Coming off a 20-point home loss to Fresno State, Cal Poly shot 3-25 from three point range and lost to Bethune-Cookman Tuesday night in Daytona Beach, FL 67-53. The Mustangs are now 4-6 on the season.

Is there a draft in here? 

The Mustangs never led against the Wildcats, shooting just 33 percent from the field in Moore Gymnasium. You might think the Mustangs would do well in a small arena — Moore holds fewer people than Mott Athletics Center’s 3,032 capacity. But the Mustangs managed just 1-15 shooting from downtown as they tried to come back in the second half after going 2-10 in the first half. For a team that depended heavily on three-point shooting early in the season in wins over Santa Clara and College of Charleston, the Mustangs have gone cold in recent games. Just a week ago, Cal Poly was shooting 41 percent from downtown as a team. After going 7-45 (15.6 percent) over the past two games, that overall percentage has cooled to 36 percent.  

Hank Hollingsworth has been getting starts at center of late for Joe Callero’s squad. By Owen Main

Scrooges all around

Speaking of taking a lot of three pointers, Cal Poly isn’t getting to the charity stripe much this season. They make the ones they get, but as a team they take a very low number of free throws, and that trend has continued this week. In each of the past two games, Cal Poly’s opponent has made more free throws than Cal Poly has attempted. While free throw numbers like that aren’t everything, they can be an indicator of how much margin for error a team’s offense has in other areas. Like three point shooting. 

Ivy League coming to SLO

Cal Poly will face Princeton on Saturday night in Mott Athletics Center. On December 31, 2016, Princeton beach Cal Poly 81-52 in a game during which no Cal Poly player scored in double figures. Cal Poly’s game on Saturday will be just their third ever against an Ivy League opponent. 

Princeton has a tie to the Central Coast. Paso Robles native Ray Robins was a standout prep player locally and played basketball at Princeton at the same time would-be Major Leaguers Chris Young (pitcher) and Will Venable also graced the Tigers’ roster. 

Tip-off for Saturday night’s game is scheduled for 7:00pm inside Mott Athletics Center.

Photos from Saturday’s game against Fresno State by Owen Main. To see more photos or to purchase photos, click here. If you just want to contribute to the cause, Venmo @Owen-Main or paypal owen@fansmanship.com. 

Luke Meikle and Taylor Sutlive were each 5-5 from the field and combined for 31 points as Cal Poly held Fresno State to 24 first-half points en route to a 77-65 victory. Meikle averaged 15.5 points off the bench in two home games this week, showing his offensive versatility making outside shots and taking the ball to the basket against bigger opponents.

Sutlive has shown patience throughout the beginning of the season, not forcing shots and taking open looks.

Sutlive was 3-3 from three point range, but head coach Joe Callero was more impressed with Sutlive and the rest of the team’s ability to defend Fresno State and not give up wide open shots like they did on Thursday night against IPFW. Callero said they gave up 20 wide-open looks against IPFW. Fresno State hardly got any.

Cal Poly built their lead over 10 points less than two minutes into the second half. Fresno State cut the lead to eight points at the 14:23 mark of the second half, but an ensuing Sutlive three-pointer pushed it back to 11 and Cal Poly lead by double-digits the rest of the night.

Statland

Cal Poly won despite taking 25 fewer shots than Fresno State — the Bulldogs took 69 shots to Cal Poly’s 44. Cal Poly’s starters were just 4-14 from three-point range, but the bench was a combined 4-8 to help the Mustangs stay over 36 percent for the game. David Nwaba filled-up the box score with 9 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists.

Up next

Cal Poly now has finals week off before traveling to Moraga to play at St. Mary’s next Monday. They’ll follow that up with a trip to USC before playing three road games in Texas before the first of the year and the start of Big West Conference play.

Photos by Owen Main

Lisa Marie Sanchez scored 10 points against Fresno State. By Owen Main

Faith Mimnaugh’s Cal Poly women’s basketball team kept it entertaining. On Saturday afternoon at Mott Athletics Center, the Mustangs earned a 60-46 lead with 6:24 left in the fourth quarter and then didn’t score for nearly five minutes before the Leaupepe twins made four consecutive free throws in the final minute to ice the 64-60 win over the visiting Fresno State Bulldogs.

Cal Poly’s balanced attack was lead by Dynn Leaupepe, who came off the bench to score 12 points. Lisa Marie Sanchez and Beth Balbierz scored 11 apiece and Hannah Gilbert chipped in 10 points and 9 rebounds.

