Gameday guide: How to watch, what to know for Colorado State men's basketball vs. San Jose State
UPDATE: Colorado State beat San Jose State in the Mountain West tournament first-round game.
The postseason starts now.
The Colorado State men's basketball team enters this week's Mountain West tournament considered close to a lock for the NCAA Tournament.
The one hurdle to that designation is a familiar face in Tim Miles. Miles and San Jose State could put a serious dent in CSU's resume with a first-round victory over the Rams on Wednesday. If CSU avoids the bad loss, the Rams will surely be in the Big Dance.
"Every game's been hard in this league and it's survive and advance," CSU coach Niko Medved said. "From here on out, this tournament and if we're fortunate enough to play in another one, you win or you go home. There is no looking ahead. It's this game right here."
Here's a look at everything to know about Wednesday's first-round Mountain West tournament game in Las Vegas:
What time does Colorado State men's basketball at San Jose State start?
Date: Wednesday, March 13
Start time: 1:30 p.m. PT/2:30 p.m. MT
What channel is the Colorado State vs. San Jose State basketball game on?
The game is not available via linear TV but can be streamed online via the Mountain West Network.
Online stream: TheMW.com/watch
How can you listen to the game on the radio?
The CSU broadcast is available on 99.1 FM or on the Varsity Network app.
CSU's radio team will be Brian Roth (play-by-play) and Adam Nigon (analyst).
What are the records, rankings?
CSU is 22-9 overall, went 10-8 in Mountain West play and is the No. 7 seed. San Jose State is 9-22 overall, went 2-16 in MW play and is the No. 11 seed.
Neither team is ranked in the polls.
What's the betting line?
CSU is a consensus 14.5-point favorite, according to Vegas Insider.
What's the next matchup?
The winner of CSU and San Jose State advances to Thursday's quarterfinals to face (2) Nevada.
Who are the coaches?
San Jose State is led by former CSU coach Tim Miles, who is in his third season leading the Spartans. Miles went 71-88 as a Ram and led CSU to the 2012 NCAA Tournament. He's 225-261 overall in his career at CSU, Nebraska and San Jose State. Miles is 38-59 at San Jose State.
CSU is led by Niko Medved, who is in his sixth season as head coach of the Rams. He's 114-73 at CSU and 193-161 overall in his career.
Series history
CSU leads the all-time series 24-2. The teams played just once in the regular season with the Rams winning 66-47 in Fort Collins.
Stadium information, tickets
The game will be at the Thomas & Mack Center on UNLV's campus, the site of the Mountain West tournament. Thomas & Mack has a capacity of 18,000. Tickets are available at TheMW.com/mbballchamp/#tickets.
More: 2024 Mountain West men's basketball bracket, results
What do the metrics say?
CSU is No. 36 in the NCAA's NET rankings and San Jose State is No. 242. It's a Quad 4 game for CSU.
CSU is No. 35 in KenPom and San Jose State is No. 248. KenPom projects a 15-point win for CSU.
Who are the top players to watch?
Here are some players who will be key to the game for each team:
SAN JOSE STATE
Myron Amey Jr.: The 6-foot-2 guard leads San Jose State in scoring at 15.7 points per game and shoots 37% from 3-point range.
Alvaro Cardenas: Arguably the engine and most important player for the Spartans. Cardenas averages 13.1 points and 5.5 assists per game and shoots 38% from 3-point territory.
Tibet Gorener: The 6-foot-9 forward averages 11.5 points and four rebounds per game for the Spartans.
COLORADO STATE
Isaiah Stevens: A 29-point effort to help the Rams beat Air Force in the regular season finale could be a signal that it's "Zay Mode" time as the star enters his final college postseason. He'll need to be excellent for CSU to reach its March potential.
Nique Clifford: The 6-foot-6 wing is key on both ends of the floor and is CSU's top rebounder. His all-around game could be vital in helping nullify San Jose State's top threats.
Joel Scott: The 6-foot-7 big man is flourishing at the right time. He's averaging 16.5 points on 58% shooting over the last six games. CSU has struggled from 3-point range, so expect the Rams to go inside often with Scott.
Follow sports reporter Kevin Lytle on X (formerly known as Twitter) and Instagram @Kevin_Lytle.
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: What channel is Colorado State basketball vs. San Jose State on?
