Fresno State thoughts

[stymeman]

So what's everyone think about this one??? Cezar Guerrero is back, and Marvelle Harris is playing lights out, but it's a in an arena that we have never won at nor in Fresno period. They do scare me somewhat, but if Larry has made all the necessary adjustments we should be ok. We really really need it though, although they are 4-1 like us in conference, the 9-9 overall record is scary, are they really good or are they really bad...guess we'll see.
Cmon Pokes get er done!

 

[LanderPoke]

Seems like Larry will be able to abuse them in the post and rack up a lot of fouls on them, no? Get our FT on is this one I'm thinking.

 

[Cosmic Cowboy]

We MUST have the O go through Larry early and often. Gonna be critical. We need to draw doubles, get fouls, get better ball movement, and drive/pop with the space created. We have to want it more then them with our D and hustle. I'm as scared as anyone with this game. I was in Fresno 2 years back when we got demolished after the bar fight. The bulldogs will be athletic, play D, and compete. We have to overcome the Cowboys Cali Curse or the triple C if you will.

 

[joshvanklomp]

I feel much better about our chances going into this one than I did about the Aztecs game.

 

[Adv8RU12]

They DID beat SDSU (we didn't)
They ARE playing at home.
They HAVE won four straight conference games.
We have NEVER won there.

 

[calpoke25]

I don't feel good about this, given our year to date performance on the road. Going to need a great effort on the road on a real short turnaround from a big loss.

 

[fromolwyoming]

Also, need to stop the numrous unforced TOs. Those really killed us against SDSU.

 

[HiCountryCowboy]

Got a lot of work to do and need to come correct quick.

If they play like they did last time they were in CA, or for about 15 minutes of the 2nd half in CO, or like last night, we're toast I'm afraid.

Need to find their inner CU game!

 

[BeaverPoke]

I was more nervous about this game than I was the SDSU game a week ago.

 

[Adv8RU12]

Every team has a full-court press plan. It's just that it is usually used in special circumstances. If FSU does the SDSU thing against the Pokes, there's going to be a lot of trouble. My impression, though, is that FSU doesn't rely a lot on the 3's,so that can help the Pokes. It can also mean that they are good at getting inside - another Poke defensive weakness.

 

[BeaverPoke]

Fresno can't full court press us the way sdsu did. They don't have the talent to handle larry and josh in those mini-fast breaks when the press is beaten.

 

[stymeman]

this is a year of firsts, being #1 on top most of the year, winning at CSU, getting other 1st wins at other courts for a change, this veteran team gets it, i think-hope.
I think we get it done regardless Cezar being back, but Josh Adams will welcome him back to conf play and torch him for a bunch 25 pts.
Larry will handle Marvelle Harris and I like our chances this time
UW 64 FSU 58

 

[kansasCowboy]

Every team has a full-court press plan. It's just that it is usually used in special circumstances. If FSU does the SDSU thing against the Pokes, there's going to be a lot of trouble. My impression, though, is that FSU doesn't rely a lot on the 3's,so that can help the Pokes. It can also mean that they are good at getting inside - another Poke defensive weakness.

So our D against the three is a weakness, and our D inside is another weakness? So what is our Defensive strength that has our D rated so high?

 

[NowherePoke]

Every team has a full-court press plan. It's just that it is usually used in special circumstances. If FSU does the SDSU thing against the Pokes, there's going to be a lot of trouble. My impression, though, is that FSU doesn't rely a lot on the 3's,so that can help the Pokes. It can also mean that they are good at getting inside - another Poke defensive weakness.

So our D against the three is a weakness, and our D inside is another weakness? So what is our Defensive strength that has our D rated so high?

Our D is rated high? 87th in KenPom's AdjD efficiency rankings. Not bad, out of 351 teams, but hardly great.

Our defensive strength in general is mostly a function of 3 factors:

1. Transition Defense - We eschew offensive rebounds in order to prevent transition. This helps our defensive numbers, but in my mind it also skews the statistical rankings of our Defense and Offense. Our offense is rated higher than our D anyway (76th), but if we attacked the offensive glass our Offense would be even higher and our defense would decline with an inevitable increase in transition buckets.