Fresno State kept themselves in the game, hitting 88 percent from the free throw line (21-24), but Cal Poly’s big fourth quarter lead was too much to overcome in the end.

Tribune article

Photos by Owen Main

After losing their first two games, Cal Poly men’s basketball traveled East on Wednesday night to battle Fresno State and try to get their first win of the year. Instead, they may have just got more questions.

David Nwaba threw down two nasty dunks in the first half on Wednesday night. By Owen Main

Fresno State used a 24-9 run over the final 12:15 of the first half to take a 12-point lead into halftime and never looked back. The Mustangs looked good early with sophomore wing David Nwaba slamming down two fast-break dunks to give Cal Poly a 10-7 lead. But the Bulldogs out-rebounded the Mustangs 26-14 in the first half during the decisive run.

“A pivotal part of the game was when they attacked the glass and got three or four possessions at one time. That’s back-breaking, said Cal Poly head coach, Joe Callero. “Playing defense doesn’t matter. You have to finish the play. We haven’t finished the play. We haven’t had that mindset of finishing that play every time. Hopefully it’s something we develop here before conference play, obviously.”

Cal Poly inched back into the game, cutting the lead to five with 14:05 left in the game. But then the Mustangs went cold, not scoring for 6:12 as Fresno State built back an insurmountable 14-point lead. Most of their scoring droughts are coming when starters go out and rotations change.

“We’re not complimentary yet,” said Callero. “We may have turned the ball over once [in the first half], but we didn’t compliment each other for 20 minutes. We played good for 10 to 12 minutes and then there’s eight more minutes where we’re just out there. We’re not complimenting each other, and I think that’s the biggest issue we’re still trying to iron out with the team right now.”

Chris Eversley led Cal Poly with 14 points and seven rebounds. David Nwaba scored in double figures for the second time in three games, tallying 11 points. Jamal Johnson and Brian Bennett added nine. Kyle Odister was the only other Mustang to score — he had three points. Only five Cal Poly players — the starting five — scored all game.

Cal Poly shot 17-53 for the game, a 32 percent clip.

“Those are shots we usually make,” said Eversley. “Those are shots we make in other gyms as well, especially at home… . It’s just a mixture of making the shots when they’re open and then just shot selection.”

David Nwaba brought a lot of energy early for Cal Poly on Wednesday. By Owen Main

In previous years, Cal Poly could always be counted on to play with some extra savvy, even if they weren’t physically matched-up with whatever team they were playing. This season, they seem to be a better physical match with longer, more athletic players at some positions, but they haven’t yet garnered results for Callero and his team.

“I’m not surprised by our let-down because it’s still what we do in practice,” said Callero. “We have not sustained a practice. A team has not established a practice ethic that will sustain high-major basketball to win games… . We’ll have 20 minutes of really great practice. We’ll have 10 minutes of  good practice, and we’ll have 10 minutes of a poor practice, and the bottom drops out of the concentration level.”

Fresno State sported four guards and a forward who each averaged at or above 9.7 points per game. Four of the top-eight players in their rotation are freshmen. Five players scored in double figures for the Bulldogs on Wednesday night, led by Allen Huddleston, who dropped 14. Overall, Fresno State out-rebounded Cal Poly 45-28, including a 10-6 advantage on offensive rebounds.

“A pivotal part of the game was when they attacked the glass and got three or four possessions at one time,” said Callero. “That’s back-breaking.”

The Mustangs played 12 players including freshman Taylor Sutlive, who went scoreless in his first action in a Cal Poly uniform. In all, non-starters only took six shots.

“Right now we’re really working on trying to sustain an energy and a focus,” said Cal Poly coach Joe Callero. “We came out really trying to stay focused and energized. I thought we had a nice start. We have not found a rotation off the bench that gives us any sustainability, something we have to clearly work on.”

Callero also called Nwaba “probably the most important ingredient” to keep the energy level up. “But he fatigues so quickly,” said Callero. “He goes a million miles an hour and gives us energy and then, oh boy, he’s gotta get a five minute rest, and during that period we’ve got to be able to find that next energy, and that next rotation — something we’ve got to work on.”

The Mustangs are 0-3 for the first time since Joe Callero’s first season at the helm.

“It’s tough,” said Eversley. “Nobody wants to be in this position, but at the same time it’s a marathon, not a sprint… . We want it like this. We want to be in adverse situations so we’re sitting in the Honda Center on a Saturday night preparing to play on Sunday in March.”

