Fresno State Athletics
2015-16 Season Review: ’Dogs bring MW championship home to the Valley
7/16/2016 1:43:00 PM | Men's Basketball
There were so many thrilling moments for the Fresno State men’s basketball team during the 2015-16 season as the Bulldogs explored Italy, won the MW Tournament and got their first taste of the NCAA Tournament in 15 years.
FRESNO, Calif. --- With each step up the ladder, the grins on the Bulldogs' faces got bigger.
Each member of the Fresno State men's basketball team took time to cut a piece of the net at the Thomas & Mack Center to celebrate winning the program's first Mountain West tournament championship and punching their first ticket to the NCAA Tournament since 2001.
"I hadn't cut a net down in a while," Fresno State head coach Rodney Terry said. "I was so happy for my players and staff. I've got a great staff that works extremely hard. We kept saying from day one that we got here, 'We want to win a Mountain West Conference Championship!' That's what we're about. That's been our goal. We never shied away from that."
For Fresno State, the road to that moment, and so many throughout the season, featured a program committed to hard work, relentless effort and championship-level execution.
To get there, the Bulldogs embarked on a journey of a lifetime.
'Dogs start bonding in offseason, tour of Italy
Back in July 2015, Fresno State began its first of 10 extra summer practices prior to its first international tour in a decade.
Through those practices, fifth-year head coach Rodney Terry and his coaching staff got a head-start installing the offense and defense. Every player on the 16-man roster had an individualized plan for how their contributions would help the team, and everyone knew their attitude was critical for the team to accomplish its goals.
With rigorous offseason workouts, focused skill development and the extra practice, the team started to become a family, especially during the Bulldogs' 10-day tour of Italy.
While nearly 6,000 miles away from the San Joaquin Valley, the 'Dogs explored Milan, Lake Como, Verona, Venice, Florence and Rome while playing three games and spending time on guided tours of the Colosseum, Forum and Vatican.
"We are very thankful to everyone that made this happen," Terry said. "This was a memorable experience for our players and staff to compete against international teams and learn about a new culture. Our guys were able to bond while exploring another country and it strengthened our team for the season. We will all remember our time in Italy for the rest of our lives. It was a wonderful opportunity for our program."
During the trip, Fresno State went 3-0 against three Italian all-star teams in defeating the Vedano All-Stars (75-52), the Vicenza All-Stars (83-67) and the Latina All-Stars (90-64) and earned international exposure on ESPN's SportsCenter Top 10 for one of Paul Watson's ridiculous put-back dunks.
"I think our guys had pretty good efforts every night out," Terry said of his team's performance overseas. "I thought we shot the ball pretty well. We placed an emphasis on our rebounding. Our seniors did a really good job doing things that we have asked them to do in leading our team.
Bulldogs open season with 5-0 record
After returning to Fresno, the Bulldogs continued to work on doing whatever it took to become a champion, which included bringing in internationally-renowned sports psychologist Dr. Myles Carr to help every member of the team break down barriers, trust their teammates, coaches and staff, and understand the commitment of championship-level production at the Division I level.
In November, Fresno State opened the season with a thrilling 69-66 come-from-behind victory over Pepperdine, and then won the 2015 Roundball Showcase to bolt out to an undefeated 5-0 record before heading to play eventual No. 1-seed Oregon in Eugene.
With NBA superstar and former Bulldog standout Paul George sitting courtside at Matthew Knight Arena, the 'Dogs rallied back from a 19-point second-half deficit before falling 78-73 to then-No. 15/16 Ducks.
"This team has a lot of talent," George shared of his college team inside the visiting locker room at Matthew Knight Arena after the game. "There are nights when you struggle, but you have to fight your way through it. I liked how you fought back and I really feel you have a chance for a special season. You just have to bring it!"
Fresno State also battled then-No. 13/12 Arizona hard on the road – leading 46-42 at halftime and trailing just 71-70 inside of the final three minutes of the game. The Wildcats and their then-nation's best winning streak survived, but the Bulldogs gained important experiences, especially when playing on the road, which they would turn to in conference play.
