The Bulldogs Basketball Hour With Paul Loeffler, Coach Vance Walberg & Elijah Price

The Voice of The Bulldogs Paul Loeffler was broadcastubg live from Crow & Wolf Brewing Co. with new Fresno State Basketball Coach Vance Walber and Frsno State Student Athlete Elijah Price talk about this uocoming basktball season and the big game at Coach Walbers high school this weekend. 

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
On the Pulldogs Sports Network from the Welcome to the
Bulldog Basketball Hour, brought to you by Table Mountain Casino Resorts,
Lucky Days and Ethic Nights, bud Late, Easy to Drink,
Easy to enjoy and buy Pepsi, official soft drink of
Fresno State Athletics, Live from Crowing Wolf Tamproom in Clovis.

(00:20):
Cheers your host, the Voice of the Pulldogs, Paul Leffler.

Speaker 2 (00:26):
Well, Hello, We're here at the Crow and Wolf near
Herding in one sixty eight the Crowing Wolf tap Room.
Gotta be here till seven o'clock tonight, talking Fresno State
basketball with coach Vance Wahlberg, who's two games into his
Presno State coaching career and just several hundred games into
his overall coaching career.

Speaker 3 (00:45):
You remember the first game you ever coached, coach? I do.

Speaker 4 (00:48):
I hate to tell you. We are down thirty nine
and a half.

Speaker 5 (00:53):
I took over a high school program that was one
and forty one to two years before I got there.
First game was up in San Francisco. I was at
Old Mountain View High School and halftime down thirty nine.

Speaker 4 (01:07):
I'm looking my kids are looking at me. What the
heck are you doing.

Speaker 5 (01:11):
We actually end up going five and sixteen that year,
which was great, and the following year we went eleven eleven.
First time they were five hundred and so I think
it was twenty five years. And then they closed the
school and then one moved on.

Speaker 4 (01:25):
To Los Altos High School.

Speaker 2 (01:28):
So you did such a good job, they just could
possibly follow you. They had to shut it down. What
year was that? What was your first year coaching?

Speaker 4 (01:37):
Are you really going to ask me that? Nineteen seventy eight,
seventy nine was my first year of.

Speaker 3 (01:44):
Coaching, So that's fresh out of CSU Bakersville.

Speaker 4 (01:48):
Yes, my first year out.

Speaker 2 (01:50):
Uh huh, which we're going to talk about because that's
the next opponent for the Fresno State Bulldogs. If you
haven't caught a Bulldog basketball game yet, that's all right.

Speaker 3 (01:57):
They just started.

Speaker 2 (01:58):
First game was Friday night home win over sax State
last night, an absolute thriller down in the Thunderdome in
Santa Barbara. The Gaucho's outlasting the Bulldogs by five ninety
one eighty six.

Speaker 3 (02:10):
We're gonna be here till seven o'clock.

Speaker 2 (02:11):
We can take your questions if you send them away
on the XCEP with that hashtag ask FS. And here
at Crow and Wolf. You know they have the tap
room inside with all your favorites. But outside, the food
trucks tonight are the Dog Shack. You've got a great
looking bulldog on the front of that red food truck
that sells hot dogs, the Dog Shack. The other food

(02:32):
truck tonight is the Basil Bloom, which is wood fired
pizza here at the Crowing Wolf tap Room. And we're
gonna be here just about every week with some kind
of show the next few months, whether it's men's basketball,
women's basketball, baseball, and softball. Once they come around, you
can join us tonight here till seven o'clock. Our next
men's basketball show here at Crowing Wolf will be on

(02:54):
December third, So put that one on your calendar. Put
Wednesday night, twentieth on your calendar. That's the next home
game for the Bulldogs. Their next game period will be
Saturday in Bakersfield is six thirty tip, six o'clock pregame. Coach,
let's talk big picture a little bit here with the program.
And you know you had a chance to coach D

(03:17):
one ball a couple decades ago, and now here you
are back with Fresno State in the Mountain West. How
much has changed in the college game between those two
opportunities for you?

Speaker 5 (03:29):
Quite a bit actually, you know, these last couple of years,
the portal has changed an awful lot and then the
nil has completely changed the game.

Speaker 4 (03:37):
Between those two things.

Speaker 5 (03:39):
It's kind of wild wild West out in basketball, football especially.
The other sports hasn't hit as much, but I would
guess eventually it's going to get there. But it's it's
changed quite a bit, it really has. Then bad news
is you got to have a lot of money. The
good news is if you have a lot of money,
you can get some pretty good players pretty fast.

Speaker 2 (03:58):
And then what do you do with the players, of course,
is going to be the catch because they're inevitably right,
they're gonna be some programs they're bringing a lot of money,
but have results that may not seem to make that
money worth it.

Speaker 5 (04:11):
You're right, And the key, you know, for us, and
this is the tricky part is you know, we're gonna
bring players in. We're I think we're gonna do a
good job of developing them. I think they're gonna you're
gonna see a big difference in them from their freshman
year to their sophomore or their junior JC year to
their senior year. But then now the question is can
you keep them. There's somebody you might be offering, you know,

(04:32):
a certain player X amount of dollars, and then somebody
comes in goes three times that amount, and it's really
tough for that player to say, hey, coach, I love you,
but they're gone.

Speaker 2 (04:44):
And there's so many you know, rabbit trails we could
take from this, and I don't think anyone really knows.

Speaker 3 (04:49):
We have ideas of how this is going to affect
the sport.

Speaker 2 (04:51):
Long term, No one really knows at this point. So
what does that mean for your approach? Since taking this
job does just it's just that dynamic effect. How you
build the staff, what your priorities are in recruiting, what
your philosophy is of, you know, game strategy and priorities
basketball wise. Is that all affected by this new climbing.

Speaker 4 (05:13):
Quite a bit? Staff wise?

Speaker 5 (05:15):
I feel really good, you know, how very blessed to
get John Welch as an associate head coach. You know,
John myself coach five You know I was together, I
was in the NBA five years. John was in there
eighteen years. He's known as one of the best workout
coaches around. If you ever watch him, you'll see why.
The guy's energized the bunny. He never gets out of
the gym, loves to work with the players. The one

(05:37):
thing we promise our players is when they get here,
they're going to have all the time they can to
get better in the gym. And we promise that and
we hold to that. I don't know how many teams
do what we do. You know, we do individual workouts
every day, even during the season, for forty five minutes.
So instead of going a two and a half hour practice,
we'll cut it down about two right now and give

(05:57):
him a forty five minute individual workout during the day
plus a thirty minute wait workout. So we having John
and then I have Jaron Harris, who's from Adam, you know,
from Georgia, who gives me a little connection there. One
of my ex players, Krista Houski from the Arizona area,
got Ray Bearfield from you know, he had the Mobley
Brothers down at Ranchroll. Kristen and he's from the San

(06:20):
Diego knows that he's got a lot of connections and
in the high school area, especially in the LA and
the San Diego So we got a really good base
of coaches and they, honestly, for as late as we
got the job, I thought that, you know, we did
a pretty good job of putting as much talent as
we get up together.

