The best laid plans of mice and men

The Fresno State basketball season started out so promising. Redshirt transfers Bryan Harvey and Rekalin Sims were going to provide backcourt and frontcourt scoring power. Hector Hernandez and Eddie Miller were to expand their games. Dwight O'Neill would be providing toughness and help at both ends of the floor. Plus, star point Kevin Bell was in his final go-around in running the show.

Only Bell came through.

Harvey played half the season and then ran aground on the shoals of academics. Sims encountered legal trouble and a period of academic laziness and that combination resulted in his removal from the team (even though the legal charge was later dropped).

Hernandez and Miller had their moments but neither displayed a more fully-rounded skills set.

O'Neill broke his hand early on and has missed most of the season.

Here's a bit on Fresno State's laets loss, with a telling comment from Coach Steve Cleveland:

Carroll, Aggies hand men's hoops another loss
Fresno State can't surprise, even with Bell's career night.
Gary Estwick
The Fresno Bee
3/04/08

LOGAN, Utah - During the final seconds of another setback, Fresno State had to wait for Jaycee Carroll to exit the court at Dee Glen Smith Spectrum, perhaps the final home appearance for Utah State's All-America guard.

The sellout crowd of 10,270 fans roared as Carroll jogged to the sideline, convinced that his Senior Night heroics had sealed a season perfection in Logan. The Aggies were about to end their 2007-08 campaign undefeated at home, and this year, neither Kevin Bell nor his Bulldogs could ruin the celebration.

Utah State won 79-66 on Monday night, avenging last season's home finale defeat to Fresno State.

"It was a good way to finish," said Carroll, who tied a season high with 33 points.

Bell did all he could to ruin the moment, never leaving the court despite a sore right ankle. He even scored a career-high 31 points, twisting his body near the rim for awkward yet effective scoring angles and converting on the perimeter with his unorthodox release.

"I'm darn glad Kevin Bell is a senior," Utah State coach Stew Morrill said,. "I don't want to see him anymore in my life, in my nightmares, nothing."

Still, Fresno State dropped to a new descent.

The Bulldogs are now 13-17 overall and 5-10 in the Western Athletic Conference. Their first losing regular season record in four years is already clinched. Even their No. 6 seed in next week's WAC Tournament is in jeopardy: The Bulldogs will drop one seed if they lose Saturday at home against Nevada in their home finale and Idaho upsets Utah State at home.

Most of Fresno State's problems are old problems. The kind that after nearly a season of disappointments, have proved to not be fixable - not this season anyway. The Bulldogs squad that entered last summer with perhaps too much offense is missing three of those players and look to be at least two standouts away from winning another conference game.

"We just don't have all of the pieces right now," Fresno State coach Steve Cleveland said...

Go here for the remainder.

This one should have been a 'Big Monday' game

It's too bad the WAC doesn't have an ESPN contract to provide a game every Monday night because -- despite what would have been it's very late appearance back east -- Boise State and Fresno State tangled in a very good one last night.

BSU men win OT thriller against Fresno State
NICK JEZIERNY
Idaho Statesman
1/29/08

FRESNO, Calif. — Instead of a sickening feeling of deja vu, the Boise State men’s basketball team finally left the Save Mart Center feeling good.
The Broncos somehow willed their way to a 90-89 overtime win over Fresno State in a game they appeared to have won in regulation and looked destined to lose in overtime before staging a furious comeback to leave a crowd of 10,399 stunned.

Reggie Larry, who scored a career-high 27 points and pulled down 16 rebounds, scored off a designed inbounds play with 6 seconds left to help BSU overcome a pair of four-point deficits in the extra session. And then the Broncos had to wait for Fresno State point guard Kevin Bell, who hit a game-winning shot last year as time expired against the Broncos, to miss a shot in the lane.

Bell’s shot hung on the rim and finally rolled off. BSU forward Matt Nelson swatted the ball toward half court as time expired.

“I thought about last year,” said Bell, who scored 26 points and had eight assists. “It was karma coming back at me. I tried to get to the rim as quick as I could. It felt good...”

Go here for the remainder.

Or if you prefer the Fresno point of view:

Fresno State heartbreaker'Dogs surge to force extra time, only to see last shot miss at final horn
Gary Estwick
The Fresno Bee
1/28/08

Kevin Bell ended Monday night with a slow, frail walk to the locker room as he stared up into the Save Mart Center lights, his eyes not focused on any one object.
Bell had just sprinted nearly the length of the court, on his way to what seemed to be his second game-winning shot at home against Boise State in as many seasons.

