The Bulldogs Basketball Hour With Paul Loeffler, Coach Vance Walberg & Mykell Robinson

The Voice of The Bulldogs Paul Loeffler along with Fresno State Basketball Head Coach Vance Walberg were at Crow & Wolf in Clovis talked about Wednesday's Mountain West Opener and Fresno State Basketball Student Athlete Mykell Robinson and asked about his thoughts on this seasons team. 

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
On the Bulldog Sports Network from Learfield. Welcome to the
Bulldog Basketball Hour. How to you buy table Mountain Casino Resorts,
Lucky Days and Epic Nights, bud Late, easy to Drink,
Easy to Enjoy and buy Pepsi, official soft drink of
Fresno State Athletics. Live from Crowing Wolf tamp Room in Clovis.

(00:24):
Jeers your host, the Voice of the Bulldogs, Paul Leffler.

Speaker 2 (00:30):
Well, good evening. It's the Bulldog Basketball Hour coming to
you from a Crow and Wolf in Clovis. That's right
off of Herndon in one sixty eight. If you've never
been here before, it's quite the experience here at Crowing
Wolf today. Those big rolling doors are down because it's
a little cool outside. But you step outside and Beto's
Tacos is here tonight. That's the one and only food truck.

(00:51):
But that's more than enough. In fact, I was just
looking at their menu here. I took a picture of
it to tweet out. They've got tacos, ques Abiria, Bria
ram and tortas Asada, fries, Nacho's, California Burrito, Quesadilla getting
hungry here. They've got all your choices of meats, asada,
al pastor carnitas. And how's your esponol coach Wahlberg not

(01:19):
very good?

Speaker 3 (01:20):
Two years of it and uh not good.

Speaker 2 (01:25):
Well, but I'm sure you have an affinity for a
really good uh tacos and Mexican food.

Speaker 4 (01:30):
Huh.

Speaker 3 (01:31):
I would say yes normally, but I'm not toast and tolerant.

Speaker 5 (01:35):
Too much cheese and so that Casa Bria would not
be your.

Speaker 3 (01:38):
And I love cheese and I love bread.

Speaker 5 (01:42):
How about chips and saucer?

Speaker 3 (01:44):
The stomach doesn't need those guacamole? Love it?

Speaker 2 (01:49):
Okay, now we found something. Now we're speaking the same language.
I think I just in oil Hiled. We're here at
Crown Wolf the Bulldog basketball our coach Wahlberg is here now, MIKEL. Robinson,
one of his veteran players, is going to join us
a little while. And tomorrow night is the big Night
Mountain West opener at the Save Mart Center against a

(02:09):
nationally ranked San Diego State squad. Coach, You've been coaching
a long time. I know when you were in the NBA.
I mean there's no differentiation between kind of the non
conference schedule and conference schedule. You would have divisional matchups.
And maybe feel like they mean a little bit more.
But can you remember a season where you had to

(02:30):
dive into your league this early on?

Speaker 3 (02:34):
No, you know, the My first in the NBA was
actually the strike season, so that was all of a sudden.
They put all those games back to back. We actually
would have I think it was four games in five days.
It was such a crazy stretch. But nothing like this,

(02:56):
you know, having the league start this early.

Speaker 2 (02:58):
And what a way to start it against the team
that played for a national championship just a couple of
years ago. That's in the top twenty five after playing
one of the toughest schedules in the country to this point,
and a style that Bulldog fans have become pretty familiar with.
It's a style that's brought a lot of success for
Steve Fisher and Brian Dutcher over the years. I know

(03:20):
you haven't gone up against them in a game yet,
but I'm sure you have a feel about what that
program has done and the way the Aztecs get it done.

Speaker 3 (03:28):
Definitely, no, you know, I've obviously watched quite a bit
of film on them. Defensively, they're's good to anybody in
the country. They probed themselves on their defense, and you
know when you had that reputation kind of like Houston.
You know when you watch that game Houston San Diego State,
you know they both are two defensive giants, and when
you're that good, they kind of let you get away

(03:49):
with a little bit more too. You watch them tomorrow night,
you can see a little extra pump and shoven pushing.
Every time you drive, there's gonna be one or two
hands in there raping at the ball. So we have
to be really strong with the ball. If we can
keep our life all turnovers down to a very small
minimum and go rebound it, that's our chance that we

(04:09):
have to have well.

Speaker 2 (04:11):
And as much success as the Aztecs have had, they've
also been one of those programs that has been susceptible
to upsets because the scores end up being lower because
there are fewer possessions.

Speaker 5 (04:23):
Each possession means a little more.

Speaker 2 (04:25):
We've seen Fresno State have some absolute thrillers over the
years with them, whether it's during Rodney Terry's era or
more recently with coach Hudson. Now, you're trying to play
a higher possession game and their style is to maybe
slow things down a little bit more. Do you get
caught up in who's imposing who's will on the other one?

Speaker 3 (04:45):
You will? But for us again, our best success is,
you know, I think anybody expects best success is in transition.
You know, we have to try and get some easy
bucks in transition and have court really tough to score against.
So our thing is going to be, you know, try
and push it, get a quick to try and get
a quick good shot and if not, then go ahead,

(05:08):
see what we got to do and make them works.

Speaker 2 (05:11):
Tomorrow night, seven thirty at the Save Mart Center, Fresno
State against San Diego State the Mountain West opener. One
of the questions that's come in online, and if you've
got a question for the coach, you can join us
here at Crowing Wolf. That's the best way to do it.
Beto's tacos is outside and anything you want to drink
inside here from the illustrious Crow and Wolf tap menu.

