Men's Basketball Tries to Stay Hot Against Two of the WAC's Best

Jan. 8, 2001

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Game No. 16: Fresno State (13-2, 2-0) vs. TCU (12-3, 2-0)
Date: Wed., Jan. 10
Tipoff: 7 p.m. PDT
Site: Fresno, Calif.
Arena: Selland Arena(10,220)
Radio: KMJ (AM 580), Play-by-play: Bill Woodward, Analyst: Dave Severns
TV: None

Game No. 17: Fresno State (13-2, 2-0) vs. SMU (11-3, 2-0)
Date: Sat., Jan. 13
Tipoff: 7 p.m. PDT
Site: Fresno, Calif.
Arena: Selland Arena(10,220)
Radio: KMJ (AM 580), Play-by-play: Bill Woodward, Analyst: Dave Severns
TV: KMPH Fox 26, Play-by-play: Ralph Wood, Analyst: Jack Fertig

This Week
The Bulldogs bring an impressive nine-game winning streak home but have to face the two other hottest teams in the WAC in TCU on Wednesday, Jan. 10 and SMU on Saturday, Jan. 13. TCU and SMU are also 2-0 in WAC games and have a combined 23-6 record entering the week.

Up Next
The Bulldogs have just one game in each of the next two weeks. Fresno State travels to Nevada, the newest member of the WAC, for a game on Saturday, Jan. 20.

Ranking Note
The Bulldogs are climbing up the polls, nearing the Top 25 in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll. Fresno State has enough votes to be 29th in that poll. The Bulldogs received 12 votes in the AP poll, which is 36th. The Bulldogs jumped from No. 17 to No. 14 in the Sagarin Ratings after their two wins last week.

Fast Start
Fresno State's 13-2 record is the best start since the 1981-82 season, when the Bulldogs started the year winning 17 of their first 18 games. The current nine-game winning streak is the fourth-longest in school history. The record is 13 consecutive wins set in 1980-81.

Head Coach Jerry Tarkanian
Jerry Tarkanian returned to his alma mater 40 years after he graduated and has quickly put Fresno State on the national basketball map with unprecedented national exposure. After five consecutive 20-win seasons and four trips to the NIT, the Bulldogs finally made their first NCAA tournament appearance under Tark in 2000. Tarkanian has guided two other programs to the NCAA tournament, Long Beach State and UNLV, and has made 16 appearances in the Big Dance. During his coaching career, he has led his teams to four appearances in the NCAA Final Four (UNLV in 1977, 1987, 1990 and 1991), one national championship (UNLV in 1989-90) and owns a 37-16 record in 16 NCAA tournament appearances. In 35 years at the major college and junior college levels he has never suffered a losing season. Forty-one of his players have been drafted by NBA teams, including nine first-round selections. His five consecutive 20-win seasons with the Bulldogs -- only the second time that feat has been accomplished in the history of Bulldog basketball -- have brought him to 28 20-win seasons in his career, the best among active coaches. He stands behind only Dean Smith, who had 30 such seasons before retiring from the game in 1997, on the all-time list. Each year, Tarkanian and Kansas' Roy Williams battle for the top spot in winning percentage among active coaches, with Tark leading by thousandths of a point. Tark's record is testament to 29 years of coaching at the major college level. He currently stands fourth on the all-time win percentage list and reigned for several years as the all-time winningest coach prior to coming to Fresno State. Tarkanian wasted no time bringing the Bulldogs back to national prominence when he took a team that had gone 13-15 the previous year and led it to a 22-win season, a third-place WAC finish and the quarterfinals of the NIT during the 1995-96 season. In 1997-98 the Bulldogs were 21-13 and made it to the semifinals of the NIT before falling to 1997 Final Four participant Minnesota. NIT champion Cal defeated Fresno State in the first round of postseason play in 1999. On the day Fresno State officials introduced him as the Bulldogs' new head coach, April 5, 1995, Tarkanian hinted at better days for the Bulldogs and the Red Wave. "I never really thought this would happen, but if there was any way that I could end my coaching career here, this would be the best place," said Tarkanian, who had not coached at the college level since leaving UNLV at the end of the 1992 season. "It's a great opportunity for me. I'm excited. I've always said that the Red Wave are perhaps the very best fans in the entire country, and hopefully we can get the program going to the level that will bring a lot of excitement and pride to the people in the San Joaquin Valley." And the fans have responded. Selland Arena has enjoyed 56 sellouts in the last four years, making it one of the best home-court advantages on the West Coast. The university has moved forward on plans for an on-campus events center, the Save Mart Center, a 16,500-seat showcase home for Bulldog basketball.

Shark Bites

Tops on the NCAA active win percentage list at .804.

