Fresno State Athletics
Dogs Prepare For March Madness
3/20/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
March 20, 2009
LOS ANGELES - For many members of the Bulldog women's basketball team, heading to the 2009 NCAA Tournament will not be the wide-eyed experience they had last season in New Mexico, when the Dogs played in the tournament for the first-time in school history.
This year, the Fresno State defended their WAC crown, tied a school record with 24 wins and are a part of March Madness once again.
From the coaches to the student-athletes, this experience will not be as surreal. Instead of just being happy to be in the tournament, the Bulldogs are focused on making history and earning the program's first NCAA tournament victory.
The Dogs open the tournament Saturday night at 5 p.m. against the No. 12 Cal Bears on ESPN2.
As the No. 13 seed in the Trenton Regional, Fresno State will be an underdog in the match-up against a Pac-10 foe that started the season ranked in the top 10 in the nation, reaching as high as No. 3.
But coming to the Galen Center in Los Angeles yesterday afternoon on a short bus ride, this team is not worried about the distractions that can accompany March Madness. For one, this trip in itself is closer than all but one WAC road game. It's the sixth different California city for the Bulldogs during the 2008-09 season.
The Bulldogs participated in the required NCAA administrative meetings, a media conference and open practice at the Galen Center. In its third year, the facility on the USC campus, is a wonderful setting for such an event. Last week, the Galen Center served as the host to the Pac-10 women's basketball tournament. It has also hosted a Jeopardy College Tournament.
Upon arrival, the Dogs started with a media conference and then went out onto the court for practice.
It was evident by the expression on head coach Adrian Wiggins' face and those of Joh-Teena Felipe, Jaleesa Ross and Hayley Munro, they were serious and confident.
"We have a better understanding going into it this year," said Wiggins comparing this trip to the NCAA tournament to 2008. "We are more confident and know what's going on. There are a lot of things that happen in the NCAA tournament that you don't have to deal with in the regular season. We had the selection show on Monday and we are here and ready for the game, but a lot has happened this week to get here. We were better prepared to handle it this year."
The players also recognized a difference between the two seasons and the key word around the team was atmosphere
"There is a different atmosphere," said Ross about the NCAA tournament. "We learned that last year and we are coming in here more confident than last year's team."
Ross, the only player in WAC history to be named WAC Tournament MVP in back-to-back years, is a first-team All-WAC selection and set a single-season record with 93 three point field goals.
Sophomore Hayley Munro, a second-team All-WAC pick, averaged 10.3 points and a team-high 6.8 rebounds per game.
"We know more what to expect this year," said Munro. "We are more confident than last year. It was such a big stage last year and it's still a big stage, but we've been on it before and know the atmosphere."
The Bulldogs can be a scary team for opponents to prepare for, as Fresno State leads the nation in three point field goals and led the WAC in rebounding.
Fresno State has made 305 three point field goals, 21 shy of the all-time NCAA record, and 160 more than its opponents this season. Six different Bulldogs have made 20 or more three pointers this season.
"I've said for five years we would get into the tournament and we've done it two years in a row," said Wiggins. "I know we are going to win games in the tournament. It may be this year and it may not be this year, but we will get there."
Wiggins used one word to describe the key to Saturday's game: "Rebounding". The Bulldogs have led the WAC in rebounding all season long, nearly five more per game than their opponents. Playing a team as large as Cal, Wiggins has emphasized the importance of being physical to his team. He said Cal might be bigger but he doesn't believe the Bears are stronger than the Bulldogs.
"We are a strong team and we rebound pretty good," said Wiggins. "We have all year, so it's something we will need to continue to do. We won't change our approach. We shoot it well, we play good defense and we rebound and that's been the key to our success."
Following the media conference, the Dogs took over the Galen Center court for a 60-minute practice. Since the practice was open the media and public, Wiggins and the team showcased their athletic ability and shooting prowess with a variety of drills.
The Dogs put their final preparations for the game with a team dinner and coaches meetings to finalize game plans. They enter the game with a five-game winning streak and have won seven of their last eight games. With 24 wins, Bulldogs are one shy of setting an all-time record for most wins in a season.
Fresno State will have a strong presence at the NCAA tournament, with the Bulldog Band, cheer squad and mascot TimeOut in attendance. Several hundred fans have purchased tickets for the event.
Join the State - Fresno State! The Bulldogs open the 2009 NCAA Tournament against the Cal Bears at the Galen Center on the campus of USC on Saturday at 5 p.m. The game will be televised on ESPN2 and can be heard live in Fresno on 790 ESPN Radio "The Deuce" with Guy Haberman and Erica Henry calling the action.
