No. 22 Men's Basketball Hosts San Jose State and Hawai'i

Feb. 5, 2001

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Game No. 22: No. 22 Fresno State (18-3, 7-1) vs. San Jose State (10-10, 2-7)
Date: Thu., Feb. 8
Tipoff: 7 p.m. PST
Site: Fresno, Calif.
Arena: Selland Arena (10,220)
Radio: KMJ (AM 580), Play-by-play: Bill Woodward, Analyst: Dave Severns
TV: None

Game No. 23: No. 22 Fresno State (18-3, 7-1) vs. Hawai'i (10-10, 4-5)
Date: Sun., Feb. 11
Tipoff: 1 p.m. PDT
Site: Fresno, Calif.
Arena: Selland Arena (10,220)
Radio: KMJ (AM 580), Play-by-play: Bill Woodward, Analyst: Dave Severns
TV: Fox Sports Regional, Play-by-play: TBA, Analyst: TBA

This Week
It will seem like deja vu for the Bulldogs this week as they host San Jose State and Hawai'i, the two teams they played last week. San Jose State visits Selland Arena on Thursday, Feb. 8, while the Warriors and Bulldogs play on Sunday at 1 p.m. The Fresno State vs. Hawai'i game will televised live nationally on Fox Sports Net.

Up Next
The Bulldogs will have three consecutive road games, beginning next week at TCU on Feb. 15 and at UTEP Feb. 17.

Bulldogs Remain in Both Polls
Fresno State is ranked No. 22 in this week's USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll and three spots No. 23 Associated Press poll. Here's where the Bulldogs stand in various polls and ratings as of Monday:

Fox Sports Net             11ESPN.com                   "Sweet 16"The Sporting News          17Sagarin Ratings            20USA Today/ESPN             22RPI                        22Associated Press           23

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 36 years at the major college and junior college levels he has never suffered a losing season and never failed to win at least 16 games for 35 consecutive years. Forty-two 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, which is the third-best all-time.

Ranks second among active coaches in career victories and eighth all-time with 751 victories.

Became the eighth coach to reach the 750-victory mark at the major college level, defeating UTEP 108-56 on Jan. 25, 2001.

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).

The Feb. 8 game against San Jose State will be the 1,175th of his collegiate career, counting junior college and Division I.

2000-01 Bulldog Bites

Fresno State's 18-3 record is the best start by a Bulldog team since the 1981-82 season. That year the 'Dogs had the best record in school history of 27-3 after an 19-2 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 two wins in its final nine games to reach 20 wins again.

The Bulldog's average margin of victory in their 13-game winning streak was 18.0.

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, won by Fresno State, 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 21.4 points.

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 leads the Bulldogs in scoring at 16.9 points per game.

Fresno State is being outrebounded this season (39.8-39.0). FS ranks eighth in the WAC in rebound margin (-1.0) but have been outrebounded only once in the last 11 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 (58) than FS opponents (50).

Fresno State has 134 more assists than its opponents this season (401-267).

The Bulldogs are forcing opponents 21.0 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 leads the WAC in average attendace with 9,387 fans per game.

Demetrius Porter was voted national player of the week by CBSSportsline.com Jan. 16.

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

Fresno State's 108-56 win over UTEP set a WAC record for scoring margin and was the second largest in school history. It was also UTEP's worst defeat ever.

San Jose State Spartans (10-10, 2-7)
Head Coach: Steve Barnes
Overall Record/At School: 25-25 (2)/Same
1999-00 Record: 15-15
WAC Record/Finish: 6-8/5th
Media Relations Contact: Lawrence Fan (408) 924-1217
Series: San Jose State leads 70-65
The Spartans enter this week winning two of their last three games and will be facing the Bulldogs for the second straight game. Fresno State won at San Jose State 86-75 last Saturday. The 86 points scored by the Bulldogs were the most allowed by the Spartans this season, who lead the WAC in scoring defense, allowing 61.5 points per game. The Spartans also lead the WAC in rebounding margin at 6.8 per game. San Jose State is led by the trio of Mike Garrett, Cory Powell and Darnell Williams, who are each averaging over 11 points per game. Williams scored 18 points and had 11 rebounds in the last meeting. Fresno State was won 10 of the last 11games in the series, including four consecutive games. The Spartans have not won at Fresno since 1994.

