Fresno State Athletics
Energy, Communication Key to Plan of Attack
10/11/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By Stephen Trembley
strembley@csufresno.edu
www.GoBulldogs.com
FRESNO, Calif. -- With less than five weeks left of fall practice, the Fresno State men's basketball team has placed an extra emphasis on consistent communication and energy preparing for the high-altitude games and grueling schedule of the Mountain West.
"About this time of year, you have so much that you are trying to work on in terms of things that you are putting in from an offensive stand point and a defensive stand point," Fresno State head coach Rodney Terry said. "More importantly, I think we have gathered that energy and we have a very competitive group. They are working really hard."
Bulldogs' senior guard Marvelle Harris, who is the Mountain West's only returning first-team all-conference honoree, likes the effort the team has shown in practice, similar to a pack of 'Dogs snarling their teeth at the sight of fresh meat.
"There is a lot of energy," Harris said. "I feel like everybody has the same feeling like we did last year but I feel like we are more of a complete team. We have older players, more experienced guards and big guys. We have a lot of guys who can help us on the defensive end."
That hard-nosed defensive mentality has been woven into the fabric of Terry's program since he arrived on campus back in 2011. Even when faced with a depleted rotation during his first season, Terry relentlessly coached his squad to play hard. As the Bulldogs transitioned into the rugged Mountain West, Fresno State continued to dial up pressure and is a more veteran battle-tested group.
"We go in every year working hard and have the same common goals that we want to be highly competitive in a nonconference schedule and we want that to prepare us for conference play," Terry said. "Between Marvelle, Cezar (Guerrero), and Julien Lewis, and I can even throw Paul Watson as a guy that has logged senior minutes, along with Karachi (Edo). They have been battle tested and they definitely try to bring the new guys up to speed as quick as possible."
Senior point guard Cezar Guerrero shared how the team has become more of a brotherhood than a friendship and improved its collective conditioning as a family.
"We condition all the time, so most of us are what I can say are in the best shape we have ever been in since we have been here at Fresno State," Guerrero said. "We are a lot closer as a team. Right now, there is a lot of competitiveness, a lot of team bonding, and a lot of us coming out here and being competitive against each other. Our coaches are with us the whole time and our team chemistry is there."
Terry feels the Bulldogs' conditioning will directly correlate to the team's success on both ends of the floor.
"You have to get yourself into great shape to play the way we want to play from a defensive and offensive stand point," Terry said. "We are putting in a lot of time in that regards. We want to play fast on both ends of the floor, so you have to be conditioned really well."
While many will point to the backcourt as one of the team's strengths, Fresno State's development and additions in the frontcourt could prove to be an X-factor when it comes to facilitating Terry's game plan.
"We added a couple junior college guys like Torren Jones and Cullen Russo," Terry said. "Torren gives us a guy who plays with a motor and helps us in physicality in the paint. Cullen is a highly skilled guy. Nate Grimes is a guy that we are going to be able to develop as a really good MW player and we're hoping to see him grow in his role over the course of his freshman year."
Terrell Carter II is making significant strides this offseason getting his body into game shape and executing the details, while high-flying junior forward Karachi Edo has also improved since last year.
"Karachi has worked really hard over the summer," Terry said. "He has really improved and he is a guy again who logged significant minutes during his first two years, so we know what he is going to bring to the table in terms of his energy and effort. I do think he has gotten better in his skill set as well that will be able to help the team."
Fresno State opens the 2015-16 season on Nov. 13 at home versus Pepperdine.
"Be Bold." --- Season tickets for the 2015-16 Fresno State men's basketball season are on sale now starting at $149 by calling 559-278-DOGS.
