Colorado State hired Niko Medved's top assistant to replace him as basketball coach following a quick 24-hour search. Ali Farokhmanesh, 36, was promoted Wednesday evening after Medved left earlier this week.

If not for a buzzer-beater by Maryland on Sunday night, Niko Medved would still be coaching in the Sweet 16 with Colorado State this week. But if that loss did one thing, it sped up the process for Medved to return home to his alma mater and get started on injecting life into the Gophers men’s basketball program.

Niko Medved talked to the Coloradoan about his decision to leave CSU for Minnesota, plus shared his thoughts on his potential replacement.