Fresno State Athletics
Heart of the Bulldogs
3/8/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 8, 2000
Heart of the Bulldogs
By Curtis Webb
It is senior night this evening, but it will not be the last home game for three Bulldog veterans. Seniors Larry Abney, Courtney Alexander and Terrance Roberson will play their last regular season game in front of Selland's rabid fans, however, next week is when the seniors would like the fans to cheer them off the court victoriously.
The WAC tournament, beginning this Wednesday, will be an excellent opportunity to witness the Bulldogs and their hard working seniors for the last time this year.
The Bulldogs and Fresno fans were unable to enjoy a 43-point performance by Alexander in a loss to Alabama-Birmingham. Roberson hit eight three-pointers, nearly saving the team by himself, in a disappointing home defeat to Cal State Northridge. Abney grabbed a career-high and Fresno State record 35 rebounds that were not enough against Southern Methodist two weeks ago. But when the 'Dogs played completely together and with the seniors coming up clutch, the squad came away with two wins against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane.
One of the main reasons Alexander returned to school was to experience a potential championship season. He passed up an opportunity to enter the NBA draft early to accomplish some team objectives, not necessarily for individual motives.
"I didn't come back for all the awards and recognition," Alexander said. "I came back to be a team leader, to improve myself as a basketball player and take this team deep in to the NCAA tournament."
Alexander has definitely shown the desire to take the 'Dogs as far as possible. Fighting injuries all season, the Durham, N.C. native has struggled at times, but in the big game he knows how to win.
There will, no doubt, be another huge game or two to play. During the tournament, the Bulldogs will likely run into SMU, a team they have lost to twice, or Tulsa - or both.
Aside from the excitement at hand, it is appropriate to honor the seniors and their accomplishments.
Abney, a product of the Nyack, N.Y. area, took the long route to playing basketball for the Bulldogs. He came to Fresno State in the fall of '95 and sat out while meeting NCAA eligibility requirements. He then transferred to Fresno City College to play his freshman year, where he led the Rams to their first Central Valley Conference title since 1987. Since transferring back to Fresno State, Abney has played in every game.
In his sophomore season, Abney was one of the first players to come off the bench. He led the team with a .608 field goal percentage and earned a starting role late in the season. Last year, Abney started in 25 games and earned the team's Top Rebounder award by leading the team in that category. This season has been nothing but the same. Abney has been a warrior on the boards and always does the little things to help the team win.
"I never really looked at my role as doing the grunt work," Abney said. "Diving for loose balls and setting picks are just as important as a three-pointer or a lay-up. Some of the plays I make may go unnoticed, but I'm just out there to help my team win.
"If I need to step up in any way, I'll do it by any means necessary. Whether it be scoring, guarding the bigger guys, or getting the offensive rebound, I'm going to get it done."
It is an accomplishment that will remain with Roberson always. It is an achievement that has required patience, discipline and desire over a period of more than four years. That attainment will be a degree in sociology that Roberson has worked so hard to obtain. That feat has had nothing to do with a basketball either.
"A degree is something that I'll be able to keep with me forever," Roberson said. "I'll be only the third person in my family to have graduated from college, so this is very important."
Roberson had to sit out his freshman season to fulfill NCAA eligibility requirements, possibly losing a year of eligibility. However, he regained that year of eligibility because he is on pace to graduate at the end of the year. Roberson values his opportunity to finish his education and still play basketball. He wanted that opportunity to be a leader on the court. "My leadership is so important to this team," Roberson said. "Once I get fired up, everybody gets fired up. When I'm playing with intensity and everybody is playing together, this team can be dangerous."
This team is starting to look dangerous, peaking at just the right time. Whatever their individual talents may be, however, head coach Jerry Tarkanian will remember their hard work.
"I love their work ethic," Tarkanian said. "They all have great desire to do what is best for the team."
