October 17, 2007

Show Some Respect: Cal State Fullerton

by Adam Rank

The FanHouse college hoops team conducted a premature poll back in July and it turns out that these guys hate the mid-majors as much as the real pollsters. Just kidding, boys. But there are a number of Mid-Majors who will be overlooked coming into the season and -- with college hoops practice underway -- now is a great time to start breaking down some of these teams. That way, you won't be sitting there with a ruined March Madness bracket when a team like UNLV makes it to the Sweet 16.

Did you know that Cal State Fullerton has a basketball team, too? And this year they might even be able to show them off in the NCAA tournament. Your Titans are up now.Expectations are up at Cal State Fullerton. No, seriously. The Titans ranked fifth in the NCAA in Division I scoring last season (82.1 ppg) and that trend should continue this season with Washington State transfer Josh Akognon joining the team. Akognon lit up Pac-10 competition during his time in Pullman, Wash., so the Big West had better look out. There are even those who believe that Akognon is better than departed four-year starter Bobby Brown. And those people are probably right. Brown was a star at Fullerton, but he could never quite get the Titans to the tournament. Akognon could.

The Titans are also loaded with other scoring studs, and you wonder if there are going to be enough basketballs to go around. The key will be senior Frank Robinson who averaged nearly 12 points last season. Robinson is one of the most talented players to ever put on a Titan uniform (believe it) and seems poised for a breakout season that has eluded him in the previous two years. Robinson has shown flashes that he can easily be the best player on the court, but hasn't been able to do it for a complete season. Junior point guard Marcus Crenshaw is a straight money player, who isn't afraid to take the big shot. (And often makes them.) Scott Cutley (15.6 ppg, 9.5 rpg) is a strong presence down low who notched 11 double-doubles last season. Cutley is slowed by an ankle injury, but hopefully should be recovered in time for conference play in January.

The downside for the Titans in the defense. The team seemed helpless to stop Cal Poly in last year's Big West tournament semi-final and it's safe to say that Fullerton will have the shortest team in the Big West. The team will play center-by-committee and needs a solid contribution from Eddie Lima, Kenneth Alexander or Gerard Anderson. The Titans don't need a dominant big man, just a guy who can stand in middle, grab rebounds, hit the occasional layup and stay out of foul trouble. One of those three should be able to contribute.

Outlook: The Titans have the offensive firepower to win the Big West easily. The only problem is, Bob Burton's teams have shown a big disinterest in playing defense. The Titans are going to need to use their speed and athleticism to counter big teams such as UC Santa Barbara, another favorite in the Big West. So the season basically comes down to this: play defense, win the league. Don't, and a fourth consecutive 20-win season will be likely. As will a disappointing finish in the Big West tournament.

Previously on FanHouse:
Show Some Respect: UNLV