Monday's WAC roundball report

Robert Kuwada has a blog entry up on Robert Upshaw's becoming a Bulldog, followed by a full report.

This may not be the most important point but Upshaw's presence on the Fresno State roster allows a greater degree of normality for a number of the rest of the players. Jerry Brown's days (actually nights) in the middle should be a thing of the past for the 6-foot-7 junior. The option for 6-foot-10 Tanner Giddings to redshirt as a frosh and upgrade his body just increased. Even Kevin Foster can stay away from having to handle guys so much bigger than himself, at least for the most part. The days of being forced to play a number of his guys out of their true positions are over for Coach Rodney Terry. Additionally, the outside shooting of Kevin Olekaibe and Allen Huddleston will make the jobs of Upshaw and Braeden Anderson much less double-teamed inside, but also vice versa.

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Sportsbow reports that Indian Hill College backcourter Brandon Spearman is tripping to the islands next weekend. He's a well-built shooting guard but his accuracy numbers all-around are a bit low for such a role.

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Jason Groves tweets that New Mexico State had a backcourt visitor this weekend. The young man is a catch-and-shoot distance shooter (think Gordo Castillo) who finished second on his Santa Rosa (CA) Junior College team with 12.3 points per game. He went 99-247 from long distance (40%), taking but 83 two-point attempts, as part of an offense built around precision patterning.

Honors handed oput at the Bulldog banquet

From Stephen Trembley, Assistant Director Athletics Communications @ Fresno State on the Bulldogs team banquet:

First-year Fresno State head men's basketball coach Rodney Terry recognized his team for their hard work and service this past season during the program's annual year-end awards banquet earlier this week.

"We really wanted to mirror this community," Terry said. "I grew up in a hard-working community. Nothing is given to you. You have to go out and earn it. Punch the clock. Rewards come with that hard work. They never gave up and always fought through adversity. They gave us everything they had."

Terry and his coaching staff handed out awards to each of the nine Bulldogs on the playing roster.

Here is the full list of awards, in order they were presented:

Outstanding offensive player: Kevin Olekaibe
Most assists: Steven Shepp
Playmaker: Jonathan Wills

Outstanding defender: Jerry Brown III
Outstanding rebounder: Tyler Johnson
Outstanding service: Garrett Johnson

Outstanding 3-point shooter: Kevin Olekaibe
Top free throw shooter: Jonathan Wills
Top field goal percentage award: Jerry Brown III

Outstanding student-athlete: Grant Hefeng
Bulldog award: Brad Ely
Most improved player: Kevin Foster

Additionally, Terry thanked the donors, support staff and administration during the event that was held on Monday night at Pardini's.

He took time to honor seniors Steven Shepp and Jonathan Wills, as well as the efforts of the team's athletic training staff under the direction of Brad Floy that helped prevent any Bulldog from missing a single game all season.

Terry also noted how this year's team laid the foundation for future generations of Bulldogs.

"We expect our young men to take care of business on and off the floor," Terry said. "We are going to be a team when you walk out of the building that you will be proud of supporting. The game is never over until the final horn goes off and we are always going to compete."