Watch CBS News

Larry Eustachy Remains Calm Following CSU's Snub

FORT COLLINS, Colo. (CBS4) – Colorado State head coach Larry Eustachy wasn't much for talking following the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee's snub of his Rams team that finished the season with a school record 27 wins and a Ratings Percentage Index of 30.

"This is going to be brief, I'm not going to be taking any questions because I don't want to say the wrong thing," Eustachy said to the media following the snub. "I apologize to you guys, I know you have to do your job, and we'll do it. I just don't want to say something I'm going to regret."

The Rams will have to settle for the NIT, and that does not sit well with the folks up in Fort Collins.

Heading into the Mountain West Conference tournament in Las Vegas, Eustachy already thought that the Rams were in. He didn't even think his team had to win a game in that tournament. They beat Fresno State in the tourney, but star player J.J. Avila got injured.

Eustachy decided to hold Avila out of the next game against San Diego State because he thought they were already in the NCAA tournament and didn't need to risk playing Avila. That gamble ended up not paying off because CSU lost to San Diego State, which in turn lost to Wyoming in the championship game.

With Wyoming getting the automatic bid from the conference tournament win, and San Diego State and Boise State with better records that CSU in the conference, the Rams were the odd team out. It seems the selection committee didn't think the Mountain West deserved more than three teams in the tournament.

CSU had a higher RPI than Boise State, making the Rams' snub hard to take. But Boise State did share the regular season crown in the conference with San Diego State.

Larry Eustachy
A somber Larry Eustachy after the snub (credit: CBS)

"The disappointment is that you've got 12 players in there crying. We're certainly one of the best 68 teams in the country. Obviously the committee didn't feel that way," Eustachy said. "Our team moves on."

CSU will host an NIT game in Fort Collins and is one of the favorites in the tournament. So, if there's any silver lining to the snub, it's that the Rams' could stick around quite a while in the NIT.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.