Fresno State wants to 'D' up more

The Bulldogs will have plenty of fellow WAC teams attempting to accompany them in this endeavor:

Improving defense key for 'Dogs hoops
Marek Warszawski
The Fresno Bee
Oct. 15, 2009

When Steve Cleveland reviews game tapes from last season, he always watches until the bitter end.

Turning the machine off early would defeat the purpose. In losing 11 games by six points or less, eight of them during Western Athletic Conference play, the 2008-09 Fresno State men's basketball team could always be counted on to fold in the final minutes.

Most often, the Bulldogs let down on the defensive end. For 2009-10 to be any different, Cleveland believes it has to start there.

"At the end of the day, close games come down to getting stops," said Cleveland, entering his fifth season at Fresno State with a 63-63 record.

"If this team is going to go from last place to trying to compete for a championship, it's going to have to come at the defensive end..."

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