Rams’ kids are all right, again, vs. Bulldogs

Niko Medved is stacking bricks on the reclamation project that is Colorado State basketball.

Construction starts from the ground up, and one look at the Rams in Medved’s second season as head coach shows a strong foundation. You might say the kids are all right inside Moby Arena.

“We had confidence (the underclassmen) would do well,” Medved said. “But they’re really doing well.”

CSU defeated Fresno State 8668 on Wednesday night for the program’s fifth consecutive victory in Mountain West play. The Rams (14-7, 5-3) were led by a career-high 26 points from freshman forward David Roddy. The former Minnesota high school star hammered down a fastbreak dunk in the final minutes to seal the win and send a message.

Roddy is the clear-cut face of the Rams’ budding youth movement.

“The team welcomed us with open arms and wanted to help us improve as much as the coaches,” Roddy said. “That’s where the confidence comes from.”

CSU, over 20 games prior to Wednesday against Fresno State (6-13, 2-6), featured four freshmen — Roddy, Isaiah Stevens,

Dischon Thomas and John Tonje — who provided 42% of the Rams’ scoring production (32 points/game), 32% of their rebounding (11.6 per game) and 44% of their assists (6.9 per game). All four recorded points Wednesday night, including 21 from Stevens.

A pair of sophomores, Kendle Moore and Adam Thisltewood, are second-year starters who anchor the Rams. Moore is CSU’s steals leader (27). Thistlewood is the top 3-point shooter (41%) among starters. Both were former Drake commitments under Medved, and they followed him to Fort Collins when he landed the CSU job.

Their loyalty has paid serious dividends.

“One of the big things (Medved) did at Drake and here is ‘Team Together,’ ” Thistlewood said. “That’s hitting it right on the nail what this team is and what Coach is trying to build here. We’re a very tightknit group of guys, and we play hard for each other. I don’t see any selfishness out there. I just see us working to get the win, no matter what it takes.”

Said Medved: “They’re not bought into this thing: ‘Oh, my gosh, we’re freshmen, look at how bright the future is.’ We’re worried about now,” Medved said. “I think that’s what allowed them to stay in the moment right here and play well.”