FORT COLLINS — A thought kept creeping its way into Tom Hilbert's mind.
Surely, things were about to get much tougher. Colorado State's coach was certain of it. Yet his Rams remained firmly in control, doing essentially whatever they wanted on the court.
But Hilbert witnessed his opponent push Colorado the night before and so he waited. And waited. Then nothing. The Xavier his mind was certain would materialize never did.
"That's a very good team. They took Colorado to four tight sets last night," Hilbert said. "I kept thinking 'They're going to wake up, they're gonna be better.