Monday, February 4, 2013
Can CSU take the MWC?
By Matt Giles
Colorado State only has two losses during Mountain West play, and the margin of victory for those two games -- to New Mexico and San Diego State -- was a scant twelve points combined (the SDSU loss came in overtime). Though the Rams may not be the most efficient offensive team in the nation (or even in their own conference), Larry Eustachy's team is capable of controlling any game due to their ability to haul in rebounds at a fairly impressive -- and quick -- rate. Per Ken Pomeroy, the Rams lead the MWC in both offensive and defensive rebounding percentages.
Playing the Rams is a difficult matchup since they are so skilled crashing the glass and limiting additional possessions. Also, while the Rams do have some perimeter threats -- Wes Eikmeier has the potential to connect from deep, converting 38.1 percent of his threes on the season (though he has hit just 25 percent from deep in his last three games) -- the ability of Colton Iverson and Pierce Hornung to bring down consistent offensive rebounds will keep the Rams in any contest.
At the moment, the hottest team in the conference is Air Force, but no one expected the Falcons and the Rams to be tied for second place in early February. There are few teams that can match CSU's size -- UNLV is one -- so the Rams are a team to watch in the year's second month since they could easily take the conference title.
