Colorado State basketball team heads into offseason full of questions after NCAA Tournament
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Isaiah Stevens quietly walked to the bench and stood on the baseline.
His face was stoic, but surely his mind was racing. Frustration with a loss that felt like a game there to be won. And, likely, some type of scrambled emotions over everything that comes with a career that has gone so long and accomplished so much.
Stevens has played his last game at Colorado State.
After 153 games and so many records, Stevens is actually done as a Ram after CSU lost to Texas in the NCAA Tournament on Thursday.
Stevens fought to keep his voice steady after the game, clearly emotional after his final game.
"Really can't even wrap my head around it. I just know everybody in that locker room means so much to me. They've done so much in my life both on and off the floor. Those are relationships that will last a lifetime," Stevens said.
"This is by far the tightest group that I've ever been a part of. As of right now, it really stings, more so because of the play, but also just knowing that I won't get to suit up with a lot of these guys again. It's tough to deal with, but that's the way life goes."
The end of the Stevens era is the first note as CSU enters the offseason.
But there are so many questions of what's next and what this program will look like when the 2024-25 season begins next fall.
Here is a look at the key questions:
Life after Isaiah Stevens
The guard from Allen, Texas, now owns CSU records for all-time points, assists, 3-pointers, wins and more. He is arguably the best player in program history.
CSU has 12 all-time NCAA Tournament appearances and he led two in the last three years. CSU has five all-time NCAA Tournament wins and Stevens and company secured one of them. The play of him and his teams were some of the best in program history and have now raised the level of expectation.
"I've been here for five years. I literally came in as a teenager, and now I'm a little bit more of an adult. Just so many experiences, so many relationships. It's hard to kind of grasp right now. But it means everything to me," Stevens said. "I love these guys, and I love Coach (Niko Medved) right here."
Medved has frequently said Stevens is a unicorn and it would be unrealistic and unfair to expect anyone to simply step in and do what he did.
But, someone will run the point in the future.
The only true point guard on the current roster is freshman Kyan Evans, a highly ranked recruit out of Missouri. He showed flashes this season but also the struggles of a freshman. Still, Evans is just a freshman with a potential high ceiling and just had the best year-long apprenticeship you could ask for. It's an important offseason of development for him.
It's also likely transfer portal guards will be sought to beef up the position.
Will Niko Medved be back at CSU?
It's no secret that Medved's name pops up every time a high-major job opens. CSU President Amy Parsons said emphatically that the Rams will work to retain Medved.
"We’ll do everything we can to work together and to really be a place where he wants to grow his career," Parsons told the Coloradoan the day before CSU played Texas.
But, if a huge job calls and offers Medved a contract, there's not much CSU may be able to do. For instance, Michigan in the vaunted Big Ten is open. Juwan Howard made about $3.4 million last season, more than three times Medved's salary at CSU.
Those schools can pay any buyout and offer any contract.
It's no guarantee an offer will be there and Medved won't take just any job, but with the Stevens era ending and his reputation as a coach sky-high, it could be a tempting time for Medved to make a big leap.
CSU assistant Ali Farokhmanesh, who would be a candidate for the CSU job if Medved leaves, will also be a candidate for other head coaching jobs.
Roster changes
No matter what happens with any potential staff changes and transfers, we know these players are out of eligibility and are done at CSU:
The rest can return.
Nique Clifford has one more year of eligibility. Signs right now are he'll return, but he could test NBA waters. If he's back, he'll be the centerpiece of the team after a superb first year as a Ram.
Freshman big Rashaan Mbemba was raw but flashed big potential. He needs a big summer of development, but he could be in line for a Year 2 jump.
Jalen Lake is a reliable and strong defender. Consistency in his 3-point shooting would be a big boost. We've already covered Kyan Evans.
CSU has four freshmen signed for next season and the big roster turnover gives them opportunities to earn time via summer workouts.
Shooting guard Tavi Jackson, wing Javonte Johnson, wing Jack Payne and big Kyle Evans all played few minutes this season and both them and staff will have to decide if they're part of the future or if they'll seek minutes elsewhere. Jackson’s minutes did rise late in the season as a defensive weapon off the bench.
The transfer portal will be a factor, both coming and going.
It seems likely at least one player leaves, if not a couple.
It's also inevitable that CSU will bring in transfers. The Rams had success with Division II bigs in Cartier and Scott and may try that route again. There will be a transfer big or two incoming.
A veteran guard is another likely position on the wish list.
The starting five next season would include Clifford and possibly Mbemba and Lake, but also will have two to three players to be named later.
It will be a huge roster overhaul.
And all of these roster moves can shift and change if Medved were to go.
Follow sports reporter Kevin Lytle on X (formerly known as Twitter) and Instagram @Kevin_Lytle.
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Colorado State basketball team heads to offseason with huge questions
