Fresno St

WAC Preseason Poll & All-Conference Team

Press Release — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 09:20:36 -0700

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WAC MEDIA POLL

DENVER – The 2008-09 Western Athletic Conference men’s basketball media poll has tabbed Nevada as this year’s favorite. Utah State senior forward Gary Wilkinson has been named the preseason Player of the Year. Nevada freshman Luke Babbitt was tabbed this year’s preseason Newcomer of the Year.

Nevada received 255 points and 20 first-place votes. Utah State was picked second with 220 points and four first place votes. New Mexico State garnered 201 points and two first place votes for third place followed by Louisiana Tech with 149 points. Boise State was fifth with three first place votes and 142 points followed by San Jose State with a first place vote and 132 points. Fresno State was seventh with 114 points, followed by Hawai‘i (103) and Idaho (34).

Wilkinson averaged 13.3 points and 7.0 rebounds per game last season, helping Utah State to a share of the conference regular season crown last year.

Babbitt, a 2008 graduate of Galena High School in Reno, became the third player in Nevada prep history to be named a McDonald’s All-American.

The All-WAC team included Wilkinson, New Mexico State junior guard Jonathan Gibson, Louisiana Tech junior guard Kyle Gibson, Nevada sophomore forward Armon Johnson, and San Jose State junior center C.J. Webster.

The following is the complete 2008-09 WAC men’s basketball media poll with first-place votes in parentheses (points awarded on a 9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis):

Rank Team Points

1. Nevada (20) 255

2. Utah State (4) 220

3. New Mexico State (2) 201

4. Louisiana Tech 149

5. Boise State (3) 142

6. San Jose State (1) 132

7. Fresno State 114

8. Hawai‘i 103

9. Idaho 34

Preseason All-WAC Team

Jonathan Gibson, Jr., G, New Mexico State

Kyle Gibson, Jr., G, Louisiana Tech

Armon Johnson, So., F, Nevada

C.J. Webster, Jr., C, San Jose State

Gary Wilkinson, Sr., F, Utah State

Preseason Player of the Year: Gary Wilkinson, Sr., F, Utah State

Newcomer of the Year: Luke Babbitt, Fr., F, Nevada

WAC COACHES POLL

The Western Athletic Conference announced its men’s basketball preseason poll and all-WAC teams, as voted on by the nine head coaches in the league. Nevada was selected to win the WAC, while Nevada sophomore Armon Johnson was tabbed the league’s preseason Player of the Year.

Nevada, the 2007-08 WAC regular season co-champion, received seven first place votes and 63 points. Utah State captured second place with 57 points, receiving two first-place votes. New Mexico State took third place with 48 points. With 43 points, San Jose State was voted fourth. Boise State (30) and Louisiana Tech (29) followed closely behind in fifth and sixth place, respectively. Hawai‘i (25) and Fresno State (20) finished seventh and eighth, respectively, while Idaho (9) was ranked ninth.

The coaches also voted on preseason first and second all-WAC teams. Nevada sophomore forward Armon Johnson, the 2007-08 WAC Freshman of the Year, leads the list of first-teamers. San Jose State junior center C.J. Webster and Utah State senior forward Gary Wilkinson, 2007-08 all-Newcomer team honorees, also earned spots on the preseason first team. New Mexico State guard Jonathan Gibson and Louisiana Tech guard Kyle Gibson round out the first team.

Second-team selections include Luke Babbitt (Nevada), Brandon Fields (Nevada), Anthony Thomas (Boise State), Tai Wesley (Utah State) and Jahmar Young (New Mexico State)

Nevada shared the 2007-08 regular season title with Boise State, Utah State, and New Mexico State. The team advanced to the first-ever College Basketball Invitational Tournament last season.

2008-09 Preseason Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll

Rank Teams (1st Place Votes) Points

1. Nevada (7) 63

2. Utah State (2) 57

3. New Mexico State 48

4. San Jose State 43

5. Boise State 30

6. Louisiana Tech 29

7. Hawai‘i 25

. 8. Fresno State 20

9. Idaho 9

Preseason All-WAC Teams

First Team Second Team

Jonathan Gibson, Jr., G, New Mexico St. Luke Babbitt, Fr., F, Nevada

Kyle Gibson, Jr., G, Louisiana Tech Brandon Fields, Jr., G, Nevada

Armon Johnson, So., F, Nevada Anthony Thomas, Jr., F, Boise State

C.J. Webster, Jr., C, San Jose State Tai Wesley, So., F, Utah State

Gary Wilkinson, Sr., F, Utah State Jahmar Young, So., G, New Mexico St.

