Joe Rosga came to the University of Denver basketball team with an engine already tuned, and he hasn’t missed a beat.
His style of play reflects a pedigree he formed while growing up in St. Paul, Minn. DU coach Joe Scott doesn’t see any limitations.
“Joe plays basketball for one reason, and that’s to win,” Scott says. “He plays with a lot of energy, and he’s a catalyst for our team.”
Steve Rosga, Joe’s uncle, played safety for the University of Colorado football team in the mid-1990s. He was an all-conference player and a second-team All-American. He was his nephew’s trainer during his high school years.
“Joe is the hardest worker I’ve ever trained,” Steve Rosga said. “He puts in every ounce of his effort in everything he does.”
Rosga believes his nephew is holding up family tradition.
“I think what he does is a natural thing for him, but from a family standpoint,” Rosga said. “His father and stepmother were both Division I college athletes.”
Joe Rosga’s father, Jeff, played football at Minnesota, and his stepmother, Julie, played basketball at Syracuse.
“My dad was there quite a bit as I was developing,” Joe Rosga said. “My stepmom played point guard, and she taught me a lot of leadership skills.”
The Pioneers (7-3) are in the midst of their nonconference schedule and played Wednesday night against Northern Colorado in Greeley.
They’re coming off a 69-68 victory Sunday over Weber State, a game that Rosga calls “a thriller.”
Rosga, a 6-foot-3 guard, entered play Wednesday having started all 10 games and was second on the team in scoring, averaging 9.5 points a game. Against Weber State he had 11 points, five rebounds, four steals and two assists.
Rosga has found college basketball to be a different game from his time at Cretin-Derham Hall High School.
“It’s definitely faster-paced and the players are a lot stronger,” Rosga said.
Rosga’s high school has produced a number of athletes of note, including baseball’s Paul Molitor, NFL players Michael Floyd and Ryan Harris (Broncos) and Heisman Trophy winner Chris Weinke.
Rosga had his sights set initially on Army at West Point. But DU filled the bill of his main requirement.
“I just wanted to get away a little bit for college,” Rosga said.
DU has become his home away from home.
Irv Moss: 303-954-1296, imoss@denverpost.com or @irvmoss