Fresno State establishes itself at Mountain West contender
To start Mountain West play, the 'Dogs drew UNLV on the road at the Thomas & Mack Center – an early test that set the tone that Fresno State would be a serious contender in the conference race.
Senior guard Marvelle Harris – the 2015-16 Preseason MW Player of the Year – fought off the flu and scored a game-high 22 points as the Bulldogs outplayed and outlasted the Runnin' Rebels down the stretch with the go-ahead tip in basket from junior forward Torren Jones with 25 seconds remaining.
The opening weeks of the Bulldogs' daunting conference schedule featured alternating wins and losses until edging Air Force 56-55 on Jan. 23 and defeating Wyoming 71-60 three days later. But one of the launching points for Fresno State's return to the NCAA Tournament came in how the 'Dogs responded to their 65-53 loss at San Jose State.
In hosting UNLV and San Diego State over the next week, the gauntlet was set and the Bulldogs answered the call. The 'Dogs and Runnin' Rebels engaged in another rugged dogfight with Fresno State winning 111-104 in double overtime, and then handed MW leader San Diego State its first conference loss by way of a thrilling 58-57 victory at the Save Mart Center.
After pushing eventual CBI champion Nevada to overtime on the road despite playing without four post players due to illness or injury, Fresno State sprinted to the finish line. The Bulldogs closed the regular season on six-game winning streak with wins at Wyoming, New Mexico and Utah State, and home wins over Utah State, Air Force and Colorado State.
The 92-82 win at New Mexico was the Bulldogs' first-ever over the Lobos at The Pit, which was broadcast nationally on ESPN2 and proved critical in the race for conference tournament seeding.
During MW play, Fresno State went 5-0 in games decided by three points or fewer to finish 6-0 overall for the season in those games decided by a single possession.
The Bulldogs entered the Mountain West Tournament as the No. 2 seed after posting a 13-5 conference record to finish second in the league standings. This marked the fourth straight season that Fresno State won more conference games than the previous season to join a small group of eight teams in the nation that have achieved that sustained improvement in each of the past four years.
Bulldogs win MW tournament championship, earn NCAA Tournament bid
Fresno State opened the MW Basketball Championships in Las Vegas by eliminating UNLV in the quarterfinals and Colorado State in the semifinals to earn a showdown with San Diego State in the championship game.
In front of a national television audience on CBS, the Bulldogs and Aztecs sparred in a heavyweight fight matching the best two teams in the Mountain West.
With less than two minutes left in the game, Fresno State senior guard Julien Lewis came up with a huge steal and knocked down a go-ahead 3-pointer from the left wing in transition.
Lewis then went 4-for-4 at the free throw line in the final 28 seconds to seal the 68-63 win over SDSU as the Bulldogs punched their first ticket to the NCAA Tournament in 15 years.
"We knew coming in it wasn't going to be easy," Terry said. "It was going to be a really, really hard game. (SDSU) makes you fight, scratch and claw for everything you get from an offensive standpoint. I thought we fought, scratched and clawed all the way through defensively ourselves. And it was a great ballgame."
For Harris, the elation of winning a conference championship will stay with him for the rest of his life.
"It was incredible," Harris said. "It's the greatest feeling I've had in my whole basketball career. It's a big win for the program, community, fans, everyone. And it's just a great feeling. You're overwhelmed and it's just kind of – unbelievable."
Riding a nine-game winning streak, Fresno State headed to Denver for the first round of the NCAA Tournament where the 14th-seeded Bulldogs would meet No. 3-seeded Utah in the Midwest Region on TruTV.
Fresno State fought back from a 13-point second-half deficit to take the lead 48-47 midway through the second half before Utah pulled away for an 80-69 triumph over the Bulldogs.
The experience left the 'Dogs with a hunger to return to college basketball's biggest stage.
Harris shines in leading 'Dogs to NCAA Tournament
For his efforts, Harris was named the 2015-16 MW Player of the Year and became the program's seventh Associated Press All-American as an honorable mention selection.
