Cal Beats Oregon State At Their Own Game

by Avinash Kunnath on Jan 27, 2011 10:21 PM PST in California Golden Bears Men's Basketball

For two years running, Cal was frustrated by Oregon State's 1-3-1 zone defense. Jerome Randle wasn't big enough to look over Seth Tarver and the Golden Bears had all sorts of problems dealing with annoyances like Seth Tarver and Roeland Schaftenaar. Unfortunately, Oregon State no longer has that size advantage to make that zone work, and the Beavers defense plummeted from top-notch to mediocrity within a year.

And Cal finally took advantage of that zone. It was layup after layup after layup, with Oregon State looking powerless from the inside pummeling the Golden Bears gave them. Cal finished with 42 points in the paint. Harper Kamp and Markhuri Sanders-Frison were 12 for 18 from the field. Jorge Gutierrez finally broke out of his slump with 16 points and 11 dimes for his first career double-double, and Brandon Smith chipped in seven dimes. Cal made 31 shots off of 23 assists. Now that's offensive efficiency.

Better yet though was the defensive mirroring, as the Bears came back with a zone of their own, flustering the Beavers from beginning to end. I'd urged Cal to zone up that OSU squad more and more (one of the worst three point shooting teams in the conference), and tonight it was almost exclusively a 2-3 look that flustered the Beavers. If not for Jared Cunningham getting to the line and Calvin Haynes nailing some early shots, the Bears would have blown out Oregon State by 50. They'll have to settle for 28. Them's the breaks.

While this is a promising win, it'll be big if Cal can sustain that type of effort against Oregon and have a similar comfortable result. Slowly but surely, the Bears are creeping up into the middle part of the conference (tied for 4th place after tonight). Can they break through?

This is the postgame thread. Recap tomorrow.

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Mr. President, tear down that 1-3-1 zone!

The author, who has 35 years’ consulting experience, has taught at University of California Berkeley, where he was able to observe the culture and the way the senior management operates.
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com

by TwistNHook on Jan 27, 2011 10:32 PM PST reply actions 2 recs

rec’d HAHA

by The Red Mamba on Jan 27, 2011 10:50 PM PST up reply actions

I bitched and complained about not being able to see Cal basketball and tonight I watched St. Mary’s instead of Cal. Shame on me.

"Time for the laser show, boys!"- Aubrey Huff
"Who likes foreplay without the orgasm?"- DaMarques Johnson
2010 World Series Champions San Francisco Giants

by 49er16 on Jan 27, 2011 10:39 PM PST reply actions 2 recs

And Oregon beat Furd at Furd for the first time since the (second) Adams administration!

See, Ducks and Bears can still help each other out.

Incredibly bold prediction: Bears win on Saturday.

by omb on Jan 27, 2011 10:43 PM PST reply actions

It'd be nice, but nothing is assured this year

I can see Cal coming out a little flat after such a thorough beatdown.

Email: bearsnecessities@gmail.com

by Avinash Kunnath on Jan 27, 2011 10:44 PM PST up reply actions

P.S. While I was doing my image search came across this weird photo. It’s animated but prob NSFW

by ondal on Jan 27, 2011 10:51 PM PST up reply actions

What a game!?!?!?! I mean nothing spectacular, just solid basketball all around. Very proud of the team’s effort and its nice to see them finally best the Beavs at their own game. I also enjoyed the walk-on show at the end of the game, kinda like the harlem globetrotters without the made shots…

"Remember the Maine! TO HELL WITH STANFORD!"

by CruzinBears on Jan 27, 2011 10:44 PM PST reply actions

Hey now, Powers hit a three…

California Golden Bears: 2nd place is nothing to sneeze at!

by atomsareenough on Jan 27, 2011 10:54 PM PST up reply actions

And Thurman had an airball free throw. How often do you see THAT? And I hope I never see it again from a Cal uniform…….

I'd like to smell the Roses before I die.

by BTown85 on Jan 28, 2011 8:17 AM PST up reply actions

Now that was an enjoyable game to watch.

by iVinshe on Jan 27, 2011 10:46 PM PST reply actions

Restarted a cheer today:

~~Free throw~~
SPIN! SPIN! SPIN! BOUNCE BOUNCE BOUNCE! SPIN! PAUSE! SHOOT!

by iVinshe on Jan 27, 2011 10:46 PM PST reply actions

Did you guys notice Jorge’s look of disappointment at the ref when the ref didn’t let him do his practice motion before giving him the ball? He missed the free throw, had a talk with the ref, then sunk the second…Thought it was pretty funny.

by Bears07 on Jan 28, 2011 6:55 AM PST up reply actions

Nothing better than a Cal win and a 'Furd loss . . . to OREGON!! Hahaha.

GO BEARS!

CALIFORNIA ANGELS . . . ANAHEIM DUCKS . . . CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS

F*** STANFURD.

by AndyHogan14 on Jan 27, 2011 10:52 PM PST reply actions

Good game.

My twin brother got stuffed by the rim during halftime! Hahah.

*Insert something witty here*. Oh, and Stanfurd Sucks.

by FrankCohen on Jan 27, 2011 11:05 PM PST reply actions

is his name Frankieff Cohen? explain yourself.

by ondal on Jan 27, 2011 11:07 PM PST up reply actions

Yes.

