Rams eager to find out what Medved’s 2nd season brings

FORT COLLINS» Colorado State basketball began practicing for the 20192020 season Tuesday and boy, did second-year coach Niko Medved’s players look fired up. From diving for loose balls to grappling down rebounds, the Rams had noticeable pep in their steps.

As a coach, you would be in trouble if your team didn’t appear extra energized during the first day of practice. Rightfully so, Medved isn’t getting carried away by the enthusiastic start.

However, there is reason to believe CSU’s initial liveliness is more of a permanent installation than an introductory fad.

The Rams responded well during summer training and turned in a beneficial period of unofficial practice. Doing so allowed the team to commence official practice on the right note, which they accomplished.

“We want to have that (energy) every day,” Medved said. “To these guys’ credit, they’ve been working that way in the summer with some of the workouts we had. Hopefully, that is becoming just kind of who we are. So far, I’ve felt good. We haven’t had to come out and really coach any effort or attitude so far.

“The guys are really going hard and taking competition in a positive way.”

As the coach mentioned, his staff hasn’t needed to teach effort or attitude thus far –– certainly a good sign in the early going. Considering seven players transferred away from the program following Medved’s first season, it’s safe to say the Rams partially lacked in those areas as a team –– at least in attitude.

One day of practice is already telling a different story. Top to bottom, CSU has entirely bought into Medved and company’s teachings –– a byproduct of mostly owning Medved-recruited players, rather than Larry Eustachy’s guys.

“People come in with a different perspective,” redshirt senior center Nico Carvacho said. “Coming in, you have two different coaches, it’s hard to adjust sometimes. But, when you come in as a freshman and you know one thing, it’s a lot easier for people to understand how we are going to do it. I think guys coming in as freshmen, as one culture, helps a lot.”

In other words, being coached by Medved was difficult for some when they were previously recruited by Eustachy, under separate standards. Well, those in which adjusting was too complicated for are out of the picture.

Now, it’s one team, one vision at Moby Arena.

“We are just focused on this year’s team,” redshirt senior guard Hyron Edwards said. “The 15-16 guys in the locker room are all we care about right now. We have a different focus to us.”

Speaking of the freshmen CSU’s all-time leading rebounder alluded to before; the Rams added quite a few of them. Versatile, highly touted guard/forward David Roddy highlights an impressive five-man class, also including a speedy guard in Isaiah Thomas and a rebound-friendly forward in Dischon Thomas, who could provide immediate assistance on the glass.

Not to mention the Rams grabbed four guards in the transfer portal –– Teyvion Kirk (Ohio), P.J. Byrd (VCU), Ignas Sargiunas (Georgia) and Kyle Lukasiewicz (Northeastern Oklahoma A&M).

So, developing chemistry and a lasting sense of togetherness represent fundamental objectives for the youthful Rams.

Although, the players believe they’ve begun to achieve unity without even playing a game yet –– resulting from the time they spent bonding in the gym as well off the court over the summer.

“Everybody is very, very close to each other,” Carvacho said. “Everybody hangs out. We talk, we have a group message. We hang out on the weekends. We do all of that stuff together, and I think it really shows on the court.”