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Christopher, Bears Roast Ducks, Prepare for Beavers

Jerome Randle didn't have his best night, but the other Bears stepped up around him and shouldered the load in a destruction of the Ducks.

More photos » Ben Margot - AP

Jerome Randle didn't have his best night, but the other Bears stepped up around him and shouldered the load in a destruction of the Ducks.

If you're a Cal fan, this was about what you'd want from the Bears after the tough loss in Seattle. Both Cal and Oregon couldn't hit their shots early, but then Patrick Christopher took over the final ten minutes of the first half and the Bears were off and running. Great play from the starting five and poor shooting from Oregon led to a blowout by halftime, and the bench took us home. No starter played more than 30 minutes, leading you to think there should be no repeat of what happened last week when the seniors wore out after going wire-to-wire in Pullman.

Player-wise, Randle is clearly not playing at 100% (that knee is probably more banged up than he lets on), but he played a pretty good role in facilitating the offense and didn't make too many mistakes. 4 assists (although he had more dishes that turned into free throw attempts) 2 turnovers, and a lot of shots that came close to going in.  Christopher is playing his best basketball of the season (21 points, 6 boards, 3 on the offensive glass). He did really well on the Washington roadtrip and is starting to shoulder the burden with Randle banged up.

Other big contributors included Theo Robertson, who did all the usual underrated stuff (18 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 3 threes), providing the other part of the first half knockout punch along with PC. Jamal Boykin got the Bears rolling, Omondi Amoke crashed the boards again (11 this time), and D.J. Seeley provided the bench spark (11 points, 4 rebounds).

Oregon looked exactly like what they are--a young team with a long way to go. They've got a lot of raw athletic talent with Michael Dunigan and Armstead, but they also look like a team that just hasn't played enough together and isn't quite coalescing as a team. We should blowout these Ducks at home 95% of the time. 

Now comes the crucial game against Oregon State, who just got cratered by the Cardinal. There's really no excuse for losing this game either--the Beavers are destined for the bottom of the conference and have marginal talent. However, they swept the Bears last season and have a zone defense that seems to give our playmakers fits. If they can execute it as well as they did last season there could be all sorts of mayhem Saturday morning. Without Jorge (questionable) and MSF (who played tonight but was limited), this could be an ugly one, but Cal needs to find a way to slog through like they did against USC. Home losses at this juncture would be devastating; hopefully we can show fortitude if this one stays close.

PS: Oh, by the way, Cal fans, show up to the games. I know you all hate getting your feet wet, and that most of you who read our site would rather complain about how your football team left you feeling self-loathing after winning a mere eight games (HOW DARE THEY!), but I know we have some readers out there who care about hoops. Wear some boots, slog through the rain, and support your seniors in their last few games (hell, it's supposed to be sunny on Saturday too). It's a little depressing to see all the empty seats at Haas for a team that's still in the hunt for the first conference title in fifty years, and even more depressing at how sedate most of the fans in the stands can be (outside the student section, everyone else was loud for a total of two minutes during that crazy first half run). The Harmon Gym crowds appear to be long gone.

After the jump, check out the Four Factors and stat distribution (i.e. colorful graphs!).

Star-divide

Poll
Player of the game versus Oregon was...
Christopher
86 votes
Robertson
2 votes
Randle
1 votes
Boykin
5 votes
Other
7 votes

101 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs  |  Comment 18 comments  |  Add comment |

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Right after the new year, at the ‘Furd game, when the Zhang Train laid waste to the Farm, it was pretty loud at haas. It wasn’t harmon levels, but it was rocking, so the potential is there – even with the students out of town.

by LeonPowe on Jan 22, 2010 1:18 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

I’m guessing it was more the fact that it was the Cardinal—we always get up for them. The UCLA crowd was weak and the USC crowd sounded like it was being held at gunpoint. Hopefully things turn around Saturday.

Email: bearsnecessities@gmail.com

by Avinash on Jan 22, 2010 1:38 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I hate it when they schedule a bunch of early home games, but this year was the worst. Our 3 biggest rivals all at home during winter break? Meanwhile, the women, who need as many home games as they can get early in the season to help the freshmen get comfortable, get a hellish road trip.

Why do you hate us, Pac-10 office?

The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS

by norcalnick on Jan 22, 2010 11:08 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Go Bears!

Hey Avinash, add me to those who appreciate the basketball posts as I am a true multi-sport Cal fan. Watched the game last night and it sure felt great to coast past the Ducks. PC said after the game that Omoke was the star, and he should have been in your ranking options!