Speaker 2 (06:39):
Well, we got a taste of that this week with
the two games that the Bulldogs have played so far.
We're talking to coach Vance Wahlberg. It's the Bulldog Basketball
Hour here at Crowing Wolf just off of Herndon A
one sixty eight plug Crowing Wolf into your GPS. If
you've never been here before. If you have been, I
really don't need to tell you what a cool place
it is. TV's on the wall everywhere. You can watch
a football game, of basketball game, and sorted other programming.

(07:01):
In the parking lot, they've got the food trucks tonight,
the dog shack, and the basil bloom picnic tables out there,
great tables inside. A lot of families here tonight, and
some Bulldog basketball fans I know are on their way.
Elijah Price is on his way to one of the
Bulldogs newcomers on a team almost completely full of newcomers
this year. In twenty twenty four to twenty five. We've

(07:22):
got a lot to talk about with coach Van Swahlberg,
and we'd love to see you here over at Crowl
and Wolf. Next show won't be till December third, so
come join us tonight here till seven o'clock. So, you know,
you mentioned something there and one thing that just popped
into my head. And I know we're gonna bounce around
like a basketball does during a game. I know you
can handle it. But Ray Bearfield you mentioned him. He's
also one of your coaches who has local connections, grew.

Speaker 3 (07:44):
Up here, played at Hoover High.

Speaker 2 (07:46):
One thing I noticed about Ray because I missed your
guys Friday game. You know, I was off with the
football team. I didn't get to see you in person.
Just watching the pregame warmups in Santa Barbara last night,
it's amazing the things that stand out to you. Think
I've ever seen a coach in pregame warm ups deliver
better passes to shooters than Ray Bearfield. They were crisp,

(08:09):
they were accurate. I mean, if your players deliver passes
to set up shooters as well as he did in
that pregame warm up, you're gonna have a good year.

Speaker 3 (08:18):
We will.

Speaker 5 (08:19):
You know, Ray was a heck of a player playing
at Hoover High School for Ron Moore. In fact, Ron
was one of the ones that gave me a call
and said, hey, there's an opportunity he might be able
to get Ray and Ray myself connected and things worked
out very well, which I'm really happy.

Speaker 4 (08:35):
He's a heck of a player.

Speaker 5 (08:36):
You know, he played pro ball overseas played I played
for quite a while. His son was a heck of
a player. He's actually his son's actually playing pro ball
overseeds right now. He's got a daughter playing Stanton Slass,
So there's a lot of basketball in that family. And
Ray's a hard worker. He gets after it. He's got
a very good offensive mind. Really really really proud of

(08:58):
having Mr.

Speaker 4 (08:59):
Staff.

Speaker 2 (09:00):
And this is only slightly tongue in cheek. I think
about you know, everything you just said about him, what
you said about Coach Welch, what your reputation has been
for decades in the valley is a Jim Ratt. Do
you guys fight over who shows up first and who
leaves last?

Speaker 4 (09:16):
No, we don't fight. I think most of the time
it's a tie. We get there.

Speaker 5 (09:21):
You know when I left John and Ray and jar
and they were working with the you know players, even
though we got in there way before getting the extra
play for those guys. But like I said earlier, Paul,
we promised these guys we were going to help them
get better.

Speaker 4 (09:34):
You know, every player that we bring in their goal
was to play at the next level.

Speaker 5 (09:38):
You know, that next level might be you know, hopefully,
you know, everybody dreams the NBA, but at least be
able to play.

Speaker 4 (09:44):
Pro ball overseas somewhere. That's what you know.

Speaker 5 (09:47):
Honestly, I don't want to play unless that's what his
goal is. And so our sale to them is, hey,
we're going to try and make you better and you know,
you might get more money somewhere else in the front,
but in the backs on the I think you'll get
a lot more money the way we will work with him.

Speaker 2 (10:04):
And when a young man has that perspective, that's a
good sign too that he buys into that philosophy versus
the overnight success and get what you can get. Right now,
we're talking to coach Vance Wahlberg. Presno State men's basketball
is another game Saturday at CSU Bakersfield.

Speaker 3 (10:19):
That'll be a six thirty tip.

Speaker 2 (10:20):
They're calling that the rally for the Valley down in
Kern County. They've even printed up some special T shirts
for that game that they'll be selling at the Kardo
Center Saturday night. So for some of the you listening
right now on nine to seventy in Bakersfield, make sure
you're there and wear your bulldog red. I don't know
if they ask Presno State for permission.

Speaker 3 (10:36):
They've got the bulldog logo on those T shirts.

Speaker 2 (10:38):
So our friend Clarence, I'm sure he'll be checking in
with them to check the tags. But good to have
valley rivalries, especially when it's your alma mater coach.

Speaker 3 (10:47):
And maybe we can talk about that when we come back.

Speaker 2 (10:49):
You got it all right, We'll go down memory lane
with former CSU Bakersfield road Runner Vance Wahlberg, now the
head coach of your Fresno State Bulldogs. They'll play the
Runners in Bakersfield Saturday night at six thirty. Tonight, though
we're well, we're at Clovis. We're at Crow and Wolf
right off a Herndon of one sixty eight. Beautiful night.
Weather's not too chilly out there. The dog shack and

(11:10):
the basil Bloom or the food trucks tonight and whatever
you want to drink inside Come hang out at Crowing
Wolf here till seven o'clock the Bulldog Basketball Hour on
the Bulldog Sports Network from Learfield.

Speaker 6 (11:19):
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Speaker 11 (12:49):
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(13:12):
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Speaker 2 (14:27):
Welcome back to the Bulldog Basketball Hour coming to you
live from Crowing Wolf and Clovis right off a.

Speaker 3 (14:32):
Hernon at one sixty eight. A lot of you have
been here before.

Speaker 2 (14:35):
You know what it's like, and the crowd is building
inside and outside. The food trucks tonight are the Dog
Shack with all kinds of different hot dog selections. I mean,
that's not the backyard barbecue hot dog. That's next level
hot dog out there at the Dog Shack. And then
you have the basil bloom wood fired pizza here tonight
as well, fantastic food, whatever you want to drink. We're
here at Crowing Wolf, the official home of not just

(14:57):
the Bulldog Basketball Hour, but the Women's Basketball Hour, the
Softball Hour, Baseball Hour a little later on this school year.
If you're a Bulldog fan, Crowing Wolf a great place
to hang out. We're hanging out with coach Vans Wahlberg.
Little later on Elijah Price, one of his young post
players who can also fill it up from the perimeter.
He's going to join us here at Crowing Wolf and
Coach let's talk about You're Alma Mater coming up Saturday

(15:22):
six point thirty at CSU Bakersfield. I mean, can you
remember back to the late nineteen seventies when you were
playing college hoops.