This time, though, his layup bounced, and bounced on the right side of the rim. Then it dropped to the floor, ending a Western Athletic Conference thriller with a 90-89 overtime loss to Boise State.

"At first, I couldn't believe it. It took me a second just to get it together and just realize I missed," Bell said later, still visualizing the moment.

And with his miss, a floater in the lane -- a shot he has made many other times this season, including Monday -- Fresno State lost its chance to regain a grip on the WAC regular-season race, falling back under .500 at 10-11 overall and 3-4 in conference...

Go here for the remainder.

A word of warning

Now some may simply laugh this off but keep in mind that Fresno State gets backcourter Dwight O'Neill back in about two weeks and that addition puts a whole new spin on the Bulldogs.

O'Neill will strengthen the Fresno State starting five thusly:

*** he's the best defender in the backcourt, with the size and strength necessary to battle similarly sized opponents.

*** he will team with Kevin Bell in being the sole Bulldogs who can dribble-drive with effectiveness

*** He will add the dimension of another outside shooter

No, Fresno State is not going to win the league but will certainly be more dangerous come tourney time.

Saturday night WAC-ing

Let's begin with the expected but give credit to Idaho for a fighting spirit. The Vandals are definitely better than last season but not 'there' yet. Coach George Pfeifer is still in need of a couple of frontcourt producers.

Make it nine straight
Shawn Harrison
Logan New Herald
January 20, 2008

It was Jaycee Carroll’s night and he didn’t disappoint.

Before the teams even took the court, the rowdy Utah State students were chanting his name. That would go on throughout Saturday night’s contest and especially at the end.

Carroll become the school’s all-time leading scorer six-and-a-half minutes into the contest, but more importantly to him and the rest of the Aggie men’s basketball team, USU came away with a Western Athletic Conference victory. The Aggies weathered a good start by Idaho, then took control for a 79-64 win at a soldout Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. It was the hosts ninth straight win.

“Obviously we had a little extra motivation with Jaycee’s thing, and the last thing any of us wanted was for him to break the record at home with a loss,” USU head coach Stew Morrill said. “So those two things are done, his deal and my deal. Now we can move on with the season. They’re both really nice. We’re very appreciative of them.”

Morrill became the school’s winningest coach on Thursday.

The 10,270 fans were standing before and after the game. Carroll, who scored 21 points on 8-of-14 shooting Saturday night, was honored at the conclusion of the game. The former scoring leader, Greg Grant, was on hand to shake Carroll’s hand and present him the game ball, along with USU President Stan Albrecht and Aggie Athletics Director Randy Spetman.

“I was really glad to see him here,” Carroll said of Grant. “I thought it was really cool of him to come back.”

Carroll needed just two points to pass Grant (2,127 points). He did it with a 3-pointer that bounced around the rim before falling through the net to the relief of the fans. Carroll now has 2,147 career points.

“It seemed like it hung on the rim forever,” Carroll said. “It looked like it was going to go out, then just kind of dropped. It was almost like the crowd and everyone there willed it in. It went in, we were able to get that done and go and try and beat Idaho...”

Go here for the remainder.

AND

Here is how touted freshman Herb Pope did in his first NCAA game -- which is the primary story. As expected the Aggies beat LA TECH but it was a closer final score than anyone predicted:

Pope makes debut for Aggies in 63-54 win
Felix Chavez
Las Cruces /Sun-News
1/20/2008

LAS CRUCES — When freshman Herb Pope signed with New Mexico State in November of 2006, much was expected of him. But life has thrown him a few curve balls from being shot, to battling the NCAA over his eligibility and an arrest near his hometown of Aliquippa, Pa.

However, the 6-foot-8, 230-pound freshman, who has always been confident in his abilities, finally settled with the NCAA and got to practice with the Aggies earlier in the week. Saturday night against Louisiana Tech, he finally got to play in a game, a 63-54 NMSU win against Louisiana Tech, which settled the Aggies record at 10-10.

Pope seemed loose all week and seemed ready to play in warmups on Saturday night. Then when he got into the game with 14:53 left in the first half, to a fairly loud applause, Pope was officially a Division I basketball player and he didn't disappoint...

Go here for the remainder.

