Fresno State Athletics
Using Defense as Their Offense
10/31/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Oct. 31, 2005
FRESNO, Calif. -
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When Fresno State head men's basketball coach Steve Cleveland took over the reigns of an 83-year old program on April 9, 2005, he sought out immediate changes. His personal agenda is to key the Bulldogs' renaissance.
While there are no seniors on the 2005-06 season and just two freshmen, Cleveland's back-to-basic no-nonsense approach will be used to generate a renewed commitment, a renewed energy and a renewed passion.
With a 13-player roster, Fresno State returns five letterwinners all of whom played in 80 percent of the games from a year ago. The Bulldogs welcome eight newcomers, including two who will sit out this season as Division I transfers.
So, what can be expected from a veteran coach who will captain a ship and set a course that will search for success on every shore?
"My promise is to control the things we can control and do everything we can to reach our full potential as a team," said Cleveland, who has won conference championships on the high school, junior college and Division I level while amassing 475 wins in 25 years. "We're going to control our attitude, effort, defensive intensity, take care of the basketball and execute on offense the best we can. We're going to execute what we do.
"We're going to be accountable on and off the court," continued Cleveland, who spent the last eight years at Brigham Young University and directed the Cougars to three Mountain West Conference titles, four 20-win seasons and five postseason appearances while garnering MWC Coach of the Year honors in 2003. "I am committed to building a comprehensive program that is founded on important core values on and off the court. There must be a strong work ethic, accountability, integrity and a respect for others. This will be the foundation of Bulldog basketball.
"There are four key elements to our game plan," added Cleveland, who owns a career record of 138-108 while having coached two NBA players in the last three years. "No. 1 is we have to compete on every possession. No. 2 is for each player to understand his role. No. 3 is we must guard and rebound. And, No. 4 is attack the basket through dribble penetration and post touches."
Schedule
Starting with the schedule, Cleveland and his coaching staff had the challenge of putting it together last May. Pleased with what was produced in a short time frame, the Bulldogs have seven schools on the docket that advanced to postseason play, including four that qualified for the NCAA Tournament.
With a 28-game schedule, 14 home games are on tap. Adding to the attraction of the home schedule will be Fresno State's appearance on ESPN's "Big Monday" versus Western Athletic Conference opponent Boise State on Feb. 27.
The `Dogs non-conference slate includes 2005 NCAA Tournament participants Iowa State and Pacific along with Oregon State, Buffalo and San Francisco which all played in the 2005 National Invitation Tournament. Rounding out its non-conference ledger will be contests against CS Northridge, San Diego, Norfolk State, UC Santa Barbara, Iona and a road Bracket Buster game.
The WAC season gets underway in early January and Fresno State will host 2005 NCAA Tournament qualifiers Utah State and Nevada in its first four league games.
In Fresno State basketball history the Bulldogs will be playing Iona for the first time as well as playing three of their five oldest opponents in Pacific, San Jose State and UC Santa Barbara. The `Dogs also open the year by playing six of their first seven games on the road. The regular-season tips off at Cal Poly, making it the second time in three years that Fresno State opens on the road.
"The key to putting together a schedule is balance," said Cleveland, who enters the year 12 victories shy of his 150th career win on the Division I level. "Your whole schedule is set up to help your team develop the confidence it needs to be the very best they can for conference and postseason play. Conference games are certainly the most critical times of the year but if you play opponents in the preseason and you can record good wins against teams that come from good conferences and have a strong RPI, it helps prepare you and puts together a pedigree that helps you get to the NCAA Tournament.
"Do we have the perfect schedule this year, no we don't," Cleveland added. "First and foremost you want to find a balance of playing at home and playing away but we were not able to capture that because of the timing of getting the job. You want to find a balance so that you're not on the road for four or five games and setting yourself up. You want to find a balance of playing BCS conference schools, mid-major programs and guarantee games. However in this day and age I don't think you can overlook anybody. We want to develop a preseason schedule that will test us and build confidence as we prepare for conference play. Winnings games, RPI and strength of schedule are all important elements in receiving postseason bids."
Initial Concerns and Encouragement
There are two concerns right out of the gate for the Bulldogs according to Cleveland. The initial concern is depth. Fresno State has nine players on scholarship and is thin up front as it does not have any post experience. The second is the need to recruit more shooters. While the Bulldogs have players who can shoot, Cleveland does not believe there can ever be enough players who can shoot the three. He is confident that the transfers sitting out and his first recruiting class will be able to meet those needs of additional post depth and shooters.
What Cleveland likes is the team's aggression level and the energy they bring to every practice. Offensively, the `Dogs will spread the floor and attack the basket off the dribble, creating open threes and free throw opportunities. They will run the floor after misses and makes and attack the basket to score early in transition. Defensively the team will play aggressive man to man defense in the half court and will full court press after all made baskets and dead ball situations. Cleveland is excited about playing a more up tempo game offensively and defensively. He also believes that a team must be able to guard -- man to man as an individual and team -- and rebound to win on the road. With conviction, Cleveland believes that a squad wins championships on the road.
Position Breakdown
Point
Sophomore Kevin Bell and junior college transfer Dekyron Nicks will compete for time at the point guard position. In addition, junior Ja'Vance Coleman could also see time at the point depending on match ups.