(05:33):
One of the questions that came in on social media
the ex app specifically with that hashtag ask fs He said,
ask coach Wahlberg what his vision and timetable is for
implementing his full defensive system. You're just talking about defense
and this poster, Corny says, nice name, Corny. I understand

(05:55):
depth and injuries, but this team needs that defensive element.
It implemented. It's a thing of beauty when it's all clicking.

Speaker 3 (06:03):
I would one hundred percent agree with him. The timetable
is going to be tough this year. That's I was
hoping to be able to do that, but the injuries
and lack of depth that we have has just really
put us in a tough position. I mean, there's been
a couple of games you've seen it all were out

(06:24):
there where we got four of our top six or
four of our top eight players not out there, and
it's really tough. It's really tough, you know. Year one
is they say, is pretty tough. And I am finding
that out. I was talking with coach White today and
she said, well, what's the She said, Hey, you know

(06:48):
what the best thing about year one? I said, no,
when it's over, you know, And I think I'm understanding
that now with all these injuries and everything that's going on.
But again, you know, we're going to do the best
we can fight and compete. You know, we've come back
a few times putting the press on. I'd love to

(07:08):
be able to do that the whole time, but we
just don't have the numbers.

Speaker 2 (07:13):
Well, and in light of that, and you've been very
candid all season long, and you tell it how it is.
When that's the case, when you know kind of the
big picture of what this year is and what you're
trying to build, does that mean when you do have
those really satisfying games that they're even more satisfying that

(07:33):
when you find a way to beat someone who's not
in year one, who has a little more momentum or
more resources, or you're the underdog, that when you break
through and win those games, it's even more satisfying because
in a way, you're not supposed to do that yet.

Speaker 3 (07:46):
Definitely, I mean, I mean, honest with you, I've said
it so many times to you, winning is the best
drug around. When I lose, my body just goes all hell.
When I win, it just it's a whole, completely different feeling.
It sounds crazy, but it's just I've been that way
my whole life. God, I used to hate if I

(08:06):
lost on the Friday, that Saturday, Sunday, Monday. You know
where you have that feeling, you know, But it's just
one of those things that it's and I'm not a
patient person. It's really tough, you know, but we got
to develop the culture. We got to get ourselves to
play harder, and that's what I'm trying to get the
players to understand.

Speaker 2 (08:26):
Well, I've heard a lot of people say over the years,
never pray for patients because you'll be put into situations
that require it.

Speaker 5 (08:32):
And you guys are dealing with that some of that
right now.

Speaker 2 (08:35):
And you talked about the defensive development not having the
depth to fully implement how you want to play, and
I guess I need to ask you. I did see
a report today about DJ Douglas. Sounds like he's going
to be missing for a little while longer.

Speaker 3 (08:49):
Yeah, DJ has a just came up over the weekend
with the fracture knee. He's going to be out four
to six weeks at least. Just Yeah, it's just part
of the part of the business, you know, you got
to find the next man up. We're just gonna keep
plugging and see what we can do well.

Speaker 2 (09:09):
And we'll be talking in a little while with a
guy who's plugged a lot of those gaps for you,
because he's a bit of a Swiss Army and I
have a very versatile player in Mikel Robinson.

Speaker 5 (09:18):
I know.

Speaker 2 (09:18):
I mean you've had a you know, toss it up
in the air, see who's available from this game to
the next. So far this year, it's been a different
roster to work with almost every game. But are there
some things you've learned about some of your players because
they've been thrust into situations that weren't the prototypical sweet
spot for him.

Speaker 3 (09:36):
Yeah, and Mikel is probably the number one recipient of that,
you know. I honestly he thought he was more of
a wing where, you know, we would kind of make
him do different things from that angle. But finding out,
especially with Zayon being out for a couple of games,
how much him put him up top, you know, put
him in one of those two guard spots on how

(09:58):
effective he has been for He's got a lot of patience,
you know, Zion's one of those kind of quick guards
will make things happen. Mike cows Moore and those more
patient guards who's kind of checking seeing what he's got,
seeing what he's got and then finding the open man.
Where's animal kind of zip by a little bit faster
on that. So it's a good combination and he's been

(10:19):
a really pleasant surprise.

Speaker 2 (10:21):
And we're going to be talking to him a little
bit later out here at Crow and Wolf.

Speaker 5 (10:24):
It's the Bulldog Basketball Hour. Now. I know some of
you are really wanting to.

Speaker 2 (10:28):
Talk about Bulldog football, but until a decision is made
about the leadership of the program, there's not a whole
lot to talk about.

Speaker 5 (10:34):
There's a lot on social.

Speaker 2 (10:35):
Media, but stay tuned for that's the big news and
Bulldog lands today. The baby schedule has been released, so
if you haven't taken a look at that, you might
want to check online. Probably the most exciting non conference
baseball schedule that Fresno State's had in about twenty years,
BYU at Fullerton coming here early. Bulldogs will go to
UC Santa Barbara and TCU this year on the diamond
as well, and they've got one of the best players

(10:56):
in the country at MURF Gray coming back. I'm trying
to think if there's any basketball players on that baseball
team you can borrow for a month or so.

Speaker 3 (11:04):
Cooch, believe me, how was that pepper dyine we had?
We kind of went through the same thing. We had
some men trees and I was looking at the volleyball
team to see what we can get. We have no
men's volleyball, so it makes it a little bit tougher.

Speaker 2 (11:18):
Yeah, and I'll save the football jokes for now with
the transfer portal and all that, But there is some
talent on campus, and you play with who you have,
and you play against who's on the schedule, and tomorrow
night at San Diego State on the schedule, and it's
your first conference game in the Save Mart Center. So
maybe we can start here before we take the break.

(11:39):
What are you hoping to see from the Red Wave
tomorrow night at seven thirty? What would put a smile
on your face when you walk out of the locker
room for that national anthem?