Speaker 3 (15:30):
What that fell like.

Speaker 5 (15:30):
Oh yeah, it's a It was a while ago, but
I still remember. I love playing the game of basketball,
and actually, to be honest with that, Paul, when I
went there, I went there. He was one of my
best one of my best friends from high school, who
is two years older than me. He was a point guard.
I followed him in high school. He went to Danza
Junior College up in Coopertino. Yeah, I followed him at Deans.

(15:52):
Then he went to Bakersfield and I followed him. Loved
the game. It meant everything to me. When I got there,
after playing about three months with the players and the
coaching staff, it was the first time in life I
didn't enjoy the game anymore. It was tough for me.
I played with the good guys, but they were all

(16:12):
for themselves and I'd never been on the team like
that before, so it was really hard for me to
handle that. It was tough. I'll be honest with you.
I think I actually stepped down for a couple of days.
I didn't want to play anymore because I did enjoy it.
And then my buddy who I followed, gave a talk
to me and said you should and I'm glad I did,
but it was tough times.

Speaker 2 (16:35):
Well that brings up a lot of questions. One, what
was your buddy's name that it showed you the way?

Speaker 5 (16:40):
Mitch Platt? And Mitch was an All leaguer for cal
State Bakers Show. They had some really good teams. The
heck of a player here was my idol growing up,
you know, just watching them play, just a great person
besides a heck of a point guard. He's about sixty
three and a half point guard, and you know I
was a point guard.

Speaker 4 (16:57):
So just following Mitch was a lot of fun for me.

Speaker 2 (17:01):
So you said a few things there this first time
in your life, you didn't enjoy the game, and uh, boy,
when you love something as much as I know you
love basketball, boy, I had to rock your world a
little bit.

Speaker 5 (17:11):
It did. I never had that feeling and it was
really weird for me. And then I'm always the type
of person you always get your best, and I was
to that point where, you know, I what I think
really got me. I was always told, you know what
the coach says, you do And we had a group

(17:32):
of players and honestly it taught me how to be
a better coach because I knew I wanted to be
a coach, and my high school coach was a strict
discipline there, and my JC coach was the same way.
And my coach I had a cast. Piggins was a
good guy, a very good person, but not no had
no discipline. So then every practice we would do our

(17:53):
running and without fail, about two minutes before we end
one guy oh my hamstring, the next guy to be
his calf, the next guy, So you got three or
four starters are just on the sideline putting the eyes on,
and the rest are running. And that that really frustrated me.

Speaker 2 (18:13):
So I'm just extrapolating, you know, forty five years down
the road, how much do you tolerate guys who have
a me first attitude?

Speaker 4 (18:25):
It's hard for me, really really hard for me.

Speaker 5 (18:29):
I've always been one I've always felt it's not the
five best players that went usually it's the five who
played the best together. And that's always been kind of
my philosophy. Now, obviously the five best something is gonna
beat the five who play best together. But I think
you give yourself a chance when you play together as
a team.

Speaker 2 (18:47):
And I'm sure there are some memories you have from
wearing that blue and gold down in Kern County, some
good moments in a road Runner uniform that stick with
you all these years later.

Speaker 5 (18:57):
Well, I hate to say this, my junior year year
we beat Frisnel State twice and that kind of put
the end of life.

Speaker 4 (19:06):
To I think ed Greg Greg was it.

Speaker 5 (19:10):
Yeah, yeah, And then that's when boy Grant came in
my senior year and they got us I think by
five or six that year. No, we had some I
mean back then we were even though we were deep
so called D two, which is you know, basically D
one now. I mean, we played cal we played Saint Mary's,
we played down South, a couple of the teams down there.

(19:33):
We went and played Washington State and Idaho State. We
went back east, we played Providence in the Hall in Niagara.
I mean we were playing all the I mean, I
think our nominic schedule was and each year anywhere from
seven to nine Division one League Division one team So
it was a lot of fun.

Speaker 4 (19:51):
I really enjoyed it.

Speaker 3 (19:53):
So how big a deal was that?

Speaker 2 (19:56):
Back in the late nineteen seventies when CSU Bakersfield eat
Fresno State. For you guys as players, how how significant
was that?

Speaker 13 (20:04):
Then?

Speaker 4 (20:04):
It was good? I mean it was good. It was big.

Speaker 5 (20:06):
I mean that my junior year we had a home
and home with them, so we beat him. We came
up here and beat him at cell Arena, and then
we went down being down at the Civic Center where
we played at that time. So to sweep them that
year was a pretty special.

Speaker 3 (20:20):
Year, I suppose so.

Speaker 2 (20:23):
And now here you are the head coach of Presno
State and you get to take your bulldogs down to
EU Alma Mater. Rod Barnes has been there a while
now and done some really special things with the Roadrunners,
taking them to the n T Final four in Madison
Square Garden pulled off some major upsets. How excited are
you to go up against somebody else who's been at

(20:43):
this for about as long and has the track record
he has. I mean, he's been coach of the Year
in the SEC. I'm sure you guys have crossed paths
a time or two.

Speaker 4 (20:51):
Honestly, I really haven't.

Speaker 5 (20:52):
I mean I met him, but I never really I
meet more people when I do clinics, sure, you know,
and so forth. Across the country. No, but you know,
you watch his teams, they're going to play hard as heck.
You know, we've obviously watched a few of their games already,
and I've never seen a team take as many mid
range jumpers as they do. But the phenomenal thing about it,

(21:12):
they got one player right now, it's twenty two for
thirty two and three games from mid range and just
shooting the heck out of the ball.

Speaker 4 (21:20):
So I mean his guys are going to attack. They're not.
I don't think. I say this and watch what happens.
They're not a great shooting team.

Speaker 5 (21:30):
I think like Santa Barbara, I thought was a very
good outside shooting team. These guys have two players that
shoot the ball pretty well. Santa Barbara would put four
in the court that could shoot the ball well. But
they got some athletes that really get to the rim.

Speaker 2 (21:43):
They do, and Bulldog fans know very well over recent
years how intense that rivalry gets in how loud and
intimidating they can get at the Kardo Center.

Speaker 3 (21:51):
Not you never got to play there. You guys are
still playing downtown.

Speaker 4 (21:54):
We were playing downtown Pacific Center when I was there.

Speaker 3 (21:57):
Have you been in the Icardo Center for a college game.

Speaker 5 (22:01):
I've not been back on. Actually, I take that back.
My wife is the one good thing about that. Obviously,
I've gone a Cassa, bakers where I've met.

Speaker 3 (22:08):
My wife, So there you go.

Speaker 5 (22:11):
She was a song girl cheerleader at the time. So
we end up, you know, obviously, years down the line
we got married.