*Insert something witty here*. Oh, and Stanfurd Sucks.

by FrankCohen on Jan 27, 2011 11:12 PM PST up reply actions

Bak Bak is really intelligent in the postgame interview. I think he’s a year away from being a serious swing man threat.

Email: bearsnecessities@gmail.com

by Avinash Kunnath on Jan 27, 2011 11:12 PM PST reply actions

I love Bak Bak. I’m really loving to see him develop.

I don’t know why we were better able to crack the 1-3-1 zone this year. I guess its the size differentially like Avi said. All I know is they were shooting like 65% for the first half. And it was probably better than that in the 2nd half. This is great.

The fact that this team is where it is after losing 8 players from last year’s team is truly unbelievable. They said that Monty’s skill is not recruiting, but he has brought in so many talented people, from his first recruit (Jorge) to this recent crop. This is really great. Will Cal make the tourney this year? Probably not. But it’s great to see this development. I wish Gary Frank were still here to develop and become a better part of the team, though.

GO BEARS!

by TwistNHook on Jan 27, 2011 11:18 PM PST reply actions

I might go so far as to say that the current recruiting “surge” is more due to Monty’s job with JR/PC/TR. People saw a sexy run and gun offense where they’d get early playing time. Little did they know, that was only because Monty didn’t have the type of players that he normally goes for and the offensive style would be changing drastically. I mean, ask Gary Franklin :P

by mrjpark on Jan 27, 2011 11:45 PM PST up reply actions

Well, I don’t know what you’d call last night, but there looked to be plenty of running, gunning, and all around fun to be had for the Bears.

California Golden Bears: 2nd place is nothing to sneeze at!

by atomsareenough on Jan 28, 2011 7:45 AM PST up reply actions

I didn’t see too much of Franklin’s play, but I can’t say I’m missing him much right now. I mean, I wish he stayed just so he could enjoy being a Golden Bear and share in that experience, but on Thursdays and Saturdays, I’m OK without him.

by Bears07 on Jan 28, 2011 6:53 AM PST up reply actions

Me too, but my gut says if he had any patience he’d be a PLAYA’ in a couple years.

I'd like to smell the Roses before I die.

by BTown85 on Jan 28, 2011 8:18 AM PST up reply actions

Right, but he might have been a hindrance to others’ progress as well. I don’t have enough evidence to say this for sure, but bad blood in the locker room (on a basketball team where there’s only 10-12 guys in total) is not a good thing.

by Bears07 on Jan 28, 2011 9:34 AM PST up reply actions

Also,

tonight’s game was the first time a ref has actually responded to my heckles. Good times.

*Insert something witty here*. Oh, and Stanfurd Sucks.

by FrankCohen on Jan 27, 2011 11:40 PM PST reply actions

story us!

by TwistNHook on Jan 27, 2011 11:43 PM PST up reply actions

Me: You better pick it up this half, refs!
Ref: Really? We need to pick it up?
Me: Yeah, you do. Like when we block it, without making contact with the opposing player, that is NOT a foul.
Ref: I think we did a pretty good job in the first half.
Me: No, you did not.

JABear pulls me back, to avoid potential ejection, etc.

*Insert something witty here*. Oh, and Stanfurd Sucks.

by FrankCohen on Jan 28, 2011 11:43 AM PST up reply actions

LOL! Keep up the good work!

by TwistNHook on Jan 28, 2011 2:25 PM PST up reply actions

Heckle heard on TV - "Why do you hate him?? WHY????"

In response to the weak call on MSF for his (career 1st? :) ) shot block.

If that was you, 9.5/10.

by Bearmused on Jan 27, 2011 11:52 PM PST up reply actions

That was me, I was next to Frank though! Before the 2nd half Frank told the ref to “pick it up in the 2nd half”, to which one of them turned and responded that the people doing the telecast told him he was doing a good job. Grade-A douche.

by JABear on Jan 28, 2011 10:11 AM PST up reply actions

hip hip jorge!

Lots of props to Monty of course, but i think Jorge has been instrumental in developing the attitude of some of our freshmen and sophs (soloman, crabbe, smith, even bak!). Our whole team seems to have this confidence and swagger about them that have Jorge’s fingerprints all over it. Yea we’re still young and developing (and Oregon state isn’t really the highest measuring stick), but man I’m really excited for our future!

Soooooo glad Monty offered Jorge a scholarship… I can’t imagine where we would be without him!

by ucsdgoldenbear on Jan 27, 2011 11:48 PM PST reply actions

I’m glad Monty offered Jorge a scholarship so that I can have a chance to see his style of defense. You can find high flying scorers everywhere in the NCAA / NBA. Defenders like Jorge are much more uncommon (and I love it)

by Bears07 on Jan 28, 2011 6:56 AM PST up reply actions

There were several stretches where we had three bigs in at once. I think the “jumbo package” may be a strength going into the second half of the season.

by iheartmonty on Jan 28, 2011 12:40 AM PST via mobile reply actions

Between the improvements of Bak and Solomon, I think we could have a solid jumbo package.

by Bears07 on Jan 28, 2011 6:58 AM PST up reply actions

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