Speaker 3 (11:46):
See a nice beautiful crowd up ready to go and
hoping that the players, you know, miss just like anybody else,
you know, the players feel it when they have the
crowd behind them. You're talking, is another four to six
eight points your way. There's no in the game of basketball,
that's just the way it is. That home court advantage
can be so so important. It would be really great

(12:07):
for the kids to have that and to see that.

Speaker 2 (12:10):
And as far as playing San Diego State in the opener,
you know, we've all been the kid who rips the
band aid off or maybe pulls out it just gingerly,
and then you feel every single ounce of the pain.
Would you rather start out against the team the caliber
San Diego State and make that your barometer, or start
out against somebody who isn't that great and ease your

(12:33):
way into a conference seat?

Speaker 3 (12:34):
Just go right at them. I mean, we got to
play everybody twice, so why not? You know again, you know,
they're coming off a great winning against Houston, and I'm
hoping they overlook us.

Speaker 2 (12:50):
Supposibly, we shall see, and they are coming to the
valley tomorrow night.

Speaker 5 (12:54):
Seven point thirty is the tip.

Speaker 2 (12:55):
Our pregame show will come your way at seven o'clock
and we're here till seven o'clock to night at Crow
and the Bulldog Basketball Hour on the Bulldog Sports Network
from their field.

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Speaker 2 (16:18):
We welcome back to the Bulldog Basketball Hour, coming to
you from Pro and Wolf right off of Herndon and
one sixty eight. You've never been here before. Tonight it's
a great time to make your first visit. And Beto's
Tacos is in the parking lot with some fantastic food.
You want to spice it up, They'll spice it up
before you ask for some extra hollepanos and tell him
I sent you. We've got coach Vance Wahlberg here Tomorrow night.

(16:40):
It's the conference opener. I know it's just the first
week of December. You don't usually start conference play till
the end of the month, but that's a little different
this year with a twenty game Mountain West schedule where
you play everybody in the conference, once at home and
once on the road, and the Bulldogs start against the
Mighty Aztecs of San Diego State, ranked twenty fourth in
the nation after a big upset went over sixth ranked
Houston this week. That's tomorrow night, seven point thirty at

(17:02):
the Save Mart Center. Our pregame show will come your
way at seven o'clock.

Speaker 5 (17:06):
Looking forward to a.

Speaker 2 (17:06):
Good crowd in the arena and seeing how the Bulldogs
bounce back after a real heartbreaker last time out double overtime.
That game felt like about five or six games, coach,
and you already told us that winning is the best drug,
and you feel different when you win versus when you lose.
So you've been sitting on that since almost midnight on Wednesday.

(17:30):
Anything to take away from that game that showed just
signs of wins to come, even if the win didn't
materialize that night.

Speaker 3 (17:37):
Again, the thing I respected with the players is, you know,
we got down twelve or fourteen I think we went
on a seventeen to two run end the game until
they hit that half court shot, and a lot of teams,
a lot of times be full put their tents up,
and I was really proud that they kept coming back
in that it'd be nice and I have to come
back all the time. But it seems like something that

(18:00):
we've been getting behind quite a bit. But again, if
we can just every day I try and talk to
the players, if we just every day try and get
one ounce one percent better and just keep working hard,
that will start developing the culture. And again I'm a
big believe in the harder you work, the luckier you get.

Speaker 2 (18:18):
Well, you mentioned the runs you guys have had. The
fourteen nothing run to close the game of Long Beach,
of course jumps out, but yeah, that game, you had
a thirteen to three run late. Even the Washington State
game the night before, you tighten things up with a
nice run UCSB you're down by seventeen and put a
real scare into the gaucho's late. The sax State game

(18:39):
you finish, you know a six to nothing run, had
a seventeen to two run in there, So you guys
have had that spurret ability, as they like to say.
But I'm sure you're hoping for a little more consistency
and predictability too. Is that something that we need to
be patient for because of the injury situation that you've
dealt with.

Speaker 3 (18:57):
It's a combination. I think the injury is definitely part
of it, but I think more than it's just our shooting.
You know, you just can't consistently shoot in the low twenties,
in the mid twenties or whatever from the three point
line and have it really give yourself a chance to win.
You know, we can never get to that. You know.
Our best shooting game I was telling the players today is,

(19:17):
you know, nobody saw we were playing when we played
the home you in our scrimmage, in our exhibition between
one another. We were nine for fifteen that day, and shoot,
we look pretty darn good. You know, when you put
the ball in the hole that way, it obviously it
gives you a lot of confidence, and it spreads people
out and so forth. Right now we're not shooting well,

(19:38):
people are going to jam up things more. So we
got to be able to knock down some outside shots.

Speaker 2 (19:43):
Well, we'll see if the Bulldogs can do that tomorrow
night at the sat Marts Center against a team with
a great defensive reputation in San Diego State. We'll talk
some more about your guys, especially once MIKEL. Robinson arrives
here in a little bit where it Crow and Wolf
just off a herdit of one sixty eight. I see
a lot of time out club here tonight enjoying some
cold Crowing Wolf beverages and out in the parking lot.

(20:05):
They've got Beto's tacos here tonight with just about anything
you can think of on a Mexican food menu. So
come and joy tonight at Crowing Wolf with the Aztecs
on the menu. Their personnel has changed. I know you
weren't in the league last year, but you're familiar with
what San Diego State has done, and they've kind of reloaded.
And one guy who's been playing really well for him

(20:27):
maybe you coached against him in high school, now that
it occurs to me, because he played a modesto Christian
high Their point guard BJ Davis's kind of taken over
as a leader on that team.