"Marvelle improved as a player and young man every year during his four years as a Bulldog," Terry said. "He made his teammates better and showed how important it is to work hard. Marvelle has been a wonderful ambassador for Fresno State and he is a big part of why we have this program moving in the right direction."
Harris finished his Fresno State career as the Bulldogs' all-time leading scorer (2,031 career points) and set the single-season scoring record with 725 points during the 2015-16 season. Harris also set school records for most career free throws (506), free throw attempts (678), field goal attempts (1,595) and games played (136).
Throughout the 2015-16 season, Harris averaged 20.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.2 steals per game with a 2.0 assist-to-turnover ratio. He led the Bulldogs' defense, which ranked fifth in the nation in turnover margin (+4.3). He also earned first-team All-MW and NABC All-District honors.
"I am very proud of what we accomplished at Fresno State," Harris said. "We came a long way and overcame a lot this season. We showed a lot of grit and toughness, and worked really hard. I want to thank my teammates, coaches, family and everyone who has supported me and the program. It means so much to be a Bulldog and I can't wait to see the MW Championship banner at the Save Mart Center!"
Bulldogs set records, protect the yard en route to title
Fresno State won 25 games for the first time since the 2000-01 season and its nine-game winning streak entering the NCAA Tournament was the third-longest then-active streak in the nation and the Bulldogs' longest such streak since 1982.
The Bulldogs went 16-2 at home, which set a new program record for most home victories since the Save Mart Center opened in 2003. All season, the team took pride in the mantra – "Protect the Yard" – in establishing a strong home court advantage.
For Fresno State, the thrilling moments and championship success will last a lifetime for the players and staff in the program. And going forward, that sweet taste of cutting down the nets to celebrate capturing the MW Tournament championship in Las Vegas will be a driving force for how they embrace challenges in the future.
Through hard work and a relentless commitment to excellence, Fresno State is in position to build on its successful 2015-16 campaign and continue to emerge as a formidable competitor in the West.
"Be Bold." -- The Bulldog Scholarship Fund gives Bulldog alumni, fans and friends the opportunity to support Fresno State Athletics and the student-athletes who inspire them. For information about how you can support the Bulldog Scholarship Fund, please visit www.bulldogscholarshipfund.com or call 559-278-7160.
Each member of the Fresno State men's basketball team took time to cut a piece of the net at the Thomas & Mack Center to celebrate winning the program's first Mountain West tournament championship and punching their first ticket to the NCAA Tournament since 2001.
"I hadn't cut a net down in a while," Fresno State head coach Rodney Terry said. "I was so happy for my players and staff. I've got a great staff that works extremely hard. We kept saying from day one that we got here, 'We want to win a Mountain West Conference Championship!' That's what we're about. That's been our goal. We never shied away from that."
For Fresno State, the road to that moment, and so many throughout the season, featured a program committed to hard work, relentless effort and championship-level execution.
To get there, the Bulldogs embarked on a journey of a lifetime.
'Dogs start bonding in offseason, tour of Italy
Back in July 2015, Fresno State began its first of 10 extra summer practices prior to its first international tour in a decade.
Through those practices, fifth-year head coach Rodney Terry and his coaching staff got a head-start installing the offense and defense. Every player on the 16-man roster had an individualized plan for how their contributions would help the team, and everyone knew their attitude was critical for the team to accomplish its goals.
With rigorous offseason workouts, focused skill development and the extra practice, the team started to become a family, especially during the Bulldogs' 10-day tour of Italy.
While nearly 6,000 miles away from the San Joaquin Valley, the 'Dogs explored Milan, Lake Como, Verona, Venice, Florence and Rome while playing three games and spending time on guided tours of the Colosseum, Forum and Vatican.
"We are very thankful to everyone that made this happen," Terry said. "This was a memorable experience for our players and staff to compete against international teams and learn about a new culture. Our guys were able to bond while exploring another country and it strengthened our team for the season. We will all remember our time in Italy for the rest of our lives. It was a wonderful opportunity for our program."
