Now that Colorado State ended its seemingly annual seven-game Mountain West Conference losing streak, history suggests the Rams are due for a mini-roll in the opposite direction.
CSU’s latest futility streak came to a halt Wednesday with a 69-61 overtime win at Utah. Since 2002, CSU has endured at least a seven-game free-fall in league play, only to recover late in the season.
It started with the seven-game skein in 2002 that was interrupted midway by a nonconference victory over Michigan. CSU then split its final four regular-season games.
The following season was the one everyone remembers. The Rams ended the streak at home against San Diego State, beat Utah on the road, finished with a loss at BYU and then swept the Mountain West Tournament to make the NCAA field.
In 2004, the Rams again ended the home season with a win and upset Air Force in the MWC Tournament. Last year’s eight-game slide ended in time for a 2-2 mark down the stretch in the regular season.
The MWC’s parity was no more evident than with the Utes, who knocked off conference leader San Diego State on the road Saturday only to lose at home to the Rams, winless in 20 previous MWC road games.
The Rams have five games left, starting with Saturday’s 1 p.m. home tipoff against UNLV, which played San Diego State on Thursday night.
Natalie Meisler can be reached at 303-820-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com.