Speaker 3 (20:36):
Actually, both the two of the top player Miles Bird Stockland,
we played against Lincoln at Stockton and then with BJ
y BJ. I went for about thirty two against US
in one of the games when I was at Clovis West.
Very good player, quick as heck. His shooting has gotten
a lot better. He's doing a really good job. I mean,

(20:57):
both BJ and Miles. At the end, there's seventy points
come from their guards. You know, they average seventy game
and fifty of them will come from their their three
starting guards. And they're one backup guard, so they're very
much guard or and they're bigs kind of clean things up.
They do have the one big coleman who's going to
shoot some threes, and the other three bigs just go
rebound the heck out of the ball.

Speaker 2 (21:20):
And they always have a rim protector at San Diego State,
so you better be ready to jump into a chest
and wrinkle of s.

Speaker 5 (21:26):
Like our friend Coach Q likes to say.

Speaker 3 (21:28):
Well, they're they're starting center. He's a red shirt freshman.
I think it's leading the country in block shots. He's
over I think for a game or at for a game.

Speaker 2 (21:37):
And there you go, it's exactly what I'm talking about.
And you know you're starting center. They're still trying to
get healthy and how do you handle that with a
guy that you want to make sure his minutes count,
and at some point there's probably a threshold of diminishing
return for a guy who's still trying to get his
knee into shape.

Speaker 3 (21:55):
Yeah more, I mean, I'll get it. I'll get more.
A lot of credit. He's giving us everything, and to
come back from ACL we thought he'd be a little
bit more mobile right now, and he's struggling a little
bit with that. But his heart's there and he's trying
like anything. You know, each day you see a little
bit more, but he's still got a ways to go.

(22:15):
He definitely does.

Speaker 2 (22:17):
Well and he'll be amped up for his first Mountain
West game Tomorrow Night's seven point thirty the tip of
the Same Mart Center, seven o'clock, the pregame show Fresno
State and San Diego State, and coach, I'm gonna ask
you one of those dumb questions because sometimes things seem
so simple and basic we don't think to ask him.
So I'm just gonna throw it your way because you
mentioned one of the Aztecs who's a really good player

(22:39):
who scores a lot, who happens to be left handed,
and you played a young man last game against cal
Baptist who also happens to be left handed, who made
a half court shot left handed, but kept going right on.

Speaker 5 (22:50):
His drives to the bucket.

Speaker 2 (22:52):
Is is there anything like instinctively that your guys have
to rewire their minds when they're playing against the left
handed shooter that can really shoot.

Speaker 3 (23:02):
Well, we got two lefties tomorrow, they're probably there. I
think the best player is Boyd. He's a lefty. He
played that Florida Lack when they were in that fau
fau and then the Bird being a lefty. Yep, both
those two liked to go either way. Then the funny
thing about the guy that against cal Baptists who hit

(23:26):
the half court shot, he's a lefty, but I mean
in the Economy port we told him ninety two percent
of the time he's going to go right, and we
let them go ninety We let them go right, and
I think ninety eight percent of the time. But it's
just one of those things, you know. He just he
was so quick going downhill. I mean, he was a
little jet, he.

Speaker 2 (23:45):
Really was, and he had some kind of touch to
kiss that thing off the window with some wacky spin too.

Speaker 5 (23:50):
That was pretty impressive to watch.

Speaker 3 (23:52):
It was, but again, you know, just I was trying
to I was taking one of my coaches, you know,
until he hit that half court shot at the point
I think he was five for twenty three. They end
up the game going like ten for thirty one, exactly,
I know. So isn't that mean he got his share
shots up?

Speaker 5 (24:11):
The volume was certainly there.

Speaker 2 (24:13):
Man, we don't want you to turn down the volume
on this show because we're going to be here till
seven o'clock tonight. I saw a tall figure just walk
in who's one of the Bulldog's leaders so far in
the court this year.

Speaker 5 (24:23):
Mikel Robinson is going to be hearing from him here shortly.

Speaker 2 (24:27):
Let's see what he wants to eat from Beto's tacos tonight.
We're here at Crow and Wolf just off a herndred
in one sixty eight. Would love to see out here
the Bulldog's open conference play tomorrow night. And if you've
got a question for coach Wahlberg or for Mikel, send
it our way on the xAPP with that hashtag ask FS.
Right back from Crowing Wolf after this, the Bulldog Basketball
Hour all the Bulldog Sports Network.

Speaker 9 (24:47):
From therefield here in the heart of California. Traditions are
as deeply rooted as the abundant fields that dray Bar Valley.
They link us across generations. They make us who we are.
So what does it mean when traditions you When a
beacon of hope beats a source of pride. When you
combine a place that's full of life with people who
can save a life, we call it a victory for

(25:09):
our valley, for our kids, for generations to come. Valley
Children's official healthcare partner with the Fresno Save Pulldogs.

Speaker 11 (25:19):
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Speaker 2 (27:55):
Welcome back to the Bulldog Basketball Hour. Tomorrow night will
be seven thirty. That's the tip off for Fresno State
in San Diego State in the Mountain West basketball opener,
first year of a twenty game conference schedule in the
Mountain West. First Mountain West game for coach Van Swahlberg,
and why not go up against a team that has
been a standard bearer for this conference for many moons,

(28:17):
the San Diego State Aztecs, fresh off their big win
over then sixth ranked Houston and now the Aztecs are
nationally ranked themselves. They've had some tough times in Fresno.
They've struggled to score in Fresno. They've had the Red
Wave give them all that they could handle. And let's
see how things go tomorrow night. You told his coach
that DJ Douglas going to miss a month, maybe more

(28:39):
than that with a knee injury. We saw a lot
of you guys come back at times quicker than I
think we expected. And Zayon Collins looked as quick as
ever in that tournament down in Palm Springs.