Speaker 4 (22:17):
We were there both years and then she.

Speaker 5 (22:19):
Had two more years of college when I finished, and
it was it was a neat experience that way, obviously,
but at that time, I, you know, obviously a Carlson,
I wasn't there. But I've never been back. I never
played on that. We never even my high school teams,
we haven't been down there.

Speaker 2 (22:39):
Well, it's gonna be a lot of fun. Then Saturday
night at six thirty, it will be. And you bring
up your wife. I didn't know that's where you met.
It makes a lot of sense. But I'd have to
ask you who's enjoying this bulldog ride here in twenty
twenty four more you or the rest of your family,
because it really is cool to see them with you
and so present and involved and engaged. That doesn't happen

(22:59):
with every coach.

Speaker 4 (23:01):
No, I got a special family.

Speaker 5 (23:02):
You know, I had my four kids obviously grew up
in basketball.

Speaker 4 (23:08):
Well, my wife was a nurse. She would work three
at every four.

Speaker 5 (23:11):
Days on the weekend, so on the weekend I would
always have them, and then when it was practice time,
they would always be thrown into the I would take
them down the gym.

Speaker 4 (23:19):
We'd being down there anywhere from four.

Speaker 5 (23:21):
To seven to eight hours, and I would throw them
in the wrestling room just make sure they didn't kill
each other and until our practice come back so he
was alive, and take them and go. But no, they
you know, it's been really special, even like last night.
You know, I did enjoy the laws. But my daughter,
whose husband was a bollotball coach at President of State,

(23:43):
Jonathan Winder, he's the head coach over at Pepperdine. Now,
to see my four grandkids and my daughter and Jonathan
come of the game, it was it was it was
really nice.

Speaker 2 (23:52):
Well, I'm sure there's much more of that to come,
and there's more of the program to come.

Speaker 3 (23:55):
Tonight.

Speaker 2 (23:55):
We're at Crowing Wolf, just off a Herndon A one
sixty eight in Clovis Food Trucks. Tonight at the Dog
and the Basil bloom out there in the parking lot.
Smells good. Grab something good to eat, something to drink inside,
and talk a little basketball with us here till seven o'clock.
I see Elijah Prices here, one of the Bulldog big men.
We're going to talk to him as well. If you've
got a question for Coach Wahlberg or for Elijah and
you're not here at Crowing Wolf, you can still send

(24:17):
it in. Use the x app or what we used
to call Twitter and just attach that hashtag ask FS
and we'll do our best to pass it on to
the coach and Elijah Price back right after this the
Bulldog Basketball Hour from Crowing Wolf on the Bulldog Sports
Network from.

Speaker 11 (24:30):
Learfield here in the heart of California, traditions are as
deeply rooted as the abundant fields that drape our valley.
They link us across generations. They make us who we are.
So what does it mean when traditions unite? 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

(24:53):
our valley, for our kids, for generations to come. Valley
children's official healthcare partner with the friends those State Bulldogs.

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Speaker 15 (25:31):
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tell you about our friends at Table Mountain two thousand
slot machines, Hi Gal, Blackjack and Mini Baccarac on a
smoke free floor, head to sky the rooftop Tepanyaki restaurant
with unbelievable views, or eagles landing a one of a
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(25:54):
one of the luxurious suites. Have your own lucky day,
followed by an epic night at Table Mountain Kaushino Resort.

Speaker 8 (26:02):
What FFB means to me is for Family Business Branded
Cito Relationship Manager FFP. My grandparents were small business owners
and I saw firsthand what that meant to the owners
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Speaker 16 (26:34):
Being part of each community we serve is at the
core of who we are, and as a proud partner
of the Fresno State Bulldogs, we're your headquarters to help
you cheer on your favorite team. Shop any of your
local safe marts to score big savings with our Bulldog Bundle.
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(26:54):
and pride of the Bulldog community. Go Bulldogs. Save Mart.
Valley Fresh Value Volly Proud.

Speaker 13 (27:03):
Producer's Dairy, your hometown favorite, is now the official milk
partner of Presnell State Athletics. For over ninety years, they've
nourished our community with the freshest, most wholesome milk straight
from Valley Farms. In having the privilege of serving generations
of Red Waves supporters. They're also committed to fueling our
local legends on and off the field. Producer's Dairy, official

(27:26):
milk partner of Presnell State Athletics wish is the Bulldog's
a truly legend dairy season.

Speaker 3 (27:36):
Welcome back to the Bulldog Basketball Hour.

Speaker 2 (27:38):
We're here at Crow and Wolf in Clovis, right off
a Herndon and one sixty eight. It's our first program
of the year, but you'll be seeing us a lot
out here.

Speaker 3 (27:46):
Next week.

Speaker 2 (27:47):
We're going to do a show from the Fresne County
Athletic Hall of Fame on Thursday night, but the following
Monday night, the Women's basketball Show will be here on
November twenty fifth. Coach Wahlberg and I will be back
here December third, and we're going to be joined in
a few moments by Elijah Price, one of the exciting
young players on this new look Bulldog basketball team that
really has a different look offensively than.

Speaker 6 (28:08):
What we've seen the last few years.

Speaker 2 (28:09):
And that's the topic of one of the questions that
came in on the x app with that hashtag ask
fs this is from the Timeout Club. Hey, how about
that some of your favorite people. They want to know,
do all players have the green light to take open
shots or is the focus just on shooters.

Speaker 4 (28:26):
Well, hopefully we have all We have shooters for all players.

Speaker 3 (28:30):
Now.

Speaker 4 (28:31):
We got one guy here tonight, Elijah.

Speaker 5 (28:33):
I try to keep away from that three point line,
but he seems to find a way.

Speaker 4 (28:37):
To get out there.

Speaker 3 (28:39):
No.

Speaker 5 (28:39):
We My goal, you know, what we become really good
is we have five players on that floor. They can
all can shoot the three. You know, let me say
that different all can make the three. Everybody can shoot it,
but they can make it. But I want a minimum
of at least at least three what I call good

(28:59):
shooters right now.

Speaker 4 (29:01):
And that's what we got to work for it.

Speaker 5 (29:03):
And if anybody comes and watches practice, you know, even
when Eliza first came, it'll be the first one to
tell you how much that we worked on his shot
and how much better his shots become, and how much
time he's put into it. And I think that's a
big reason. You know, my feeling is if we work
on it and you're open going and ticket. Now, it
all depends on what part of the game it is,

(29:24):
if it's during a streak or the end of the
game obviously, Well, we're gonna be a little bit more
on who shoots that ball, but you know, I definitely
want people that can shoot it.

Speaker 6 (29:34):
Talking to coach Van S.

