Mustang Men's Basketball Packs Bags for Fresno State and DePaul
12/16/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
COMPLETE PREVIEW AND PLAYER BIOS (pdf)
JOE CALLERO CHECKS IN WITH BLOG ENTRY
MUSTANGS IN THE NEWS: AMAURYS FERMIN | WILL TAYLOR
VIEW 2011-12 CAL POLY MEN'S BASKETBALL VIDEO
2011-12 CAL POLY MEN'S BASKETBALL INFORMATION GUIDE
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – Winners of five of the previous six games and off to the program's best start in 10 seasons, the Cal Poly men's basketball team enjoys its second six-day road trip of the 2011-12 campaign when visiting Fresno State at the Save Mart Center on Saturday, Dec. 17 (7 p.m.) and DePaul inside the Allstate Arena on Wednesday, Dec. 21 (5:30 p.m. PT). Cal Poly is looking to end a 13-game slide and post its first victory since Feb. 4, 1971 against Fresno State (4-6), a program in the midst of a seven-day break after dropping a 74-70 decision at Oregon (Dec. 10). Conversely, the Mustangs are meeting DePaul for the first time in program history. The Blue Demons (7-3) visit Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Dec. 17 before hosting Cal Poly.
FOLLOW THE MUSTANGS THIS WEEK: Tom Barket returns to the headset to provide play-by-play detail of Cal Poly's Dec. 17 showdown at Fresno State and Dec. 21 matchup at DePaul for GoPoly.com HERE and in San Luis Obispo County on ESPN 1280. Live stats and streaming video for both games are also available HERE.
BEAUTIFUL BEGINNINGS: A 91-58 victory against Menlo College (Dec. 14) allowed Cal Poly (7-3) to keep pace with the 2001-02 Mustang squad for the program's best start in 18 years at the Division I level (the 2001-02 Mustangs won nine of their first 12 games). Overall, the 7-3 records compiled by the 2011-12 and 2001-02 Mustang squads are the best starts since the 1991-92 team fired out 13-1.
NOTABLE NIGHT: During their 91-58 dismantling of Menlo College (Dec. 14), the Mustangs enjoyed numerous offensive achievements, most notably for:
– Total Points (91): Cal Poly's highest total since defeating Hawai'i, 102-89, on Feb. 20, 2010.
– Margin of Victory (33 points): Cal Poly's largest since pounding North Florida on Nov. 21, 2008 (76-42) – a span of 96 games.
– Players in Double-Digit Scoring Figures (Five): Cal Poly's highest since the aforementioned win at Hawai'i.
– Total Assists (19) / Fewest Turnovers (Six): Cal Poly's assist total was its highest since distributing 19 during a 95-81 win at UC Irvine on Jan. 4, 2010; the turnover total was the program's lowest since defeating UC Santa Barbara on Jan. 20, 2007, 71-61 – a span of 142 games. Cal Poly's 3.2-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio was the highest mark under third-year head coach Joe Callero.
CAL POLY VERSUS FRESNO STATE: Cal Poly's most frequent non-conference opponent, Fresno State holds a 45-16 all-time series advantage dating to the first meeting between the two sides on Jan. 18, 1947. Cal Poly's last meeting against Fresno State on Dec. 28, 2008 resulted in a 90-87 home loss. The Mustangs last visited the Save Mart Center on Feb. 23, 2008 and fell during the ESPNU BracketBuster matchup, 76-70.
CAL POLY VERSUS DEPAUL: Wednesday's meeting at DePaul marks the Cal Poly program's first game in the Chicago area and first game against a Big East Conference opponent since the program's initial Division I contest – a 97-60 loss at Boston College on Nov. 25, 1994 (a game recently featured in the ESPN Films documentary about Chris Herren, Unguarded). Cal Poly has not faced a current Big East member since dropping a 69-62 decision at Seton Hall on Dec. 12, 1973.
DEFENSE REMAINS AT THE FOREFRONT: A year after developing a national reputation for defensive stinginess, the Mustangs remain atop the Big West Conference and NCAA defensive charts. Cal Poly enters Saturday's matchup at Fresno State ranked ninth among NCAA programs in opponent points per game (54.7) while also leading the Big West in opponent rebounds per game (27.7). Highlighted by limiting USC to 36 points on Nov. 19 – the fewest points scored by a Cal Poly opponent in 18 years at the Division I level – the Mustangs have held foes under 60 points during seven of 10 games this year. The Mustangs have also held opponents under 30 percent from three-point range a further six times during the 2011-12 season.
