October 14, 1992
Originally published by The Daily Collegian (Fresno State)
It could be said that last year's Bulldog men's basketball team, with a 15-16 record and just missing .500, several players needed to step up and raise their game to fit into the team's plans for 1992-93.
The roster spots appear to be wide open and it looks to be up to the players to decide they want them.
And one player who wants one is sophomore guard Davon Satterwhite, who is constantly working to make good on his promising ability. Satterwhite had a solid year as a freshman, making the most of his chance to play early on. In the preseason, he hit five of six three-point shots for a season high 17 points against the University of San Francisco.
Satterwhite went on to play in all 31 games, averaging 6.7 points and 2.7 rebounds on the season.
"He had a very good freshman year," said Assistant Coach Jim Saia. "While he got off to a great start in the preseason, he tailed off as the season went on. But he came back strong late in the season."
"Davon's a gamer. He can play well in practice and obviously does, but he turns it up a notch come game time. Last year, he bailed us out a lot and helped us win games."
Saia added: "As far as being a player, he has tremendous ability. His natural instincts and hand-eye coordination are probably the best on the team. He has all the tools to be a great player, it depends on how much he wants it."
And does he.
"I went out there and just gave 100 percent," Satterwhite said on last year's season.
According to Satterwhite, his arrival wasn't so convincing. "When I first got here I was out of shape, and my ability to play had dropped. So I just worked hard on my game."
His training regimen included working on free throws and three-pointers following practice each day--100 shots each.
Now, Satterwhite is getting in shape for the upcoming season by lifting weights and conditioning.
"I'm a lot stronger than I was, and I'll have to be when we play our league games this year in high-altitude places."
The WAC schedule will include destinations like Utah, Colorado, and Wyoming.
"The older guys showed me the system and showed me around," Satterwhite said. "They showed me what I needed to work on and gave me the confidence so that when I got the open shot in a game, I'd hit it.
"This year, I hope we do better. Our team was real good in the beginning, but in league we didn't do so hot. I'm very excited about this year."
Saia said: "It's up to him. How well he does during preseason will determine whether he will get a chance to start." Satterwhite played a prominent role in '91-'92 as a sixth-man spark plug.
"He's in our plans. He can start. The starting lineup is in the air, and we don't know now who we'll redshirt and who we'll play," Saia said. It's up in the air and it's up to him."
Satterwhite was going to redshirt last season, but Head Coach Gary Colson decided to keep him on the active roster.
"I like playing under Colson's system. There's nobody standing around watching everybody else shoot. Everybody is involved in the offense,: Satterwhite said.
"When I got into game situations last year, I came off the bench and that made me more relaxed and confident when I got into the game," he said. "I want to start, but it really doesn't matter as long as I keep working hard. When I get into the game, I'll give 100 percent."
He seems to have great ability, but instead he says, "I just work at my game real hard. I go out and try to stay on top by keeping a step above everyone else."
Satterwhite made an impact showing in last year's Red and White Game, the annual scrimmage. He scored a game-high 20 points with four rebounds.
"I went out and shot a lot, and I was hitting my shots. It worked out because we were all pulling for each other to do well."
Saia said, "The experience he got last year will give him an edge. He was a reason we got off to a good start last season, because he played phenomenally well then. When he played well, the team usually did also.
"He wants to learn and wants to get better. He can be really good. The other guys get along with him well, he's a very likable person and a good student."
"We expect big things from him," Saia said.
But now Satterwhite wants to raise his game on stopping people.
"Offense wins games, defense wins championships," he said.
"And that's all we want to do, win a championship and take it one game at a time."
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