While there isn’t any need to panic yet, it is kind of troubling that our guys don’t seem able to handle even some adversity very well.

I suppose part of that is due to injuries to key players – but while that may be true, it does kind of point to a very shallow and fragile team.

If we go through the year having difficulty dealing with tough situations and player loss, it could be a very long season. Conversely, this is a great opportunity to see just how good a coach Monty is, as this really is his chance to bring players along quicker, and make the necessary adjustments to compensate for the player losses.

A win over Iowa State or the miracle upset of Kansas would be a good sign. Blowout losses to both would be very troubling.

We’ll be fine if we do well in the Pac-10. IIRC, the last time the Pac-10 got fewer than 4 teams in the tourney was 2004 (a year which may be comparable to this one, but I actually think was a little weaker – and we put 3 teams into the tourney). I think the conference’s overall SoS and ranking will be OK by year end.

You don’t have to be that close to the top 25 to make the tourney. Assuming this is our toughest stretch of the season (with tough opponents and injuries) I think we are OK. Pac-10 will get three teams for sure – if we don’t finish in the top 3 this year, not sure we would have much room to complain.

Plus – we can always make a Pac-10 tourney run and get the auto-berth.

a couple years ago the title of this post would prolly have been proceeded with a !
today, it’s

sandy barbour, my hero.

Huskies not showing too well early.

But comebacks have been common… Illinois came back down 25 or so last night

So far, none of the Bears three loses are bad. They are all on the road, or at least on neutral courts, and all were against good teams. Granted, they really do need to get a signature win at some point for their résumé, but for now, 4-3 isn’t so bad. No need to panic, especially with Theo healing and flu season passing.

1) Jamal’s midrange jumper is NOT a thing of “beauty”, but it is very effective and should be used more often. I would have liked to see have seen him flash the high post against Syracuse and pop from the free throw line. With Theo out and PC not doing his expected scoring, I think Boykin’s is realizing more and more he’s got to be a team leader.

What I think is even more “beautiful” are Boykin’s post moves around the basket. He gets a guy on either shoulder and he’s using him. He can’t elevate over taller defenders, but he is crafty and patient and will pump fake, pivot, step under or around which ever way the defender allows. Very smart and enjoyable to watch.

2) PC’s disappearing act. Yes, surprising to witness, and very frustrating. He is not the highly rated NBA draftee-in-waiting some have suggested, but we will all be singing his praises once again when he gets his groove going sometime later this season. His long 3 is being targeted and taken away by defenses and he needs to develop some slashing dribble moves to the basket and finding other ways of getting open by moving without the ball. Surely he is working on these things and it’s only a matter of time. Have faith.

3) Jorge off bench or as starter. Let’s face it. Jorge was a late recruit signee probably b/c he wasn’t highly coveted by the high majors. Monty got here late and late and had to take SOMEone with his first recruiting class. I recall some of the mocking posts on this site when Jorge was signed and his big hair photo flashed. People questioned his heritage and asked how a Mexican could be any good. SO, everyone was absolutely delighted when he came out and busted balls all over the court. Bloggers didn’t care that he didn’t have an outside shot or that he was sometimes wild and made turnovers and wreckless fouls. They just loved his effort and that he gave the team some fighting attitude. He greatly exceeded expectations. Going forward, let’s just remember that Jorge is not 6’5’ with super hops, a killer crossover, and the silky smooth jumper. He’s a role player, and plays that role VERY WELL and is getting better all the time!

4) Max and the pick and roll and giving up that big layup late… I think there were two things I saw on this play. Isn’t the technique/job of a big man these days to HEDGE and block the dribbler at a horizontal position in front of the screen so he can’t get the angle on the big man? Max didn’t do that. I always see coaches busting big men for not setting their hedge out far/high enough at the top of the key. Now I know why! Max needs to learn that hedge move better. Secondly, what the hell was Boykin thinking as a help defender? He was right in the the paint when Max’s player dribbled around him, took one step forward, and then backed off as he shot the ball. I hate Bobby Knight to tears, but I can still hear him from that Syracuse game complaining about “help defense”. Boykin’s man was set up for a 3 in the corner, and Boykin was mentally ready to sprint back that way when the dish came. But the most dangerous man on the court is the one with the ball, and Boykin never stopped him, so the pass to the corner never came. I blame Jamal as much as Max for giving up these 2 points. PC was further away and would have gotten there late, but also could have potentially helped. Out entire team was guarding against the 3 and they had 5 wide. Nobody manned the fort.

5. Regarding our trouble handling zones by Syracuse and NM: I am reminded of how POOR a job we did handling Robinson’s Oregon State 1-2-2 last year. Oh, man, was that painful to watch us try to execute off of! I sure hope we don’t re-live THAT experience!

Regarding NCAA’s… don’t worry about it. Wait and see how we do in conference play.
We were picked to finish 1st or 2nd in the league. If we finish in the top 3, we will get a bid. If we finish 4th or below, everyone will have had their hopes dashed saying we didn’t live up to expectations this season, whether we get a bid or not. So, all this NM loss did was give us a worse seed.

Keep in mind, people, this team has only ONE 4-star recruit on the floor, Patrick Christopher. Seeley was 4-stars but at this point is able to get only a whiff of playing time as an emergency backup, or in inconsequential moments. We have no 5 star recruits. Randle, Boykin, Kamp, Amoke, Jorge, Bak, MSF, Smith, were all just 3 stars. Max, Nikola and Theo all had no-star ratings on Rivals. And not that Rivals star ratings are the end-all be-all, but they should help you set expectations.

The good news is that both Franklin and Solomon are 4-stars coming in next year. The bad news is we are still going to be shallow on the interior. In other words, I hope Max learns that hedge move! He’s the type of player Monty would never be messing with under normal circumstances, but now has got to be his pet project for the next couple years! Imagine going from the NBA caliber centers to Max, thinking you might like to make a run with the big boys in the big league, but now having to drop back to teaching the basics to a guy like Max. I imagine that thought has crossed his mind once or twice (no disrespect intended to Max).

But I digress… point is, it all comes down to recruiting. Ohio State and Syracuse are continually getting 4 and 5 star recruits – no wonder they killed us! And similarly, we also shouldn’t be so surprised when we give up a game now and then to the likes of New Mexico, on the road, when we are injured and sick.

Last point here:
Cal’s top 6 players in the rotation vs. NM = 1 four-star, 3 three-stars, 2 no-stars
NM top 6 players in the rotation vs. Cal = 1 four-star, 4 three-stars, 1 no-star
(And yet, Syracuse’s star Wesley Johnson was only a 2-star recruit!)