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Oregon Basketball: Fresno State Lacking Respect To Start Season

By Justin Phillips

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 15: Head coach Justin Hutson of the Fresno State Bulldogs calls to his team during a semifinal game of the Mountain West Conference basketball tournament against the Utah State Aggies at the Thomas & Mack Center on March 15, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Utah State won 85-60. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 15: Head coach Justin Hutson of the Fresno State Bulldogs calls to his team during a semifinal game of the Mountain West Conference basketball tournament against the Utah State Aggies at the Thomas & Mack Center on March 15, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Utah State won 85-60. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images) /
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While the Oregon Basketball team enters the season with some respect, Fresno State lacks it in a big way, even among fans.

Last season the Bulldogs were led by Braxton Huggins and Deshon Taylor that averaged 36 points per game helping the team to another solid season. Entering this season the team lacks a four-star recruit or higher and is also working with several transfers, one of which is still looking for eligibility.

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Fresno State’s home is the Save Mart Center. Last season the team brought in roughly 5,000 fans per game, well below what an NCAA Basketball program should. The attendance for Oregon last season was closer to 9500+, with several games being sold out. While Altman and Oregon had a 10 game winning streak last season-ending vs Virginia in the NCAA Tournament, Fresno State as also had success.

The Bulldogs were 23-9 last season and have won 20 or more games for the last four seasons. Head Coach Justin Hutson is starting his second season with Fresno State and is looking for a solid start to the season and to challenge Oregon Basketball on the road. Entering the matchup, Oregon Head Coach Dana Altman was not very pleased with the teams’ scrimmage on Wednesday and will take the ‘plug and play’ approach to the starting lineup that may go through several changes over the first month of the season.

For Oregon, Payton Pritchard will lead the way and comes in with the most experience. His former high school teammate Anthony Mathis will get a good look early. Both played together in high school and should have some instant chemistry.

Fresno State is led by Senior Nate Grimes who played in 29 of the teams 31 games last season. He averaged close to a double-double per game with pushing 11 points, 9 rebounds and close to 2 blocks per contest for the Bulldogs.

Oregon and Fresno State tipoff Tuesday night at 6 pm from Matthew Knight Arena. The game will be broadcast by the Pac-12 Network.

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