Speaker 2 (29:35):
Wahlberg here at Crowling Wolf the Bulldog Basketball Our next
home game for the Dogs is Wednesday night. That'll be
a seven o'clock tip at home against Perry View A
and M. Before that, Bulldog's at CSU Bakersfield Saturday night.
The Rally for the Valley what they're calling it down
there in Kern County. That'll be a six thirty tip
at the Kardo Center. It's going to be packed and
we would love to see you down there supporting coach

(29:56):
Wahlberg against his alma mater on Saturday night, that six
thirty tip off. And you said something when talking about
Rod Barnes team there in Bakersfield. And by the way,
if people are confused Saturday night, they do have two
players named Marvin McGee and their brothers. They have Marvin
McGee the third and Marvin McGee the fourth. One is
two years older than the other and they are brothers.

(30:17):
We're gonna have some fun with that. I know you
mentioned they have a player who's twenty two of thirty
two on mid range jumpers. Now, people that know your
your driple drive motion offense know that you put a
priority on layups and three pointers and not so much
on the mid range jumper. But some of your players
found some opportunities that way last night. What is your
take now at this level, with the talent you have
on this roster, on what a good shot is and

(30:40):
what a good shot isn't.

Speaker 5 (30:42):
My old goal is trying to get three points and
every time we shoot it so the old fashioned getting
to the rack and one or getting in the open three.
I think if we settle for the mid range in
the first twenty twenty four seconds of the shot clock,
I'm not happy with that. Now, if it gets down that,
you know, six five, then that's what we get, then

(31:02):
that's what we get. But we want to don't want
to try and settle for that. It's just something I
learned a long time ago. It's just you know, everybody
calls it analytics. Now it's supposed to be something really big.
But if you go to the NBA, just take the NBA,
the best players in the world, they shoot the corner
three at forty percent.

Speaker 4 (31:23):
So that's one point two points per shot.

Speaker 5 (31:25):
From the inside from the charret circle, and in we
call the rack zone, they shoot it at sixty percent. Again,
that's two points one point two points per shot.

Speaker 4 (31:37):
Around the bend.

Speaker 5 (31:38):
On the NBA, they shoot between thirty three and thirty
five percent, call it thirty five percent. That's one point
oh five points per shot. Anytime you're over one, you're good.
You're above one point one, you're really good. Now, the
best shot is the free throw shot. They just say
you're a seventy percent free throw shooter. Usually you're shooting
two every time, so you got one point four points
per shot attempt on that one. The best players in

(32:01):
the world from the rack zone to the three point
line shoot forty in the NBA, so you're looking at
point eight points per shot.

Speaker 4 (32:11):
So you take enough of those that adds up.

Speaker 5 (32:14):
And I learned that a long time ago, and that's
kind of why I went to the three or key method.

Speaker 6 (32:19):
Well, that explains quite a bit about that.

Speaker 2 (32:21):
And you did bring up free throws, and I guess
that's one thing to ask you about with last night. Now,
that was a frenetic pace. You're still a little shorthanded.
You didn't have Dj Douglas. You had half of one
big man and half of another. But you guys come
out in the second half, you make your first eight
free throws. You're in the game, and gets a little
crazy late. You start pressing. They can't handle the press.

(32:44):
You cut down a double digit deficit and make it
a two possession game. But then there were some free
throws missed and I think five for the last twelve
in the second half.

Speaker 3 (32:53):
There was that an.

Speaker 2 (32:55):
Early season fatigue issue or is that something that just
with time and practice and because you think it's going
to improve, we're going.

Speaker 5 (33:02):
To get better on that, I think a little bit
as fatigue. I also think a little bit is you know,
a lot of times it's confidence, you know, and you
watch a guy, you can tell if it's a good
miss or a bad mess. And a couple of those
were just bad misses. They were I think a little
bit nervous. And again it just you know, it's hard

(33:23):
to understand, but you got to really to sit back
and take a look. How many of our players have
played Division on basketball on this team. When you sit
back and take a look at it, coming into this year,
you know you had Jayden's played some p really hasn't
played much at all. And then outside of that, DJ
is the only other one who was a firstman there

(33:44):
last year Wisconsin, Green.

Speaker 3 (33:46):
Bay and More Sack a little bit.

Speaker 4 (33:48):
Well, that's right, I'm sorry, I forgot about More. We
didn't have me yet more at a Y.

Speaker 5 (33:52):
So you're looking at four guys that had any experience,
and if you add up all their minutes, it's not
very many.

Speaker 2 (34:00):
So maybe that's an indication that this team in February
and March could play a lot better as a team
than right now.

Speaker 4 (34:06):
They will that, I'll promise you.

Speaker 3 (34:08):
I promise Okay, I will.

Speaker 5 (34:10):
Promise you that we will get better. The reason I
can promise you that is how hard they work. They're
really good kids. They work their tail off, they listen,
and if we keep doing that, it's going to you know,
you're just building a little block every day, and that's
what we try to do.

Speaker 2 (34:24):
We're talking to coach Vance Wahlberg here at Crowing Wolf
the Bulldog Basketball Hour. Elijah Price is here as well. Elijah,
go ahead and slip that headset on. Want to make
sure you hear what coach Wahlberg has to say about you.
As we welcome in one of your talented young players
and very versatile young player in Elijah Price.

Speaker 3 (34:42):
What was it that excited.

Speaker 2 (34:44):
You in recruiting that said, you know, this southern California
kid who went back and froze's tail off in the
Midwest to Drake for a year needs to come back home.

Speaker 4 (34:53):
You know.

Speaker 5 (34:53):
Number one, it's just if you ever get to meet it, lice,
you're going to see what kind of person he is.
He's a phenomenal young man and knows out of hand
on himself. What we really like to batt him is
he's we kind of call him an army Swiss knife.
Is that he can do a little bit of that,
a little bit of this, a little bit of that.
You know, last night he was putt, and I knew
he's gonna be putt in a tough situation. Guardian guy

(35:15):
fifty pounds bigger than him and a couple of inches taller,
but he battles.

Speaker 4 (35:19):
He'll give you every he can.

Speaker 5 (35:21):
What I like about what I have with our three pigs,
because Elija is really more of a wing for us.
Once you know, we get we can get more back,
a little bit more of a be able to put
more down low and put Elijah at the three spot
over there. But what's nice about is More is gonna
be your power guy inside. He's going to be the
type of you know, our rim runner who's going to

(35:41):
just fly in block shots down there. And then Elijah
kind of lets you where we can give him the
ball and he can run a lot of the offense.
We'll run a lot of the offense through Eliza, We'll
flash amount and do different things. So it really gives
you a nice little compliment of different players.

Speaker 2 (35:57):
And that maybe hints it's something I saw last night
that you have a staff that can recognize matchup advantages
and you're not afraid to put a guy in a
situation that maybe you didn't plan on going into the game,
but you see materialized in the course of the game.

Speaker 5 (36:12):
You know, we wanted to pick and pop a little
bit with e you know, he hit one three out there.
We want to see if we can get the big
kid to get him to move a little bit more.
I think I probably should have done a little bit
more than we did, but it's something we want to
do and nlis should gives you that benefit.

