Bulldogs to get more freedom under Hutson
Editor’s note: This is the seventh in an 11-part series previewing UNM men’s basketball opponents for this season. The series runs in reverse order of the Mountain West preseason media poll and concludes with a nonconference schedule preview.
Not all coaching changes are built the same.
Coaches bolting for new gigs, as Rodney Terry did from Fresno State to UTEP this past offseason, often come with massive roster turnover and the understanding that a rebuild might take some time.
But that isn’t how the Bulldogs feel under first-time head coach Justin Hutson, who after years of learning the Mountain West ropes, mostly under Steve Fisher at San Diego State, came home to the San Joaquin Valley with hopes of immediate contention.
“I didn’t take over a program that was bare,” said Hutson, whose program is picked fifth in a preseason Mountain West media poll. “We have good tradition. We have good players in the program. It’s very exciting because being in the league 10 years, you know the venues. You know how hard it is to play in the venues that
we have. You’re familiar with the coaches, even though we have some new coaches right now. So, it’s exciting to take over a program and being familiar with how it is to win the Mountain West.”
Hutson, whose reputation was built on being the man behind the defense of San Diego State’s title teams, isn’t trying to pump the brakes on expectations. He said he respected that Terry built a program in which players knew they wouldn’t play if they didn’t defend.
“I like Rodney,” Hutson said. “I haven’t talked to him much, though. He took Bryson (Williams), so we’re not going to sit and talk forever. But I like him and respect him for who he is.”
Ah, yes. Williams. When Terry left, he did manage to land the transfer of Williams to El Paso, right as Williams was showing signs of developing into the best forward in the league.
That means Hutson’s Fresno State roster this season will rely heavily on guard play, though expect 6-foot-8 junior Nate Grimes to take a step up this season. Fresno State’s backcourt includes preseason All-MWC selection Deshon Taylor (17.8 points per game), returning starter Sam Bittner (48.1 percent from 3) and New Mexico State transfer Braxton Huggins (83 3-pointers in 2016-17, his last season with the Aggies).
Fresno State Bulldogs
2017-18: 21-11 (11-7 Mountain West, t4th) 2018-19 preseason poll: 5th Coach: Justin Hutson (0-0, 1st season at Fresno State and overall) Starters*/letterwinners returning: 2/7 Vs. UNM: Feb. 2 Fresno, Calif.; Feb. 16 the Pit * Started at least 50 percent of 2017-18 games
“We have some guards that can shoot the ball,” said Hutson. “The challenge is getting them to share it and make sure we’re taking good ones.”
Fresno State shot 39 percent from beyond the arc last season, good for 27th (of 351 teams) in the nation. But that, Hutson said, was about “percentage, not necessarily volume,” and this year’s team will play with added freedom on offense, firing up a lot more 3s in the process.
“He gives us a lot more freedom than we’ve had in the past, which is a good thing in my opinion,” Bittner said. “We have really good players — we have really good guards who can create for others, create for themselves. Just being able to use our basketball minds on the floor and letting us figure it out ourselves is a great tool to have as a head coach.”