Hawai'i Warriors (10-10, 4-5)
Head Coach: Riley Wallace
Overall Record/At School: 209-194 (14)/224-221(16)
1999-00 Record: 17-12
WAC Record/Finish: 5-9/6th
Media Relations Contact: Derek Inouchi (808) 956-7506
Series: Fresno State leads 15-6
Hawai'i enters the week with a two-game winning streak after sweeping Fresno State and Nevada last weekend. The Warriors have won four the last six games. Predrag Savovic leads the Warriors in scoring at 19.2 points per game in league game, which ranks second in the WAC. Center Troy Ostler is averaging 15.4 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. Guard Nerijas Puida ranks third in the league in assists, averaging 4.8 per game. Despite ranking last in the WAC in rebounding margin, the Warriors outrebounded Fresno State 42-29 in the last meeting. Riley Wallace is the dean of WAC coaches in his 14th season at Hawai'i. He has won more than 200 games at the school. The Warriors are 0-5 on the road this season and have lost 10 consecutive road games. They have just one win in their last 21 road games, 1-13 in WAC road games. Hawai'i plays at Nevada on Feb. 8 prior to their trip to Fresno.

In Case You Missed It
Bulldog Notes: Fresno State's 91-73 loss at Hawai'i was its first loss to a WAC team since Feb. 17, 2000, 14 consecutive games. . .The 18-point loss was Fresno State's worst since losing to Tulsa in the 1999 WAC tournament 85-56. . .It also snapped Fresno State's record tying 13-game winning streak. . .Chris Jefferies has the worst game of his career against Hawai'i, three points and no rebounds in 27 minutes. Fresno State is 4-3 when he scores less than 15 points. Jefferies rebounded with 23 points and and six rebounds, including going 5-of-6 from three point range against San Jose State. Fresno State had a 29-point lead (77-48) over the Spartans with 5:35 remaining when Jerry Tarkanian pulled all five starters. After the Spartans went on a 19-0 run over the next 4:35, he sent all five starters back in the game to insure the victory. . .Fresno State host San Jose State and Hawai'i this weekend. Sunday's Hawai'i game is on Fox Sports Net, the first nationally televised game for the Fresno State this season. . .Demetrius Porter scored his 1,000th career point against Hawai'i. He has 1,031 for his career after scoring 34 this weekend. . .Fresno State was 7-29 from three against Hawai'i and 10-15 against San Jose State. . .The Bulldogs got no points from its bench against San Jose State, the first time all season that has happened. . .Thursday's game against San Jose State will be Jerry Tarkanian's 1,175th of his college coaching career (junior college and Division I). . .Travis DeManby has made nine of his last 13 three point field goals but did not attempt a three pointer against San Jose State. . .The Bulldog's average margin of victory in their home games with Tito Maddox as the starting point guard is 21.4 points per game.

Fast Start
Fresno State's 18-3 record is the best start since the 1981-82 season, when the Bulldogs started the year winning 19 of their first 21 games.

Rolling Bulldogs
Fresno State is 26-4 in its last 30 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 18-3 record 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 82-63 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.

Raiders of the Lost Arc
Demetrius Porter, Fresno State's top three point shooter last season, got off to a poor start, but has caught fire since the WAC season started. He is shooting .364 overall and .431 in WAC games, which ranks ninth. As as team, the Bulldogs are shooting .362 from the land of three, but that's up from .331, which ranked last in the WAC heading into league play. In WAC games, the 'Dogs are shooting .412 as team. The Bulldogs are led by Travis DeManby (32-69, .464), Chris Jefferies (39-97, .402), Tito Maddox (10-32, .312) and Dennis Nathan (9-31, .290). Travis DeManby, who celebrated his 21st birthday Saturday at Tulsa making three of four treys, has made 19 of his last 33 three points attempts for (.576). The Bulldogs are averaging 8.75 threes per game in WAC games, which leads the league. Porter leads the WAC in threes made per game 3.5 and Jefferies ranks fifth at 2.62.

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 3.3 points and 2.7 rebounds per game in his 11.1 minutes per game as Melvin Ely's understudy. He leads the team in field goal percentage .675 (27-40). His post defense has been excellent. He has 13 blocked shots.

WAC Tracks
Fresno State is 7-1 in the WAC for the first time ever. The Bulldogs have never won the WAC title outright and claimed their first-ever WAC tournament championship last season.

Mount Margin
When the Bulldogs win they win big. During Fresno State's 18 wins this season, they are averaging a margin of victory of 17.8 points per game. In their 11 home victories, the average margin of victory is 20.3 points per game. Fresno State's last home game was a 52-point win over UTEP, 108-56, the margest margin of victory ever in a WAC game.