Player of the Year: Armon Johnson, Nevada

2007-08 Fresno State Basketball Preview

Joel Welser — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 09:14:43 -0700

Fresno State Bulldogs

Overall Rank: #89

Conference Rank: #4 WAC

2006-07: 22-10, 10-6, 3^rd

2006-07 postseason: NIT

Fresno State and Coach Steve Cleveland are hoping to build off of their NIT appearance last year. Their 22 wins was the highest total for the Bulldogs since the 1995-1996 season and it was their first trip to the postseason since the 2001-2002 campaign. With the absence of a few key players, the Bulldogs may take a small step back, but the newcomers will not allow a big slip this season.

Who’s Out:

Losing Quinton Hosley and Dominic McGuire is not good. The do everything wings combined to average 27.4 points, 18.7 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 2.2 steals and 4.2 blocks per game. Those are some gaudy numbers that will not be easily replaced. Ja’Vance Coleman was still a decent scorer when he suited up for the Bulldogs, but his last season in Fresno was marked with inconsistent shooting. Little used guard Ajay Riding and forward Renato Cesar have wrapped up their collegiate careers.

Who’s In:

The out list does not look good, but the in list has some impressive names of its own. Transfers Rekalin Sims and Bryan Harvey will immediately make a huge impact. Sims started six games at Kentucky as a junior and averaged 4.4 points and 2.9 rebounds. With the expected increase in playing time, the 6-8 forward should drastically improve on those numbers at Fresno State. Harvey has a little less experience, only playing in 18 games with Louisville during the 2005-2006 season, but the 6-5 wing is a tremendous athlete and will help replace the versatility of Hosley and McGuire. Dwight O’Neil is not really a newcomer, but the junior guard redshirted last year and will be suited up and ready to play this season. O’Neil came on strong at the end of the 2005-2006 season and ended the year averaging 10.8 points per game. Even if he does not regain a starting role right away, O’Neil will be a great spark off the bench. With the addition of 6-8 Nedelijko Golubovic and 6-10 Brandon Webster, the Bulldogs have found their frontcourt depth.

Who to Watch:

Point guard Kevin Bell is the new star of the team. The 5-10 senior has led the conference in assists the last two years and he will very likely make it three in a row. Bell is a decent scorer, but occasionally can get a little trigger happy on the long balls. The only concern at the point guard spot is finding a quality backup. Tyson Parker and newcomer Harvey are the prime candidates, but neither are true point guards. Senior Eddie Miller will do the shooting. Miller hoisted up 7.5 long balls per game, which is not as many as it sounds with the Fresno State long range shooting game plan. He made over 36 percent of those shots and averaged 10.5 points per game. Adding another dynamic to his game and getting to the basket would turn Miller from a long range specialist to a big time scorer.

Final Projection:

The long range shooting does not end with the perimeter group. Hector Hernandez made 2.5 shots per game from beyond the arc and the 6-9 forward is the most consistent shooter on the team. With the top two rebounders leaving, Hernandez will have to help out on the glass a little more than he needed to last season. Shawn Taylor did not quite do as much as many hoped during his first year at Fresno State. But the 6-11 senior is running out of time to make a big impact. The former Alabama center has some decent offensive moves in the post, but will at least be a defensive stopper under the basket.

Projected Post-season Tournament: none

Projected Starting Five:

Kevin Bell, Senior, Guard, 9.6 points per game

Eddie Miller, Senior, Guard, 10.5 points per game

Bryan Harvey, Sophomore, Guard, DNP last season

Hector Hernandez, Senior, Forward, 11.2 points per game

Rekalin Sims, Senior, Forward, 11.2 points per game

Complete Top 144 Ranking | 2007-08 Preview | Discuss the Preview

Dominic McGuire: NBA Draft Profile

Jeff Fox — Tue, 15 May 2007 08:53:58 -0700

NBA Draft: Dominic McGuire

College: Fresno State

Class: Junior

Stats: ESPN.com

Position: SF

Height: 6’8”

Weight: 210lbs

Accolades: Second Team All-WAC (07), WAC All-Newcomer Team (07), WAC All-Defensive Team (07).

Scouting Report: A long, lean athletic shotblocker.

Strengths: Great defender. Superb shotblocker – averaged 3.3/game his junior year – had 10 in one game this season. Good rebounder. Can grab boards and push the ball up court on his own. Good shooting range out to behind the three-point line. Great leaper and very quick off his feet. Decent scorer and assist man.

Weaknesses: A year older than other juniors due to a year sat out due to school transfer. Horrible free throw shooter. Needs to add weight and strength for the NBA. Needs to improve his outside shot to play the wing spot in the pros. Has to take better care of the ball – averaged more turnovers than assists this past season. Didn’t really play huge minutes his first two years in college before transferring from Cal.

Projected 2007 Draft Range: Early second round pick.

Consensus: McGuire is definitely a NBA-level athlete and shotblocker. However, he could benefit on another year in college to strengthen his build and improve his outside shot.

