Young Bulldogs seem to have hit their stride

For the first time, in their still young season, it seems the Bulldogs may have found their stride.

After beating Pacific the other night on a buzzer beater, the Bulldogs used their height to their advantage as they dominated Cal State Bakersfield 66-51 in a game that wasn't even that close. The Bulldogs were led by young freshman Paul George who finished with a game high 17 points including a career high five three-pointers to go along with eight rebounds. That wasn't even their highlight, the 'Dogs had their best defensive effort of the season, holding Bakersfield to 30.6% shooting from the field for the entire game, 29.7% in the second half alone.

Is this team starting to click as a team after eight games already in the books? After having a few off games, Jr. transfer Sylvester Seay had a good turnaround, finishing the game with 15 points in just 19 minutes in the game. It's going to take guys like that to perform on a consistant basis, along with George, Sr. guard Dwight O'Neil and Freshman guard Mychal Ladd. The one thing I noticed about this team against Bakersfield is, even though Ladd (23 minutes - 2/4 - 8 points) and O'Neil (31 minutes - 4/11 - 9 points) had off nights, George and Seay were there to pick them up. It's also going to take same kind of defensive effort as well, especially if they want to compete with teams like Boise State and Nevada who were picked towards the top of the WAC in the preseason coaches poll.

In his 100th game as the Bulldogs' head coach, Steve Cleveland has a chance to really make this team his own. His recruits, his players, his record. If he can bring this young team together and mold them into a cohesive group, the WAC better watch out or they're going to be surprised by this young team.

I'm not saying that this team is going to win the WAC, I don't think they're nearly that good...yet. Give them another season or two and this could be the team to beat.

Seay, George lead Bulldogs past Seattle

After a disappointing 2 points against San Diego State, Freshman guard Paul George showed what he could do when he stays out of foul trouble as he and Jr transfer Sylvester Seay led the Bulldogs to a 79-58 win over Seattle University last night.


Seay, a transfer from Arizona State, led the Bulldogs with a career high 22-points (6-of-9) while George added his 2nd career double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Freshman Mychal Ladd also had a career high night as he dropped in 15 points as well as grabbing six rebounds while Sr guard Dwight O'Neil came up just short of a triple-double. O'Neil would finish the night with 12 points on 4-of-12 shooting, 8 rebounds and 9 assists.

Up next for Fresno State (2-2) will be a matchup with Pac-10 opponent Oregon State on Sunday. Tip off is scheduled for 2pm at the Save Mart Center.

Experienced Aztecs too much for young Bulldogs

The Bulldogs had traveled to beautiful San Diego, CA to take on long time rival San Diego State at Cox Arena on Saturday night. Unfortunately, the more experienced Aztec team had no problem winning a 80-56 decision against the younger Bulldog squad. The largest margin of victory over Fresno State since an 80-58 victory on Feb. 19, 1977.

Aztecs' guard Kyle Spain tied a career high as he dropped in 22 points, on 6-of-12 from the field, to go along with 11 rebounds as well as hitting all 8 of his free throws to lead San Diego State. Also scoring in double figures for the Aztecs was Ryan Amoroso, who had 11.

Unfortunately for Fresno State, their young freshman Paul George was in foul trouble most of the game and was held to just 2 points, his lone basket coming in the final minutes of the game. George had been averaging 19.5 points per game as well as 7.5 rebounds per game. It didn't help the young Bulldog squad that, as a team, they finished the night shooting just 33.3% (22-60) while San Diego State finished at a balmy 51.3% (30-64). Silvester Saey, a Jr. transfer from Arizona State, led Fresno State with 13 points on 5-of-14 from the floor. Freshmen Mychal Ladd finished the night with 8 points on 3-of-12 from the field while Sr. guard Dwight O'Neil would add 12 points to go along with 8 rebounds and 3 assists but turned the ball over 6 times in the game.

Up next for Fresno State (1-2, 0-0), they will return home to close out the month of November as they welcome in Seattle University on Tuesday the 25th, that game will tip off at 7pm, then close out the month against Pac-10 opponent Oregon State on Sunday the 30th, which is a 2pm scheduled tip off.

Freshmen impress, but Bulldogs fall

On what was arguably the biggest college basketball event in recent history, the Fresno State Bulldogs traveled to Moraga, CA to take on St. Mary's as part of a 24-hour live ESPN telecast that started late Monday night and will continue until tonight.

Freshmen Paul George and Mychal Ladd impressed in their first nationally televised game and showed what kind of players they were going to be in the near future, but St. Mary's was just too much for Fresno State as the Gaels won a 99-85 decision on Monday night.

After the game, Bulldogs' head coach Steve Cleveland was thrilled with his teams' effort, especially with his two future stars. "All of our freshmen weren't intimidated. They played hard and gave us great minutes. They will be better as the season goes on and will be better because of this game."

Impressing the most was first year guard Paul George, who recorded his first double-double of his young career, finishing with 25 points, 10 rebounds and a highlight dunk that was just a sign of things to come.

Having a great night as well as Freshman Mychal Ladd, who surpassed his first game total of 10 points as he dropped in 13 for the Bulldogs. Senior point guard Dwight O'Neil fell one rebound short of a double-double as he racked up 12 points and 9 rebounds in the loss.

All in all it was an impressive showing from this young Bulldog squad, they just faced a tougher faster Gaels' squad that jumped out early and didn't allow the Bulldogs to make a full comeback.

Up next for Fresno State (1-1), they will travel to San Diego, CA on Saturday to face off against the San Diego State Aztecs from Cox Arena. Tip off is scheduled for 1pm local time.