During the trip, Fresno State went 3-0 against three Italian all-star teams in defeating the Vedano All-Stars (75-52), the Vicenza All-Stars (83-67) and the Latina All-Stars (90-64) and earned international exposure on ESPN's SportsCenter Top 10 for one of Paul Watson's ridiculous put-back dunks.
"I think our guys had pretty good efforts every night out," Terry said of his team's performance overseas. "I thought we shot the ball pretty well. We placed an emphasis on our rebounding. Our seniors did a really good job doing things that we have asked them to do in leading our team.
Bulldogs open season with 5-0 record
After returning to Fresno, the Bulldogs continued to work on doing whatever it took to become a champion, which included bringing in internationally-renowned sports psychologist Dr. Myles Carr to help every member of the team break down barriers, trust their teammates, coaches and staff, and understand the commitment of championship-level production at the Division I level.
In November, Fresno State opened the season with a thrilling 69-66 come-from-behind victory over Pepperdine, and then won the 2015 Roundball Showcase to bolt out to an undefeated 5-0 record before heading to play eventual No. 1-seed Oregon in Eugene.
With NBA superstar and former Bulldog standout Paul George sitting courtside at Matthew Knight Arena, the 'Dogs rallied back from a 19-point second-half deficit before falling 78-73 to then-No. 15/16 Ducks.
"This team has a lot of talent," George shared of his college team inside the visiting locker room at Matthew Knight Arena after the game. "There are nights when you struggle, but you have to fight your way through it. I liked how you fought back and I really feel you have a chance for a special season. You just have to bring it!"
Fresno State also battled then-No. 13/12 Arizona hard on the road – leading 46-42 at halftime and trailing just 71-70 inside of the final three minutes of the game. The Wildcats and their then-nation's best winning streak survived, but the Bulldogs gained important experiences, especially when playing on the road, which they would turn to in conference play.
Fresno State establishes itself at Mountain West contender
To start Mountain West play, the 'Dogs drew UNLV on the road at the Thomas & Mack Center – an early test that set the tone that Fresno State would be a serious contender in the conference race.
Senior guard Marvelle Harris – the 2015-16 Preseason MW Player of the Year – fought off the flu and scored a game-high 22 points as the Bulldogs outplayed and outlasted the Runnin' Rebels down the stretch with the go-ahead tip in basket from junior forward Torren Jones with 25 seconds remaining.
The opening weeks of the Bulldogs' daunting conference schedule featured alternating wins and losses until edging Air Force 56-55 on Jan. 23 and defeating Wyoming 71-60 three days later. But one of the launching points for Fresno State's return to the NCAA Tournament came in how the 'Dogs responded to their 65-53 loss at San Jose State.
In hosting UNLV and San Diego State over the next week, the gauntlet was set and the Bulldogs answered the call. The 'Dogs and Runnin' Rebels engaged in another rugged dogfight with Fresno State winning 111-104 in double overtime, and then handed MW leader San Diego State its first conference loss by way of a thrilling 58-57 victory at the Save Mart Center.
After pushing eventual CBI champion Nevada to overtime on the road despite playing without four post players due to illness or injury, Fresno State sprinted to the finish line. The Bulldogs closed the regular season on six-game winning streak with wins at Wyoming, New Mexico and Utah State, and home wins over Utah State, Air Force and Colorado State.
The 92-82 win at New Mexico was the Bulldogs' first-ever over the Lobos at The Pit, which was broadcast nationally on ESPN2 and proved critical in the race for conference tournament seeding.
During MW play, Fresno State went 5-0 in games decided by three points or fewer to finish 6-0 overall for the season in those games decided by a single possession.
The Bulldogs entered the Mountain West Tournament as the No. 2 seed after posting a 13-5 conference record to finish second in the league standings. This marked the fourth straight season that Fresno State won more conference games than the previous season to join a small group of eight teams in the nation that have achieved that sustained improvement in each of the past four years.
Bulldogs win MW tournament championship, earn NCAA Tournament bid
Fresno State opened the MW Basketball Championships in Las Vegas by eliminating UNLV in the quarterfinals and Colorado State in the semifinals to earn a showdown with San Diego State in the championship game.
