U men's basketball: Another rebuilding job for Miles

The former North Dakota State coach inherited a crumbling lineup: Players quit, were removed or were drafted. But Colorado State now has a 5-3 record.

By Myron P. Medcalf, Star Tribune

Last update: December 7, 2007 - 9:59 PM

Before a typical college basketball season, most new coaches are forced to analyze their team's shortfalls and seek solutions. Tim Miles had to take that scenario to the extreme after becoming coach at Colorado State last March.

Three players quit after the coaching change, three were "removed" and another -- Philadelphia 76ers power forward Jason Smith -- went to the NBA, leaving Miles with only two Rams who played last season. This season, Miles is starting two walk-ons, one of whom survived a tryout session.

After three prior head coaching stints in three different divisions in a little more than a 10-year period, the Doland, S.D., native had to energize a Colorado State team that finished 6-10 in the Mountain West Conference last season. But before he could think about moving forward, he had to put together a roster and turn his youngsters into players.

With the addition of three freshmen, two junior college transfers, four walk-ons and two returning players, Miles has the youngest Rams team in the past 30 years and the least-experienced team in the program's modern history. But nonetheless, CSU will bring a 5-3 record heading into a contest tonight against Minnesota at Williams Arena.

"We're starting over," Miles said. "I've had the opportunity to rebuild programs at Mayville State, Southwest Minnesota State and then ... from Division II to Division I at North Dakota State, but nothing ever this extreme."

The Gophers disposed of North Dakota State, where Miles last coached, in a lopsided 88-56 victory Monday. He said he talked to coaches at North Dakota State since last week's loss, and they described a fast-paced Minnesota team that pressured the Bison defensively and forced them to put up poor shots. In 2006, Miles led North Dakota State during a 63-49 loss to the Gophers.

Minnesota is definitely favored tonight, but Miles is no stranger to overcoming odds. The small-town South Dakotan -- graduating class of 13 -- has earned national accolades and jumped from the NAIA to Division I basketball in just over a decade. He led his North Dakota State team to road victories over Wisconsin and Marquette. He said he began to think about leaving North Dakota State and seeking new opportunities in 2005.

"That's when it probably started opening my eyes, you know, maybe we'll start getting some other opportunities," he said. "And then, you start thinking about a challenge, and this is a greater challenge. The Mountain West is a heck of a league."

Tubby Smith's Gophers have smothered offenses -- except Florida State's -- with an aggressive defense, while amassing a 5-1 record, only four wins shy of last season's victory total. With CSU playing two 7-footers in senior Stuart Creason and sophomore Ronnie Aguilar, Smith said the Gophers have worked on boxing out in the paint and limiting turnovers.

He commended Miles for his rebuilding efforts, recognizing the challenges he's faced in achieving a winning record with so many new faces.

"He's got a winning record now," Smith said. "His team is growing like most teams this time of year. It's still early. So he's building it the right way."

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