Became the 12th coach to reach the 700-victory mark at the major college level, defeating No. 15 New Mexico Jan. 4, 1999.

Ranks second among active coaches in career victories with 742.

Has led Fresno State to five consecutive 20-win seasons, only the second time that feat has been accomplished in Bulldog basketball history.

Tutored 42 players who were drafted by the NBA, including 12 first-round selections.

One of only a handful of coaches to lead three different schools to 20-win seasons. At each school, Tark recorded a 20-win season in his first year.

Led UNLV to the NCAA title in April 1990 (the Rebels defeated Duke 103-73 in posting the largest winning margin in NCAA championship game history).

Tarkanian has averaged 25.1 wins per season during his 29-year major college coaching career.

Led UNLV to Top 10 finishes in wire-service polls nine times (1976, 1977, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1992).

Won or shared Big West Conference Coach of the Year honors seven times in 10 seasons. Also was named West Coast Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 1975.

Coached six first-team All-Americans: Ricky Sobers (1975), Eddie Owens (1976), Sidney Green (1983), Larry Johnson (1990, 1991) and Stacey Augmon (1991).

2000-01 Bulldog Bites

Fresno State's 13-2 record is the best start by a Bulldog teams since the 1981-82 season. That year the 'Dogs had the best record in school history of 27-3 after an 14-1 start to the season.

The Bulldogs have won 20 or more games and qualified for the postseason in each of the last five seasons. FS needs seven wins in its final 15 games to reach 20 wins again.

The Bulldog's average margin of victory in their last nine games is 17.9. The closest game in that time was an 11-point victory at Rice (69-58).

Fresno State won the 2000 Hall of fame Tip Off Classic, defeating North Carolina State 82-63 on Nov. 22 in Springfield, Mass.

Fresno State had the NCAA scoring leader Courtney Alexander (24.8 ppg) last season, the only WAC player to ever lead the NCAA in scoring. He was the 13th overall pick of the 2000 NBA draft by the Orlando Magic but was traded on draft day to Dallas.

The 2000 Trend Homes Classic featured three teams that were in the 2000 NCAA tournament: Fresno State (24-10), Louisiana Lafayette (25-8) and Samford (21-11). Toledo (18-10) completed one of the finest four-team tournament fields in the nation.

Since Tito Maddox became the starting point guard, Fresno State's average margin of victory in their home games has been 20.6 points. The closest margin of victory was 16 points twice (Toledo and Louisiana-Lafayette).

Fresno State hosted the inaugural Hispanic College Fund Tournament Nov. 17, 19 at Selland Arena. The Bulldogs lost in the championship game to St. Bonaventure 87-74. Chris Jefferies and Melvin Ely were selected the to the HCF Classic All-Tournament team.

The Bulldogs are playing 18 regular season home games this season, most in school history.

Fresno State was selected as the WAC champion by the media in the preseason poll. Sophomore transfer Chris Jefferies was selected the WAC Preseason Newcomer of the Year. Jefferies scored a career-high 24 points at San Francisco on Dec. 2.

Fresno State is being outrebounded by two per game this season (40.8-38.8). FS ranks last in the WAC in rebound margin (-2.0) but have not been outrebounded in the last five games.

Fresno State is averaging 6.6 blocked shots per game, ahead of pace to break the school record for a single season. In 1997-98, the Bulldogs had 185 blocked shots for an average of 5.4 per game. Melvin Ely has more blocked shots (39) than FS opponents (30).

Fresno State has 92 more assists than its opponents this season (264-172).

The Bulldogs are forcing opponents 22.3 turnovers per game.

Fresno State's 93-79 win at Tulsa was the worst loss ever for the Golden Hurricane in the Reynolds Center and worst home loss since Jan. 4, 1991.

Fresno State ranks second in the WAC blocked shots with 99, behind TCU which has 108.

Tito Maddox was named WAC Player of the Week on Dec. 26.

Jerry Tarkanian got his 950th win as a college coach vs. Santa Clara (Dec. 13). That includes junior college and Division I wins.

TCU Horned Frogs (12-3, 2-0)
Head Coach: Billy Tubbs
Overall Record/At School: 570-273 (27)/131-73 (7)
1999-00 Record: 18-14
WAC Record/Finish: 8-6/4th
Media Relations Contact: Steve Fink (817) 257-5394
Series: Even 3-3

The Horned Frogs capped the non-conference schedule with a 10-3 record and did it by scoring a lot of points. TCU leads the nation in scoring at just under 100 points per game (98.3) and average more than 10 points per game more than any other WAC team. Its scoring margin is over 22 points per game. TCU has scored over 100 points in seven of its first 15 games, including scoring an NCAA season-high 141 points against Central Oklahoma, 130 against Arkansas Pine Bluffs and 115 against Texas Arlington. Guard Greedy Daniels was selected the WAC Player of the Week after averaging 20 points, eight steals 5.5 assists and five rebounds in wins over Texas Tech and Arkansas Pine Bluffs. Daniels leads the nation in steals at 4.7 per game. His 16 assists against Central Oklahoma are the second most in the NCAA this season. Sharp shooting guard Ryan Carroll, who scored 40 points against Central Oklahoma, leads the team in scoring at 19.3 per game. The Horned Frogs swept Hawai'i and San Jose State last weekend. TCU was held to a season-low 65 points by the Spartans.