Speaker 5 (28:51):
Jalen Weaver, you think he's going to be at one
hundred percent for them a night.

Speaker 3 (28:54):
No, Jayden's actually got a little bit worse. That back
to back games made a little bit tough on him.
He's been about sixty percent at the best. We've kind
of been took him really life this week. I'm hoping
he can. We don't know if he can go yet.
Tomorrow night, I'm hoping he can. You know he won't start,
but hopefully we'll have him off the bets. I'm hoping
because we need him.

Speaker 2 (29:16):
Sure, hope you're right. I hope we can see him
rise to that occasion tomorrow night. And you're not going
to add anyone to your roster this year that I
know of, unless there's some walk ons on campus with
really great verticals that.

Speaker 5 (29:28):
Just haven't walked into practice yet.

Speaker 2 (29:30):
But you do have some news this week of some
new talent that is coming into the program.

Speaker 5 (29:35):
A couple young men have signed letters of intent.

Speaker 2 (29:38):
One of them from well really close to you, someone
you know quite well, and another who's coming from a
long way away.

Speaker 5 (29:44):
What can you tell us about these two future Bulldog recruits?

Speaker 3 (29:47):
The first one you're talking about, my close one is
one of my one of my players from Cloviswest. His
name's DJ Stickman. DJ is about a six to one
as athletic player you're going to see I think right now,
he's a high Division one defensive player. He's got to
get a lot better on the offensive end. But he's
got that temperament where he wants to get better, and

(30:09):
I think with the coaching staff we have, you're going
to see him get better and better and better, great kid,
great family. You know. I'm you know, I've been here
this my ninth year. So I had DJ all the
way back in third grade, watch him grow up and
so forth. So it's been a lot of fun and
very proud for him, very happy for him.

Speaker 2 (30:31):
Did he make you sweat at all in that recruiting Processia.

Speaker 3 (30:35):
A little bit, but not too much, not too much.
You know. He just comes from a great family. His
mom is is just a phenomenal person. I don't know
if people know. You know, his father passed away from
a heart attack a year and a half ago, a
year ago from summertime, and that was really tough going
into his junior year, you know, to go through that

(30:55):
and that whole thing, and for a young man to
be able to handle that, he's the heck of a job.

Speaker 2 (31:01):
So we'll look forward to seeing DJ Stickman in a
bulldog uniform next year. And another young man who is
coming from not just the other side of the country,
kind of the other side of the globe, yep.

Speaker 3 (31:13):
And this is one that we were hoping to get
big time. His name is Matteo Porto. Hey listen at
six seven, I give him a good six five and
a half maybe six six, about two ten, and he's
from Italy. He's a heck of a shooting guard. I
would say he'll be a combination. I don't think it's

(31:35):
good as shooters Cole Anderson, but real close. I mean
he gets up eighteen twenty inches on his jumper. You
watch his shot, that's really smooth. He just knows how
to play. He played two years pro ball in Italy
when he was seventeen eighteen, he went. He's nineteen right now.
He's over in Wichita at a prep school. We went out,

(31:57):
one of my assistant story stamps myself went out to
go see a couple of players, and right away my eye,
I mean, it wasn't even a question. You see a
kid shoot like that, you go wow. And honestly, I
think he's good enough to play at any any power
for school at all. When you watch him play, knows
how to play. One of the things I even told

(32:19):
him when I talked to Mitaloe is he's got to
look to shoot more. I thought he was too unselfish,
but well, easy bulldogs are going to really like him.
I think he's gonna be a very very special player.

Speaker 2 (32:31):
Well we'll look forward to that the Italian import Mateo Porto.
So if you're listening and you own an Italian restaurant
or an Italian theme to a business, and you want
to get in on some nil action, you have a
fair warning he'll show up this summer.

Speaker 3 (32:44):
I guess yep. As soon as we can get we
already talked, as soon as he can get here, he's
gonna come.

Speaker 2 (32:50):
Well, we will look forward to seeing Matteo Porto here
in the valley. And DJ Stickman is already here in
the valley, but he'll be a Bulldog next year. Let's
get back to the guy is that you have now?
Who are going to battle San Diego State tomorrow night
at seven thirty at the Save Mart Center, And there
are tickets still available. Go Bulldogs dot com if you
want to get yours from that Mountain West opener. Somebody

(33:11):
clapping for tickets, Yeah, I think Actually we're going to
give some away tonight to a lucky fan here at
crowan Wolf. So if you want to win some tickets,
you've got twenty seven minutes to get here before the
show ends. One of your players is here, mi Kel Robinson,
and he was here last year. Wasn't able to play,
so you didn't have to recruit him initially. You may

(33:32):
have had to rerecruit him a little bit. And you've
been getting to know him for a while. What have
you come to appreciate about Mikel.

Speaker 3 (33:38):
Mikel is one of those players. He's a very intelligent.
He knows the game very well, very smart. When he
has that right attitude of being the leader that I
know he can be, and he is, he just gives
you so many different dimensions. He's six seven, he can

(33:59):
really in a way. He's like a point guard, point forward,
point guard, whichever way you want to do it. But
he knows the game really well. He knows what's supposed
to happen. He knows how to make the right pass.
And the other thing I'm good like about him is
his toughness in his defense. He takes pride. He wants
to go guard the other team's best player. Coach, I
want him, I'll shut him down. And when you have

(34:21):
a player like that, you know he's pretty special.

Speaker 2 (34:24):
Well, and that sounds like the perfect introduction, So Mikel,
come on over, join us here at the table. We'll
go a few more minutes with you and Coach Wahlberg
then we'll let Coach Wahlberg listen to you for a while.
Did you have to duck a little bit to get
through that door over there, mikel because they didn't leave

(34:44):
the roll up doors open tonight?

