Fresno State opens with victory over Fresno Pacific. What’s changed from last season

Fresno State dispatched Fresno Pacific in its men’s basketball season-opener on Tuesday, a low-anxiety 74-54 victory at the Save Mart Center, which was not unexpected. But the Bulldogs clearly have taken some forward steps in summer workouts and practices without the COVID interruptions they had to deal with not once, not twice but three times a year ago, and it showed not because of the level of competition but in how they attacked it.

Orlando Robinson led the Bulldogs with 16 points, but Anthony Holland and Jordan Campbell were far more efficient at the offensive end than a year ago and Leo Colimerio added a nice bounce to their game, scoring 10 points with nine rebounds including seven at the offensive end.

Holland, who made just 34.2% of his shots last season, hit 5 of 6 against the Sunbirds including both of his attempts from the 3-point line in scoring 12 points with six rebounds and an assist off an offensive rebound.

“We’re asking Anthony to play the game easy and it doesn’t mean passive, it doesn’t mean overly aggressive,” coach Justin Hutson said. “It means he has to pick his spots and we’re trying to get him to slow down and pick his spots and stay consistent, to play the game aggressively, but not overly aggressively We don’t want an over-correct, where if he misses a shot now he doesn’t shoot the next one that he’s supposed to, or if he’s a little passive now he wants to over-correct and shoot one out of rhythm.”

Campbell, who can fly to the rim with anyone in the Mountain West Conference but can struggle at times with his jump shot, hit 6 of 10 including one three in scoring 14 points. His makes: layup, layup, loud and emphatic dunk, louder and even more emphatic dunk, a three from the left corner and another layup.

“That’s what we want him to do,” Hutson said. “We don’t want to force things, and we don’t want to be passive. We want to play the right way. We can’t pre-program what we’re going to do. We can’t over-correct. We have to play the game the way it comes and play it the right way.”

But that combination was a positive for the Bulldogs, who next play Long Island on Friday at the Save Mart Center. A year ago, when 12-12 in a COVID abbreviated season, Fresno State ranked seventh in the Mountain West in points per game and eighth in offensive efficiency and often was bogged down by bad shots and turnovers.

The Bulldogs had only nine of those, and three came in the final three minutes as they coasted to the victory.

“Very positive,” Hutson said. “The last two games (the Bulldogs played an exhibition against Stanislaus State) have been great that way. We’ve seen some slip-ups and we can always nitpick, but we’re heading in the right direction.”

Bulldogs played short-handed, down three guards

The Bulldogs played without guards Jemarl Baker, Junior Ballard and Deon Stroud and center Braxton Meah. Baker missed some practice time this week and is considered day-to-day with a knee injury. Ballard is making progress from a shin injury that had him sidelined through much of the fall. Stroud will not play in the first two games, but is expected back on Monday when Fresno State plays Idaho at the Save Mart Center. Meah has been sick the past few days and was held out to continue getting back to health. …

Fresno Pacific was led by Jelani Watson-Gayle, who was 3 of 6 from the 3-point line and scored 11 points. Nate Kendricks added nine points, with seven coming from the foul line. …

Colimerio, who played just 10.7 minute per game last season, had career highs in points and rebounds. “He’s getting better,” Hutson said. “He brings a lot of energy, runs the floor, rebounds the ball. He’s always in the right spots defensively, or at least sometimes he’s in the right spots defensively. His energy level was awesome tonight and his rebounding was contagious.” …