AND

We don't know whether or not to call this one an upset at this point but the point difference certainly was a surprise.

Pack basketball: Defense crumbles in loss to Boise State
STEVE SNEDDON
RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL
1/20/2008

Nevada coach Mark Fox went into Saturday's game against Boise State with concerns about his basketball team's defense.

The hot-shooting Boise State Broncos left that defense in shambles on the way to a 95-80 victory in front of 8,609 fans at Lawlor Events Center on Saturday night. The Broncos hit 31-of-57 from the field for 54.4 percent, including 13-of-22 from 3-point range for 59.1 percent.

"I have to give the kids from Boise credit," Fox said. "Let's not take anything away from Boise. Now, I wasn't particularly pleased with our defense, but they certainly shot a great percentage in both halves. We didn't guard them in the first half, either.

"I'd like to think that field-goal percentage in the second half and first half were almost identical. So it wasn't like we just didn't defend in the second half. We didn't get a lot of stops in the first half, either. Boise's got a very good offensive team."

The Broncos put away the Pack with an amazing 32-8 run in the second half to go ahead by 19 points at 79-60 on Reggie Larry's reverse layup with five minutes, 15 seconds remaining...

Go here for the remainder.

AND

OF IF YOU PREFER (from the Boise State point of view):

BSU gets first regular-season WAC win in Reno
NICK JEZIERNY
Idaho Statesman
1/20/08

RENO - Boise State has had its share of road wins this season, but none of them were as impressive as Saturday night's masterpiece at Nevada.
The Broncos put on a clinic in team basketball, handing the Wolf Pack their worst home loss in a six years, a 95-80 romp that stunned a crowd of 8,609 at the Lawlor Events Center.

"Our guys played their tails off," BSU coach Greg Graham said. "I can't say enough about them."

All five Bronco starters scored in double figures and several reserves contributed in BSU's first regular-season win at Nevada since joining the WAC in 2001. The Broncos (13-5 overall, 4-2 WAC) did beat the Wolf Pack (10-7, 2-2) on their home court in the 2005 WAC Tournament in Reno.

It was Nevada's first double-digit loss at home since falling to Tulsa 76-66 on Jan. 3, 2002...

Go here for the remainder.

AND

Fresno State tumbles as Eddie Miller's shooting slump continues:

Bulldogs get run over by the Warriors
Gary Estwick
The Fresno Bee
1/20/08

HONOLULU -- Hawaii had no answer for Kevin Bell on Saturday night, but Fresno State had the same problem with Bobby Nash.

Nash made three consecutive 3-pointers early in the second half, and the Warriors rode the momentum to a 75-62 win at Stan Sheriff Center, keeping Steve Cleveland winless on the island during his Fresno State tenure.

Despite Bell's game-high 21 points, the Bulldogs lost in Honolulu for the fourth consecutive season with Nash being the thorn in their side with 13 points.

Jared Dillinger scored 15 for the Warriors, winners of back-to-back games for the first time this season and suddenly a Western Athletic Conference contender. Fresno State (9-10, 2-3) dropped under .500 for the first time this season.

An announced crowd of 7,420 fans watched Matt Gibson, Hawaii's leading scorer, follow Nash's example by making two 3-pointers during the early second-half run. Gibson, held scoreless in the first half, finished with 12 points...

Go here for the remainder.

OR IF YOU PREFER (from the Hawaii point of view)

UH routs Fresno, 75-62
Dayton Morinaga
Honolulu Advertiser
January 20, 2008

On a night marketed as "Champions on Display," the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team displayed its version of championship form last night.

The Rainbow Warriors combined a careful offense with a perimeter-wary defense in a 75-62 victory over Western Athletic Conference rival Fresno State.

A crowd of 5,447 — the largest home crowd of the season — at the Stan Sheriff Center watched the 'Bows improve to 7-10 overall and 3-2 in the WAC. It also marked the first time this season that Hawai'i won back-to-back games.

"Tonight was just one of those good nights where things were really clicking," Hawai'i head coach Bob Nash said. "We took care of the ball, we made the right reads. We were unselfish ... that's the way you play basketball."

On a night when the UH football, women's volleyball and soccer teams were honored, several 'Bows broke out of shooting slumps.

Jared Dillinger, who had two points in each of his previous two games, led the way with 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting.

"That's what you gotta do — just shoot when you're in a slump like that," he said. "Tonight it worked out well. Everyone was feeling it and we were feeding off each other."

