Fresno State Athletics
Bulldogs Open Fall Practice with Focus on Defense
10/2/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By Stephen Trembley
strembley@csufresno.edu
www.GoBulldogs.com
FRESNO, Calif. --- With just six weeks left before the start of the 2015-16 season, the Fresno State men's basketball team held its first practice of the fall on Friday at the North Gym on campus.
For the opening day of fall practice, Bulldogs' fifth-year head coach Rodney Terry had his team focused on defense and the execution of the details through a three-hour practice.
"We spent a lot of time the first day here on defense because a lot of guys need to get better in a number of different areas, especially on that end of the floor, and understand how important that is going to be for us," Terry said.
Defensively, the Bulldogs will rely on a veteran backcourt for pressure on the perimeter with senior guards Cezar Guerrero, Marvelle Harris and Julien Lewis returning for their final season at Fresno State.
"We want to be one of the best defensive teams out there as well as a great rebounding team," Guerrero said. "We have a lot of size and athleticism out there. We have a lot of veterans, who know what to do. Anything is possible for our group of guys."
Terry has placed that extra emphasis on rebounding by every player on the floor.
"Whether it is ball screen defense, in the gap, help side defense -- all of that is important -- and then you have finish (possessions) with a rebound," Terry said. "We had a number of rebound drills that we did today because we have to be a better rebounding team."
That emphasis has been one that Terry has installed since arriving on campus in 2011, but entering this season, the 'Dogs have a formidable post rotation in returners Karachi Edo and Terrell Carter II, paired with junior college transfers Torren Jones (who played his freshman year at Missouri before spending his sophomore season at Midland College) and Cullen Russo (who played his first two collegiate seasons at New Mexico Junior College).
"Rebounding is a mentality," Terry said. "You have to want to go get someone. It's not always the team that has the biggest guys or the guys that can jump the highest. It's the guys that want to do it and have an emphasis placed on it."
Junior wing Paul Watson, who was the 2013-14 Mountain West Freshman of the Year, will be called to rebound from the perimeter and use his 6-7 length to match-up defensively. Watson posted 11.1 points and 4.9 rebounds per game as a sophomore last season primarily as a stretch forward. He had one of his most complete efforts rewarded as a double-double with 10 points and a career-best 12 rebounds in a 59-55 win over New Mexico late in the year.
"We spent a lot of time working with Paul this spring and summer on the wing," Terry said. "Paul is another guy that should be able to rebound the basketball on both ends of the floor. If he does that, not only does he make himself a really good player, he makes our team, a really good team."
Offensively, Terry had his squad get important reps featuring strong ball movement, tempo and effort centered full-court drills and energy situations fueled by team communication.
"We expect our guys to bring great effort every day," Terry said. "You aren't going to play perfect every day, but you can bring your effort every day and try to execute the things we want to get done. Our effort and communication was at a high level today and this was a really good first day of practice."
After practice, Terry, Guerrero, and Edo took time to stop by the Bulldog Marching Band's practice in the Red Lot to thank the band for all they do for the program. Guerrero and Edo both participated in band before attending Fresno State.
"We just wanted to thank our Fresno State band for all of their support," Terry said. "We have the best band in the country!"
The full Bulldog Marching Band will be performing at the Nov. 13 home opener versus Pepperdine. This is the third straight season that the full band has performed at one of the Bulldogs' games.
"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.
