A Cal Men' Basketball Non-Conference Season Review
by ragnarok on Jan 4, 2009 3:00 PM PST
in California Golden Bears Men's Basketball
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PrintUse this thread as an open thread for the game today against ASU:
Arizona State Sun Devils (12-1, 1-0) at California Golden Bears (12-2, 1-0)
Sunday, Jan. 4, 5:00 p.m., Haas Pavilion, Berkeley, Calif.
Radio: KYOU (1550 AM) TV: Comcast SportsNet California
via grfx.cstv.com
December has come to a close, January has just started up, the bowl games are beginning to wind down, and Cal fans have a long nine months until Cal football starts up again. But fear not, readers desperate for their Golden Bear fix: the end of football season only means that we're smack dab in the middle of basketball season!
In fact, it's been basketball season for nearly two months now, but I'm guessing a lot of people haven't really noticed, or only gave the teams' blowouts of Colgate and Texas-Pan American cursory attention. I don't blame you. But now, with Pac-10 play upon us, it's time to catch up with the team; with Mike Montgomery now the Bears' head coach, there hasn't been a better time to become a Cal basketball fan in quite a long time.
So how are our Bears sitting right now? Pretty good, actually. They're 12-2, undefeated at home, and owners of a couple of nice road wins against a schedule that, while not the most difficult in the world (Sagarin rates it only 233rd out of 347) was better than I expected back in June (I'd give it a 'B-', or maybe even a solid 'B'). Sure, home wins over Texas-Pan American, North Carolina A&T, Colgate and Dartmouth are all not only forgettable but RPI-killers as well, but teams like Pacific, USF, DePaul, Nevada and Portland all provided good, mid-level competition at home, and thankfully the Bears didn't lose any of these games; USF came within 5 points of winning at USC, and Portland, a team the Bears beat by 20, not only beat Washington, but Oregon needed overtime at home to get past them.
If the Bears find themselves on the NCAA tournament bubble, however, there are only 4 games on their non-conference schedule that the committee might look at: the Global Sports Classic at Las Vegas vs. UNLV and Florida State, the Big 12 / Pac-10 Hardwood Challenge at Missouri, and a road game Utah. The Bears won at 8-5 Utah and 12-2 UNLV, vs. the Rebels in convincing fashion, were nipped by a 12-2 Florida State team on a neutral court, and got blown out at 11-2 Missouri, admittedly their worst performance of the year. Still, losing on the road isn't nearly as bad as losing at home (and to quality, major-conference teams, no less), and the two road scalps they picked up are starting to look pretty good too. Utah has wins over Oregon, Ole Miss and now Gonzaga, while UNLV has picked up wins over Arizona and at Louisville.
Overall, it's a decent résumé. In fact, Joe Lunardi, ESPN's resident Bracketologist, had Cal as one of his last 4 teams in the field of 65 (an 11 seed) in his most recent bracket back on December 23rd. Are they a tournament team? There's no way to know that yet. Still, they've put themselves in a good position, and a decent run in Pac-10 conference play should secure the ticket to the Big Dance that's eluded them since Leon Powe turned pro. What's a decent run? I'd say 9-9 gets them in the tourney; 8-10 is pretty borderline, and they'd probably need a good showing in the Pac-10 tournament to feel comfortable.
Friday night's win against Arizona was a good start, however. I don't know that Cal will make the NCAA tournament this year, but I do know that I'm very, very excited about Cal Basketball for the first time in quite a few years.
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Cal Game
I will be tuning in to this game. Earlier today, Cal women beat Arizona State by a final score of 54-53.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Jan 4, 2009 4:09 PM PST reply actions
And the Beavers win!
Not sure if that says really bad things about USC or really good things about the Beavers rebuilding process.
No kidding, these are generally terrible shots they’re taking.
by BearsNecessity on Jan 4, 2009 5:13 PM PST up reply actions
First to 100 wins
Each team is shooting the lights out. Great start for Harden – hopefully Christopher can frustrate him because he can’t go off if we want to win.
Bears need to establish something inside
ASU’s size is going to get them easier shots as time goes on. Unless they keep on shooting 70% from 3 point land, I’d recommend going to the hoop.
I think one of the problems the Bears have is lack of an inside scoring presence. Sure Boykin can score occasionally and he’s one of the best garbage players we’ve had (I mean that in a good way). But the only way we’re going to get inside points is on P. Chris backdoor layups or Randle dribble penetration.
Oog, we need defensive interior presence. Harden just went straight to the hoop.
Yeah, too bad Anderson didn’t decide to come back; he’d be a force in the Pac-10 this season. Now he’s stuck pining the bench for yellow fever to gawk at.
by BearsNecessity on Jan 4, 2009 5:52 PM PST up reply actions
I love that Montgomery will put anybody on Harden until it works
Gutierrez has looked the best so far.
Anyone know: how easy is it to sit in the student section if you have tickets elsewhere?
Sheriff of the Welcome Team
In Spite of Twist!
I have to admit
This team is way more fun to watch now. Passing is crisper, good backdoor cuts, fast break getting better, and of course the 3 point shots.
We’re going to have to work on making midrange jumpers though. And our interior defense is going to expose us later on, but whatever.
I'm trying to think
which Pac-10 teams have the inside presence to take advantage of our lack of bigs? Washington?