Bobby Nash added 13 points and a career-high eight assists. Riley Luettgerodt had 12 points on 6-of-10 shooting, and grabbed a team-high six rebounds. Matt Gibson contributed 12 points and eight assists...

Go here for the remainder.

The WAC next season

Sometimes we get way ahead of ourselves but every college basketball coaching staff projects its rosters at least two or three, if not more, years out. It's necessary in order to determine what player losses will be taking place, what positions will need upgrading or reinforcing, how to keep the proportionate amount of freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors on the roster, etc.

We took a moment and drew up the following -- a projection of mainstay players departing the league at the conclusion of the 2007-2007 season. As is typical, a large number of talented players will have completed their athletic eligibility, including:

Boise State - no Matt Nelson, no Reggie Larry, no Tyler Tiedeman, no Matt Bauscher in 2008-2009 (this foursome make up four fifths of the Bronco starting five)

Fresno State - no Eddie Miller, no Kevin Bell, no Hector Hernandez, no Alex Blair in 2008-2009 (here are three, and sometimes four starters)

Hawaii - no Matt Gibson, no Jared Dillinger, no Riley Luettgerodt, no P.J. Owsley, no Bobby Nash in 2008-2009 (this is Hawaii's current starting five)

Idaho - no Michael Crowell, no Clyde Johnson, no Darin Nagle in 2008-2009 (two starters and a 20 mpg. player)

Louisiana Tech - no Keith Smith in 2008-2009 (he is a starter)

Nevada - no Marcelus Kemp, no David Ellis, no DeMarshay Johnson in 2008-2009 (plus JaVale McGee will be getting NBA overtures but should play another season)

New Mexico State - no Justin Hawkins, no Martin Iti, no Hatila Passos, no Fred Peete in 2008-2009 (there are three, sometimes four starters in this bunch)

San Jose State - no Jamon Hill, no Kevin Fleming, no Lance Holloway in 2008-2009 (no starters)

Utah State - no Jaycee Carroll, no Stephen DuCharme, no Kris Clark in 2008-2009 (three starters, including the probable league MVP)

Obviously, talent will be incoming. Nevada has a nationally-ranked recruiting class coming into Reno. LA TECH has a number of talented redshirt transfers itching to get on the court next season.

Anyway, this gives you a sense of who is on their last go around the league. But as coaches always insist, keep in mind the games are played on the court -- not in anyone's imagination.

We were hoping this game would provide an RPI boost...

It was fairly close at times due to a couple of homecourt rallies but the outcome of last night's St. Mary-s - Fresno State game did not give a boost to the Bulldog or WAC RPIs.

Fresno Sate's lack of an inside offensive game and defense continues to haunt Coach Steve Cleveland.

Past no blast for men's basketball
Fresno State catch that got away returns, helps Saint Mary's to victory
Gary Estwick
The Fresno Bee
1/08/08

Diamon Simpson returned to the Save Mart Center on Tuesday night, his first time back since committing to Fresno State as a high school senior.

Simpson never made it here during the fall of 2005, choosing to back out after recruiting violations ended Ray Lopes' coaching tenure. So his 17-point, six-rebound performance in Saint Mary's 77-68 win over Fresno State allowed the crowd of 9,610 fans to wonder what kind of contribution he could have made in the Valley.

He accomplished enough in the nonconference game to impress Fresno State coach Steve Cleveland, who took over for Lopes after Simpson, a former Bay Area prep standout, turned his interest to Saint Mary's.

"He's just so bouncy," Cleveland said. "He's around the rim. He can take it from 12, 14 feet and put it on the floor."

Simpson's effort spoiled a late Fresno State rally and Bryan Harvey's 20-point performance, temporarily ending what has been a trying season offensively for the Louisville transfer. Harvey's totals were both game and season highs...

Go here for the remainder.

A WAC version of 'The Night Before Christmas'

Special thanks to Clement Clarke Moore for the inspiration...


