During Monday night's game, Bee columnist Matt James asked me what was stopping Fresno State from reaching the Top 25.
I pointed to San Jose State's Menelik Barbary.
At 6-foot-10, Barbary can score inside and alter shots. If he spent the season in a Bulldogs jersey, Fresno State would be at the top of the Western Athletic Conference and on the cusp of an NCAA Tournament run.
But the Bulldogs are lacking in the lane, and that's one of the reasons they struggled last night to beat San Jose State, and they will continue to struggle until Shawn Taylor develops.
Barbary scored 16 points on 7-of-16 shooting. Nine days earlier, he scored 18 points as the Spartans ended a 15-game losing streak to Fresno State with a 64-61 win in San Jose.
Fresno State coach Steve Cleveland knows his team must find a balance between perimeter shooting and post touches/shooting. That's why Quinton Hosley took so many shots in the lane. Dominic McGuire tried to back his way in the post, but he seems to be better at getting to the rim when he's facing the basket.
Taylor scored four points in 12 minutes. He went 2 of 4 from the field and blocked three shots. He must play more, if the Bulldogs want to make a late-season run. They need their big guy to contribute.