This team, for one
Boateng’s just shooting over them without much trouble.
by BearsNecessity on Jan 4, 2009 5:42 PM PST up reply actions
I keep seeing “Boateng” and think wait what I thought he wasn’t allowed to play bball too!?
Sheriff of the Welcome Team
In Spite of Twist!
oh, and Kamp is frawesome.
Pulled a Ryan Anderson earlier and it caused a double-take
yep, frawesome.
...pick SIX!
This is going to be the issue with Cal
They’re way too much like the recent Warriors and Suns teams; fun to watch, great 3 point shooting, sharp passing and good speed.
But if you attack them inside they’re way to easy to exploit. More than half of the Sun Devil points are on layups or kickouts to the open man. Easier to establish your game and hold onto it if you dominate the inside. Wouldn’t be surprised if ASU takes an early 2nd half lead, tries to lock down the perimeter and force a lot of long 2 point jumpers.
It's scary to think that we shot the lights out and it's tied
It will take serious defensive intensity and effort to win
ASU's just getting guys into foul trouble
They’re just going inside and putting Cal in the penalty or making easy shots.
Bears look a little tight
Probably starting to realize the importance of winning this one.
by BearsNecessity on Jan 4, 2009 6:33 PM PST up reply actions
He's probably a little pissed from the junk fouls
He’s been driving to the hoop pretty well
...pick SIX!
Now we know we can play with anyone in the Pac-10
I don’t feel premature anymore with the goal of making the tourney
I still think it's way too early to talk about tourney
I want to see how they do on this three game road trip. The Bears haven’t played very well outside of Haas. We’ll have to see if this synergy carries through.
Wazzu on Thursday is big
They’ve looked vulnerable, and with OSU beating USC there might not be any gimme road games, so Cal needs to grab any potential road win it can.
Leon come back!
The Celtics are falling apart. Screw them. Fulfill your destiny and deliver Cal an NCAA title!
by BearsNecessity on Jan 4, 2009 9:15 PM PST up reply actions
I completely forgot about this game because I thought it would be played on Saturday for whatever reason (even though I would have known the score if that were the case). I am thrilled. This team is much better than I ever could have expected.
"After review, it has been determined that the previous play was not reviewable"
The Pac-10: where quality officiating happens.
You can put this in the DBD tomorrow
Former Sacramento Kings Coach Eric Musselman’s thought’s on the Cal-Arizona game
A superhero trio that needs to happen:
Harper Kamp, Jamal Boykin, and Jorge Gutierrez. Patrolling the streets of Berkeley, cheering people on while they do mundane tasks, diving for loose change people drop, and all around doing very hustle-y things. It would be awesome.
by rollonubears on Jan 5, 2009 11:35 AM PST reply actions 2 recs
Don’t forget tirelessly waving their towels and warm-up clothes when someone makes a good comment in class or gets an A on a midterm
You ain't got it like Marshawn got it
by Thoroughbred on Jan 5, 2009 12:28 PM PST up reply actions
Exactly!
Oh man just the prospect of it has me excited.
by rollonubears on Jan 5, 2009 12:55 PM PST up reply actions
Hm, very diverse
Throw in Max Zhang just for kicks, amirite?
In all seriousness, I wonder if there’s a single other Division I team that can claim at least one each of whites, blacks, Latinos and Asians.
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
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Golden Bears Football Schedule
| Fresno St. | Sat 09/03 | W 36 - 21 |
@
Colorado
|
Sat 09/10 | W 36 - 33 |
| Presbyterian | Sat 09/17 | W 63 - 12 |
|
@
Washington
|
Sat 09/24 | L 23 - 31 |
|
@
Oregon
|
Thu 10/06 | L 15 - 43 |
|
USC
|
Thu 10/13 | L 9 - 30 |
|
Utah
|
Sat 10/22 | W 34 - 10 |
|
@
UCLA
|
Sat 10/29 | L 14 - 31 |
|
Washington St.
|
Sat 11/05 | W 30 - 7 |
|
Oregon St.
|
Sat 11/12 | W 23 - 6 |
|
@
Stanford
|
Sat 11/19 | L 28 - 31 |
|
@
Arizona St.
|
Fri 11/25 | W 47 - 38 |
|
@
Texas
|
Wed 12/28 | L 10 - 21 |
Pacific-12 Conference Standings
(updated 1.2.2012 at 11:12 PM PST)
| North | Conf | Overall | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | W | L | |
|
Oregon Ducks
|
8 | 1 | 12 | 2 |
|
Stanford Cardinal
|
8 | 1 | 11 | 2 |
|
Washington Huskies
|
5 | 4 | 7 | 6 |
|
California Golden Bears
|
4 | 5 | 7 | 6 |
|
Oregon St. Beavers
|
3 | 6 | 3 | 9 |
|
Washington St. Cougars
|
2 | 7 | 4 | 8 |
| South | Conf | Overall | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | W | L | |
|
USC Trojans
|
7 | 2 | 10 | 2 |
|
UCLA Bruins
|
5 | 4 | 6 | 8 |
|
Utah Utes
|
4 | 5 | 8 | 5 |
|
Arizona St. Sun Devils
|
4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
|
Arizona Wildcats
|
2 | 7 | 4 | 8 |
|
Colorado Buffaloes
|
2 | 7 | 3 | 10 |
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