Twas the night before Christmas when all through the WAC
not a team was a-playin' not even the furriest of gym rats
the coaches' stockings were hung by their chimneys with care
in the hopes that a WAC championship would soon be theirs


'On Jaycee Carroll' shouted Utah State's Stew Morrill
While Fresno's Steve Cleveland yodeled 'Go Kevin Bell'
'Now Marcelus Kemp' uttered Nevada's mentor Mark Fox
While Bob Nash grabbed and guessed what was in his gift box
George Pfeiffer collected as many gifts as he could carry
Greg Graham offered blessings for having forward Reggie Larry
Kerry Rupp's simple warning was 'just wait til next year'
"I'm not Reggie' Marvin Menzies stated without fear
George Nessman had already received his very own Adrian Oliver
'Please ESPN, please ESPN' begged Karl Benson the Commissioner


The jolly red fat man stopped at the house of each WAC coach
Drank the milk and ate the cookies offered by each host
Ol' St. Nick shouted as he drove his sleigh out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."

David is more like Goliath

He's not the biggest guy around, at least in terms of size, say like 5-10 and 165 or so.

But his back is broad.

It must be because he is carrying his basketball team so far this season.

We are speaking of Kevin Bell, the senior point for Coach Steve Cleveland's Fresno State Bulldogs.

With Rekalin Sims in legal limbo, Dwight O'Neil out with a bum wrist, a host of new players and minus a dominate player in the paint, Bell has hoisted the Fresno hopes onto himself and is doing his best to keep the team above the waterline until one or more teammates can step forward to assist.

But first a little history:

As a freshman, Bell averaged 2.9 ppg. and 2.6 assists each time out, with a 69-35 assist to turnover ratio. Nothing spectacular but a promising display.

Bell followed up with starting every game as a sophomore, passing for 5.9 apg., leading the WAC in assists and enjoying another set of marvelous a-to-t numbers.

In his junior season, he started all 32 games and put up averages of 9.6 ppg and 5.6 apg, again handling the team quarterbacking by his lonesome.

This while shooting ,394 from the floor, .330 from three point range and .635 from foul line. He has been a .595 career free thrower.

All along, Fresno fans -- at least some of them -- wanted someone better at the point. A replacement. Someone who could also be a shooting threat -- as if the Bulldogs have lacked for shooters down the years.

Well, the wish came true. No, it's still some guy named Kevin Bell but look at his output so far this season: It's a Goliath-like 18.5 ppg. on .463 from the floor, .673 from the line, along with 40 assists versus 22 turnovers in six games. His scoring has doubled and his shooting has markedly improved in this, his senior season. Granted, Bell's turnovers are up a bit but that's because he has been forced to be THE creator on offense.

Now coaching staffs probably keep such detailed reports but they are not for public consumption -- those being who is responsible for what percentage of the team's offensive output. In Fresno's case, Bell would have to be at 75% or so.

Call them Kevin Bell's Fresno State Bulldogs. All 5-10 165 of him.

WAC teams dropping early games - more news & notes

Anyone know for sure what is up with LA TECH's heralded recruit Olu Ashaolu? After scoring 12 points in the opener, his name didn't appear in the box score of the game against Mississippi State (a 75-45 loss). Coach Kerry Rupp is thin upfront and could really use Ashaolu's 6-7 height and especially his 235 pounds in the paint. Keith Smith is manning the frontcourt, along with Adrian Rogers (bothered by a hamstring injury), but both are 6-7 but lighter than Ashaolu...

...The continuing dominance of Boise State football has put men's basketball Coach Greg Graham into a delicate position. Heck, even the success of the Bronco women's basketball team is adding to the pressure.
Idaho Statesman columnist Brian Murphy has a column about just this subject:

A pivotal season begins for Graham, Bronco men
Brian Murphy
Idaho Statesman
11/09/2007

The goal for the Boise State men's basketball program is simple: A spot in the postseason.

No numbers. No slogans. No fancy mottos. The Broncos simply want to be one of 97 teams playing in the NCAA or NIT tournaments in March.

"That's the fans', the media's, everyone's benchmark: ‘Are you in the postseason?' " said coach Greg Graham, who is beginning his sixth season with BSU. "That's the key for us right now."

It might also be the key to extending Graham's tenure. The long-time Oregon assistant is in the fourth year of a five-year contract extension signed after the Broncos' 2004 trip to the NIT's third round.

Since then, Boise State is 47-47.

Absolutely average on the court. And losing the competition for attention in this decidedly pro-winner town.

Attendance last season was 4,393 ­ the first time in three seasons it cracked 4,000 ­ and down about 1,000 since 2003-04. Season ticket sales are up this year to 5,348, thanks largely to an NCAA Tournament tie-in.

Coaches rarely enter the final season of a contract. It's a recruiting liability, so they're either extended or let loose.