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 (.407)
The Bulldogs are allowing 70.4 points per game, fourth best in the WAC
Fresno State has held eight opponents under 64 points this season
Fresno State ranks WAC in blocked shots, averaging 6.6 per game
Fresno State ranks second in the WAC in steals, averaging 10.3 per game
Fresno State has 68 more steals (216-148) than its opponents this season

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.

3. Mitch Arnold (1982-85)       420      2. Wil Hooker (1989-92)         1824. Demetrius Porter (1998-)     407      3. Demetrius Porter (1998-)     173

Winning Streaks
The Bulldogs held the second-longest winning streak in the nation at 13 games before Thursday's loss at Hawai'i. The 13-game streak tied for the longest in school history.

Fresno State's Longest Winning Streaks 13.......2000-0113.......1980-81

Poll Palaver
Despite and 18-point loss at Hawai'i, the Bulldogs remained in both major polls, sticking at No. 22 in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll and dropping four spots to No. 23 in the Associated Press poll. The Bulldogs current ranking of No. 23 is the highest in the month of February since the AP poll of Feb. 23, 1982, when they were ranked No. 14.

WAC Leaders
Several Bulldog players and the team are leading the WAC in the following categories:

Player               Category               Overall           WAC GamesDemetrius Porter     Free Throw %           7th (.767)         1st (.917)                     Three-Pt FGs Made      2nd (2.48)         1st (3.5)Tito Maddox          Assists                N/A                1st (9.88)Melvin Ely           Blocked Shots          2nd (2.76)         1st (2.88)Fresno State         Scoring Offense        2nd (84.1)         1st (85.9)                     Assists                2nd (19.1)         1st (21.38)                     Attendance             1st (9.387)                     3-Pt FGs Made          3rd (7.52)         1st (8.75)                     Defensive Rebounds     3rd (26.43)        1st (27.5)                     Assist-Turnover Ratio  3rd (1.11)         1st (1.38)                     Blocked Shots          2nd (6.57)         1st (6.25)                     Scoring Margin         2nd (13.8)         1st (11.4)                     Field Goal %           2nd (.477)         1st (.485)

WAC Dominance II
Fresno State has won 15 of its last 16 games against WAC teams, including 12 of the last 13 conference regular season games. The Bulldogs own a current winning streak against each WAC opponent except Hawai'i, which snapped a six game losing streak to Fresno State in last Thursday's win.

Bulldogs Picked to Win WAC
The 2000-01 Western Athletic Conference men's basketball media poll has tabbed Fresno State as this year's favorite for the second year in a row. Fresno State received 162 points but just four of 21 first-place votes. Tulsa was picked to win the 2001 Williams WAC Tournament on 13 of the 21 ballots. This year's tournament will be played at Tulsa's Reynolds Center, March 6-10. Also picked were the preseason All-WAC team and the Player and Newcomer of the Year. The following is the complete 2000-01 WAC men's basketball media poll with first-place votes in parentheses (points awarded on an 9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis):

WAC Preseason Poll1. Fresno State (4)      1622. Tulsa (7)             1613. SMU (9)               1544. TCU (1)               1315. UTEP                  1006. Hawai'i                807. San Jose State         718. Rice                   489. Nevada                 38

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 (229)
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
Ranks second the WAC in blocked shots (2.84)

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)
WAC Player of the Week (Jan. 15) and voted national player of the week by CBSSportsline.com Jan. 16.
Is a nominee for Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award for the nation's most outstanding senior six-feet or shorter.
Sixth in the WAC in scoring in league games (17.8 ppg).
Leads the WAC in free throw percentage (22-24, .917) and threes made per game (3.5)

Chris Jefferies, F, 6-8, 220, Sophomore, Fresno, Calid. (Wash. Union/Arkansas)

Preseason WAC Newcomer of the Year
Fresno State's leading scorer (16.5 ppg), which ranks eighth in the WAC
Is averaging 16.0 points and 5.1 rebounds per game in WAC games
Is shooting (.402) from three overall and (.457) in WAC games
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 10 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
Third on the team in scoring (15.0)
WAC games assist leader at 9.9 per game
Leads the team in free throw percentage (.718) making 51-of-71
Unofficial NCAA leader in assists at 9.8 per game
Named WAC Player of the Week twice (Dec. 26 and Jan. 29).
Has double-doubles for points and assists in three of the last six games

Fresno State Athletics

No. 22 Men's Basketball Hosts San Jose State and Hawai'i

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