DENVER – Some of the names have changed, but the program remains the same.
 
"We know Colorado School of Mines is still good," MSU Denver men's basketball coach Dan Ficke said. "They're different than last year with a lot of different pieces. But they're a good team, 3-1 in the conference, and playing well. We need to get this one at home."
 
Colorado School of Mines, 7-3 overall and 3-1 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, comes to the Auraria Event Center for an intriguing game Wednesday at 7 p.m.
 
MSU Denver, Nos. 18 and 16 in last week's national polls but potentially dropping out after a loss last week, is 8-2 and 2-2.
 
The midweek special is a rarity, and a scheduling necessity in a 15-team league. Typically league games are on Friday and Saturday.
 
"You always worry about a short turnaround like this, especially coming from South Dakota, but knowing they had to do it as well at least makes it even," said Ficke, whose team lost Friday at Black Hills State before bouncing back for a win at South Dakota Mines on Saturday.
 
Colorado School of Mines won both games in South Dakota.
 
For the second consecutive year, the matchup with Mines is the Roadrunners' final game before the holiday break. Last year, then Nos. 10 and 9 Mines topped MSU Denver 106-70.
 
"For us it's about trying to get our heads right with finals going on and Christmas break coming up," Ficke said. "You always worry about that last game before Christmas. Hopefully for us this year we'll stay locked in. We want to finish the semester right. Christmas break doesn't start until the 14^th."