Go here for the remainder...

...Graham's team did beat Utah Valley at home with a couple of new names leading the way in overtime. JC transfer guard Jamar Greene and redshirt freshman wing Paul Noonan combined for 11 of the Broncos 14 overtime points as Boise eked out a 73-72 victory...

...New Mexico State's 80-72 road loss to Ohio certainly won't help in any national ranking but it's much more critical if the Aggies don't win the WAC tourney and have to depend on getting selected for an at-large bid to the Big Dance. Ohio University zoned NMSU due to being outsized and lost the rebounding battle 45-38 -- getting just 17 minutes from center Leon Williams who got into early foul trouble. Coach Marvin Menzies' squad shot just 41% from the floor, 6-28 on threes. Steady Justin Hawkins put up 19 points and nabbed seven rebounds but committed seven turnovers. Sophomore guard Jonathan Gibson shot well overall and scored 15 points but was cold from long range going 1-6 on his three-point attempts. Still no further word on the eligibility of freshmen Herb Pope and Jahmar Young...

...Hawaii lost at home on a last second free throw to San Diego thereby spoiling Bob Nash's coaching debut. Bobby Nash was his usual solid self with 22 points and nine boards. Jared Dillinger, a non factor up to this season, scored 14 points and looks to be one of the inspirational stories of the basketball season to date. Here's one article on his emergence. Starting point Matt Gibson missed the game due to a left knee injury but isn't expected to be out for long...

...Fresno State beat Portland in Raisintown 75-68 with the Bulldogs going hot and cold with their jumpshooting. It's obviously early but Steve Cleveland's team must show some power inside and not a close to complete reliance on mid and long range jumpers. Kevin Bell scored 21 points in the next game to lead the team to a win over Liberty. Dwight O'Neil, coming off a redshirt year, has played very well in the opening two games...

...Utah State fell to rival Weber State in another contest that won't help the WAC power rating.

Turnover mania dooms Aggies
Jay Hinton
Deseret Morning News
November 11, 2007

OGDEN — In the first two games of the 2007-08 season, the Utah State Aggies are averaging an abnormal 21 turnovers per game.

The Aggies got away with 19 turnovers and beat Southern Utah on Friday night, but Saturday they turned the ball over 23 times and it cost them in the 78-71 loss to Weber State, which snapped a string of six straight losses by the Wildcats to USU.

"We turned it over time and time again," USU coach Stew Morrill said.
Utah State trailed by four points with 33 seconds left, and DeUndrae Spraggins, who coughed up the ball five times, threw the ball away. Jaycee Carroll was then called for an intentional foul, and Brody Van Brocklin hit one of two foul shots to stretch the lead to five.

Though it didn't matter, the Aggies' final possession of the game ended in a turnover...

A preview of Fresno State men's basketball 2007-2008

Here's our latest on the 2007-2008 version of Fresno State.

Coach Steve Cleveland will have a veteran team in 2007-2008 but an untested one.

Why the oxymoron?

Let's explain.

Quinton Hosley and Dominic McGuire, plus don't forget Ja'Vance Coleman despite all his difficulties, have all left the Central Valley -- Hosley and McGuire took superb athleticism and count-on-it production with them.

But Kevin Bell, Dwight O'Neill, Eddie Miller, Alex Blair, Shawn Taylor and Hector Hernandez remain and will be joined by 'newcomers' Rekalin Sims and Bryan Harvey. Newly signed freshmen Nedeljko Golubovic and Brandon Webster are now also in the mix.

Bell will end up a rarity next season -- a four-year player for Fresno State. O'Neill redshirted last year and will be a junior. Eddie Miller and Alex Blair came in from junior colleges last season. Taylor also transferred in from a community college. Hernandez will partner with Bell as another peculiarity -- a four-year Bulldog.

The senior Sims has been a basketball vagabond and will play his first and final season for the Bulldogs in 2007-2008. He was in over his head during his sole year at Kentucky but the WAC should be much more conducive to his level of talent.Harvey rarely saw the court while at Louisville during his frosh season before he transferred to Raisintown.

So Cleveland has seven upperclassmen out of his top ten players. However, the group offers but 13 years of D-1 experience, hence the tagline veteran but untested.

The Bulldogs were 22-10 overall last season but such is ancient history what with top talent departures so previous team numbers and stats don't offer much value.

