Men's Basketball Preview
Juan Villa / The Collegian
A rejuvenated and refocused Ja’Vance Coleman could be the catalyst to a Fresno State postseason berth. |
By Jeff Christian
The Collegian
Songwriter Willie Nelson famously uttered the phrase, “I can’t wait to get on the road again.”
Unlike Nelson, road trips for Fresno State men’s basketball have been more dreadful than anticipatory.
The Bulldogs had a 1-7 record in conference road games last season and the team has been equally disappointing away from home this year, losing all four of its WAC road games.
As Fresno State prepares for Saturday’s game at Idaho, the question of whether the Bulldogs will finally find that road swagger remains unanswered.
Luckily for Fresno State fans, The Collegian is here to erase any doubts that the Bulldogs will finally win their first conference road game of the season.
Fresno State had a 41 to 26 percent field goal advantage in its 19-point thumping of the Vandals at home earlier this season.
Idaho’s defense has been about as effective as Gary Coleman in a security uniform and the Vandals have been consistently out-rebounded, outscored and outplayed this season. At the midway point of conference play, opposing teams are shooting over 45 percent from the field this season against the Vandals.
While the Bulldogs will probably once again rely heavily on its perimeter shooting, Fresno State will need to get more offensive consistency in the paint with Quinton Hosley and Dominic McGuire.
Idaho guard Keoni Watson is one of the top scorers in the WAC and forward Darin Nagle’s 6-foot-10-inch frame will give the Bulldogs match-up problems inside.
Fresno State will need to be more effective shooting the ball than it has been in previous conference road games, but defending Watson and Nagle will be the key to success.
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