Fresno State Athletics
Veterans, Youth and Versatility
10/5/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
By Josh Mitchell
jomitchell@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
FRESNO, Calif. - Each season the goal is the same, win a championship. A year after finishing third in the Mountain West and falling in the semifinals at the conference tournament, Fresno State will look a little different at the start of the 2015-16 season. In her second season at the helm, Jaime White has the task of replacing six players from last year's squad that finished 23-10 and reached the second round of the Women's National Invitational Tournament, most notably 2015 Co-MW Player of the Year Alex Sheedy.
With a strong veteran presence led by senior captains Alex Furr and Toni Smith, she brought in a trio of transfers and four freshmen to replace last year's senior class. White admits that it has looked like she has two teams; one that is comfortable running her system, and another which is still learning it. For the later, it is just a matter of how long it will take.
"To able to reach our goal, we need to identify who is going and play and where they are going to play," White said. "With our returners, I feel good about our senior class that is coming back."
Alex Furr headlines the group of returners with her tough as nails attitude on both ends of the court. Toni Smith provides versatility in the post. Shauqunna Collins seized the point guard position a month into the 2014-15 season. Along with those three, Bego Faz Davalos has also showed signs of increased confidence and consistency on the court after a breakout freshman season.
A year ago, positions were up for grabs just as they are today. Although several returners are back, versatility will be the key for this year's group of Bulldogs. With length and athleticism throughout the roster, several players will be looked upon to play multiple positons. Depth on the wings will particularly be important for White's system as she looks for length and speed, players who have the ability to put pressure on the ball, force turnovers and kick-start the offense.
"If we commit to pressuring, we're going to have to have quite a few players that we can run in and out of there and be effective and give us a boost," White said.
The biggest thing for the team will be its learning curve. With seven newcomers, which includes Tory Jacobs, a transfer from Minnesota who will be ineligible for this season, the Bulldogs will be young. How quick they pick up the system will be the question. Junior college transfer Kendra Martin has looked the part, a long athletic player that can shoot from outside, is good at facing up, but also has the potential to play inside. Breanne Knishka has tried to separate herself among the freshman, playing smart and consistent and showing the ability to play anywhere from the two, three or four positions.
Thus far, the newcomers have bought in and have put in the extra work. Workouts leading up to the first practice were competitive.
Most of all, the team has been able to gel together. Unlike last year when the team had its preseason tour in Australia, this year's team spent their time together in the gym in Fresno, and it's appeared to have been beneficial.
"We had a better summer," White noted. "We had a better preseason in that we felt the urgency of getting in and getting in together. We've done a lot of team building and a lot of getting to know you stuff to get comfortable with each other. We just got back from a retreat over the weekend and I think that was a way to give them a chance to get out on their own together."
That bond could play a factor early on as the non-conference schedule is not easy. With the Mountain West being committed to playing a tougher schedule, Fresno State has followed suit. After just two games, the Bulldogs will host a pair of teams that may find themselves in Top 25 for significant portions of the season. The 'Dogs will first welcome Washington to Save Mart Center on Nov. 20 before hosting George Washington three days later. A day after Thanksgiving, Fresno State will face St. Mary's in Moraga, Calif.
It looks like a tough early stretch, but it is one that should benefit a group of players that plans on growing together.
Fresno State will open the regular season on Nov. 13 at UC Riverside.
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