Here's who is returning:

Kevin Bell -- point guard 5-10 165 senior. Bell has always enjoyed an excellent assist-to-turnover ratio. Last season, he was tops in the WAC in assists per game at 5.89 and assist/turnover ratio, posting a 2.54 figure. For the season, Bell tossed out 178 assists while committing 83 turnovers. But a major Achilles heel for him is his shooting -- just 39% from floor and 63% on free throws. These are not numbers coaches desire, especially the free throw number since the ball is generally in the hands of the point near game's end. But Bell's the little engine that could and does.

Dwight O'Neill -- shooting guard 6-3 180 senior. He came out of high school with the rep as a shooter but has also demonstrating prowess as a defender. He redshirted last season and will definitely be in the backcourt rotation in 2007-2008.

Eddie Miller -- shooting guard 6-3 170 senior. Signed as a long range bomber, Miller lived up to his reputation scoring 10.5 ppg. on 38% overall and 36% shooting on 3's. His biggest bugaboo is that defenders knew how and where to play him as he attempted but 28 free throws in 32 games.

Alex Blair -- power forward 6-8 220 senior. Blair was termed a defender and lived up to the analysis. He lacks offensive skills and is a backend-of-the-rotation type for the frontcourt.

James Tchana -- power forward 6-8 275 junior. He played in only six games due to injury and also should be a depth provider.

Hector Hernandez -- power forward 6-9 225 senior. A native of Chihuahua, Mexico, Hernandez scored 11.2 ppg. as a junior. He's the best Bulldog from three-pointland at 41% and can create matchup problems for defenders with his outside roaming. Similar to Eddie Miller, Hernandez earned just 32 free throws in 31 games--an amazingly low figure for a forward. He also grabbed 5.2 rpg. but is not considered an especially effective boardman.

Shawn Taylor -- center 6-10 220 senior. Taylor played as a freshmen at Alabama but then transferred to a junior college in Florida. He moved on to Louisiana Tech but never actually appeared there and finally worked his way to the Central Valley. He has yet to be more than a tall and athletic frontcourter due to a deficiency in the basketball skills necessary to produce numbers. Don't expect a big change.

Here's who has been on the sidelines:

Rekalin Sims -- power forward 6-8 230 senior. Sims is from the Bay Area but he first played a couple of seasons at a prep school in Maine, then at Salt Lake City College before signing with Kentucky. It didn't work out there and he returned to California, hitching up with Fresno and Steve Cleveland. His previous game was that of a small forward with more of a mid-range effectiveness. Whether he has expanded his repertoire will be determined this season.

Bryan Harvey -- wing 6-5 210 junior. Originally from southern California, Harvey is a bounceback from Louisville. As a prepster, he was rated No. 32 nationally by HoopScoop and 62nd by Prep Basketball Magazine. College Basketball News had him in its Top 62 high school seniors. Playing time was scarce under Rick Pitino so Harvey looked and then moved elsewhere. He looks to be the most talented player on the roster.

Here's the new kids figuratively and literally on the block:

Nedeljko Golubovic -- forward 6-8 230 freshman, HS NV. Originally out of Serbia, Cleveland descibes Golubovic this way: "He is a very versatile player, who can score inside and step outside and shoot the three. He will add depth and strength to our post players." Look for him to be in the mix for playing time but Fresno fans won't see a lot of him in the upcoming season.

Brandon Webster -- center 6-10 235 freshman HS TX. Webster was going to sign with Texas A&M until a coaching change occurred and then was headed to another D-1 school until that fell through. He possesses the frame coaches desire but will need time to adapt his game to the D-1 level of competition.

Expect Fresno State to continue the barrage from outside -- O'Neill, Miller, Hernandez and Harvey will be the launchers this time around -- as the Bulldogs fired up 200 more three-point attempts than opponents.

Cleveland's squad was out-rebounded by three a game last season. That ratio could worsen due to the departure of Hosley and McGuire unless a couple of frontcourters step up their games for 2007-2008. Taylor, Sims or the two freshmen need to demonstrate rebounding prowess in order for Cleveland's team to turn the board deficit into a positive.

Here's our estimate of the Bulldog starting five:
center - Hector Hernandez
power forward - Rekalin Sims
wing - Bryan Harvey
shooting guard - Eddie Miller or Dwight O'Neil
point - Kevin Bell

That's a solid starting five, especially offensively. Defense is the questionmark.