MUSTANGS GRIND 'EM OUT: Cal Poly's 47-40 victory against San Jose State on Dec. 10 marked the ninth time since the start of the 2010-11 campaign that the Mustangs had held an opponent under 50 points and the 10th time that Cal Poly had kept the combined score under 100 points. Since the start of last season, Cal Poly is 8-1 when holding an opponent under 50 points and 6-4 when keeping the combined score under 100.
MUSTANGS TOUGH ON THE BOARDS: Cal Poly has grabbed the same amount of boards or outrebounded its opponent in eight of 10 games this year, production that has the Mustangs ranked 19th nationally in rebounding margin (plus-8.1) entering Saturday's matchup at Fresno State. Not surprisingly, Cal Poly is 6-0 when outrebounding the opposition.
TAYLOR RISES TO THE OCCASION: Having scored a career-high 19 points and matched a career best with 13 rebounds during Cal Poly's 91-58 victory against Menlo College (Dec. 14), senior forward Will Taylor – who redshirted the 2010-11 season – enters Saturday's matchup at Fresno State leading the Mustangs with a 56.9 (41-for-72) percent field goal mark and ranked fourth among Big West players with a team-best 7.3 rebounds per game. A starter in all 10 of Cal Poly's contests, Taylor has shot higher than 60 percent from the floor and recorded double-digit scoring figures five times this year and grabbed seven-plus rebounds on four occasions.
FERMIN MAKES THE BULLETS FOR CAL POLY TO FIRE: The Big West's most efficient point guard, senior Amaurys Fermin enters Saturday's matchup at Fresno State leading all conference players in assists (45) and assists per game (4.50). Fermin, who handed out a career-high eight assists against Mississippi Valley State (Nov. 26) and distributed seven against Menlo College (Dec. 14), also ranks second among Big West players with a 1.96-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio and third among Mustangs with 9.9 points per contest.
HANSON BACK IN FORM: Held to just four total points during Cal Poly's opening two games, senior forward David Hanson enters Saturday's matchup at Fresno State having reached double-digit scoring figures in six of the program's last eight contests. Cal Poly's leading returning scorer from last year, Hanson currently paces the Mustangs with 10.9 points per game after notching 16 during the Dec. 14 victory versus Menlo College.
HANSON ON VERGE OF HISTORY: David Hanson requires just 12 additional points to become the third Mustang in as many seasons and the 17th player in program history to notch 1,000 career points. Hanson, who finished eighth among Big West players last year with 455 total points and 15.2 per 30 games, is currently sixth among active conference players in career points. Guard Shawn Lewis completed his four-year Mustang career last year as the seventh-leading scorer in program history with 1,304 points while guard Lorenzo Keeler (2007-10) ended his tenure ranked No. 11 with 1,157 points.
ROYER KEEPS THE HOT HAND: The Big West's top three-point threat with a 60.0 (24-for-40) percent mark from the arc, junior guard Dylan Royer would also rank second among approximately 4,225 Division I players had he met national statistical minimums. Royer, the only central coast native on Cal Poly's roster, has twice knocked down a career-high five three-pointers this season: versus Mississippi Valley State (5-for-7, Nov. 26) and Sacramento State (5-for-5, Nov. 30). Fourth among Mustangs with 8.0 points per contest, Royer has hit at least one three-pointer in 11-successive games, dating to last season. Royer, who scored 41 combined points between his freshman and sophomore seasons, has already registered 80 as a junior.
TITCHENAL ENJOYS CAREER NIGHT: Matt Titchenal had registered just one basket in four appearances prior to Cal Poly's Dec. 10 matchup at San Jose State, but, in a 23-minute reserve stretch against the Spartans, the senior guard helped to lift the Mustangs to a 47-40 victory with a career-high four three-pointers (from four attempts) and a collegiate-best 16 points. Titchenal's previous career highs for three-pointers (three) and points (nine) came during Cal Poly's 65-60 victory at UC Riverside on Jan. 20, 2011.
WE MUST PROTECT THIS HOUSE: Cal Poly's 14 home games this season are the most contests inside Mott Gym since the program hosted 16 opponents during the 1999-00 campaign. Under Joe Callero, Cal Poly has posted a 16-12 overall mark in Mott Gym, a 9-7 record against Big West opposition and, this season alone, allowed just 56.0 points per game.