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Chris Brown was kind of a revelation for Cal Poly on Saturday night. By Owen Main

Cal Poly went into Fresno on Saturday night with high hopes. By the end of the first half, those hopes were as far away as the cool Central Coast ocean breeze.

After giving up two punt returns for touchdowns and netting only 44 total yards in the first half, things seemed pretty bleak for the Mustangs, who were down 34-0.

Mostly against Fresno State’s backup players, the second half was a different story for the Mustangs. Along with being reminded that I have weak coastal blood (it was REALLY hot), here’s what I learned on Saturday night.

Fresno State is good this year

Derek Carr got all kinds of media attention all week leading up to the game, and on Saturday he proved why. The run/pass option that Fresno State presents on nearly every play will hold defenses in-check enough for the Bulldogs to put up big numbers all season.

The one thing I didn’t have a lot of information about going into the game was how good their receivers actually are. We found out pretty quickly as Carr carved-up the secondary. Just as impressive is the big-play ability of kick returner Isaiah Burse, who ran back two punts for touchdowns and caught a third from Carr.

Fresno State has a hugely entertaining offense for fans to watch. Because of Carr and receivers like Burse, they are basically never completely out of games.

Cal Poly probably isn’t as bad as they played in the first half

On the surface, it seemed like the classic stereotype of an FBS vs. FCS team. The FCS team (Cal Poly) comes into the FBS team’s stadium, gets blown-out, and the home team’s quarterback doesn’t play the last quarter-and-a-half. Fans call it a “body bag” game.

For the first half, this game fit the stereotype completely.

Cal Poly showed a little something in the second half. They didn’t continue to roll-over. They competed. In fact, they played so well that Carr was brought back into the game at the end of the fourth quarter as were some of the Bulldogs’ first-team defenders.

I’m not saying that Cal Poly is in the same class as Fresno State. But they aren’t as bad as they played in the first half on Saturday, and they proved it as a team in the second half.

Vince Moraga was developing

The Cal Poly quarterback and his group were making headway. Kristaan Ivory had finally got the edge on an option pitch and Moraga’s offense had finally got on the board.

On the next drive, Moraga’s offense once again got the Mustangs into field goal range, where Bobby Zalud missed a 41-yard attempt. The Cal Poly defense finally got a 3-and-out, and Moraga’s unit was poised to move again.

In a flash the game, and probably the season, was over for the junior starting quarterback. Moraga suffered a knee injury on the Mustangs’ second drive of the half. Initial reports are that it might be an ACL tear, a would-be season-ending injury. The narrative that might be told at the end of the year is that “Moraga’s was an ineffective offensive leader” or that “finally someone other that Moraga came in and the Mustangs started to move the ball.”

Both of these would be false.

Moraga’s team was moving the ball. The offense had begun to turn things around. The coaches had made some adjustments. The team finally had their collective head on straight, and things were starting to go the Mustangs’ way already. Chris Brown’s backup numbers look great and will create a lot of fan excitement, but Moraga had already started to turn things around. Whatever comes of this season or the remainder of his career, let’s remember that.

Chris Brown is exciting

After the Moraga injury, Brown came in and the momentum continued to shift toward the Mustangs. After Kristaan Ivory forced a fumble on special teams, Brown threw a confident pass to Tucker over the middle for a touchdown.

If they want all the explosiveness that Chris Brown brings, Cal Poly fans will have to be patient. By Owen Main

In the fourth quarter, Brown led the team on two drives down the field, scoring on a 22-yard scramble and on a one-yard dive, sending Cal Poly fans into an excited fervor about what “could-be.”

Of all Cal Poly’s quarterbacks, and there were four of them to start the season, Brown is the biggest, tallest, fastest guy with probably the best arm. Presumably, Vince Moraga won the job originally because of his decision-making and experience within the triple-option offense, but after seeing the tools Brown brings to the game, it’s hard to argue with having him in the game.

I’m a Dodgers fan and I have to liken what fans will go through with to the Yasiel Puig situation in Dodgertown. There are times when you wonder, “What is that guy doing!?” and other times when you know that no other athlete available to you at that position could make that play.

If you want the possibility of the exciting 22-yard touchdown run on a broken play, you’ll also have to be patient with the time that Brown and Brandon Howe ran into one another twice on the same play and were lucky not to have fumbled. If you want the arm that can throw a 12-yard comeback route off of one leg in the fourth quarter, you’ll also have to deal with a guy who doesn’t always hand-off to the right guy or pitch the ball at the right time or who runs backwards trying to make something happen.

