Fresno St. coach knows UA legacy
FAYETTEVILLE — Fresno State’s men’s basketball team never has played at Walton Arena or faced Arkansas Razorbacks Coach Mike Anderson.
But Fresno State Coach Rodney Terry knows all about playing the Razorbacks on the road and facing Anderson’s teams.
Terry was a Texas assistant coach for nine years from 2002- 2003 through the 2010- 2011 season and on the visiting bench for two games at Walton Arena when the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville beat the No. 7 Longhorns 67- 61 on Jan. 6, 2009 and lost to the No. 2 Longhorns 96- 85 on Jan. 5, 2010.
John Pelphrey coached those Razorbacks, but Texas and Terry faced Anderson’s teams at Missouri nine times in the Big 12 Conference with the Tigers going 3- 2 against the Longhorns.
So Terry has a good idea of what his Bulldogs ( 2- 0) will face tonight at Walton Arena when they play Arkansas ( 2- 0) at 7 p. m.
“I think Arkansas is an
NCAA Tournament team.” Terry said after watching tape of the Razorbacks’ victories over Samford 95- 56 and Bucknell 101- 73. “They pretty much are what Mike’s teams always have looked like in terms of guys that can really pressure the basketball, guys that can really finish on offense and play advantage basketball.”
Advantage basketball, Terry said, refers to Arkansas’ ability to create offense from its defense and score in transition.
The Razorbacks outscored Samford and Bucknell 64- 25 in points off turnovers and 29- 9 in fast- break points.
“They’re constantly running through passing lanes. They’re challenging and contesting every shot,” Terry said. “They cause some problems for you as far as trying to speed you up and get you to do some things you’re not comfortable doing.
“They create offense for themselves and advantage opportunities in transition. They’re scoring five on three, five on two in transition. They’re really good at it.
“We try to do likewise. I think the hardest thing to do in college basketball is trying to sit there and score playing five on five, so we have to get some baskets early in transition just like Arkansas.”
Fresno State is averaging 92.5 points per game after beating the California- Santa Cruz 96- 65 and California State- Northridge 89- 73.
“It ’ s going to be an up- tempo game,” said Anderson, whose Razorbacks are averaging 98.0 points per game. “We like to score, they like to score, so let’s go at it.”
The Bulldogs’ guard trio of junior Deshon Taylor ( 17.0 points per game) and seniors Jahmel Taylor ( 15.5) and Jaron Hopkins ( 15.0) will go against Arkansas senior guards Jaylen Barford ( 21.5), Daryl Macon ( 18.5) and Anton Beard ( 12.5).
“It should be a good matchup,” Anderson said. “That’s going to be the challenge for our guys, to make these guys uncomfortable as they come in here.”
The Taylors — who aren’t
related — and Hopkins led Fresno State to a 20- 13 record and an NIT berth last season.
“We’ve been battle- tested and have some experience,” Terry said. “So I like to think our guys are going to come in and play older and try to stay composed.
“Arkansas can score in bunches and you have to be able to withstand a bad play and move onto the next one and keep playing.”
Barford, Macon and Beard are returnees from Arkansas’ 26- 10 team.
“They’re terrific guards,” Terry said. “They’re seasoned guys.”
Terry said the Bulldogs will push the pace, but don’t want to let the Razorbacks constantly dictate the game’s tempo.
“If you go out and start trying to do some things you’re not accustomed to doing and playing faster than you want at times, then you’re playing for Arkansas,” he said. “You have to attack on your terms and score when the opportunities are there.”
Terry is 108- 97 in his seventh season at Fresno State, but the Bulldogs are 47- 23 since the 2015- 2016 season when they played in the NCAA Tournament.
“Rodney has done a good job of going in and getting players,” Anderson said. “He’s got players from all over, and they play with a certain edge.
“So it’s a progression of his program, implementing what he wants to do. I know it’s a team that’s going to come in here with nothing to lose and everything to gain, so we’re going to get their best shot.”
Anderson, 130- 74 in his seventh season at Arkansas, has led the Razorbacks to the NCAA Tournament two of the past three seasons.
“Mike’s a first- class guy,” Terry said.
“He’s always been a guy who has done it the right way with a lot of integrity.
He’s recruited guys that fit what he’s trying to do in terms of his system.
“He’s had success at every stop, so I’m not surprised he’s got Arkansas back competing at an elite level.”
The only previous time Arkansas played Fresno State was a matchup of Hall of Fame coaches when Nolan Richardson’s Razorbacks beat Jerry Tarkanian’s No. 12- ranked Bulldogs 70- 69 on Nov. 29, 1997 at Phoenix.
Terry said he’s told players about the Razorbacks’ tradition, which includes winning the 1994 national championship when Anderson was Richardson’s assistant coach.
“A lot of times when you’re out West, guys aren’t familiar with how good of a basketball program Arkansas has been over the years,” Terry said.
“We’re making sure they understand, ‘ Hey, you’re going into a basketball place where they’ve got a lot of tradition and have won a national championship and they’re going to compete at a very high level.’
“It’s a great opportunity for us to come in and play an NCAA Tournament team on their home court. We’ve got to come in and try to compete at a high level ourselves.”