Speaker 2 (36:28):
So before we catch the break, let's hear Elijah's voice.
We have Elijah Price, Long Beach native first year, is
a Bulldog. He's got two games under his belt. You
haven't fun yet, Elijah.

Speaker 17 (36:38):
Yeah, man, I'm having a lot of fun. My first
two games. They've been a rise. So I'm glad I'm
here and I'm glad to keep playing.

Speaker 3 (36:47):
Do you have all your teammates named straight yet? Yeah?
I see him every day all day, so I ain't
got no choice.

Speaker 4 (36:55):
We're in that jim orwaightment quite a bit.

Speaker 2 (36:59):
And tell everybody that's listening on the radio and those
who are here crowing Wolf, tell everybody.

Speaker 17 (37:04):
Where you grew up. Yeah, I grew up in Long Beach,
right by the beach. I grew up in a decent area.
I'm fortunate to have both my parents in my life.
And I grew up in a place where a lot
of people play sports.

Speaker 3 (37:20):
It was real competitive.

Speaker 17 (37:22):
I was outside a lot, played basketball my friends a lot.
So I think that that shows a little bit to
who I am now.

Speaker 2 (37:33):
Well, I've got some follow up questions on that, but
we'll wait for the other side of this break. We're here,
Crow and Wolf in Clovis the Bulldog Basketball Hour coach
Vance Wahlberg is here, Elijah Price is here. If you're
not here, why don't you fix that for us and
come join us here till seven o'clock the Bulldog Basketball
Hour on the Bulldog Sports.

Speaker 6 (37:48):
Network from their field here in the heart of California.

Speaker 11 (37:51):
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 unite? When a beacon of hope feats a source
of pride, When you combine a place that's full of
life with people who can save the life, we call
it a victory for our valley, for our kids, for

(38:14):
generations to come. Valley Children's official healthcare partner of the
Fresno State Bulldogs.

Speaker 17 (38:20):
Today, we have two very special guests on our program,
introducing Lets and Line.

Speaker 6 (38:25):
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the rooftop Tepanyaki restaurant with unbelievable views, or eagles landing
a one of a kind's steakhouse, sing along with headliner
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(39:15):
your own lucky day followed by an epic night at
Table Mountain Casino Resort.

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paint and coatings for over thirty five years. Family owned
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Speaker 20 (39:51):
Just like your Fresno State Bulldogs. Sun Made raisins are
all about Dali pride. For more than one hundred years,
sun Maid has produced the world's best raisins, and they're
grown and harvested under the California sun right.

Speaker 6 (40:02):
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Speaker 21 (40:21):
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Speaker 7 (40:27):
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Speaker 20 (40:29):
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Speaker 21 (40:35):
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Speaker 2 (40:52):
Bulldogs with the ball in the half court fifteen on
the shock block Price and open look for three right
wing and he nails it. The big man could shoot.
Elijah Price drain's that right wing three and he is.

Speaker 3 (41:02):
An awesome young man.

Speaker 2 (41:03):
I really enjoyed talking with him and happy to see
him get off and get that jumper going.

Speaker 3 (41:08):
Yeah, that's what coach Mark Q.

Speaker 2 (41:10):
Jones had to say last night in Santa Barbara. And
the guy who made that shot is with us here
at Crowing Wolf and Clovis Bulldog red shirt freshman Elijah Price.

Speaker 6 (41:17):
We're here till seven o'clock.

Speaker 2 (41:18):
If you've got a question for Elijah, s ended our
way on the XAP or Twitter with that hashtag ask CAFs.
Coach Wahlberg still hanging around as well, but we're gonna
focus on.

Speaker 6 (41:27):
Elijah the next twenty minutes.

Speaker 2 (41:28):
Ago you told us or so you told us you're
from Long Beach and that you grew up spend a
lot of time outdoors. So then you get done with
high school and prep school and you go to the
Drake Bulldogs in Des Moines, Iowa, where the wind blows
and the snow Falls.

Speaker 3 (41:45):
Was that a big adjustment for you? Yeah, man, it
was a lot.

Speaker 17 (41:50):
Like you said, coming from Long Beach is seventy at
the lowest fifty sixty degrees, So going to Iowa being
in the snow my first time ever being in snow.

Speaker 3 (42:02):
So yeah, it was a big adjustment.

Speaker 2 (42:03):
Well, this year in the Mountain West, you'll see some
more snow. That's pretty much a guarantee. Between Logan, Utah,
and Fort Collins and Laramie, Wyoming and Colorado Springs, is
gonna be some snow along the way. You know, I
kind of identify with you because I came from the
original LBC Los Maanics, California and went to Syracuse, So
I had a similar experience going from sunshine to snowballs.

Speaker 3 (42:23):
What was it about.

Speaker 2 (42:24):
Coach Wahlberg and this staff at Fresno State and this
opportunity that made you decide to come back out here
to the West Coast.

Speaker 3 (42:31):
Yeah.

Speaker 17 (42:31):
Coach Wahlberg and the rest of the staff, when I
talked to them, they seem like they really believe in
what I could do. A lot of coaches on that
staff with NBA experience, a lot of knowledgeable guys. Like
I said, at the tip off winner. I wanted to
be around that because that's where I wanted to be
in the future. So when we talked about my development

(42:52):
and how they're going to use me, it really clicked.

Speaker 3 (42:54):
So that was my ultimate decision. And you've got a
few brothers and sisters.

Speaker 22 (42:59):
Huh.

Speaker 3 (43:00):
Yeah, I'm the youngest of six. Youngest of six. Does
that mean you're the toughest of six? Yeah? Sure do.

Speaker 2 (43:09):
Did you have Did it take a while to catch
up to your big brothers on the basketball court and
be able to beat them when on one Yeah?

Speaker 17 (43:16):
Yeah, I took a lot of losses when I was younger,
but now they know I'm the best at basketball. They
still try, but they'll never admit it, but they know
I'm the best now.

Speaker 2 (43:26):
So growing up in southern California, I mean, you got
the Lakers, you got the Clippers.

Speaker 6 (43:31):
You can watch anybody. Don't have to be a SoCal team.

Speaker 2 (43:33):
Did you have a player that you really enjoyed watching
or said, you know, there's something about his game that
I'd like to incorporate into my game.

Speaker 3 (43:42):
Yeah, my dad, my dad. We grew up watching the
Miami Heat. Mm hm.

Speaker 17 (43:47):
So I was a big Miami Heat fan starting young,
and I still still am.

Speaker 18 (43:51):
So.

Speaker 17 (43:52):
I watched a lot of Lebron just him being that big,
that strong, being able to do pretty much everything on
the court.

