Virginia must have rubbed off on Colorado State. The tables certainly turned on the Rams.
The No. 10-seeded Rams scored a stunningly low 11 points in the first half of their 56-44 first-round loss to No. 7 Texas on Thursday night at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte.
It came just days after No. 10 Virginia scored just 14 points in its 67-42 First Four loss to Colorado State.
Already largely considered undeserving of their NCAA Tournament bid, Virginia came under immense criticism for their offensive — in both meanings of the word — performance.
But after seeing that putrid showing up close, Colorado State produced an even worse effort.
Colorado State shot just 18.5 percent from the field (5-for-27) and a paltry 11.1 percent from 3-point range (1-for-9) in the first half.
“They played tougher than us in the first half,” Rams forward Joel Scott said. “There’s not really much more to it. I think that kind of sums it up.”
Texas used a 25-3 run to lead 27-11 at the half, holding the Rams scoreless over the final 6:50.
The Rams’ second-half effort was more respectable, scoring 33 points, but it was too little, too late.
Rams head coach Niko Medved had emerged as a hot name for teams needing a new coach, especially after the team’s win over Virginia.
But March comes at you fast.
“I’ll tell you what, hard to imagine tonight going any better for us,” Medved said after the win over Virginia. “Just a terrific performance, really, on both ends of the floor, from the opening tip.”
Now, the polar opposite can be said.
And now, the Rams are also out of the tournament.