INSIDE THE GAME
POINT GUARD
Despite two misfired shots from the perimeter late against Santa Barbara, Kevin Bell continues to impress. San Francisco coach Jessie Evans, who recruited Bell out of high school, said he knew Bell was going to take his game to another level. Bell averages 8.2 points and 6.7 assists and has yet to have more turnovers than assists in a game.
San Francisco's Armondo Surrant (6-0) is a Bell clone, except a little taller. The Miami (Fla.) transfer leads the team in scoring (13.8) and assists. But Surrant only shoots 28% from the 3-point line.
Advantage: EVEN
WING
No one on the Dons' roster can match up with either Ja'Vance Coleman or Quinton Hosley, especially since San Francisco lost defensive stopper Johnny Dukes, who likely is out for the season with a foot injury. Hosley is putting up a double-double every night. Just wait until his perimeter shots start to consistently fall. What the Bulldogs need is for Donovan Morris to continue to play to his strength ? 3-point shooting. Dwight O'Neil continues to struggle, but the effort is there. Michigan transfer Dommanic Ingerson (6-3) will shoot the ball a lot for the Dons, although he is coming off a 2-for-10 performance against Boise State. He shoots 40% from the arc, and doesn't take the ball to the hole much. Strongly built Jerome Gumbs (6-4) is a hard-working defender who can score.
Advantage: FRESNO STATE
POST
Hector Hernandez showed a lefty and righty hook against Santa Barbara, the kind of offensive skill that hasn't been seen in the post all season. If he can develop the shot, Hernandez could become more effective in the low post. Renato Cesar caught the ball well in the last game and showed some nice interior passing. James Tchana only played 1 minute the last game and it's hard to tell whether he'll contribute the rest of the way.
For the first time this season, the Bulldogs will face a shot blocker in the Dons' Alan Wiggins Jr. He's a wiry 6-foot-8 player who can also score on the block. With 6-9 Colorado transfer Jason Wallace-Carter also inside, San Francisco could dominate the paint ? if it plays with toughness.
Advantage: SAN FRANCISCO
BENCH
The Bulldogs had 24 points off the bench against Santa Barbara, but that's because Coleman came off of it and scored 22. His back is healthy now and he'll return to the starting lineup, meaning Morris has to provide the spark off the bench. Cesar has to play with more confidence in his reserve role, and Tchana has to learn not to foul.
The Dons got a boost inside when 6-8 Vince Polakovic ? a transfer from Northern Iowa ? became eligible a few games back. He can shoot the ball. Shooter Danny Cavic (6-7) scored 18 off the bench and hit five 3s against Boise State on Dec. 22. Freshmen Drew Shiller (6-0) and Jesse Byrd (6-8) also get a decent amount of minutes.
Advantage: SAN FRANCISCO
COACHING
San Francisco's Jessie Evans, a Lute Olson disciple, went 17-14 in his first year with the Dons last season. He's not enjoying much success early this season, but Evans has time to turn things around.
Steve Cleveland continues to sweat out victories and earn more respect with every "W." The true test for him ? and his team ? will be Jan. 7, when the Western Athletic Conference season starts against Utah State.
Advantage: FRESNO STATE
POINT GUARD
Despite two misfired shots from the perimeter late against Santa Barbara, Kevin Bell continues to impress. San Francisco coach Jessie Evans, who recruited Bell out of high school, said he knew Bell was going to take his game to another level. Bell averages 8.2 points and 6.7 assists and has yet to have more turnovers than assists in a game.
San Francisco's Armondo Surrant (6-0) is a Bell clone, except a little taller. The Miami (Fla.) transfer leads the team in scoring (13.8) and assists. But Surrant only shoots 28% from the 3-point line.
Advantage: EVEN
WING
No one on the Dons' roster can match up with either Ja'Vance Coleman or Quinton Hosley, especially since San Francisco lost defensive stopper Johnny Dukes, who likely is out for the season with a foot injury. Hosley is putting up a double-double every night. Just wait until his perimeter shots start to consistently fall. What the Bulldogs need is for Donovan Morris to continue to play to his strength ? 3-point shooting. Dwight O'Neil continues to struggle, but the effort is there. Michigan transfer Dommanic Ingerson (6-3) will shoot the ball a lot for the Dons, although he is coming off a 2-for-10 performance against Boise State. He shoots 40% from the arc, and doesn't take the ball to the hole much. Strongly built Jerome Gumbs (6-4) is a hard-working defender who can score.
Advantage: FRESNO STATE
POST
Hector Hernandez showed a lefty and righty hook against Santa Barbara, the kind of offensive skill that hasn't been seen in the post all season. If he can develop the shot, Hernandez could become more effective in the low post. Renato Cesar caught the ball well in the last game and showed some nice interior passing. James Tchana only played 1 minute the last game and it's hard to tell whether he'll contribute the rest of the way.
For the first time this season, the Bulldogs will face a shot blocker in the Dons' Alan Wiggins Jr. He's a wiry 6-foot-8 player who can also score on the block. With 6-9 Colorado transfer Jason Wallace-Carter also inside, San Francisco could dominate the paint ? if it plays with toughness.
Advantage: SAN FRANCISCO
BENCH
The Bulldogs had 24 points off the bench against Santa Barbara, but that's because Coleman came off of it and scored 22. His back is healthy now and he'll return to the starting lineup, meaning Morris has to provide the spark off the bench. Cesar has to play with more confidence in his reserve role, and Tchana has to learn not to foul.
The Dons got a boost inside when 6-8 Vince Polakovic ? a transfer from Northern Iowa ? became eligible a few games back. He can shoot the ball. Shooter Danny Cavic (6-7) scored 18 off the bench and hit five 3s against Boise State on Dec. 22. Freshmen Drew Shiller (6-0) and Jesse Byrd (6-8) also get a decent amount of minutes.
Advantage: SAN FRANCISCO
COACHING
San Francisco's Jessie Evans, a Lute Olson disciple, went 17-14 in his first year with the Dons last season. He's not enjoying much success early this season, but Evans has time to turn things around.
Steve Cleveland continues to sweat out victories and earn more respect with every "W." The true test for him ? and his team ? will be Jan. 7, when the Western Athletic Conference season starts against Utah State.
Advantage: FRESNO STATE
