Mark Kiszla: How Nique and Niko wrote the most unlikely comeback story of 2025 in college hoops

Those wild-and-crazy Colorado State Rams stole a bid to March Madness, but that aint nothing compared to the heist a savvy NBA general manager is going to make by drafting Nique Clifford in June.

After Clifford scored 24 points, allowing the Rams to cruise past Boise State 69-56 Saturday and claim an automatic bid in the NCAA tournament field of 68, we hold these truths to be self-evident: Niko Medved ranks among the top 20 college hoops coaches in the country and can shine a light on CSU sports like no one since Sonny Lubick roamed a football sideline in Fort Collins.

No.

2 Colorado State takes down No.

5 Boise State in Mountain West championship to punch ticket to NCAA Tournament To the eternal regret of CU coach Tad Boyle, Clifford is not only a gem the Buffs let get away to their in-state rival, he reminds me a little of Derrick White, another late-blooming hooper from our state that has won both a ring in the NBA and gold at the Olympics.

This is just surreal, Medved told a CBS reporter, as his players pogoed for joy on the court at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas after dominating Boise State in a game Colorado State led by as much as 25 points in the second half.

Back on Valentines Day, no bracketologist in America knew the Rams existed, much less loved them.

But with Nique and Niko refusing to surrender? Well, there aint no stopping Colorado State now.

The Rams have won 10 games in a row, by an average of 16 points.

This CSU team looks like one of those 12 seeds the tourney selection committee likes to give a chance to be an early bracket buster.

If Clifford, whom Medved swears is currently playing an All-American level, isnt the Mountain West Conference player of the year, demand a recount.

He has lifted a team discounted as a conference also-ran in preseason predictions to back-to-back invitations to the big spring dance.

Hey, man, we were No.

7 (in the conference) at the beginning of the season ...

But me and my teammates just worked all year for this moment, said Clifford, the big dog with a group thats currently barking louder than any college hoops team in the USA.

In this era of NCAA sports, when the money from name, image and likeness is everything and loyalty counts for nothing, Clifford is not only one of the best stories youll find anywhere, but a reminder that there should be more to life than chasing the bag.

A year ago, after Clifford scored seven points and grabbed 10 rebounds in a 12-point loss to Texas that bounced CSU from the NCAA tourney, he declared for the NBA draft.

Unable to get a handle on when, or even if, he would be among the 58 prospects taken in a selection process where Phoenix and Philadelphia both were docked picks, Clifford decided to return to Colorado State for his fifth and final season of college eligibility.

The decision to return to school and work on his craft was priceless to CSU and worth millions to Clifford.

At 23 years old, an age when many NBA scouts downgrade a prospect for not turning pro earlier, Clifford has emerged as the classic 3-and-D guard that every pro team craves.

You can count on him being the first Rams alum taken in the first round since David Roddy went at No.

23 three years ago.

Clifford, however, looks to me as a much better fit in the pro game than Roddy.

If he lasts until the last 10 picks of the opening round, his ability to contribute as a rotational player at both ends of the NBA court will make Clifford an absolute steal.

And by the way: Being a first-round pick will be worth a contract that figures to guarantee him at least $6 million.

But thats not the best part of this story, if you ask me.

Clifford spent the first three seasons of his college career at CU, where he averaged 5.9 points per game as a role player.

When Boyle recruited a skinny, five-star wing from California named Cody Williams for the incoming class of 2023, it knocked Clifford down the CU depth chart, and he bolted up the road to Fort Collins.

This season, the Buffs lost 20 games for the first time in Boyles 15 seasons in Boulder, while Clifford is averaging nearly 19 points and 10 rebounds for the Rams.

This is why you coach, Medved said.

Its an incredible story of resilience and staying with it and unselfishness.

This is why, despite all the upheaval and greed in college sports, we still love the Madness.

Thanks to Niko and Nique, its also why CSU now stands alone as the undisputed best basketball school in the state..

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