2. Defensive Rebounding - I know this seems a stretch after watching the Aztecs take it to us on the glass, but to state an obvious point, there are very few teams in the country (and none on our schedule) that can attack the glass the way the Aztecs do. On the balance, we do a very good job of limiting 2nd chance opportunities.

3. Defend without Fouling - Once again, it seems weird to say this after the SDSU game, but in general the Pokes don't put the other team on the line.


It is clear that Shyatt's general strategy on defense is to make the other team beat us. Nothing easy. No fast break opportunities and don't put them on the line and don't give up easy baskets going to the rim. Make them hit perimeter jumpers.

The result is that we will give up open perimeter looks. We are near the bottom of the league in opponents 3FG% despite playing a very weak schedule.

I think we are a very well coached defense, but we lack the size (and perimeter athleticism) to really be an impact defense.

 

[TSpoke]

Every team has a full-court press plan. It's just that it is usually used in special circumstances. If FSU does the SDSU thing against the Pokes, there's going to be a lot of trouble. My impression, though, is that FSU doesn't rely a lot on the 3's,so that can help the Pokes. It can also mean that they are good at getting inside - another Poke defensive weakness.

So our D against the three is a weakness, and our D inside is another weakness? So what is our Defensive strength that has our D rated so high?

Our D is rated high? 87th in KenPom's AdjD efficiency rankings. Not bad, out of 351 teams, but hardly great.

Our defensive strength in general is mostly a function of 3 factors:

1. Transition Defense - We eschew offensive rebounds in order to prevent transition. This helps our defensive numbers, but in my mind it also skews the statistical rankings of our Defense and Offense. Our offense is rated higher than our D anyway (76th), but if we attacked the offensive glass our Offense would be even higher and our defense would decline with an inevitable increase in transition buckets.

2. Defensive Rebounding - I know this seems a stretch after watching the Aztecs take it to us on the glass, but to state an obvious point, there are very few teams in the country (and none on our schedule) that can attack the glass the way the Aztecs do. On the balance, we do a very good job of limiting 2nd chance opportunities.

3. Defend without Fouling - Once again, it seems weird to say this after the SDSU game, but in general the Pokes don't put the other team on the line.


It is clear that Shyatt's general strategy on defense is to make the other team beat us. Nothing easy. No fast break opportunities and don't put them on the line and don't give up easy baskets going to the rim. Make them hit perimeter jumpers.

The result is that we will give up open perimeter looks. We are near the bottom of the league in opponents 3FG% despite playing a very weak schedule.

I think we are a very well coached defense, but we lack the size (and perimeter athleticism) to really be an impact defense.

Very nice post. Completely agree.

 

[joshvanklomp]

http://fresnostate.scout.com/forums/1687-the-save-mart-center/13577853-i-hope-wyoming-is-road-weary?s=164" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[aranderson]

http://fresnostate.scout.com/forums/1687-the-save-mart-center/13577853-i-hope-wyoming-is-road-weary?s=164

Why am I not surprised!? At least one person is half decent and calling the rest out on it, but to have them say they want to have their players literaly beat up Nance on the court and have multiple players get to their five fouls. How piss poor of a fan base can you be and how scared are you of us!

 

[Adv8RU12]

Fresno definitely has to tools to take the Pokes. Not being negative, but realistic, I think they will. But it will be a wake-up call for the Pokes (Like the Pokes win did to CSU), who may look like they only hit the snooze button after SDSU. Then the real Pokes will emerge - a team concentrating (i.e., no foolish turnovers, defensive attention) and focused (like CSU has done)

 

[Wyo2dal]

Unless we can get over this turnover kick we are on we can't win plain and simple our close wins and losses are all because of turnovers. The fact we managed to hold CSU off was only because of the large lead. If that would have been a close game it would have been a loss.

Nance giving up two 5 second violations, Unacceptable for a senior to give up even one of those let alone two in the same half.

Take care of the ball and we win, continue on the 13+ TO's per game along with the unacceptable mental mistakes and we lose it's that easy.

 

[wyocowboy2014]

http://fresnostate.scout.com/forums/1687-the-save-mart-center/13577853-i-hope-wyoming-is-road-weary?s=164

Dwayne Cook lol