Speaker 12 (34:46):
This a little bit, yes, sir, it was a little low.

Speaker 5 (34:49):
You're used to that, Yeah, yes, sir.

Speaker 2 (34:52):
So you tell me, you know, you were around the
program last year with the different coaching staff, Almost all
your teammates are gone, a couple guys left behind. You
got all these new teammates and these new coaches. What
if you appreciated the most about these last few months,
getting the new getting to know all these new faces.

Speaker 16 (35:09):
I would say the most appreciated just how like the
coaching staff came in from day one and just made
it like a family oriented like environment. Like day one,
it was just like we go to we need to
build coach, and you know, we need to do everything
as a team, you know, be a great teammate. So
that's what I appreciate, is them making it more comfortable
on us to that with each other.

Speaker 2 (35:29):
And I don't want to put words in Coach Wahlberg's mouth,
but I think I heard him say that you speak
his language. That you do the things that he's looking for.
You understand his basketball economy and what's going to earn
you playing time and earn you trust. Did you get
that right from the get go or did you have
to figure that out for a while.

Speaker 12 (35:47):
I mean, of course I had to figure out. You know,
it was a new system.

Speaker 16 (35:50):
But from day one, like I said, they was preaching it,
you know, just being having a good coach and I
come from that, so it wasn't that hard to adapt
to him. But you know, I just try my heartest
to be the second voice for him on the court
because I just try to echo what he's telling us
in the huddle and just try to lay it out
on the court.

Speaker 5 (36:05):
That's quite a luxury to have, isn't a coach.

Speaker 3 (36:07):
A big time And I tell you he has that
ability and he has to respect of the player through
how hard he plays. They know that, and he knows
how to make the right play and if he doesn't
once in a while, he knows he don't keep that
little nod and say you're right, coach, in which I respect.

Speaker 2 (36:26):
And I'm glad this came up because that's one of
those things that makes teams better when you have a
player on the floor that really understands the big picture
that the coaching staff is trying to push and implement
and can say that his voice. So it is an
extension of you guys as a coaching staff. But you
can't fake that, can you Have you ever tried to
force that with the player and seen it not really work?

Speaker 3 (36:48):
You can't. You can't force it on. Some players have
that ability, and it's it's it's a gift, you know.
Mike Kel's worked hard at it to be able to
take that leadership, be able to do those things because
when you know, especially you know for me a lot
of times on that second half, but they're on the
other side of the floor, it's they're not gonna be
able to hear what we say from the bench. So

(37:09):
his leadership trying to tell players what to do, where
to be, and what to do is really really important.

Speaker 5 (37:16):
Just checking to see if we have any more questions
for coach or from MIKEL. Robinson.

Speaker 2 (37:19):
If you guys have a good one, you can send
it our way on the x app. In fact, someone
just threw an oldie buddy goodie at us. I don't
know if you want to take this on Mikel. I'll
tell you what. I'm gonna let you think about this
during the commercial break. I don't know if you've ever
been asked this before. Would you rather fight an alligator,
a kangaroo.

Speaker 5 (37:40):
Or an ostrich? Have you ever been asked that before?

Speaker 12 (37:42):
Never in life?

Speaker 5 (37:43):
But don't answer.

Speaker 2 (37:44):
Yeah, We'll take this commercial break, give you some time
to think about it.

Speaker 5 (37:48):
Coach Wahlberg, thanks for coming out. Good luck tomorrow night.

Speaker 3 (37:51):
Thank you appreciate Paul.

Speaker 2 (37:52):
That is Vance Wahlberg with us here the Bulldog Basketball
Hour at Crowing Wolf.

Speaker 5 (37:56):
MIKEL.

Speaker 2 (37:56):
Robinson will hang out till seven o'clock. If you want
to win tickets, come join us. Crowing Wolf off a
Herndon A one sixty eight on the Bulldog Sports Network
from their field.

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Speaker 2 (41:09):
Welcome back to the Bulldog Basketball Hour, coming to you
live from Crow and Wolf in Clovis. I know it's
a little chilly outside, but it's plenty warm inside and
they've got quite a few things on tap that can
warm you up a little bit too.

Speaker 5 (41:23):
There's a food truck outside.

Speaker 2 (41:24):
Tonight, even with Christmas lights on, Betho's Tacos truck tonight.

Speaker 5 (41:28):
So if you want something good to eat, come grab
it in the parking lot. Come inside.

Speaker 2 (41:33):
You might win tickets to tomorrow night's Mountain West basketball
opener against San Diego State. And before we end the
suspense and get Mikel Robinson's answer to that burning question
we asked before the break. Here's an easier one, Mikel,
what'd you order from the taco truck tonight?

Speaker 12 (41:49):
I got me a carnea sada casada.

Speaker 2 (41:52):
Carne asada sounds good, isn't it. You like to spice
it up a little bit?

Speaker 12 (41:56):
Nah? I know it's I ask for noha sas only
green sauce.

Speaker 5 (42:00):
Okay, uh huh. Well you're from Texas, you're probably a
brisket guy.

Speaker 12 (42:04):
Huh.

Speaker 16 (42:04):
Actually, I don't eat barbecue, brisket or try tip. I
know try tip is big out here, but I can't
eat that.

Speaker 12 (42:12):
Wow.

Speaker 16 (42:13):
Yeah, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for all the try Tip fans.
But hey, carnal signed is close enough. Yeah, unit steak,
So we'll take that, all right. You know, some people,
you gotta know what works for it, gotta know what
you like.

Speaker 2 (42:25):
So I asked you before the break this age old
question that has stumped many a competitor because it's kind
of hard to figure out.

