CSU enters Top 25
Win against then-no. 8 Creighton boosts Rams to No. 20 in AP poll
On the heels of last Thursday’s upset of then-no. 8 Creighton, the Colorado State men’s basketball team entered this week’s Associated Press Top 25 poll at No. 20.
CSU is also ranked No. 21 in the USA Today Coaches poll. Both were released Monday.
Last week at the Hall of Fame Classic in Kansas City, Mo., the Rams defeated Boston College, 86-74, and the Bluejays, 69-48, to improve to 6-0 on the season — their best start since beginning the 2021-22 season 11-0.
The Rams are ranked for the first time since jumping into the top 25 prior to the 2022 NCAA Tournament. CSU was ranked six weeks that season, appearing as high as No. 20 in the AP poll.
The No. 20 ranking this week marks the highest CSU has ever been ranked before December.
Additionally, CSU graduate guard Isaiah Stevens was named Mountain West Conference player of the week after earning tournament MVP honors at last week’s Hall of Fame Classic.
In two games, Stevens averaged 19 points, 7.5 assists and 3.5 rebounds to lead the Rams to the tournament title. He scored 20 points with seven assists and six rebounds against Creighton, and 18 points with eight assists and one rebound against Boston College.
CSU returns home to Moby Arena on Wednesday for a soldout game against Colorado. The Buffs (5-1) were ranked last week but dropped out this week following a loss to Florida State last Tuesday.
This will be the first time CSU will be ranked when facing the Buffs. CU was ranked during the 1969 and 2019 meetings.
CSU will be looking to snap a three-game losing streak to the Buffs. CU won last year’s meeting, 93-65, at the CU Events Center.