LAS VEGAS — After the calendar turns to March, coaches like to say college basketball teams must be who they are. If Colorado State is to contend for the Mountain West Tournament championship and then make a run in the NCAA Tournament, CSU had better rule the boards.
That’s the Larry Eustachy way.
In each of Eustachy’s three seasons as Colorado State coach, the Rams have ranked among the nation’s best in rebounding margin. Expect third-seeded Colorado State (26-5, 13-5 MW) to pound the glass late Thursday night (9:30 p.m. tipoff) in the Rams’ conference tournament opener, a quarterfinal against sixth-seeded Fresno State (15-16, 10-8) at the Thomas & Mack Center.
“Coach Eustachy loves rebounding, loves it,” CSU junior forward Tiel Daniels said. “I’ll get a rebound and look over toward the bench, and his face just lights up.”
Despite employing a nine-man rotation with no player taller than 6-foot-8, Colorado State led the Mountain West during the regular season in rebounding margin per game (plus-6.2.) That was 24th-best nationally.
Everybody in CSU’s lineup is expected to hit the boards. Senior forward J.J. Avila (6-8) is not blessed with exceptional athleticism but ranks fourth among Mountain West players with 7.5 rebounds per game. A 6-5 guard, senior Daniel Bejarano, ranks sixth in the league with 7.0 rebounds per game.
The 6-foot-5 Daniels, who usually gives up inches while being matched up defensively against the opponent’s center, grabbed 4.9 rebounds per game.
“We have hard practices and focus on being the tougher team,” Avila said.
Colorado State swept Fresno State in the two regular-season meetings, and rebounding was a huge factor. CSU outrebounded the Bulldogs by a combined 90-58.
After the Rams controlled the glass 49-29 in an 80-57 home win over Fresno State, Eustachy pointed to rebounding.
“We really emphasize rebounding, probably more than anyone else in the country,” he said. “It’s a big part of winning and losing. It is deflating when (the opponent) works hard and gets a great defensive stop but doesn’t get the ball. “It’s a major stat. Whoever gets the most rebounds usually wins the game.”
Tom Kensler: tkensler@denverpost.com or