Speaker 5 (42:34):
But would you rather fight an alligator, a kangaroo or
an ostrich? And then you got to tell us why?

Speaker 12 (42:42):
All right?

Speaker 16 (42:42):
Out of the three, I will pick the Ostrich only
because one an alligator, of course you can't fight that
in the water, is going to do the death row
for the two. The Altridge, you got long legs, so
I feel like that's my best chance to just like
attack the legs, kick it and then at that point
I can just get on top and beat it up.

Speaker 12 (43:02):
And then a kangaroo.

Speaker 16 (43:04):
I saw videos on them fighting like real people and
like they actually know how to fight, so I wouldn't
want to try them.

Speaker 2 (43:11):
You know, it sounds like you thought it threw pretty
deep now, Yeah, a good scouting report. Speaking of scouting reports,
how excited are you to go up against a nationally
ranked team tomorrow night for your first Mountain West basketball game?

Speaker 1 (43:24):
Uh?

Speaker 16 (43:25):
Me, personally, you know, I'm very excited. As long as
the whole team. I feel like we're going into this
is very confident. You know, we had some good practices
this past week leading up to this game, so I
feel like we're all very excited.

Speaker 5 (43:37):
We're talking to MIKEL.

Speaker 2 (43:38):
Robinson Forresno State can be matched up against San Diego
State tomorrow night. We were talking earlier with coach Wahlberg
about your versatility and then he talked about you almost
being an extension. And you brought this up too, of
the coaching staff of parodying some of their mantras on
the floor with your guys, and you said, that's easy

(43:59):
for you because you came from a culture like that.
I just wanted to give you a chance to clarify
and explain to people what you mean by that, where
you come from, and what had that kind of influence
on turning you into that kind of player.

Speaker 16 (44:12):
I would say growing up, my dad was in the military,
So growing up, you know, having a military parent, you know,
it was just very hard, no, you know, making sure
everything's clean, taking taking care of your chores. So just
just growing up with a military dad, I think that
kind of shaped me into the basketball player. I am
just being a leader, being that vocal guy, just being
able to take all responsibility.

Speaker 12 (44:32):
So that's pretty much where it came from.

Speaker 5 (44:35):
So you have roommates right now?

Speaker 12 (44:37):
Oh? Yes, I have one roommate.

Speaker 5 (44:38):
Does he make his bead? I hope?

Speaker 12 (44:42):
So, yes, I known't make minds.

Speaker 5 (44:46):
Well, I'm just I just had a feeling your dad
had you make it your yes, ma'am, So which branch
of service was your dad in?

Speaker 12 (44:54):
He was in the Navy.

Speaker 5 (44:55):
Yes, sir, did you ever get to go aboard ship?

Speaker 16 (44:59):
I'm scared of that. I would never go on a cruise.
I don't do boats, water, I don't I don't like
none of that.

Speaker 2 (45:05):
So you know, years ago, in fact, San Diego State
played in one of these because they have an outstanding
museum ship in San Diego to aircraft carrier USS Midway
Museum and for a while, in fact, Presno State had
a wrestling match on that aircraft carrier. But for a while,
San Diego State would play a game on the aircraft
carrier itself. They put the floor out there and the
two teams showed up and they played on the deck

(45:27):
of a carrier.

Speaker 5 (45:27):
You're shaking your head.

Speaker 16 (45:28):
Yeah, I had to tell coach I have to miss
that game. Probably I probably wouldn't be able to play
that game. That would be the only game I'll probably
missed that one on the ship.

Speaker 2 (45:38):
Well, I'm glad that we straightened this out. Yeah, and
thank you to your family for your father's service to
our country. We don't think that lightly, especially in this community.
And big day for the Navy coming up Saturday and
for all of us, it's Pearl Harbor day that's coming Saturday,
December seventh, when the Bulldogs are going to be playing
Santa Clara.

Speaker 5 (45:55):
But tomorrow night San Diego State.

Speaker 2 (45:57):
And you got to watch last year when when Fresno
State played San Diego State. Did you get a feel
for what that Aztec program represents and what kind of
challenge that might be tomorrow night?

Speaker 12 (46:11):
Yeah, sir, you know, just watching it.

Speaker 16 (46:12):
You know, we go into every game respecting our opponents,
and we know, you know, they're they're gonna be a
tough matchup, but we're just gonna go in there and
match the physicality and master their intensity. You know, go
go into the game like it's just a regular game
for us, but going in and knowing there we' gonna
have to play hard.

Speaker 12 (46:27):
So that's what I got from seeing them.

Speaker 2 (46:30):
And we talked earlier about kind of your position versatility
and for folks who haven't seen you play you, I mean, honestly,
on this year's team, I don't think it's a stretch
to say at different times you might be guarding or
matched up with anyone from one through five A m
I stretch it too far. No, You're not, No, their

(46:50):
definitely you believe you can defend one through five.

Speaker 12 (46:53):
Right, Well, I have an I did so, Yes, I
definitely believe in it, so yes.

Speaker 2 (46:59):
And maybe you can help us understand that spectrum because
it's a lot different defending a real quick point guard
like the last one you guys face and the one
you're gonna face tomorrow night Vallely native BJ Davis from
Modesto and defending a seven footer and trying to keep
them off the block.

Speaker 5 (47:15):
So you have to tap into different skill sets, don't you.

Speaker 16 (47:17):
No, yes, So you gotta go from you know, putting
in your brain. Okay, let me move my feet quick here,
I got a little guard to Now I'm switching off
to a big who outweighs me by fifty pounds and
taller than me about four inches. Now I'm telling myself, okay,
now I got to go down here and bang. So
just different stuff throughout the game. Like I said, whatever
coach asked me to do, iut just go out there
and do it to my best ability.

