FORT COLLINS — Two months ago, the thought of Colorado State making a postseason basketball tournament seemed unlikely, if not preposterous.
The Rams were 11-8 overall and 3-3 in the Mountain West coming off back to back blowouts at home to New Mexico by 13 and at Fresno State by 21. With reserves Kimani Jackson, Che Bob and Devocio Butler — each valuable pieces off the bench — failing to meet minimum GPA requirements in the fall semester, the Rams were down to just seven scholarship players.
But instead of folding, the Rams thrived.
They won 13 of their next 16 games, coming up just a win short of both the regular season Mountain West title and the conference tournament championship — with Nevada the only team standing in the way of both.