GETTING INSIDE
Fresno State’s post-Christmas schedule includes four consecutive home games, including three in a row to kick off WAC competition.
“We have four straight home games and need to take care of business at home,” said coach Steve Cleveland. “We have the chance to have a special season and our focus needs to remain on doing everything we can to defend our home floor.”
It might be hard to see a “special” season in the works after a 6-7 start, but the Bulldogs do have a special talent in sophomore Paul George, who averaged 17.4 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.8 steals through 13 games. He was shooting 47.5 percent from the field, 41.7 percent (30 of 72) from 3-point range and 92 percent (46 of 50) from the line.
Not many players combine with highlight ability around the rim with that kind of smooth shooting stroke and defensive ability.
George had 29 points against Pepperdine on Dec. 8 and 28 at Montana on Dec. 21.
While George is being touted as an NBA prospect, the Bulldogs also have a pro prospect in 6-9 senior forward Sylvester Seay and a promising freshman big man in Greg Smith.
Fresno State might not be the deepest team in the WAC, but that core group is good enough to make Cleveland talk about the potential of a special season. Other coaches have noticed.
“They’re very big and very athletic,” Montana coach Wayne Tinkle said of Fresno State. “They have a better combination of drivers and shooters this year as opposed to last year when they really looked to attack you off the bounce.”
NOTES, QUOTES
• Sophomore G Mychal Ladd was out of the starting lineup for three games in early December, but returned in a big way against UC-Davis on Dec. 17. He hit five 3-pointers en route to a season-high 18 points. He was shooting 39 percent behind the arc (22 of 59) through 13 games.
• Fresno State’s four road losses have come by a total of 19 points.
January At A Glance: Fresno State’s first three WAC games are at home—Boise State, Hawaii and San Jose State—so the possibility exists for a quick start for the Bulldogs, which would be quick a statement after finishing last in the league a season ago with a 3-13 mark. Coach Steve Cleveland wants to see his defense hold up in conference play. The Bulldogs, helped recently by the use of a 2-3 zone, were allowing teams to shoot just 39.5 percent through 13 games.
Quote To Note: “We have certain skills sets. But the one thing we are is athletic and long. And for us, we need to put it in full throttle in transition.”—Coach Steve Cleveland, in the Fresno Bee.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
Season Recap: Young, athletic Fresno State might be a work in progress, but the Bulldogs have shown they have to have elite WAC talent with sophomore F Paul George, senior F Sylvester Seay and freshman C Greg Smith. What the Bulldogs need is someone to run the show, which is where sophomore Steven Shepp, a transfer from Allegany College, comes in. He was averaging 5.1 assists through 13 games and picking his spots on offense, hitting 19 of 42 3-point attempts (45.2 percent). Fresno State has nine players who are freshmen or sophomores.
Player Rotation: Usual Starters—PG Steven Shepp, G Mychal Ladd, G/F Paul George, F Sylvester Seay, C Greg Smith. Key Subs—PG Brandon Sperling, F Nedeljko Golubovic, G/F Jerry Brown.
Game Review:
Fresno State 68, North Dakota State 54
Montana 59, Fresno State 56
Oregon State 73, Fresno State 65
Game Preview:
vs. Colorado State, Monday, Dec. 28
vs. Boise State, Saturday, Jan. 2
vs. Hawaii, Saturday, Jan. 9
vs. San Jose State, Monday, Jan. 11
at Louisiana Tech, Thursday, Jan. 14
In Focus: Fresno State opens conference play against Boise State, which is one of three conference opponents the Bulldogs managed to beat last season. The Broncos have more depth, but Fresno State’s frontcourt athleticism will be a tough matchup for any WAC team.
FSU’s Paul George had one of his best games last season in an 88-82 victory over Boise State—29 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, three steals … and he hit 9 of 11 shots from the field.
Roster Report:
• Sophomore F Paul George entered the week with three double-doubles this season and nine for his career in 46 games.
• C Greg Smith is one of the top freshmen in the WAC, averaging 11.5 points and 6.6 rebounds through 13 games. He hit 59 of his first 100 shots, but needs to get better at the free throw line, where he was hitting 57.1 percent (32 of 56).