More 2007 NBA Draft Profiles

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New for 2007: Check out CHN's NBA Draft Search Engine

Fresno 69 - Creighton 54

Press Release — Sun, 17 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0800

FRESNO, Calif. – Despite double-doubles from Dane Watts and Anthony Tolliver, the Creighton men’s basketball team fell on the road Saturday night, 69-54, at Fresno State. The host Bulldogs improved to 9-1 thanks in part to 13 three-pointers and 10 blocked shots, while Creighton fell to 4-3 with the setback.

Despite having its first three shots of the night blocked, Creighton took its only lead at 3-2 on an early three-pointer from Nate Funk. Fresno State answered with a barrage of three-pointers, hitting four during a 12-2 flurry to go up 14-5 after just more than six minutes.

The Bulldogs continued their hot shooting, using three more trifectas during a 9-4 surge to go ahead 25-12. FSU’s biggest lead of the night came at 31-14 on Kevin Bell’s three-pointer with 5:42 to go in the first half, Fresno’s eighth trey in its first 11 baskets.

Creighton fought back late in the first half. Treys from Watts and Isacc Miles cut the deficit to 13, and it dropped to single-digits on Watts’ breakaway dunk to close the first half scoring. CU trailed 35-26 at intermission despite shooting only 27.3 percent in the first 20 minutes.

Creighton had some opportunities in the second half but could not buy a basket from the outside. The Bluejays, who finished 4-of-24 from downtown for the game, were 0-of-13 from deep in the second half.

Creighton got within five points on three occasions, with the last time coming at 43-38 with 11:57 to go. However, Fresno’s Ja’Vance Coleman, who hit just 1-of-10 first-half shots, made a tough fadeaway jumper from the elbow to end that rally.

The Jays last gasp came with just over five minutes to play. CU got a three-point play from Tolliver to get within 57-49, and then forced a turnover, only to turn it over on its next two possessions as Fresno built its lead to double-digits for good.

Tolliver had his third double-double in the last four games, finishing with 18 points and 10 rebounds to go with two blocked shots. Watts tied his career-high with 12 rebounds while adding 10 points for his first career double-double. Also in double-figures was Funk, who scored 13 points and had four steals but hit just 6-of-18 from the field. Creighton shot 31.3 percent for the game, including 16.7 percent (4-24) from three-point land and 55.6 percent (10-18) at the line.

Fresno State used just seven players, but its abundance of athleticism and shooting proficiency was too much for Creighton to overcome. Senior center Hector Hernandez hit four trifectas and finished with a game-high 14 points. Eddie Miller had 13 points off the bench, while Bell (12 points) and Coleman had 10 points. Also making an impact on both ends of the floor was Dominic McGuire, a 6-8 transfer from Cal. McGuire had nine points, 14 rebounds and seven blocked shots. He was one of five Fresno State players to make two or more shots from beyond the arc. FSU shot 40.4 percent for the game (23-57), 13-of-30 (43.3 percent) from three-point range, and 83.3 percent (10-12) at the line. Fresno also added 18 assists (seven by Coleman) and six steals.

Hernandez Named WAC Player of the Week

Press Release — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 10:03:10 -0800

DENVER – Fresno State forward Hector Hernandez has been named the Western Athletic Conference men’s basketball player of the week for November 27-December 3.

Hernandez, a junior from Chihauhua, Mexico (Abraham Lincoln HS), scored 23 points and grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds in Fresno State’s 74-69 win at Oregon State on Saturday. He was 9-of-13 from the field, including 3-of-5 from three-point range, and made both of his free throw attempts. Hernandez also blocked one shot in helping to keep the Bulldogs perfect on the season (7-0). It is Hernandez’s first career WAC Player of the Week award and second for a Bulldog player this year.

The other nominations were senior guard Coby Karl, Boise State; junior guard Ramon Sessions, Nevada; junior forward Justin Hawkins, New Mexico State; and junior guard Jaycee Carroll, Utah State.

-WAC-

WAC Conference Preview

CHN — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 20:00:14 -0800

Conference Previews | Top 144 | 06-07 Preview Home

WAC Preview

Conference Rank: 10th

Conference Page

All-Conference

Player of the Year - Nick Fazekas, Nevada, F

Coby Karl, Boise St, G

Jaycee Carroll, Utah St, G

Tyrone Nelson, New Mexico St, F

Quinton Hosley, Fresno, F

2nd Team

Ja'Vance Coleman, Fresno, G

Marcellus Kemp, Nevada, G

Fred Peete, New Mexico St, G

Ahmet Gueye, Hawaii, F

David Fisher, New Mexico St, F

Nat'l	Team (Click for Preview)	Conf	Tourney
20	Nevada	1	NCAA
40	New Mexico St	2	NCAA
53	Utah State	3	NIT
74	Fresno State	4	NIT
114	Hawaii	5
168	Boise State	6
209	Louisiana Tech	7
233	San Jose State	8
308	Idaho	9

2006-07 Preview: #74 Fresno

Joel Welser — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 13:20:14 -0700

Questions in the frontcourt will keep Fresno State from being a serious WAC title contender.