Fresno State Athletics
Getting in the Groove
10/29/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Oct. 29, 2009
FRESNO, Calif. - In April 2005, Steve Cleveland returned home to Fresno after eight successful seasons transforming the Brigham Young Cougars into consistent postseason contenders.
The task to reshape the culture of his hometown team may have seemed daunting, but the man at the helm steadied the course with a systematic philosophy to build a foundation and foster an environment for academic and athletic excellence.
In those four and a half years, Cleveland stayed committed to his principles and integrity as he guided the program through the largest Academic Progress Rate (APR) improvement in the country, signed top-tier high school recruits and focused on the basics of teaching the game of basketball to high character young men.
Through adversity and challenges, including not having a full allotment of scholarships due to NCAA sanctions by the previous coaching staffs, Cleveland crafted successes with an eye on the horizon to translate his vision into reality and after all that hard work the building blocks are in place for the Bulldog men's basketball team to begin the goal of winning championships.
"Our goal is to win a WAC championship and compete in the NCAA Tournament," Cleveland said of his mindset for the upcoming season. "We pride ourselves our being the best defensive team in the league and over the last week, we are making progress with our aggressiveness, fundamentals and intensity."
The Bulldogs started official practice on Friday, Oct. 16 with a two-hour session. The team woke up early the next morning for a 9 a.m. practice inside the beautiful Save Mart Center. After a day off on Sunday, the players reported for the first of three straight afternoon sessions before a 6 a.m. Thursday morning meeting to apply the week's teachings of new offensive schemes and defensive sets in a competitive environment. The sessions are intense and focused on specific fundamentals.
"We expect to surprise people with how well we can execute our game plan throughout the roster," sophomore forward Paul George said. "Every day we are competing for time on the floor and we all know that someone is waiting to take our spot if we aren't doing our job. I think the depth we have now is something that will really help us to get to where we want to go."
George, a 2009-10 preseason second-team selection and the West's Most Entertaining Player according to SI.com, played more minutes than anyone else in the WAC last year and averaged the fifth-most overall in the NCAA as one of the top 15 freshmen scorers with 14.6 points per game. He also cemented his place in YouTube history with an instantly legendary slam dunk on two Saint Mary's defenders that topped SportsCenter's "Plays of the Day."
"I really like our group of guys," George added. "The new guys have been around all summer and we all spend time together off the floor, so our bond is very close. Everyone is learning how we can improve the team. Our focus is on defense and attacking with a more aggressive approach."
While all the new additions have impressed Cleveland, George and the other returners with their work ethic and talent, Greg Smith is a local product from Fresno's Edison High School, who will have an opportunity to provide a strong presence and unmatched energy that can produce mismatches and exploit the slightest mistake by any opponent.
"I love being here at Fresno State," Smith said of starting Division I practice. "Every day, I am learning something new and this team has the chance to do something special. There is a lot to learn, but all the guys are so talented that we can do it."
With a need to solidify the point guard position, an under-the-radar junior college freshman impressed Cleveland and his staff at the Junior College National Tournament with his quick pass-first style that combined a game-changing ability to drill deep shots and fight for every loose ball. The spring signee, Steven Shepp, moved across the country with the desire to win titles and fill a critical role for the Bulldogs.
"This is a great opportunity to get a quality education and compete at a high level," Shepp said of his decision to change coasts. "The weather is much different here than in Virginia, but the guys welcomed me as a part of their family. The energy level has definitely picked up and we have fun playing the game."
The light on the horizon is swiftly approaching and Cleveland's Bulldogs are using this fall to prepare as hard as possible to be ready to go for the start of the season nearly two weeks away.
This story is courtesy of Fresno State's Official Sports Report. To receive the free daily Official Sports Report, go to: www.officialsportsreport.com.
"We Are Your Team" - Season tickets in the lower bowl are available by calling the Bulldog Foundation at (559) 244-5600 or by visiting www.bulldogfoundation.org. Upper Bowl season tickets can be purchased for $189 at www.gobulldogs.com, by calling (559) 278-DOGS or by visiting the Bulldog Ticket Office south of Bulldog Stadium. All season tickets include a general admission ticket to Fresno State's Dec. 1 game at Selland Arena. All other home games are played at the Save Mart Center.
