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| | Tuesday, November 2 | |||||||||||||||
COACH AND PROGRAM
COURTNEY ALEXANDER (6-5, 200 lbs., SR, SG, #32, 21.4 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 32.6 minutes, .468 FG, .342 3PT, .797 FT, University of Virginia & Jordan HS/Durham, N.C.) Alexander doesn't welcome situations in which he is not being billed as the star. So, why would he put himself in a position to be humbled? To learn what it feels like. "I was a rookie all over again," said Alexander of his weekend workouts this summer in Detroit, Raleigh-Durham, Chapel Hill, New York City, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Chicago and Los Angeles, with mostly NBA players. "I held my own, but I needed to learn from someone like Reggie Miller, Gary Payton and Michael Jordan." And it was a conversation with the Sonics' Payton that Alexander said put him in the right frame of mind for a return to Fresno State. "He reminded me to forget thinking about being an NBA all-star or a No. 1 pick," Alexander said. "He said, 'Get there first.' It's simple, but it's the truth. So many guys talk about being NBA players but don't get there." Alexander would have been a first-round pick, possibly late lottery, had he declared last May. Instead, Alexander opted to return for his fifth year of school. The reason? Get the Bulldogs to the NCAA Tournament and make a more serious run at being a No. 1 pick. His 21.4 ppg from 1998-99 has him on some preseason All-America teams. "Those don't matter in the grand scheme of things," Alexander said. "I've got to convince my teammates that it doesn't matter what's said about me, that I only care about what is said about the team. I don't want the talk to be about Courtney, or that could tear the team apart with animosity." Alexander was the cause of anger throughout the squad when he sat out the Iowa State game in Alaska last November, disgusted over his own play the previous night against his hometown Duke Blue Devils. The bitterness resurfaced during the Bulldogs' blowout loss at San Jose State, when teammates questioned his commitment. However, Alexander's attitude changed in the final six weeks of the season. His scoring and less selfish play led the Bulldogs to the brink of an NCAA Tournament bid. "He sounds so great that I can't believe it," Tarkanian said of Alexander's attitude. "The talent is there with Courtney but he has to prove to the whole country that he can be a complete team player, be a leader and be totally unselfish. He's got to develop a positive image for himself. If he does that, he can be a top five pick in the draft." Alexander sought the advice of NBA guards, notably former all-star Adrian Dantley, when he attended his workout session at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. "I tried to pick up the intelligence aspect of the game and a strong work ethic," Alexander said. "I was never weak going to my right, but now I can go as well to the right as I do to my left. I also increased my range, worked on one dribble and getting to the basket for a dunk, and a meaner type of attitude when I play defense." How? "I saw that in the NBA, it's about shortcuts," Alexander said. "You don't have to shoot 500 jumpers to have a complete workout. You don't have to do lane drills to be a better defender. You can cut your shots in half, but just go extremely hard at it. "I learned in the NBA it's about doing things quick and hard. Get it done with high reps in a short time. In college, they take more time to define things and don't believe in shortcuts." Alexander's son stayed in Fresno with his mother, while Courtney spent time with friends in the various cities and his brother in Atlanta. "I had to get away from Fresno and refocus," Alexander said. "I've got a whole new outlook for my basketball career. No more negative attitude. I'm going to have fun and work hard." He returned in the fall with barely an ounce of body fat. Through September, he never missed a workout. "I expect him to be one of the premier players in the country both offensively and defensively," Tarkanian said. "He's totally committed to being a complete player." 32-MELVIN ELY (6-9, 220 lbs., JR, C, #33, 11.2 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 2.8 bpg, 30.9 minutes, .562 FG, .432 FT, Thornton Township HS/Harvey, Ill.) Ely started off hot by scoring in double figures in the first seven games. But the ball didn't get to him inside as much when Alexander's shot count climbed. Ely, who had a good summer working out with Tim Grgurich in one camp at Las Vegas, can be more dominant. He's got all-league potential and could carry the Bulldogs into the NCAA Tournament by being more of a consistent factor in the lane. His defense needs to continue to improve and he can't get into foul trouble without a backup. "I'm so impressed with his overall game," Tarkanian said. "It's really tremendous. He's a great defender. He runs the floor and blocks shots. He covers up others' mistakes and is a great kid to coach." 