A casual fan's guide to the CSU Rams in March Madness

Context: That win earned them a 12th seed in the men's NCAA tournament — but don't let that number fool you, this is far from a Cinderella team, or even an underdog, DNVR Rams reporter Justin Michael tells us.

Case in point: The Rams are favored to beat the 5th-seeded Memphis Tigers (29-5), at least by betting odds, likely due to CSU's recent form and an injury to Memphis guard Tyrese Hunter.

What to watch: Guard Nique Clifford is undoubtedly Colorado State's best player, averaging 19 points per game while hounding down 9.7 rebounds per contest.

• Guard Jalen Lake is second overall in scoring, with 11.1 points per game

The intrigue: Hunter says a major reason for the team's stellar play is a CSU roster filled with players looking for redemption after transferring from other programs.

• Clifford (CU), Bowen Born (Northern Iowa) and Ethan Morton (Purdue) all ended up at CSU for a shot at bigger roles — and an opportunity for tournament glory.

Between the lines: Clifford, who graduated from the Vanguard School in Colorado Springs, is the rare homegrown star with a chance to lead a state school deep into the tournament.

What's next: CSU vs. Memphis tips off Friday at noon on TBS.