Speaker 5 (47:37):
So you have to kind of think differently and see
yourself differently.

Speaker 12 (47:41):
No, yes, sir, I would say.

Speaker 16 (47:42):
I definitely would have to put myself in different mindsets
throughout the game, like whatever my assignment is so yes,
here tapping into different mindsets.

Speaker 2 (47:50):
And you another thing you said earlier was that this
has become a family, this basketball program. And you know
you say that, but most of these guys you didn't
until a few months ago. So can you give us
an example of maybe some of the things that you
guys as players have done, or maybe the coaching staff
did to help you guys become that family or take

(48:11):
on that mentality.

Speaker 16 (48:12):
I mean, just from our last trip when we was
down in Palm Springs, you know, coach being able to
have us go to the Clippers and Kings game as
a team, you know, just little stuff like that that
coach do, you know, making sure our last practice on Sunday,
you know, just after practice we all ate as a
team in the gym and then you know talk everybody's laughing,
just you know, from being able to go from practice
where we know we're going hard and everybody you know,

(48:34):
and to be able to just write out the practice,
go down and sit and eat as a team and
laugh with each other. That just brings good vibes to
us so well.

Speaker 2 (48:42):
And maybe when we come back from this break, you
can tell us about that Clippers Kings game a little bit,
we'll talk more about your game as well. That's mikekel
Robinson with us here at Crow and Wolf the Bulldog
Basketball Hour here till seven o'clock. If you want to
win tickets to tomorrow night's season opener Conference opener, I
should say again, San Diego State, come join us here
at Crow and Wolf. It's the Bulldog Basketball Hour on

(49:02):
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Speaker 3 (50:03):
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Speaker 14 (50:06):
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(50:27):
and pride of the Bulldog community. Go Bulldogs, Save Mart, Valley, Fresh, Valley,
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(51:25):
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(51:59):
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Speaker 5 (52:12):
Welcome back to the Bulldog Basketball Hour.

Speaker 2 (52:14):
Time flies when you're having fun and talking bulldog hoops,
and that's what we're doing. Big one tomorrow night at
the Mountain West opener at the Save Mart Center against
perennial power San Diego State, seven thirty the tip off.
My good friend coach Mark Q. Jones will be there
to make it sound all colorful for you. Seven o'clock
will be our pregame show. We were talking to Van
s Wahlberg earlier. Now we're conversating with Mikel Robinson Bulldogs forward.

(52:38):
Put an asterisk on that because we just talked about it.
He can match up with anybody on the floor on
the opposition and may just do that tomorrow night against
San Diego State.

Speaker 5 (52:46):
Mikel's originally from Houston, Texas.

Speaker 2 (52:50):
You started out your career in a different part of
the Lone Star State up there with the mean green
in North Texas.

Speaker 5 (52:55):
Couple junior colleges.

Speaker 2 (52:57):
What was it about Fresno State and the opportunity or
do you come out here to California where you don't
have that golf humidity?

Speaker 5 (53:05):
What was it that Julia here?

Speaker 1 (53:06):
Oh?

Speaker 16 (53:07):
I would say, first off, you know, of course, lastly,
I got recruited by the different coaching staff, but I
would just say in general, just the whole Fresno as
a whole, Like it's just a community where they care
about the college sports, you know, not only basketball, but
just Fresno as a whole.

Speaker 12 (53:21):
They care about their athletes.

Speaker 16 (53:22):
So I felt like it was just a real like
welcome in situation for me, like knowing no more consistent shooter,
you know, with scatter reporting, us getting into conference, no
teams and no of course gonna respect my drive. So
just being able to knock down the three ball consistently.
And I would say, lastly, just get in better shape,
like making sure that you know I can play that
haveing many minutes I need to, but just getting in

(53:43):
better shape.

Speaker 5 (53:46):
Where you've got about a minute left here.

Speaker 2 (53:48):
I know we're all looking forward to watching you guys
tomorrow night and see what you can do one more
question about your teammates. Who's the bulldog? Who's so far
as you're still getting to know these guys, has made.

Speaker 5 (53:59):
You laugh.

Speaker 12 (54:01):
Laugh the most?

Speaker 16 (54:02):
Man, All those guys are funny, but I would probably
say DJ David Douglas.

Speaker 12 (54:08):
He's a very funny guy right there.

Speaker 5 (54:11):
Well, we hope that laughter is the best medicine because
we got to get him healthy.

Speaker 12 (54:14):
Definitely, Yes, sir, Well.

Speaker 5 (54:17):
Mikel, thanks for hanging out tonight.

Speaker 2 (54:18):
Enjoy that carne asada casadilla and good luck against the
Aztext tomorrow night. Yes, I appreciate you, my man, MIKEL.
Robinson with us here at Crow and Wolf. If you
missed the program tonight. Our next men's basketball show here
at Crow and Wolf will be December nineteenth, so put
that on your calendar. December nineteenth, right here at Crow
and Wolf tomorrow night, seven thirty Save Mart Center. Hope

(54:39):
to see you there. Our pregame show will come your
way at seven o'clock. Thanks to Coach Wahlberg and Mikel Robinson.
Thanks to the Time Out Club for showing up, and
thank you for listening to the Bulldog Basketball Hour on
the Bulldog Sports Network.

Speaker 7 (54:50):
From Deerfield, live from crowen Wolf tap Room in Clovis.

Speaker 1 (55:11):
You've been listening to the Bulldog Basketball Hour, presented by
Table Mountain Casino Resort, Lucky Days and Epic Nights, bud
Light Easy to Drink, Easy to Enjoy, and by Pepsi,
official soft drink of Fresno State Athletics. The preceding has
been a lear Field presentation of the Bulldog Sports Network