In front of a national television audience on CBS, the Bulldogs and Aztecs sparred in a heavyweight fight matching the best two teams in the Mountain West.
With less than two minutes left in the game, Fresno State senior guard Julien Lewis came up with a huge steal and knocked down a go-ahead 3-pointer from the left wing in transition.
Lewis then went 4-for-4 at the free throw line in the final 28 seconds to seal the 68-63 win over SDSU as the Bulldogs punched their first ticket to the NCAA Tournament in 15 years.
"We knew coming in it wasn't going to be easy," Terry said. "It was going to be a really, really hard game. (SDSU) makes you fight, scratch and claw for everything you get from an offensive standpoint. I thought we fought, scratched and clawed all the way through defensively ourselves. And it was a great ballgame."
For Harris, the elation of winning a conference championship will stay with him for the rest of his life.
"It was incredible," Harris said. "It's the greatest feeling I've had in my whole basketball career. It's a big win for the program, community, fans, everyone. And it's just a great feeling. You're overwhelmed and it's just kind of – unbelievable."
Riding a nine-game winning streak, Fresno State headed to Denver for the first round of the NCAA Tournament where the 14th-seeded Bulldogs would meet No. 3-seeded Utah in the Midwest Region on TruTV.
Fresno State fought back from a 13-point second-half deficit to take the lead 48-47 midway through the second half before Utah pulled away for an 80-69 triumph over the Bulldogs.
The experience left the 'Dogs with a hunger to return to college basketball's biggest stage.
Harris shines in leading 'Dogs to NCAA Tournament
For his efforts, Harris was named the 2015-16 MW Player of the Year and became the program's seventh Associated Press All-American as an honorable mention selection.
"Marvelle improved as a player and young man every year during his four years as a Bulldog," Terry said. "He made his teammates better and showed how important it is to work hard. Marvelle has been a wonderful ambassador for Fresno State and he is a big part of why we have this program moving in the right direction."
Harris finished his Fresno State career as the Bulldogs' all-time leading scorer (2,031 career points) and set the single-season scoring record with 725 points during the 2015-16 season. Harris also set school records for most career free throws (506), free throw attempts (678), field goal attempts (1,595) and games played (136).
Throughout the 2015-16 season, Harris averaged 20.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.2 steals per game with a 2.0 assist-to-turnover ratio. He led the Bulldogs' defense, which ranked fifth in the nation in turnover margin (+4.3). He also earned first-team All-MW and NABC All-District honors.
"I am very proud of what we accomplished at Fresno State," Harris said. "We came a long way and overcame a lot this season. We showed a lot of grit and toughness, and worked really hard. I want to thank my teammates, coaches, family and everyone who has supported me and the program. It means so much to be a Bulldog and I can't wait to see the MW Championship banner at the Save Mart Center!"
Bulldogs set records, protect the yard en route to title
Fresno State won 25 games for the first time since the 2000-01 season and its nine-game winning streak entering the NCAA Tournament was the third-longest then-active streak in the nation and the Bulldogs' longest such streak since 1982.
The Bulldogs went 16-2 at home, which set a new program record for most home victories since the Save Mart Center opened in 2003. All season, the team took pride in the mantra – "Protect the Yard" – in establishing a strong home court advantage.
For Fresno State, the thrilling moments and championship success will last a lifetime for the players and staff in the program. And going forward, that sweet taste of cutting down the nets to celebrate capturing the MW Tournament championship in Las Vegas will be a driving force for how they embrace challenges in the future.
Through hard work and a relentless commitment to excellence, Fresno State is in position to build on its successful 2015-16 campaign and continue to emerge as a formidable competitor in the West.
"Be Bold." -- The Bulldog Scholarship Fund gives Bulldog alumni, fans and friends the opportunity to support Fresno State Athletics and the student-athletes who inspire them. For information about how you can support the Bulldog Scholarship Fund, please visit www.bulldogscholarshipfund.com or call 559-278-7160.
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