33-TERRANCE ROBERSON (6-7, 215 lbs., SR, SF, #44, 12.2 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.9 tpg, 1.8 spg, 30.8 minutes, .395 FG, .295 3PT, .675 FT, Buena Vista HS/Saginaw, Mich.) Roberson earned his fifth year back by graduating on time. He needs the extra season to raise his stock for professional basketball. Roberson's three-point shooting dropped significantly after shooting 54.2 percent on "threes" two years ago. He has become more of an inside-out scorer, driving to the basket and posting up more often. With little depth inside, that's fine. He needs to be more of a low-post threat and less predictable on the perimeter. He's also got to crash the boards and help center Melvin Ely. A fractured elbow kept him out of conditioning over the summer, but he has returned in fine shape. "Terrance has been a tremendous player for us, but hasn't been consistent," Tarkanian said. "This year we need him to be consistent for us. We're hoping to get that out of him." LARRY ABNEY (6-8, 220 lbs., SR, PF, #21, 6.2 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 21.9 minutes, .559 FG, .672 FT, Fresno City CC & Nyack HS/Nyack, N.Y.) Abney has been the consummate role player while at Fresno State. But he got away from that last year and didn't rebound as well as he had the previous season. He came back this fall and was dunking everything in the early-season workouts. Rebounding is the key for this team to survive in the WAC and beyond. A lot of the weight falls on Abney's shoulders. "He needs to have a big, big year," Tarkanian said. "He had some personal problems last year and it affected his play. I'm expecting him to be a real force on the boards for us." 33-DEMETRIUS PORTER (6-0, 170 lbs., JR, PG, #5, 6.1 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.2 tpg, 1.5 spg, 18.3 minutes, .434 FG, .386 3PT, .800 FT, Washington HS/Fresno, Calif.) Porter became one of the most valuable players on the team last season. He was the team's top on-the-ball defender and a constant threat to bury the three-point shot. He's finally getting his chance to take over the team. He has the respect of everyone on the squad, but must continue to be more assertive. Porter went on a foreign tour to France this summer and that helped his self-esteem. He has slowly become a Tarkanian favorite. "He had a great year for us last year," Tarkanian said. "He played extremely well when Chris got hurt, and we're hoping for even better things out of Demetrius." KEY RESERVES TRAVIS ROBINSON (6-6, 210 lbs., SO, F, #4, 26.2 ppg, 8.3 rpg in 1997-98, Mt. Zion Christian Academy/Durham, N.C.) Robinson wasn't eligible last season, but comes in with plenty of credentials. He originally signed at Missouri before being released from his commitment last fall. Robinson could be an impact player in the WAC. He can score from all over the court, especially with his back to the basket. His moves are extremely quick. He is aggressive and active around the basket. He could challenge for a starting spot, but would give the Bulldogs instant offense off the bench. "He's a guy with unlimited potential, but I always worry that he's got to live up to it," Tarkanian said. "He can do everything if he wants. He has a chance of being a great player." Tarkanian will use Robinson at either shooting guard, small or power forward because of his ability to go up and grab rebounds, especially at the offensive end. NICK IRVIN (6-1, 185 lbs., JR, G, #31, 30.0 ppg, 10.0 apg in 1996-97, Carver HS/Chicago, Ill.) Irvin hasn't been eligible for two years and didn't play during that time. He couldn't practice either. Irvin has a court savvy about him, but the weight listed here is much lower than reality. He has got to lose the pounds to be effective. He has deep range and can be a decent defender if he can stay on the court. Irvin will back up Porter at the point, but his endurance is questionable. "He's a guy who hasn't played in two years, and we need him to have a great year," Tarkanian said. "He's a real question mark. He has to get in shape and lose weight and prove he is willing to do all that." NOEL FELIX (6-9, 220 lbs., FR, F, 15.0 ppg, 11.0 rpg, 4.5 bpg, Inglewood HS/Inglewood, Calif.) Felix was a late pickup by the Bulldogs in the spring signing period. He also gained his eligibility late, but could be a surprise. Felix can be the backup post player the Bulldogs need because of his ability to block shots and defend. He's an active player, even though he needs to gain strength. "He's been nothing but a pleasant surprise," Tarkanian said. "He's far exceeded what we hoped for. He's a great, great person. He's got a great future. He could be a shining light for the Bulldogs." OTHER RETURNEES ANDREA BONA (6-7, 215 lbs., SO, F, #23, 0.8 ppg, 0.5 rpg, 6.3 minutes, .111 FG, .167 3PT, Redemption Christian Academy, N.Y./Rome, Italy) Bona became eligible late in the season after he won an appeal with the NCAA. He's got a long way to go. Bona is strong, but is still learning the game. He's not sure if he's an inside or outside player. His contributions will probably be minimal. "He's a real strong guy, but he's been injury prone," Tarkanian said. "If he stays healthy, he could help us some." OTHER NEWCOMERS TRAVIS DEMANBY (6-3, 180 lbs., FR redshirt, G, #22, 18.