SMU Mustangs (11-3, 2-0)
Head Coach: Mike Dement
Overall Record/At School: 211-192 (15)/89-69 (6)
1999-00 Record: 21-9
WAC Record/Finish: 9-5/3rd
Media Relations Contact: Mike Ziegler (214) 768-1651
Series: Even 2-2

SMU enters the week with a 11-3 record, but all three losses have been to quality opponents. The Mustangs lost to No. 6 Tennessee 85-76 and dropped two games to Big 12 teams before the WAC season, losing 72-70 to Nebraska and 79-78 in overtime to Oklahoma. The Mustangs swept San Jose State and Hawai'i last weekend. SMU boasts two of the top five scorers in the WAC. Jerryl Sasser, the WAC preseason player of the year selection, is averaging 17.6 points per game, second on the team. Damon Hancock leads SMU in scoring, at 17.7 points per game. Both players are shooting over 35% from three point range. Forward Willie Davis ranks third in the WAC in rebounding at eight per game. SMU plays at Nevada on Thursday, Jan. 11, before coming to Fresno.

Tark vs. Tubbs
The WAC boasts two of the winningest coaches in NCAA history. Fresno State's Jerry Tarkanian ranks second among active coaches with 746 career victories while TCU's Billy Tubbs is 12th with 570 career wins. Each coach is at his third school. Tarkanian is in his 30th season as a Division I head coach while Tubbs is in his 27th season, having coached at Lamar, Oklahoma and TCU.

Rolling Bulldogs
Fresno State is 21-3 in its last 24 games dating back to last season. The Bulldogs won eight straight at the end of last season, but had their string snapped with a first round loss to Wisconsin in the NCAA tournament. Fresno State has a 13-2 record to start this season.

Hall of Fame Tip-Off Classic Champions
Fresno State, competing in its first Hall of Fame Tip-Off Classic, defeated North Carolina State 83-62 in Springfield, Mass. Fresno State will have a display in the Basketball Hall of Fame, including the team uniform, for winning the game. The Bulldogs are in elite company, joining the following schools as Hall of Fame Tip-Off Classic Champions: Arizona (1989, '96,), UCLA (1991), DePaul (1980), Duke (1979, '88), Illinois (1984), Indiana (1999), Kansas (1998), Kentucky (1996), UMass (1994), Michigan (1985, '93), North Carolina (1987), North Carolina State (1983, '86) Purdue (1992), St. John's (1982), Villanova (1990), and Virginia (1981).

Ely, Maddox Classification
Fresno State head coach Jerry Tarkanian said that Melvin Ely, who is listed as a senior in the 2001 media guide and Tito Maddox, who is listed a sophomore, are both on track to regain an extra year of eligibility. Both Ely and Maddox were NCAA non-qualifiers and had to sit-out their first years at Fresno State. This same situation happened with former Bulldog Terrance Roberson, who gained his fourth-year because he was on track for graduation in four years. Ely will be listed a junior and Maddox as a freshman for eligibility purposes.

Honors Candidates
Melvin Ely, C, 6-10, 256, Junior, Harvey, Ill. (Thornton Township)

Preseason All-WAC by Athlon's, Street and Smith's, Lindy's and The Sporting News
No. 16 rated center in the nation by The Sporting News
Rated the WAC's best defensive player by Lindy's and The Sporting News
Second-team All-WAC in 2000
1999 & 2000 All-WAC Defensive team
School Record holder in blocked shots for season (92) and career (222)
2000 WAC leader (sixth in NCAA) in field goal percentage (.606, 180-207)
2000 WAC leader (16th in NCAA) in blocked shots (3.0)
Fourth-best field goal percentage in WAC games in league history (.644, 87-135)
Selected to the Hispanic College Fund Classic All-Tourmament team
Selected the MVP of the Hall of Fame Tip-Off Classic

