Fresno State Athletics
Photo by: Keith Kountz
Taylor named Preseason All-MW, ’Dogs picked 5th in media poll
10/16/2018 1:51:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Fresno State senior guard Deshon Taylor and the Bulldogs’ men’s basketball team are once again in a position to contend in an elevated Mountain West.
LAS VEGAS --- With Justin Hutson back home in the Valley as Fresno State's new head men's basketball coach, the Bulldogs are heading into the 2018-19 season with a preseason All-Mountain West selection in senior guard Deshon Taylor and the expectation to again compete in an extremely competitive Mountain West.
Fresno State, who has won at least 20 games in four of the past five seasons, is one of two MW teams to have earned a first round bye in each of the past four seasons. For the 2018-19 season, the Bulldogs are projected to finish fifth in the conference race, just one vote behind Boise State in fourth – by the conference's media in a preseason poll released on Tuesday morning at the league's men's basketball media summit at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. Nevada was picked to defend its regular season title, and San Diego State and New Mexico rounded out the top five.
Fresno State returns Taylor, who last season averaged 17.7 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.5 steals per game and earned first-team All-Mountain West honors from the league's head coaches. Taylor is widely regarded as one of the best guards in the nation.
Sam Bittner is also back for the 'Dogs and brings a versatile skillset on both ends of the floor, including an elite and efficient 3-point shot paired with a tenacious defensive energy.
Fresno State officially opens the 2018-19 regular season on Nov. 6 against Alaska-Anchorage before playing its next four games away from the San Joaquin Valley with a road trip to play at TCU on Nov. 15. The Bulldogs then will head to Southern California for the 2018 Wooden Legacy, which will start on Thanksgiving in Fullerton, Calif. The 'Dogs open with Northwestern on Nov. 22 on ESPNU, with the 8-team bracketed tournament also having games on Nov. 23 and Nov. 25.
Fresno State will then host a historic seven-game homestand from Nov. 28 through Dec. 29, which will be a record for the Save Mart Center and the program's longest overall since a 12-game homestand during the 1954-55 season. During the SMC-record stretch, the 'Dogs will host Pacific (Nov. 28), Cal Poly (Dec. 1), Weber State (Dec. 5), Long Beach State (Dec. 8), California (Dec. 19), UT Martin (Dec. 22) and Utah Valley University (Dec. 29). The Bulldogs will open MW play at San Jose State on Jan. 2.
2018-19 season tickets are on sale now starting at $149 through the Bulldog Ticket Office at the northeast corner of the Save Mart Center, by calling 559-278-3647 or visiting www.GoBulldogs.com.
"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, who has won at least 20 games in four of the past five seasons, is one of two MW teams to have earned a first round bye in each of the past four seasons. For the 2018-19 season, the Bulldogs are projected to finish fifth in the conference race, just one vote behind Boise State in fourth – by the conference's media in a preseason poll released on Tuesday morning at the league's men's basketball media summit at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. Nevada was picked to defend its regular season title, and San Diego State and New Mexico rounded out the top five.
Fresno State returns Taylor, who last season averaged 17.7 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.5 steals per game and earned first-team All-Mountain West honors from the league's head coaches. Taylor is widely regarded as one of the best guards in the nation.
Sam Bittner is also back for the 'Dogs and brings a versatile skillset on both ends of the floor, including an elite and efficient 3-point shot paired with a tenacious defensive energy.
Fresno State officially opens the 2018-19 regular season on Nov. 6 against Alaska-Anchorage before playing its next four games away from the San Joaquin Valley with a road trip to play at TCU on Nov. 15. The Bulldogs then will head to Southern California for the 2018 Wooden Legacy, which will start on Thanksgiving in Fullerton, Calif. The 'Dogs open with Northwestern on Nov. 22 on ESPNU, with the 8-team bracketed tournament also having games on Nov. 23 and Nov. 25.
Fresno State will then host a historic seven-game homestand from Nov. 28 through Dec. 29, which will be a record for the Save Mart Center and the program's longest overall since a 12-game homestand during the 1954-55 season. During the SMC-record stretch, the 'Dogs will host Pacific (Nov. 28), Cal Poly (Dec. 1), Weber State (Dec. 5), Long Beach State (Dec. 8), California (Dec. 19), UT Martin (Dec. 22) and Utah Valley University (Dec. 29). The Bulldogs will open MW play at San Jose State on Jan. 2.
2018-19 season tickets are on sale now starting at $149 through the Bulldog Ticket Office at the northeast corner of the Save Mart Center, by calling 559-278-3647 or visiting www.GoBulldogs.com.
"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.
Players Mentioned
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