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg in 1997-98, Medford HS/Medford, Ore.) DeManby tried to go last season, but a back injury forced him to redshirt. He has decent range, but he needs help creating the shot. Yet DeManby is the only option behind Alexander, if the Bulldogs don't move Roberson or Robinson to shooting guard when Alexander is out of the game. That probably won't happen too often, limiting DeManby's time. "He's a real fine all-around player," Tarkanian said. "We may try and work him at the point, too, as a backup." TITO MADDOX (6-4, 190 lbs., FR, G, 20.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg, Compton HS/Compton, Calif.) Maddox would be in the key reserve category if he were eligible. He wasn't at press time, although he was going to retake the standardized test. If he were to pass, Maddox could easily be the starting point guard for this team. He was one of the Top 10 point guards in the nation last season. Tarkanian probably wouldn't start him at the outset, but he would get quality time. He's a taller point man who can see over a defender and jump start an offense. He's not a great deep threat, but can drive-and-dish and defend with anyone in the West. "He's a great, great talent," Tarkanian said. "If he gets eligible, that will move us to another level." STARTERS NOT RETURNING CHRIS HERREN (6-3, PG, 11.4 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 7.2 apg, 2.8 tpg, 1.0 spg, 27.4 minutes, .408 FG, .383 3PT, .682 FT) Herren's star-crossed career ended last season. He had some of the most exciting moments in Fresno State history including wins at Massachusetts and over Temple and New Mexico but he was also part of a program that had so many times of turmoil. His gritty toughness will be missed as will his deep three-point shot. He gave the Bulldogs moxie that they may find hard to replace. Herren is off to the NBA, signed out of the second round by the Denver Nuggets.OTHERS NOT RETURNING WILLIE FARLEY (6-5, G, 12.0 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 28.8 minutes, .455 FG, .366 3PT, .628 FT) Farley was one of the biggest surprises on last season's team. He sat out the first nine games because of eligibility issues, but then helped the Bulldogs win games over Georgia, Temple and New Mexico with key three-point shots. He became instant offense off the bench and was one of the team's best athletes and defenders. Farley's energy in practice and on the court will be missed. SHOMARIO RICHARD (6-0, G, 1.4 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 15.0 minutes, .350 FG, .267 3PT, .667 FT) Richard didn't qualify academically and was ineligible to play as a senior this season. He was a decent backup point guard last year, but failed to assert himself on the offensive end. He was a reliable defender. The Bulldogs may miss his presence in the locker room. He was well-liked by the team and provided a steady influence. RANDY HOLCOMB (6-8, F, 5.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 13.8 minutes, .492 FG, .421 3PT, .566 FT) Holcomb left after one season because he wanted more playing time. He transferred to Los Angeles City College. Holcomb had one breakout game against Sacramento State with 30 points, but never accepted his role as a rebounding power forward. He was always looking to shoot the three-pointer. His absence won't be hard to replace, although the Bulldogs will miss his athleticism. Holcomb will have two years to play at a Division I school after this season.QUESTIONS Backup post player? Tarkanian has talked about finding a backup to Ely for two years. He still wasn't able to land one. The Bulldogs have talked about bringing in a foreign center by December, but, until they do, Ely will have to go alone. When he's off the floor, the team struggles to defend the post and score in the low block. Team chemistry? Too often Alexander was at the center of dissension. He said he's more of a team player this season. If that's the case, this won't be a problem. But he will take a ton of shots. Roberson, Robinson and Ely better be fine with the idea that they won't touch the ball as much as Alexander. Automatic berth? The WAC doesn't have one, so Fresno State better have 20 wins by the time it hosts the WAC Tournament. Winning it is a must to give them the necessary record to get an at-large NCAA bid. The regular-season schedule doesn't have many, if any, significant RPI games.ANSWERS Courtney Alexander! He's the best scoring wing in the country. He can take over a game and score in the 30s. But it's not enough. He couldn't beat Utah by himself last season. Perimeter depth! Tarkanian can go with two point guards and rotate Roberson and Robinson in behind each other (or alongside of Alexander). All can handle the ball and play facing the basket. Selland Arena! The Bulldogs don't lose at home too often. It helps that the majority of their games, including the new WAC Tournament, are at Selland Arena. They need an impressive record.
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