Bell played in 24 games, starting 17, last season. Averaging 18.8 minutes, he averaged 2.6 points and 3.0 assists per game while sharing point guard duties. Nicks, a third team junior college All-American out of Temple Junior College, averaged 11.2 assists - third best in the nation - while directing a high-powered offense that averaged 97.2 points per game.
"Kevin has good quickness, sees the floor well and is the most improved player from the returning five," Cleveland said. "Dekyron will create opportunities with his ability to penetrate and his passing skills. Both have good leadership skills, great attitude and can direct the team. They have the ability to push the ball in transition, handle the ball in pressure and be very unselfish. We'll need them to make shots to keep defenses honest. Defensively, we're really going to have to be good about getting in to guys and pressuring the ball."
Wings
Three Bulldogs return at the wing position in Coleman and sophomores Donovan Morris and Dwight O'Neil. Two newcomers in Ajay Riding and freshman Jeff Jackson will add depth to this position as well. Junior transfer Justin Loewe will sit out the year as a Division I transfer from Texas A&M.
Coleman, who played in all 30 games and returns as one of two Bulldog starters, garnered 2005 WAC All-Newcomer Team honors. Finishing first on the team and eighth in the league in scoring, he averaged 16.9 points per game along with 5.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists. He also tallied 12 20-point games and posted 28 double-figure games overall.
"Ja'Vance has outstanding offensive skills and has the potential to be a very good defender," Cleveland said. "He has the ability to create his own shot as well as the ability to create shots for his teammates. Being in great condition will be important as Ja'Vance will be asked to play significant minutes throughout the year."
Morris, who is the other starter returning for the Bulldogs, is one of the WAC's best outside shooters as he made 42.5 percent of his three-pointers overall and 45.8 in league action.
"Donovan has proven himself to be a very good shooter," Cleveland said. "He's continuing to work hard to develop his ball handling and ability to attack the basket."
O'Neil, who appeared in all 30 games a year ago, played a key role down the stretch for the `Dogs as he started four of the last eight games while making 35.0 percent of his three-point attempts.
"Dwight is very good at attacking the basket," Cleveland said. "He needs to work on his perimeter jumper. I love Dwight's attitude, energy and aggression level on the defensive end."
One of two true freshmen on the team, Jackson is a local product out of Clovis West High School that helped the Golden Eagles compile a 76-17 record his last three years. A junior college transfer from San Joaquin Delta, Riding helped the program to the Bay Valley Conference title and a state final four showing last season.
Forwards
Junior Quinton Hosley and sophomore Hector Hernandez will be taking up most of the minutes as junior Dominic McQuire will sit out this year as a Division I transfer from California.
While Hernandez will swing to the four or five position for the Bulldogs, Hosley will have the responsibility of being a team leader, according to Cleveland.
Hosley is a First Team Division I Junior College All-American out of Lamar Community College. Helping his team to a region championship, he averaged 20 points, 10 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 2.1 steals per game while shooting better than 80 percent from the free throw line for the Antelopes. Hosley, who played high school basketball with Hernandez at Abraham Lincoln High School, finished his junior college career as the school's all-time scorer and rebounder.
"I've never coached a young man that worked harder and competed harder," Cleveland said. "Quinton is as good an offensive and defensive rebounder that I've coached. He needs to continue to work on consistently shooting three's and knocking jumpers down. Quinton is a warrior and he'll compete."
Post
Junior Renato Cesar, who is a junior college transfer from Arizona Western, and freshman James Tchana will form a three-man rotation with Hernandez in the post.
Hernandez, who played in all 30 games last season, shot 31.9 percent from beyond the arc while scoring in double figures twice as a reserve player. He averaged 4.2 points and 2.8 rebounds in 14.0 minutes per game.
"Hector has good range from the three-point line and good athleticism as he will most likely play at the five spot this year," Cleveland said. "He was set back in the preseason with an emergency appendectomy while training with the Mexican National team so he's been working hard on building strength and stamina. Hector has a great attitude. I love his passion for the game."
Cesar played for the top-ranked junior college program in the nation during the regular-season a year ago. Last year he averaged 12.0 points and 7.4 rebounds while shooting 60 percent from the field. While the team went 31-3 overall, Cesar was a factor in the program winning the Region I championship before advancing to the National Junior College Athletic Association Tournament. Arizona Western captured one conference title and was a runner-up as it went 51-13 in Cesar's two years.
"Renato understands from early on what we're doing and running," Cleveland said. "He has good offensive moves and we'll need him to hit open shots. Cesar has worked hard on getting stronger and being more aggressive. He's gotten better but he needs to get even better to make an impact in this conference."
Out of Our Savior New American High School, Tchana garnered third team all-state honors after averaged 13 points, nine rebounds and four blocks as a senior. One of two New Yorkers on the squad he also was a McDonald's All-American nominee while being a two-time invitee to the prestigious ABCD Camp.
"James is raw right now but he works hard, has a great attitude and a great work ethic," Cleveland said. "He knows how to post and he posts up strong but he needs to continue to develop offensive skills to help us out. As coachable as any young man I've ever been around, he is a big presence on the floor and he wants to learn and get better."
Wrap Up
What Fresno State lacks in veteran experience the Bulldogs will be looking within their own strengths to lay a new foundation. Cleveland will emphasize core values and change the culture by showcasing the hardest workers as models to epitomize. No promises are being made except to improve and take the necessary steps to make this team the best they can become. Anything outside of that wouldn't be fair to them or anyone else because there's so much about this team that is unknown.
