Tim Miles couldn’t wait to ring out 2008, oh, about 9 1/2 months ago.
His first Colorado State team was 1-18 for the 2008 portion of the 2007-08 schedule. His second team posted a 5-9 mark going into Mountain West Conference play this weekend.
“Thank goodness it’s almost 2009,” Miles said on New Year’s Eve. “We lost more in 2008 than Wall Street did.”
After a 66-55 loss Dec. 20 at the University of Denver, one of the few teams CSU beat a year ago, the normally upbeat Miles might have been more disheartened than at any time since taking over the perennially rebuilding program.
It’s not as if he wanted to reward the team with a free trip to Hawaii, but it was already booked. So the Rams traveled roughly 3,000 miles to the Rainbow Classic to reconnect with some early-season chemistry, if not their mojo.
“I hope we found our chemistry in Hawaii,” Miles said after the Rams’ runner-up finish. “The week before, I was embarrassed. I know we’re in a rebuilding mode, but I expect more out of us. We had a better showing out here. The big thing is to do it in conference play.”
The major change was sitting Marcus Walker, who led the Mountain West in scoring most of last season. Although the senior guard is still getting his minutes, Miles found his team “needed a spark off the bench.”
Besides, Miles said he liked the backcourt combination of freshman Jesse Carr and senior Willis Gardner. Usually, the Rams have three guards on the floor, and the inside play has improved vastly with the addition of sophomore transfers Andy Ogide, the team’s leading rebounder (7.2), and Dan Vandervieren.
“Jesse is the future of the program with the sophomore class,” Miles said.
After a winless campaign in the last MWC regular season with a seriously depleted lineup, Miles said: “There’s no question we’re further down the line, but we’re not where we wanted to be. It doesn’t feel as helpless as it did last year.”
Home streak.
BYU’s nation-leading 53-game home winning streak will be tested Saturday when unbeaten, sixth-ranked Wake Forest visits the Marriott Center in Provo. It’s a return game for a 79-62 loss at the ACC school last season. Everyone else starts MWC play.
BYU, despite losing early NBA draft entrant Trent Plaisted, hasn’t lost a step since last year’s 27-8 season and repeat conference title. The Cougars, 11-1, also lead the league with a No. 32 RPI in Collegiate Basketball News this week.
The game will be telecast at 3 p.m. on The Mtn. (411 Comcast, 611 DirecTV)
League of nations.
There are 17 international players spread over seven rosters. They range from Australia’s Luke Nevill (Utah) to UNLV’s Swedish import center Brice Massamba.
Cowboys surprise.
With a cast of newcomers blending in with fourth-year starter Brandon Ewing, Wyoming has been the surprise of the preseason at 11-3. That’s one shy of last year’s win total. Baylor transfer Djibril Thiam, a midyear eligibility addition, will be a rebounding force when he gets the rust off. Wichita State transfer Sean Ogirri has lived up to expectations, already earning an MWC player of the week citation, while redshirt freshman Afam Muojeke (15.4 ppg) opened the week 12th nationally among frosh with a 17.7 average.
Wyoming, a No. 8 seed last season that fell to CSU in the first round of the tournament, was picked to improve to sixth place. The Cowboys are the only team with four scorers in the MWC’s top 10. Except for getting run out of Pauley Pavilion in a 113-62 rout at UCLA, the Cowboys hadn’t played a tough schedule until taking Utah State into overtime Wednesday before losing.
Wading in.
No one was too surprised when preseason all-MWC pick Lorrenzo Wade was a no-show at the mid-October MWC media day in Las Vegas. Aztecs coach Steve Fisher isn’t a big fan of the media event and usually sends someone at the end of the bench.
Wade, it turns out, was indefinitely suspended after being charged with felony burglary in connection with the theft of a television from an off-campus apartment. Charges were dismissed Dec. 4, the judge ruling he didn’t believe Wade had criminal intent, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.
He has played in five games since his reinstatement, averaging 22.2 minutes. He is averaging 10 points per game, joining Kyle Spain (16.2) as the only Aztecs in double figures.
Natalie Meisler: 303-954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com
Men’s preview
Five players to watch
• Lee Cummard, G/F, BYU, Sr: Returning MWC co-player of the year averaging 18.4 points.
• Luke Neville, C, Utah, Sr: Seven-foot veteran leads Utes’ resurgence.
• Jonathan Tavernari, F, BYU, Sr: Third in league scoring at 18.3 ppg.
• Brandon Ewing, G, Wyoming, Sr: Leads early scoring chase at 18.5 ppg.
• Wink Adams G, UNLV, Sr: Returning MWC co-player of the year has struggled with injuries.
Five newcomers to watch
• Phillip McDonald, G, New Mexico, Fr: Preseason frosh of year.
• Afam Muojeke, F, Wyoming, Fr: Redshirt makes big contribution.
• Sean Ogirri, G, Wyoming, Sr: Wichita State transfer won player of week award.
• Andy Ogide, F, CSU, So: Ole Miss transfer provides much needed rebounding help.
• Tim Shelton, F, San Diego State, Fr: Stepped in for Lorrenzo Wade.
Five biggest nonconference wins
UNLV 56, Louisville 55
Utah 66, Gonzaga 65
Utah 83, Ole Miss 72
New Mexico 103, Ole Miss 70
UNLV 79, Arizona 64
Five biggest nonconference losses
Southwest Baptist 80, Utah 79
Wofford 74, Air Force 61
Saint Martin’s 83, CSU 76
Virginia Commonwealth 67, New Mexico 55
Idaho State 72, Utah 68
Five games to watch
Jan. 21, UNLV at BYU
Jan. 27, BYU at Utah
Jan. 31, UNLV at Air Force
March 3, Utah at New Mexico
Conference tournament schedule
At Las Vegas
March 11 — No. 8 vs. No. 9
March 12 — Quarterfinals
March 13 — Semifinals
March 14 — Championship, 5 p.m. (MST)
Natalie Meisler, The Denver Post
