For Fresno State, picked 7th in Mountain West basketball poll, health means wealth

Fresno State, a program that will be heavily dependent on the health of its key players and also has a habit of playing through and exceeding expectation, was picked to finish seventh in the Mountain West men’s basketball race in a preseason media poll released Wednesday by the conference.

Joseph Hunter, a four-star recruit from San Joaquin Memorial High, was selected as the preseason freshman of the year in the conference. Jemarl Baker, a high-impact transfer who was limited to five games and two starts a year ago, is expected to pick up a scoring void created by the loss of Orlando Robinson.

But Hunter had been limited due to a health issue and Baker and a balky knee will be closely monitored. The Bulldogs also have been working around injuries to guard Jordan Brinson and center Chuks Isitia, one of three bigs added by coach Justin Hutson and his staff.

“We have four or five guys who are on maintenance days and we’re going to have to manage it all the throughout the year,” said Hutson, who last season led the Bulldogs to 23 wins and a championship in the postseason The Basketball Classic. “We’re going to have to get them stronger. We’re going to have to do that. But if we can do that, then we have a chance to be pretty good.”

Baker, who started his career at Kentucky before transferring to Arizona and then Fresno State, will be a key in that for the Bulldogs as they remake an offense where usage was dominated by Robinson.

The 6-foot-5 guard has been on a limited practice plan and during the season will have what Hutson referred to as load maintenance days, taking days off or limited practice time following games.

“Its going pretty well, other than some normal swelling from the surgery that I recently had,” said Baker. “I’m feeling good. I’m not in any pain, so really just battling through the swelling. But, other than, I’ll be ready to go to start the season.”

Baker last season did not play after Dec. 17, but was trending the right way when the knee became an issue. He played 27 minutes in a victory over UC Irvine, scoring 18 points with two rebounds, two assists and one steal. The next game against Cal Poly, he had 12 points with two rebounds, two assists and two steals.

But Baker did not play the rest of the season.

“We’re trying to be smarter with it,” Hutson said. “We know that we’ll keep him to that and I think he’s all in on it now. His way hasn’t worked. Our way didn’t work last year. But his way, he has gotten hurt, so we’re going to manage it.”

Fresno State, which will play an exhibition against Stanislaus State on Nov. 2 and open the season against Fresno Pacific on Nov. 7, has a number of other pieces returning in point guard Isaiah Hill, guards Jordan Campbell and Anthony Holland and forward Leo Colimeiro.

Isaih Moore and Eduardo Andre, transfers from Southern Miss and Nebraska, are two more bigs who came in with Isitua.

“It definitely will be more by committee, and guys evolve,” Hutson said. “You would rather have it the other way, where you know you have this many points coming back. But when you don’t, guys evolve, and if we can play good defense and take care of the ball then we can evolve while we win. That’s the key.”

The Fresno State women, who after advancing to the NCAA Tournament seven years in a row have not been back in eight seasons under coach Jaime White, last week were picked to finish ninth in the conference.

MOUNTAIN WEST MEN’S BASKETBALL POLL

1. San Diego State (16) 216 points

2. Wyoming (4) 204

3. Boise State 166

4. Colorado State 156

5. New Mexico 136

6. UNLV 110

7. Fresno State 101

8. Utah State 96

9. Nevada 73

10. San Jose State 35

11. Air Force 27

PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM

Isaiah Stevens (Colorado State)

Jamal Mashburn Jr. (New Mexico)

Matt Bradley (San Diego State)

Graham Ike (Wyoming)

Hunter Maldonado (Wyoming)

Player of the year: Ike

Newcomer of the year: Darrion Trammel (San Diego State)

Freshman of the year: Joseph Hunter (Fresno State)

MOUNTAIN WEST WOMEN’S BASKETBALL POLL

1. UNLV (26) 297 points

2. New Mexico (2) 264

3. Colorado State 232

4. Wyoming 207

5. San Diego State 200

6. Nevada 142

7. Boise State 140

8. Air Force 125

9. Fresno State 113

10. San Jose State 67

11. Utah State 61

PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM

McKenna Hofschild (Colorado State)

Shaiquel McGruder (New Mexico)

Sophia Ramos (San Diego State)

Essence Booker (UNLV)

Desi-Rae Young (UNLV)

Preseason player of the year: Young

Newcomer of the year: Amaya Brown (New Mexico)

Freshman of the year: Hannah Robbins (New Mexico)