Speaker 3 (44:00):
He was my favorite player forever. He still is, even
though he's not with a Heat anymore. Yeah, I still
root for him. Yeah, even though are you a Laker
fan now or you're still a Heat fan? No, I'm
still a Heathan. I'm loyal. I'm a loyal guy.

Speaker 2 (44:12):
Well that in college basketball these days, loyalty is kind
of hard to come by us. I'm sure people love
here and you say that, and maybe former Bulldog Tyler
Johnson come hanging around here because he had some pretty
big games for the Heat.

Speaker 17 (44:24):
Yep, I remember that. I used to watch Tyler Johnson
when he played for the Heat. Do you was scrappy,
tough play defense.

Speaker 3 (44:30):
I liked this game a lot. And can get off
the ground. Yeah, a couple of posters.

Speaker 2 (44:35):
Oh, he had won his freshman year here. I still
can't believe. And that's when he weighed probably about one
hundred and sixty pounds. Skinny little guy that he grabbed
the rebound against Utah State. Bounce it off the backboard,
he catches it back here behind his head with that
left hand wind mild it over the top on a
put back dunk.

Speaker 3 (44:50):
Windmilled it. Mm hmm. Yeah, that's tough.

Speaker 2 (44:54):
If you guys had a dunk contest, maybe you already
have with all these new teammates that you're getting to know,
who would be the odds on favorite you think to
win that Fresno State twenty four to twenty five dunk contest?

Speaker 17 (45:06):
Definitely Alex Crawford. He had a couple of dunks yesterday
that were pretty amazing. I threw them a live in
the first in the first half. I think he had
three dunks in total. He can really jump, so him
Jay Wee Jayleen Weaver. He can get up in the air.
So I would say between.

Speaker 3 (45:26):
Those two, not throwing yourself in the mixtu just yet.

Speaker 17 (45:30):
Nah Nah, I could jump a little bit, but those
guys got it.

Speaker 3 (45:35):
Alex does kind of seem like he has a trampoline
following him around everywhere he goes. Yeah, he can really
get off the ground. Maybe it's the hair.

Speaker 2 (45:43):
Maybe then Rico swaveks, So how long you been in town?

Speaker 4 (45:51):
Now?

Speaker 3 (45:52):
When did you get to town? Since June? What have
you come to appreciate about Fresnoe in the valley so
far I was together this of the community.

Speaker 17 (46:02):
I really didn't see it until our season started, and
well actually before our season started, when we started knowing
the camps, the youth camps, I really saw how appreciative
everybody was of us doing that, and I appreciate it.

Speaker 3 (46:16):
Like the the identity of the community.

Speaker 17 (46:19):
They kind of got a blue collar identity, like hard
work first and stick together.

Speaker 3 (46:24):
So I really appreciated that.

Speaker 2 (46:27):
I think a lot of heads are nodding around the
room here at Crowing Wolf, and certainly as they drive
down the road listening on the radio. We're with Elijah
Price Bulldog Forward here till seven o'clock the Bulldog Basketball Hour.
If you've got a question for Elijah, sent it our
way on the ex app or Twitter. Use that hashtag
ask FS. Next game for the Bulldogs is at CSU
Bakersfield Saturday night, a six thirty tip at the Kardo

(46:48):
Center down in Kern County. Have you guys been made
aware that that is coach Wahlberg's alma mater, CSU Bakersfield.

Speaker 17 (46:57):
Yes, somebody told me that today at practice and I
was confus, I don't even know coach Wahlberg went to college.

Speaker 3 (47:06):
It's it's just hard for me to imagine him in college.
I don't know. I heard he once had seventeen assists
in a game for the Roadrunners at CSU Baker's Field.

Speaker 23 (47:15):
I don't believe that. No, I don't believe that. The
way he makes you guys move the ball, he does
make his movie. He's always talking about the extra pass.
So maybe I gotta see some highlights. They have video
back then, no video.

Speaker 6 (47:30):
Sixteen millimeter film.

Speaker 3 (47:31):
We'll pull it out somewhere.

Speaker 2 (47:34):
Maybe you guys gett some stories from him on the
bus down there on the way to Bakersfield.

Speaker 3 (47:38):
I love to hear that.

Speaker 2 (47:40):
Being from southern California now playing here in the valley,
just a few hour drive away. Now, this game is
going to be about halfway between where you're from and
where you are now. Is it a situation where your
family's going to get to watch it play a little
bit this year?

Speaker 3 (47:54):
Yeah?

Speaker 17 (47:54):
My family they're at every game. My first game here
at Fresno, about twenty people come out last night. I
had about ten people come to Santa Barbara. So wherever
I'm at, I know my family's gonna show up big.
So We're gonna be the loudest in the gym too.
We're gonna hear them Saturday in Bakersfield. Huh, definitely.

Speaker 3 (48:13):
Do you always know where they're sitting in the gym? Yeah,
I hear them before I see them.

Speaker 6 (48:18):
Now the fans are gonna hear them too.

Speaker 2 (48:20):
Time for our final break, but when we come back
more with Elijah Price Fresno State red shirt freshman forward.
Bulldogs play Saturday night, six thirty six o'clock. The pregame
here on the Bulldog Sports Network. That'll be down in Bakersfield.
Next chance to catch him at the Save Mart Center
Wednesday night at seven o'clock.

Speaker 3 (48:34):
Tip back after this.

Speaker 2 (48:35):
Crow and Wolf and Clovis is where we're hanging tonight
on the Bulldog Sports Network from their field.

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Speaker 3 (51:49):
Welcome back to the Bulldog Basketball Hour. Hanging out here
at Crow and Wolf in Clovis. It's a lovely evening,
not too.

Speaker 2 (51:54):
Cool, and if you are a little cold, just get
one of those pizzas from the basil Bloom. I just
saw someone biting it. It looks really good.

Speaker 3 (52:01):
You're getting some food tonight, Elijah Price.

Speaker 17 (52:03):
Yeah, I just ordered a pizza. Hope, it's good. We
had pizza last night too. What'd you throw on that
pizza tonight?

Speaker 3 (52:10):
They had mushrooms. I think some peppers. I like. I
like vegetables on my pizza. I'm a vegetable guy. On
my pizza. You like spice a little bit, not too much,
though not too much.

Speaker 2 (52:20):
Yeah, speaking of spice, A lot of flavor on this
basketball team, a lot of diverse talent. You got some
big man who can block shots. You got a really
creative point guardens On Collins who we're getting to know,
a guy who can just fill it up in Amar Aguilard.

Speaker 3 (52:36):
MIKEL. Robinson last night did a little bit of everything.
We know what Jalen Weaver can do. When you envision
your own.

Speaker 2 (52:43):
Career here at Fresno State, do you have a way
of describing the kind of player that you want to
be in a Bulldog uniform.

Speaker 17 (52:51):
Just a competitor, somebody that's gonna go out every night
give it everything they got.

Speaker 3 (52:58):
On the court.

