With Joseph Hunter out, what’s next for the Fresno State guard and the Bulldogs?

Fresno State guard Joseph Hunter will have surgery next week to repair an injured thumb, missing a first season of college basketball that has gone every way other than how the Bulldogs and coach Justin Hutson were hoping for the 4-star recruit from San Joaquin Memorial High.

So what’s next? There is not yet a timetable for when Hunter will be able to resume basketball activities. “They said once he had this operation he was going to be out a while,” Hutson said. “I don’t know the exact timing, I just know he’s basically done for the season.”

Hunter, who missed preseason practice time due to a medical issue, was rated as a Top 100 recruit, No. 64 and No. 5 among shooting guards in the nation. He scored 31.8 points per game in his senior season and finished his career with 2,337 career points, sixth in section history and second in school history behind Jalen Green.

His absence obviously is a blow to the Bulldogs, who are off to a 1-2 start with several key players working through or back from injury. It is early, but Fresno State is averaging just 61.0 points per game, the fewest in the Mountain West. It has hit 40.5% of its shots, the lowest in the conference. The Bulldogs also are averaging 13.3 turnovers and 9.0 assists per game, and are last in assist to turnover ratio.

The pieces are there for a turnaround, but health is an issue. Guard Jemarl Baker, a transfer from Arizona, is working back from a knee injury that limited him to five games last season. Anthony Holland, the Bulldogs’ most consistent 3-point shooter, missed time in the preseason due to an injury, as well.

Guard Jordan Brinson, also expected to be an integral piece this season, is back in practice after missing time due to injury. “He’s out there now, so there’s better chance than there was week ago,” Hutson said.

Fresno State, in a 67-60 loss to San Francisco on Wednesday, did find a way to improve its efficiency at the offensive end, spreading the floor and aggressively getting into the paint. They scored 18 of their 34 points in the paint, with another 11 coming at the foul line. But against the Dons, too many of those shots just did not fall. The Bulldogs missed eight shots at the rim in the second half, layups and dunks.