JoeF

Here is my preview of Colorado State. Their web site isn't the greatest so this is less detailed than some. I couldn't find any listing of last years complete stats. If anyone has any more info on CSU please PM me or post it.

Coach - Dale Layer In 00-01 was 15-13, in 01-02 was 12-18 and Overall is 27-31 at CSU. When hired this is how he described his coaching system Unrelenting defensive pressure, opportunistic offensive system, character of the players, and team chemistry. He has had some bad luck with injuries but seems to be doing a good job of rebuilding.

Personnel
Key Returning Players
Andy Birley, 6-4 200 Senior Honorable mention All Conference PG. The only player on the team who started every game last year. He averaged 11.8 PPG, 3.9 APG, 42.3 3pt% and led the conference in 3pt attempts and makes. A solid veteran PG.

Brian Greene, 6-8 225 Senior 2nd team All Conference Forward. He averaged 16.2 PPG (5th), 7.5 RPG (4th), 51.0 FG% (8th), 72.8 FT% (10th), 1.73 Stls (2nd) and even 2.4 APG (14th). His stats (Top 10 in most categories) should have got him some votes for POY and he should have been 1st team All Conference not 2nd. He was very steady. He scored in double figures the final 26 games of the season. I would be a little pissed and pretty motivated by the slights in POY and All Conference voting if I were him. Look for a good year from Greene.

Matt Nelson, 7-0 245 sophomore center. He averaged 14 PPG and blocked 41 shots. The 41 blocks would have been third in the conference if he played enough games. He was slowed by injury for much of the season and missed at least 8 games. He averaged 21.5 PPG and 7+ RPG the final four games of the season. Highlights - 25/8 in a loss vs Utah in the MWC Tournament, 16/6 in a win vs Michigan and 16/11 8-15 2 assists in win at Washington State. He has lots of potential. His injuries were in the foot area and those injuries are chronic in many cases. Can he stay healthy? If so 1st team All Conference and POY candidate for next three years.

Other Returning Players
Darian Burke, 6-10 250 junior forward/center. He seems to have played sparily last year. Career high of 12/5 in win over IPFW. During the 00-01 at Grayson County Junior College averaged 5.1 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 47 FG% and had 47 blocks on a the 17-13 team.

Quantone Smith, 6-8 245 senior forward. He was a 2 year starter at North Dakota State College of Science before transferring to CSU. He averaged 15.3 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 52 FG% and 36 3pt% at North Dakota State. He has played sparily but can provide quality minutes if given an opportunity.

Matt Williams, 6-6 215 sophomore forward. He played in 28 games and started 10. His career highs are 12/9. He scored in double figures four times, had eight rebounds twice, 9 rebounds once and averaged about 4 RPG. I haven't seen him play but the stats remind me of BYU G/F, Travis Hansen.

Freddy Robinson, 6-5 210 sophomore guard/forward. He has played sparily but was regarded as one of Oklahoma’s premier HS players and was nominated for McDonald’s All-American team. He ranked among nation’s top players by several recruiting publications. he averaged 23.5 PPG and 7.5 RPG as a senior.

Ronnie Clark, 6-5 210 junior guard. He joined the team in the middle of the season, 12/20/01 and only appeared in 15 games. In first game had 25pts/5rbs. He had 5+ rebounds in seven of those games and had a couple of double figure games.

Jon Rakiecki, 6-3 195 sophomore PG. He averaged 5.1 PPG and @2.0 APG as the backup PG. He had a couple of double figure scoring game. PG of the future? He seemed to be the backup last year as a freshman and did well.

Newcomers
Darien Chavis, 5-11 160 sophomore PG. He averaged 9 PPG and 4 APG for Kansas City Community College last year. In HS he broke his brother, William Chavis', school career scoring record. This record was previous held by Lynn Greer who played at Temple.

Derrick Stevens, 5-11 180 junior PG. He played 1 year at Jacksonville College in Jacksonville, TX then played 2 years at Northland Pioneer Community College in Holbrook, Ariz. He was named to all-state squad as a senior.

Shelton Johnson, 6-3 205 true freshman guard from Arlington, TX. He was 00-01 and 01-02 private school classification POY in Texas. He was named MVP of 2002 private schools state tournament He averaged 23 PPG, 7.3 RPGs, and 4 APG as a senior and was ranked among the top 150 players nationally in the fall of 2001 by HoopScoop Magazine.

Micheal Morris, 6-4 195 true freshman guard from Katy, TX. He is the son of Chris Morris, former Auburn All-American and retired 11 year NBA veteran. As a senior, he 16 PPG, 7 RPG and 6 APG and is the school’s all-time leader in scoring, assists, and blocked shots. He seems to very talented. The major question will be his attitude. Will he be a hard worker and a team guy or a lazy selfish malcontent like his father?

Conclusion
CSU is a talented team with three experienced players, PG PF C who could be on the All Conference 1st or 2nd team. Greene is a POY candidate for sure and Nelson could be a POY candidate if he continues where he left off last year and stays healthy. Like BYU they could be very big and imposing up front and have lots of talented wings. They have a lot of incoming talent but little experience. They had injury problems last year. Will they be able to stay healthy? I think they are a year or two away from conference title contention but they could be the surprise team in the MWC this season. I predict they will be close to .500 in conference, finish 5th-6th and go to the NIT tournament.