Speaker 17 (53:00):
I want to be as versatile as possible, being able
to be in different positions, guard different positions, but mainly
just just a winner and a competitor.

Speaker 3 (53:09):
You know.

Speaker 2 (53:10):
Coach Wahlberg hit on that versatility earlier and he said,
right now, you're playing out of position a little bit
because of the injuries to the post players that will see.

Speaker 3 (53:19):
You more on the wing later on.

Speaker 2 (53:20):
I'm just curious, because you have that versatility, do you
enjoy the challenge of like what you had last night,
guarding a guy like Poto who's got a few pounds
on you and banging away and trying to keep him
out of the paint.

Speaker 3 (53:34):
Is that more exciting?

Speaker 2 (53:35):
Or when you at six ' nine are trying to
stay in front of like a six three six y
four guard on the perimeter, which one of those challenges,
like is a bigger energy rush for you?

Speaker 17 (53:45):
For me, I like, I like garden on the perimeter
because I think guys like guards like six ' three
and under or around that height, they see me step
out there and they don't think I can guard them.
So I like I like that more being able to
so that I can go out on a.

Speaker 2 (54:02):
Perimeter like that. You know, and on ball defense is
one thing. But one thing I noticed about you last night,
and it was one play, right. I mean, it's not
a whole season, but it stood out to me, especially
this early in the year, your understanding of help defense.
And maybe the fact that it was late and the
shot clock had something to do with it. But if
I'm remembering the play, right, Fontinette, who's their leading scorer,

(54:23):
is penetrating toward the end of the shot clock. You
came off your man time to perfectly and just sent
his shot about ten feet the other way. Is that
something that you've always had that instinct because it, you know,
that's kind of an exact, precise science because if you
leave your guy too soon, he's going to get a layup.

Speaker 3 (54:39):
Right. Yeah, how did you develop your feel for playing
good help defense? Yeah?

Speaker 17 (54:45):
Playing under my dad pretty much all my life. He's
a defensive coach, and he's always preached and taught to
be two feet in the paint if you're on the
weak side. So I think just from that I was
able to learn and kind of pick that up at
a young age. So yeah, Coach Wallberg, he teaches the

(55:06):
same thing, to be not be hugged up on our man,
to be in the weak side. So yeah, it's something.
It's something that that clicks for me.

Speaker 3 (55:15):
You know.

Speaker 2 (55:15):
I know, you haven't been here too long, and none
of you guys have really been here too long. You're
still getting to know each other and you're getting to
know these coaches. But is there something that you would
say about Coach Wahlberg, maybe even as coaching staff as
a whole, that you know because you're with them all
the time, to maybe people on the outside wouldn't think
or wouldn't understand, wouldn't get about who they are and

(55:36):
how they do what they do.

Speaker 22 (55:38):
Hmm.

Speaker 17 (55:41):
I would just say they're hard to those guys and
they're they're they're tough, tough, loving guys.

Speaker 3 (55:49):
Coach Wahlberg, he's really old school.

Speaker 17 (55:52):
But that resonates with me because when he speaks to me,
I know it's coming from a good places, coming out
of out of love.

Speaker 3 (56:00):
He wants me to be better from it. And I
know you know your perspective on this.

Speaker 2 (56:06):
You don't have years and years of experience at the
college level to put you know this versus this, But you.

Speaker 3 (56:11):
Played on a lot of teams.

Speaker 2 (56:13):
Obviously your your dad's coaching influence is something that adds
to your perspective when you hang out with this team,
when you play with this team, when you you know,
ride the bus with this team and have a feel,
what's your real view of what you guys as a
group might be capable of this year?

Speaker 3 (56:31):
Like what's realistic in your mind?

Speaker 17 (56:34):
I think we can we can win some games that
people don't think we can win. We got a group
of guys that I said this earlier, but we had
a group of guys that have something they want to prove.
A lot of guys, like you said earlier, haven't played
a lot of minutes at this level for whatever reason.
But I think we have seven eight players that can

(56:55):
produce at this level.

Speaker 3 (56:57):
Well, we saw that last night.

Speaker 2 (56:59):
You guys put a lot of points on the board
against a really good team at UCSB.

Speaker 3 (57:02):
We're talking to Elijah Price, bulldog six.

Speaker 2 (57:04):
Foot nine inch red shirt freshman forward from down in
Long Beach, and I haven't been struck by the chemistry
you guys seem to have already. Is there something that
you guys have done when you're not on the court
that you think has helped you play better together or
have a feel for each other's games, Because talking to MIKEL.

(57:26):
Robinson last night, you know, he emphasized how much freedom
you guys have offensively, especially a lot of times when
there's a lot of freedom, there's a lot of chaos, right,
But you guys seem to have a pretty good feel
of where each other is supposed to be, the spacing,
the timing and all that.

Speaker 3 (57:40):
Do you have an idea of how that's developed so early? Yeah?

Speaker 17 (57:44):
I give a lot of that credits to coaching staff
We've talked about being unselfish making the extra pass, and
I think naturally most of our players are unselfish. But
I think that's something we're still working on and we
can get even better at that.

Speaker 2 (58:01):
I'm guessing that maybe being the youngest of six kids,
you kind of had a head start on being unselfish.

Speaker 17 (58:06):
Yeah, for sure, And I think naturally that's just the
type of player I am. I'm not really looking to
score all the points on the team. I'd rather see
my teammates score off my assists.

Speaker 2 (58:19):
What's one thing you're answering all my tough questions tonight? Man,
I'm throwing some some doozies at you, but you got
them all. What's one thing we haven't seen you guys
do yet in two games that you think we are
going to see more of as the season goes on.

Speaker 17 (58:34):
I don't think we've shot the ball necessarily as well
as we can. I think the first two games, especially
the first game, we didn't shoot it well at all.
But we got a lot of guys that can shoot
a high percentage from three, I think, and I think
when David gets back it'll help us a lot. But yeah,
we can shoot it at a pretty pretty good clip,

(58:55):
I think, and.

Speaker 2 (58:56):
That is one thing we're expecting for Saturday night in
Bakersfield to see David Douglas DJ on the floor for
his Bulldog debut six thirty start on Saturday night at
six o'clock our pregame show.

Speaker 6 (59:06):
Elijah, thanks for hanging out tonight and enjoy.

Speaker 3 (59:07):
That pizza appreciation. Thanks for having me.

Speaker 2 (59:09):
That's Elijah Price from your Bulldog basketball team. Catch them
in Bakersfield Saturday night or at the Save Mart Center
Wednesday at seven. Thanks for listening tonight on the Bulldog
Sports Network from their field.

Speaker 1 (59:35):
Live from Crowen Wolf tap Room in Clovis. You've been
listening to the Bulldog Basketball Hour presented by 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. The preceding has been a

(59:57):
lear Field presentation of the bull Dog Sports Network