Colorado State vs. Air Force: In-state foes face off on the hardwood

The Colorado State Rams return home to face the Air Force Falcons. This game will test the Rams defense as Air Force likes to shoot 3s off screens and the Rams like to go under screens.

The CSU Rams are going to continue to get the rotation use to playing with only 7 guys. This is because 3 players have been declared academically ineligible. This has been known since early mid-December and coach Larry Eustachy has slowly been reducing the minutes of those that are ineligible.

The Rams offense is going to run through Gian Clavell and Emmanuel Omogbo. Early in the season the Rams were having trouble shooting from the outside, forcing them to go inside with some success. With the return of Gian Clavell, the offense returned to outside shots, with limited success. Now that Clavell is more acclimated back in the game and with the team, outside shots have started falling.

Emmanuel Omogbo is averaging a double-double for the Rams. The inside game and the rebounding, both offense and defense, run through him. Prentiss Nixon and J.D. Paige provide some great numbers in the back court. Anthony Bonner, Nico Carvacho, and Braden Koelliker will have to step up their games for the rest of the season.

The Rams defense will have their hands full as the Falcons shoot 42% from deep. The Falcons run the Princeton offense with a lot of motion, so that could tire out the already depleted Rams team. Jacob Van, 52%, and Zach Kocur, 48%, are the main deep threats for the Falcons.

A Rams win will give Larry Eustachy win #500 for his career. The Rams play the Falcons at 12pm MT Saturday January 7th. The game will be broadcast from Moby Arena on Root Sports Rocky Mountain and on the Mountain West Network for those outside the broadcast area of Root Sports.