Bulldogs open 2008-2009 season with victory

The Fresno State men's basketball team got their 2008-2009 season off on the right foot, getting 17 points from Jr. transfer Sylvester Seay and used a quick second half surge to defeat Sacramento State 77-65 on Friday night.

Seay transfered to Fresno State last season from Arizona State and had to site out the 2007-2008 campaign before making his debut last night. The Bulldogs also got 14 points from Freshman Paul George and 10 points from Sr. Dwight O'Neil as well as seven rebounds and a career high seven assists in the victory. The Bulldogs led by as many as 26 at one point, 71-45, before Sacramento State closed the game with a 20-6 run thanks to the hot hand of Loren Leath who finished with a game high 21 points.

Bulldogs head coach Steve Cleveland, "We played aggressively on defense tonight and this team continues to get better. This is a very unselfish team and I like how we attacked the ball."

Up next for Fresno State, they will travel to Moraga, CA on Monday to take on St. Mary's as part of ESPN's 24 hours straight of NCAA basketball coverage. That game is not slated to start until 11pm PST. The Bulldogs will then be in San Diego, CA on Saturday the 22nd to take on San Diego State at Cox Arena, that game is scheduled to get underway at 2pm PST.

As for Sacramento State and first year head coach Brian Katz, they will play three straight games on the road to close out the first month of their season. They will be in Riverside, CA to take on UC Riverside on Tuesday, to Pullman, WA on Friday the 21st against Washington State, then finish out their three-game road trip in Bakersfield, CA on Tuesday the 25th against Cal State Bakersfield before they return home on December 1st against Idaho.

Bulldogs open exhibition schedule with a win

Well, you can call it a good start to the basketball season for Fresno State, but I for one am a little worried after Fresno State knocked off Fresno Pacific 97-88 on Tuesday night.

The reason that I'm a little concerned you ask? Should the Bulldogs be giving up 88 points to Fresno Pacific? What's going to happen when teams like Nevada and Boise State come calling? Yes, I know this is a young team and they are definitely in a rebuilding mode with a lot of young players and just one senior, but the defense needs to tighten up. They'll face off against Cal State Stanislaus on Saturday afternoon at 2pm from the Save Mart Center.

The promising thing I take away from the victory is freshmen Paul George and Mychal Ladd, who led the Bulldogs in scoring. George lit up the scoreboard with a 28 point performance, on 11-of-17 shooting, as well as collecting five steals while Ladd chipped in with 21 points of his own, lone senior Dwight O'Neil added 16 points and 7 assists also for the Bulldogs.

Head coach Steve Cleveland, "I am most proud that these guys found a way to win the game by making plays. I appreciate all the fans that came out to watch and know that the support is going to continue to grow."

The attendance on the night was 8,657 at the Save Mart Center, not a bad turnout for an opening night exhibition game.

Bulldogs, Fresno Pacific open exhibition schedule tomorrow night

College Basketball has returned! Well, not officially, not yet anyway. Fresno State will open the exhibition portion of their schedule as they welcome in Fresno Pacific, tomorrow night at 8pm, then they'll face off against Cal State Stanislaus on Saturday afternoon at 2pm.

Though these won't be the toughest tests this young team will face, it'll give the fans as well as head coach Steve Cleveland and his staff an idea of how this team will perform in certain situations and against certain calibre teams.

The exhibition schedule will prepare this team for when they open the season on national television on November 17th. Fresno State will take part in a 24-hour basketball coverage being held on ESPN. That game will be at the Save Mart Center and will tip off at 11pm local time. It will be the first of two games that will get national exposure, the second of which will be on February 19th as they'll host the Hawaii Warriors at the Save Mart Center.

This is a very young team with just one senior, that being Sr guard Dwight O'Neil, but O'Neil has take the role of the leader on this team. We'll see if he makes enough of an impact on these young players to hopefully make a good showing in the Western Athletic Conference.

Bulldogs begin preperation for 2008-2009 season Friday

The anticipation for the 2008-2009 Men's basketball season officially kicks into gear this coming Friday as the team will have their first official practice. Unfortunately for head coach Steve Cleveland and his staff, he will be at a disadvantage with only 9 allotted scholarships instead of the usual 13 due to rule violations by former coaches and players.

The Bulldogs basketball team will open their exhibition schedule on November 5th against Fresno Pacific and then follow that up with their 2nd of 2 exhibition games on November 9th against Cal State Stanislaus. The Bulldogs will then open their regular season schedule at home on November 14th against Sacramento State, their official home opener at The Save Mart Center.

On Tuesday, the media and coaches voted on how the WAC conference would shake out, the pre-season All-Americans as well as their votes for player of the year. Fresno State was voted to finish 7th in the media poll while the coaches poll had them finishing 8th. Head Coach Steve Cleveland and Sr Guard Dwight O'Neil were part of a WAC Teleconference that afternoon. If you didn't get a chance to hear that teleconference, you can click this link and hear their thoughts on the upcoming 2008-2009 season.

Fresno State will be a part of ESPN's College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon, 23 hours of college basketball coverage, that will get underway at 11pm EST with a tripleheader. The first game, tipping off at midnight easter, will be Massachussetts at Memphis followed by Fresno State at St. Mary's at 2am EST and Idaho State at Hawaii at 4am EST. Coverage will finish at 9pm EST with Kentucky at North Carolina. For coverage breakdown as far as what you can look forward to seeing during those 23 hours, you can click HERE.