plans.