Demetrius Porter, G, 6-0, 182, Senior, Fresno, Calif. (Washington Union)
No. 19 rated point guard by The Sporting News
First Team All-WAC by The Sporting News, Third team All-WAC by Lindy's
Rated the WAC's best playmaker by The Sporting News and Lindy's
2000 WAC leader (23rd in NCAA) in assists (6.24)
2000 WAC leader in assist-turnover ratio (2.81)
Ranked 23rd in NCAA in three point field goal percentage (.440, 85-193)
15th-best three point field goal percentage in WAC games in league history (.494, 42-85)

Chris Jefferies, F, 6-8, 220, Sophomore, Fresno, Calid. (Wash. Union/Arkansas)
Preseason WAC Newcomer of the Year
Fresno State's leading scorer (16.9 ppg)
Selected to the Hispanic College Fund Classic All-Tournament team
Selected to the Trend Homes Classic All-Tournament team
Led Fresno State in scoring in eight games
Scored a career-high 24 points vs. San Francisco (Dec. 2) and Georgia (Dec. 23)

Tito Maddox, G, 6-4, 190, Freshman, Compton, Calif. (Compton)
Selected MVP of the Trend Homes Classic
Second in the team in scoring (14.8) and team leader in assists (8.3)
Leads the team in free throw percentage (.833) making 27-of-33.
Would rank third in the NCAA in assists if he were eligible for national statistics
Named WAC Player of the Week on Dec. 26.

Maddox Spectacular in Debut
Freshman Tito Maddox who was declared ineligible by the NCAA for the first eight games of the 2000-01 season, made his debut on Dec. 19 vs. Toledo in the first round of the Trend Homes Classic, in which he scored 19 points and had 13 assists. Maddox followed that with a 20-point, nine-assist performance in the championship game of the Trend Homes Classic and was nearly a unanimous selection for tournament MVP He guided the Bulldogs to three wins that week, averaging 18.7 points, 10.3 assists, 5,0 rebounds, while shooting .514 from the floor (18-35). He was 4-9 from three points range (.444). He also had seven steals in three games. He scored 19 points and had 13 assist in his first game of the season against Toledo. In the championship game of the Trend Homes Classic, he led the team with 20 points, had nine assists and four steals. He was perfect from the line (7-7). Maddox is second on the team in scoring (14.9), leads the team in assists (8.3). He ranks third on the team in rebounding, 5.6 per game.

Raiders of the Lost Arc
Demetrius Porter, Fresno State's top three point shooter last season, has gotten off to a poor start, connecting on just 29-of-92 threes this season for .313 percent. As as team, the Bulldogs are shooting .344 from the land of three, led by Travis DeManby (24-52, .462), Chris Jefferies (26-65, .400),Tito Maddox (5-14, .357) and Dennis Nathan (8-27, .296). Travis DeManby, who celebrated his 21st birthday Saturday at Tulsa making three of four treys, has made 11 of his last 16 three points attempts for (.688).

The Moose Is Loose
Freshman Mustafa Al-Sayyad has easily been Fresno State's biggest surprise this season. Head coach Jerry Tarkanian never expected Al-Sayyad to have the type of impact he's had. He is averaging 4.1 points and 2.9 rebounds per game in his 11.8 minutes per game as Mevlin Ely's understudy. He leads the team in field goal percentage .765 (26-34). His post defense has been excellent.

Mount Margin
Fresno State has been dominating in its last nine games, all wins. The Bulldogs average margin of victory in those wins is 17.9 points, with the slimmest margin of victory of 11 points at Rice. The Bulldogs have three double-digit road victories in that span. Of Fresno State's 13 wins this season, all but one have been by double-figures. The Bulldogs have scored at least 80 points in seven of the last eight games and are averaging 86.6 points per game during that time.

D-Fence
The key to Fresno State's dominance has been its defense, a trademark of Jerry Tarkanian's teams throughout the years. Here's a look:

The Bulldogs rank second in the WAC in field goal percentage defense (.394)
The Bulldogs are allowing just 67.9 points per game, third best in the WAC
Fresno State has held seven opponents under 64 points this season
Fresno State has forced 20 or more turnovers in 10 of 13 games

Porter Point
Senior guard Demetrius Porter is one of the premier guards in the WAC. Porter led the league in three categories in league games last season, more than any other player. He led the WAC in assists (6.24) and assist/turnover ratio (2.64). In addition, he led the WAC in three point field goals made per game in league games (3.00). He ranked third in steals (1.97) and second in three point field goal percentage (.494, 42-85). Porter failed to get an assist against Rice on Jan. 4, snapping a 54-game assist streak. Here's where he ranks on the Fresno State career assists and steals charts.

Career Assists                               Career Steals3. Mitch Arnold (1982-85)    420             4. Mike Mitchell (1986-88)        1674. Demetrius Porter (1998-)  390             5. Demetrius Porter (1998-)       164

Fresno State Athletics

Men's Basketball Tries to Stay Hot Against Two of the WAC's Best

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