Fresno State (14-15) has a long way to go to get to where it needs, and wants, to be. While this season thus far has fallen below the expectations of players, coaches and fans, a positive is the health of forward Paul George.
George skyed for a serious tomahawk jam with 6:55 left in the game. His eyes got about even with the rim on the dunk, which occured when he and center Greg Smith ran a pick and roll and the defense didn't guard George coming off the screen. He drove to the basket unhindered and finished strong.
"It's good to finally be able to look at the rim, be able to get some air flowing through the hair, getting the crowd going," he said. "No more finger rolls or trying to look pretty, just throw it down."
Noting his hair is pretty closely cut, one reporter jokingly asked him how the air flows through his hair.
Rubbing his head with a smile, George responded, "I get a little breeze."
George's dunk is important because it signifies he's back to being the player he was before he hurt his ankle Jan. 21 against Utah State. When he sprained his ankle, he was forced to sit out 3 weeks. That time off has helped preserve him for the Bulldogs' final WAC regular season stretch.
"Those 3 or 4 weeks I was out, that's where the energy is coming from now," he said. "I don't feel tired. My legs feel fresh out there now."
The Bulldogs, currently the WAC's fifth-place team, play at San Jose State on Saturday, at Utah State on Monday and host La. Tech to close the season March 4.
SJSU (13-13, 5-7) is the No. 6 seed right now, Utah State (22-6, 11-2) leads the conference and La. Tech (21-6, 8-4) is No. 3.
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