Tim Walsh understands that the kind of risk incurred by giving the offense’s keys to Brown could cost Cal Poly games. But the threat of Brown’s strong arm and FBS-class running ability are too great to dismiss. Fans, and for now Walsh, will have to take the good with the bad.

Another interesting subplot of this week will be how/whether the offense and play-calling are adjusted this week to account for Brown’s skillset as opposed to Moraga. More on that for another post.

How can you watch this video and not get a little excited if you’re a Cal Poly fan?

Willie Tucker and Chris Brown celebrate after Tucker’s touchdown on Saturday night. By Owen Main

Cal Poly has weapons

Even without Brown on the field, Cal Poly has weapons. Willie Tucker already has two 100-yard games and Cole Stanford can be counted-on for at least one or two big plays per game. At slot back, Ivory remains the key, but players like Kori Garcia have also looked promising during the first few games.

Moraga was lauded for his ability to get the ball to the right playmakers at the right time, but Chris Brown did a very good job of that during the second half Saturday. Brown’s ability to read the triple option and get consistent yardage will make the difference between a competitive team this Saturday and one that sees some kind of deja vu.

Plans sometimes don’t go how you want them to

Like Cal Poly, Fansmanship had a little bit of a rough first half. We are usually able to get some first-half photos up on the website by halftime. It’s Monday and they still aren’t up. They should actually be up by tonight both here and on our facebook page.

The reason is a new camera that required a software update. We will be in Fort Collins this Saturday and WILL HAVE PICTURES UP during the game.

Photos by Andy Stevens and Owen Main

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The efficiency of Vince Moraga and Kristaan Ivory in Cal poly’s offense will be a key in tomorrow’s game. By Owen Main

A solid win at home against San Diego followed by a road game against a Mountain West opponent.

Sound familiar?

Last season, it was a recipe for Cal Poly to upset Wyoming in Laramie 24-22.

All the dominoes were set-up in Cal Poly’s favor — an injured quarterback, an early two-touchdown lead, and an opponent whose offense was far from dynamic.

This year, though, it’s a different story. Fresno State’s quarterback is not only healthy, he’s getting as much publicity as any other player in college football this week. Derek Carr, younger brother of Bulldogs legend David, has been featured on the Jim Rome show and CBS Sports’ main webpage.

Against Rutgers a week ago, Carr’s offense put up 52 points.

Cal Poly’s offense looked good as well, racking up 533 yards of total offense and 38 points. Here’s where numbers can be deceiving, though.

To beat an FBS school, a team like Cal Poly must do a few things very well. They must score early. They must play very good defense, probably forcing at least 2-3 turnovers, if not more. They also must dominate possession, keeping a potent offensive attack off the field.

Against Wyoming last season, they did all of these things. Andre Broadous and company ran more plays (81-62), had more first downs (20-14), and dominated time of possession (35:39-24:21).

But last week, despite the comfortable winning margin, Cal Poly lost in each of these areas. They didn’t run as many plays as San Diego (62-69), didn’t get as many first downs (17-19), and were dominated in time of possession (37:41-22:19).

You might say that it’s because the Mustangs scored too quickly. Their offense had too many explosive big plays for any of that to matter. And you would be right.

Except that against a really talented Fresno State team, if you leave your defense out on the field for as long as they were last weekend, you are going to be in for a long, long day.

Best-case scenario for Cal Poly

Vince Moraga’s offense finds a little more consistency, with lots of second and third down conversions, chewing up the clock and keeping Derek Carr and his offense off the field.

Cal Poly’s defense comes up with some big plays to keep Fresno State off the scoreboard and keep the team within striking distance going into the fourth quarter (maybe with both teams somewhere in the 20’s…). At that point, anything could happen.

Worst-cast scenario for Cal Poly

Fresno State scores first. Cal Poly runs 3 plays, doesn’t get a first down, and Fresno State scores again on the ensuing possession. In the words of Maude Lebowski – “You can imagine where it goes from there.”

In this worst-case scenario, it’s a certainty that nobody will fix the cable.

What will probably happen

Something in between. Cal Poly may hang close for a few quarters, but Fresno State is very good. The betting line is 27 points, meaning the oddsmakers are envisioning something closer to the “worst case.” I won’t make a prediction, but I would be surprised to see Cal Poly lose by more than three touchdowns, even to a very good Fresno State team.