Fresno State Men’s Basketball: National buzz building for Bulldogs

FRESNO, Calif. --- As the Fresno State men's basketball team begins its fall semester in the classroom this week, the Bulldogs are also getting national media recognition in advance of the 2017-18 season.

Fresno State, who beat eight teams in the Top 100 of the NCAA's Ratings Performance Index (RPI) last season, is one of the favorites to contend in the Mountain West, according to CBS Sports college basketball insider Jon Rothstein.

In his MW offseason notebook, Rothstein selected Fresno State as No. 2 in his MW Power Rankings – one spot behind the defending conference champion Nevada Wolf Pack, who the Bulldogs beat twice a season ago.

Fresno State senior guard Jaron Hopkins earned a spot on Rothstein's MW Preseason First-Team and one of the Bulldogs' newcomers – senior guard Ray Bowles – was identified as one of Rothstein's 10 Impact Transfers. Bowles, a native of Modesto, Calif., is eligible immediately as a graduate transfer from Pacific, where he was the Tigers' leading scorer (13.4 ppg) as a junior this past season.

Rothstein also noted that Fresno State is his "dark-horse pick to win the league next season" while citing the strength of the Bulldogs' returning backcourt, which includes three double-figure scorers (Jaron Hopkins, Deshon Taylor and Jahmel Taylor).

Rothstein, who is based out of New York, has been a college basketball insider for CBS Sports since 2010 and is the lead college basketball columnist for the FanRag Sports Network. He is also the host of the College Hoops Today Podcast via Compass Media Networks, which is available via iTunes. Rothstein is also a regular in-studio correspondent for both WFAN and CBS Sports Radio.

Fresno State opens the 2017-18 regular season on Nov. 10 at the Save Mart Center to tip off a non-conference home schedule, which also includes a Dec. 16 home game versus 2017 national semifinalist Oregon. Fresno State will start MW action at home on Dec. 27 when the Bulldogs face the Wolf Pack for the first time this season. To reserve your seat, fans are encouraged to select season ticket packages on sale now starting at $149 by calling 559-278-DOGS.

The Bulldogs are also playing at Arkansas on Nov. 17 and will travel to Mexico on Thanksgiving Week to play in the 2017 Cancun Challenge, with their two games at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya broadcast live on CBS Sports Network.

Fan packages for the 2017 Cancun Challenge include a four-night minimum stay at the all-inclusive Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya, with the option to purchase additional nights. To book a fan travel package, contact Fresno-based travel agent Julia Hamilton at JuliaH@shoppetravel.com or 559-447-5767. For more information, fans can also contact Triple Crown Sports' basketball event director Sarah Sullivan at sarah@triplecrownsports.com or 970-672-0533.

"Just the Ticket to Build Our Community" – 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.

Fresno State Men’s Basketball: National buzz building for Bulldogs

Players Mentioned

Ray Bowles, Jr.

Jaron Hopkins

Deshon Taylor

Jahmel Taylor

Fresno State Athletics