MUSTANGS FACE NATION'S FINEST IN 2011-12: In what has become a hallmark of head coach Joe Callero's three-season tenure, Cal Poly will again face another testing schedule during the 2011-12 campaign. Continuing with a Jan. 2 clash against UC Santa Barbara, Cal Poly will play seven games this season against programs that qualified for either the 2011 NCAA Tournament or NIT.
MUSTANGS RETURN TO THE SMALL SCREEN: A year after making a program-record five television appearances, the Mustangs are scheduled to appear on TV a further four times during the 2011-12 campaign. Below is a listing of Cal Poly's 2011-12 television schedule, including tentative dates.
Jan. 2 – UC Santa Barbara (KSBY-TV)
Jan. 21 – Cal State Northridge (PRIME TICKET)
Feb. 18 – ESPNU BracketBuster (Pending)
Feb. 25 – at UC Santa Barbara (ESPNU)
March 3 – Pacific (KSBY-TV)
March 9 – Big West Tournament semifinal (ESPNU, pending)
March 10 – Big West Tournament championship (ESPN2; pending)
HAWAI'I AND SAN DIEGO STATE SET TO JOIN BIG WEST CONFERENCE: Cal Poly's number of conference games will swell to 18 next season and 20 for the 2013-14 campaign with the successive additions of Hawai'i and San Diego State to the Big West. Previously a member of the Big West from 1984-96, Hawai'i will resume official competition during the 2012-13 campaign with San Diego State – an original conference member (1969-78) – set to rejoin the following year. Both schools will compete in every sport in which the Big West sponsors a championship.
LOOKING AHEAD: Cal Poly completes preparations for Big West play when hosting NAIA Hope International (6-1) on Tuesday, Dec. 29 at 7 p.m. Members of the Golden State Athletic Conference, the Royals visit Simpson University (Dec. 17) and UC Irvine (Dec. 22) and host Vancouver Island University (Dec. 28) before squaring off against Cal Poly. The Mustangs have never previously faced Hope International.
MUSTANGS SIGN THREE FOR 2012-13 CAMPAIGN: Joe Callero and the Mustang Athletics Department increased Cal Poly's collective height and strengthened the program's collective depth on Nov. 9 with the joint announcement that 6-7 Zachary Allmon (San Luis Obispo, Calif. / Mission College Prep), 6-9 Brian Bennett (Romeoville, Ill. / Plainfield East HS) and 6-8 Josh Hall (Brush Prarie, Wash. / St. John's Northwestern Military Academy) each signed National Letters of Intent to join the Mustangs for the 2012-13 campaign. As a junior during the 2010-11 campaign, Allmon averaged 12.2 points, 10.2 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game for a Mission Prep side that reached the California Interscholastic Federation Division 5-AA semifinals. An All-San Luis Obispo County first team selection last season, Allmon also served as a captain for the Royals. Bennett helped lead Plainfield East HS to the program's first victory in the Illinois State Tournament during the 2010-11 season. Ranked among the Southwest Prairie Conference's leaders in both field goal and free throw percentage, Bennett has been named to the honor roll during each of his semesters at Plainfield East HS. Hall is attending St. John's Northwestern Military Academy (Delafield, Wisc.) following a standout career at Hockinson HS. Hall earned All-Washington first team praise and was named Most Valuable Player of the Greater St. Helens League as a senior during the 2010-11 campaign after averaging more than 20 points per game and leading the Hawks to a conference championship. A four-year All-Greater St. Helens League first team honoree, Hall owns half of Hockinson's school scoring records, including career points (1,571).
ETC.: Cal Poly improved to 9-9 in season-opening contests at the Division I level with a 79-52 victory against San Jose State (Nov. 12) … Cal Poly's lone victory when trailing at halftime this season was a 42-36 triumph at USC on Nov 19 (the Mustangs trailed at the break, 20-13) … Cal Poly's lone defeat when leading at halftime was a 59-54 home defeat against Saint Mary's (the Mustangs led at the break, 26-25) ... the Mustangs have compiled the same amount or more fouls than their opponents during nine of 10 games this season … Cal Poly's Nov. 22 matchup at UNLV's Thomas & Mack Center drew 12,061 spectators, the largest attendance figure for the Mustangs since 17,230 fans packed Wisconsin's Kohl Center on Dec. 16, 2009 … Cal Poly's 62-61 victory against Morgan State (Nov. 25) was the program's 200th triumph at the Division I level.
