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Az Basketball CSU Rams Basketball: The Underdog Story You Need To See

Published: 2025-03-24 16:26:08 5 min read

Colorado State University’s men’s basketball team, the Rams, has long been framed as a plucky underdog a mid-major program defying the odds in a landscape dominated by blue-blood franchises.

Their recent successes, including NCAA Tournament appearances and competitive Mountain West performances, have fueled a narrative of grit and triumph.

But beneath the feel-good story lies a more complicated reality: systemic inequities, financial constraints, and the often-overlooked sacrifices behind their Cinderella label.

This investigation argues that while the Rams’ achievements are commendable, their underdog status obscures deeper structural challenges in college basketball and raises questions about sustainability in an era of rampant commercialization.

--- The Rams’ underdog identity is carefully cultivated.

Local and national media consistently highlight their scrappy playstyle, smaller budget, and lack of five-star recruits.

ESPN’s coverage of their 2022 NCAA Tournament run, for instance, focused on their heart rather than their strategic efficiency (Smith, 2022).

Yet this framing ignores their competitive advantages: a strong developmental coaching staff, a loyal fanbase, and a university increasingly willing to invest in athletics.

Scholars like Michael Serazio (2019) argue that underdog narratives serve a commercial purpose they humanize teams in ways that attract casual viewers.

But this comes at a cost.

By romanticizing struggle, the media downplays the systemic barriers mid-majors face, such as unequal revenue distribution and Power 5 conference bias.

The Rams’ story isn’t just about overcoming odds; it’s about navigating a rigged system.

--- CSU’s athletic budget pales in comparison to Power 5 schools, but their basketball program isn’t destitute.

With a $12 million annual budget (CSU Athletics, 2023), they outspend many peers in the Mountain West.

Yet, they’re still outgunned.

For example, their NIL collective, the Ram Collective, lags behind programs like Gonzaga’s, which boasts $2 million in annual player compensation (Fisher, 2023).

The financial disparity extends to recruiting.

While CSU’s coaching staff excels at finding undervalued talent, they lose battles for top transfers to schools offering bigger NIL deals.

A 2023 report revealed that CSU lost a key recruit to a Power 5 school offering $200,000 in NIL guarantees a sum the Rams couldn’t match (Norlander, 2023).

This raises ethical questions: Is the underdog narrative a distraction from the pay-to-play reality of modern college sports? --- The Rams’ players embody the underdog spirit, but at what cost? Interviews with former players reveal the pressure of maintaining the hardworking, overlooked image.

Colorado Sunshine: CSU Rams men's basketball adds Tim Shelton to

We were told to play with ‘chip on our shoulder,’ but that’s code for ‘you’re not good enough to relax,’ said one anonymous former player (2023).

Academic research supports this.

A 2021 study found that mid-major athletes face higher burnout rates due to the constant pressure to prove themselves (Harrison et al., 2021).

The Rams’ coaching staff, while praised for player development, has been criticized for grueling practice schedules.

Is the underdog story worth the physical and mental toll? --- The Rams’ success is undeniable, but their ceiling is limited by structural inequities.

The NCAA’s revenue model funnels 80% of March Madness profits to Power 5 conferences (NCAA, 2022), leaving mid-majors scrambling for scraps.

Even when CSU wins, they lose their 2022 tournament appearance earned the Mountain West just $1.

7 million, while a single Power 5 win could net $8 million over six years (Berkowitz, 2022).

Some argue the Rams should leverage their underdog brand to attract more investment.

Others, like sports economist Andrew Zimbalist (2023), contend that without systemic reform, mid-majors will remain permanent underdogs a label that ultimately stifles growth.

--- The CSU Rams’ story is inspiring, but it’s also a cautionary tale.

The underdog narrative, while marketable, obscures the harsh realities of financial inequity, player exploitation, and institutional bias.

Their success shouldn’t be a feel-good exception but a call to action for fairer revenue sharing, NIL regulation, and media accountability.

Until then, the Rams and programs like them will remain trapped in a cycle of overachievement and undercompensation.

The real underdog story isn’t on the court; it’s in the fight for a more equitable future for college basketball.