No. 12 Colorado State vs. No. 5 Memphis at the NCAA Tournament | King’s pick
By
Tyler KingMarch 20, 2025 | updated 5 months ago
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Colorado State guard Bowen Born (13) celebrates after making a 3-point shot against Boise State during the first half of an NCAA college basketball championship game at the Mountain West Conference tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
SEATTLE — Last year was nice, but Colorado State has its eyes on taking this season one step further.
The Rams beat Virginia in the First Four of last year’s NCAA Tournament in Dayton, the program’s first March Madness win since 2013, to advance to the round of 64. But Niko Medved’s team avoided Dayton entirely this time around by winning the Mountain West tournament and now CSU enters its first game of this year’s tournament as a No. 12 seed against No. 5 seed Memphis.
But it won’t be much of an upset if the Rams win as they’re favored by 1.5 points per ESPN Bet.
Here’s our pick for the game:
King’s prediction
No. 12 Colorado State 73, No. 5 Memphis 66
Colorado State forward Jaylen Crocker-Johnson (8) drives against Boise State forward Javan Buchanan (22) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball championship game at the Mountain West Conference tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
John Locher
Colorado State forward Jaylen Crocker-Johnson (8) drives against Boise State forward Javan Buchanan (22) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball championship game at the Mountain West Conference tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
John Locher
This game has felt like a toss up all week, but Tyrese Hunter’s injury swings things in favor of the Rams. Anybody who watched CSU lose to Texas in last year’s NCAA Tournament knows how good of a defender Hunter is with the way he guarded Isaiah Stevens. Hunter may have had a hard time anyway trying to size up and guard someone like Nique Clifford, who has had his way last week in Las Vegas and has been too much for any Mountain West defense to handle for two months now. Medved’s tenure at CSU continues for at least one more game.
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C: Rashaan Mbemba (7.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 59.7% field goals)
Memphis
Memphis guard PJ Haggerty prepares for a free throw during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Wichita State in the quarterfinal of the American Athletic Conference tournament in Fort Worth, Texas, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
LM Otero
Memphis guard PJ Haggerty prepares for a free throw during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Wichita State in the quarterfinal of the American Athletic Conference tournament in Fort Worth, Texas, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
1 of 1Colorado State head coach Jay Norvell looks on as players take part in drills during NCAA college football practice on the university's campus Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023, in Fort Collins, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)David Zalubowski Facebook Twitter WhatsApp...
1 of 1Air Force Falcons punter Luke Freer warms up before a game against Wyoming on Oct. 14, 2023, at the Air Force Academy. (The Gazette file)The Gazette file Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Where...
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1 of 1Colorado State sophomore wide receiver Lavon Brown (82) celebrates a touchdown with teammates during the Rams' spring game on Saturday, April 26, 2025 at Canvas Stadium in Fort Collins.Tyler King, The Denver Gazette Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email...
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1 of 1Colorado State athletic director John Weber smiles on the court at Moby Arena during pregame senior day festivities ahead of the Rams' game against Wyoming on Saturday, March 2, 2024 in Fort Collins. Weber had the interim tag...
1 of 1Colorado State forward Rashaan Mbemba gestures to the crowd in the final seconds of the game to celebrate a 78-70 win over Memphis during the first round of the NCAA Tournament on March 21 in Seattle.The Associated Press...
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1 of 1Colorado State's Mya Lesnar hold up her trophy after winning the national title in shot put at the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore. (Olivia Allen/Colorado State Athletics)Colorado State Athletics Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link...