Having attended many home Cal games at Harmon during my student years, I can attest to the fact that there is no comparison to Haas. Don’t get me wrong, Haas is a beautiful venue, but neither the setting or the fans generate the intensity that Harmon did. BTW, I’ve attended games at Mac Court in Eugene too and it is a damn shame for Duck fans that it is going away.

To my knowledge it is the last of the great old courts and in some ways is the most impressive I’ve ever seen. It is a monument to Oregon timber and 1927 design. Shitty sight lines and claustrophobic, but cool.

Just imagine Kamp and Jorge both in? I have great fear about our scoring potential next year after watching DJ, Brandon and the gang. Some freshman had better be 20 points a night or we are screwed next year.

Go Bears!

by Calbear91 on Jan 22, 2010 6:22 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

Next year is going to be a rebuilding year for sure.

by atomsareenough on Jan 22, 2010 9:15 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Great game, Can't wait for Saturday!

Saturday will be my first conference home game this year, so you can count me in as one of the non-student section folks that will be as loud as humanly possible (when appropriate of course) at the OSU game…

I’m really looking forward to seeing the team play live again, last time was in December and they were far from gelling at that point…

Good win over the Ducks, now its time to pound some Beavers!

Go Bears!

Undefeated in Southern California since Oct. 2009...

by CruzinBears on Jan 22, 2010 9:47 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

Getting into the game...

As an alum, I’ve always felt that the loudness of the game is the responsibility of the yell leaders and the students. If they are into it, maintain the noise, and keep it loud, everyone will get into the game. Last night the yell leaders were weak, didn’t keep the students into the game and generally kept the alums sleepy. Take care of the bench then worry about the alums.

I do agree that the empty seats not only for the game but at the START of the game was lame. We need to get the place filled and rockin for the tip off.

Go Bears!

by iwasthere4theplay on Jan 22, 2010 10:36 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

Thanks for the insight!

Email: bearsnecessities@gmail.com

by Avinash on Jan 22, 2010 11:08 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I was waiting for the bill to come at Triple Rock! I got there as soon as I could!

So, basically, you gotta Go Bears!

by ragnarok on Jan 22, 2010 11:39 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I was in class, but I sent someone else in my place. I can’t guarantee he was as loud as I would have been.

Ragnarok: Great Man or Greatest Man?

by AndBears on Jan 22, 2010 11:49 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

we were at triple rock pregame too, when did you get there?

Remember, the enemy's end zone is DOWN!

by GoldBlooded on Jan 22, 2010 1:51 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

bout 6:45. couldn’t get away from work any earlier (and I tried!)

So, basically, you gotta Go Bears!

by ragnarok on Jan 22, 2010 4:27 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

There were 2 new yell leaders who were just recruited during this past football season, along with one veteran yell leader. Hopefully with some practice and experience they’ll improve.

by GeoFreak on Jan 22, 2010 11:41 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I've complained a lot about the Haas crowds this year

but check this out:


With a good look at the basket, Abdul-Hamid, a former walk-on, hit the biggest shot of his life, a 19-footer that splashed through the net as time expired and UCLA defeated the Huskies 62-61 on Thursday in front of 6,503.

6,500 at Pauley?? Mike Silver wasn’t kidding when he called ucla fans the biggest front runners on the planet.

www.californiagoldenblogs.com

by CBKWit on Jan 22, 2010 10:41 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

and while we're on the subject
But a sidekick freshman guard stole the show, and the Cougars topped the Trojans, 67-60, Thursday night at the Galen Center in front of 4,422.

www.californiagoldenblogs.com

by CBKWit on Jan 22, 2010 10:45 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Somewhere on SBnation there was a discussion about how attendance was down for every Pac-10 team but Washington and (I think) OSU. Alas.

The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS

by norcalnick on Jan 22, 2010 11:10 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I’m laughing at the impact chart for Oregon’s 3s and Cal’s blocks.


There’s really no excuse for losing this game either—the Beavers are destined for the bottom of the conference and have marginal talent.

This. Cal has already had their 1 bad loss of the conference season. They cannot afford another. After what OSU did to Cal last year and Oregon this year I can only assume that they’ll be focused and ready. Let’s hope it’s not close.

The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS

by norcalnick on Jan 22, 2010 11:12 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

The Cal blocks one can’t be right. Max toads had 2 blocks on the same play.

by atomsareenough on Jan 22, 2010 12:43 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs


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