Cal Women's Basketball At UCLA Preview & Gamethread
by norcalnick on Dec 29, 2011 7:13 PM PST
in California Golden Bears Women's Basketball
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PrintWhen: 7:00 PT ; UCLA Video Streaming (free!) ; Cal Audio Streaming ; Gametracker
UCLA is in deep, deep trouble. First, they lost a brilliant coach that revived a flagging program. Then they lost an elite recruit (to us! Hooray for Justine Hartman!). Then their best player for the season when Jasmine Dixon tore her Achilles tendon. THEN Antonye Nyingifa their best remaining rebounder, interior defender and 2nd leading scorer, tore her ACL.
So needless to say, it’s been a nightmare, lost year for the Bruins. And with the possible exception of Stanford, Cal is the clear nightmare matchup for UCLA. Cal has four excellent post players standing 6’2’’ or taller. UCLA basically has 6’1’’ Markel Walker. In fact, they are down to eight healthy scholarship players, which should sound familiar to Cal fans. This game should be a bloodbath.
Considering their injury issues, it’s not a surprise at how UCLA has struggled against a schedule designed to showcase a team expected to be much better. The Bruins have played the 55th toughest schedule in the nation and have suffered blowout losses to Baylor, LSU and Tennessee
|
Category |
Cal Ranking |
UCLA Ranking |
Advantage |
|
Cal eFG% v. UCLA Def eFG% |
62 |
251 |
CC |
|
Cal Def eFG% v. UCLA eFG% |
101 |
149 |
C |
|
Cal TO% v. UCLA Def TO% |
177 |
202 |
C |
|
Cal Def TO% v. UCLA TO% |
202 |
122 |
U |
|
Cal Reb% v. UCLA Reb% |
2 |
233 |
CCC |
|
Cal FTR v. UCLA Opp FTR |
106 |
136 |
C |
|
Cal Opp FTR v. UCLA FTR |
83 |
201 |
CC |
|
Cal O-PPP v. UCLA D-PPP |
42 |
219 |
CC |
|
Cal D-PPP v. UCLA O-PPP |
89 |
118 |
C |
UCLA has struggled this year, but the numbers are still shocking. Last year, they were 30th in the nation in points per possession allowed, and now they are 219. Last year they were 4th in the country in forcing turnovers, and now they are 202nd. The 2nd best rebounding team in the country is now the 233rd best. Everything that defined UCLA last year, everything that made them elite, is gone.
As a result you get a chart that . . . doesn’t look a ton different from last week’s Dartmouth chart, in that Cal has the advantage in nearly every category. Granted, UCLA has played a tough schedule and Cal’s advantages come at smaller margins . . . but still, this is a game that Cal should arguably win comfortably, even at home. Crazy.
I’m not going to go so far as to blame Cori Close – this year is basically a massive injury mulligan, and even if UCLA were fully healthy it would have been a mild rebuilding year anyway after losing a few key seniors. But the precipitous decline in UCLA’s defense after losing Nikki Caldwell must be a little scary for Bruin fans.
On the Cal side of things, it’s worth noting that Cal’s turnover rate has crept downward after three straight solid ball-handing performances against Santa Clara, Ohio St. and Dartmouth, and now rests in the ‘Meh’ range, rather than the ‘Oh God why?!’ range. Hopefully that’s a trend and not just a 3 game blip!
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Some extraordinary no-look passes and behind-the-back dribbles by Boyd. Wow. Cal up 12-9.
CGB: The Strangest Blog
by CalBear81 on Dec 29, 2011 7:24 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
There is a free audio stream from Cal: http://www.calbears.com/allaccess/?media=274008
And a free video stream from Ucla: http://www.uclabruins.com/allaccess/?media=273779
CGB: The Strangest Blog
It’s odd to see a Pac-12 team play in such a tiny little gym. Officially it’s called the John Wooden Center, but it’s a 2,000 seat gym.
CGB: The Strangest Blog
I was just gonna ask, when did UCLA start playing in a high-school gym? What an insult.
CGB: Wasting Your Potential, Your Time, & Your Life Since 2006.
The Bears can’t buy a basket. Three offensive rebounds under the basket, but no score.
CGB: The Strangest Blog
Yikes!
Well, at least we’re ahead. Thanks for the updates, CB81!
The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS
by norcalnick on Dec 29, 2011 8:11 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
I'll be honest, I haven't watched any women's games this year
But I need something to cleanse the palate after the men’s game.
on the video feed, all I’m getting is: “Loading”
Is that b/c it’s halftime? Or do I have technical difficulties?
Anyone else?
I have lost the video stream several times tonight, and have had to reload it. It is quite annoying.
CGB: The Strangest Blog
Clicked over to the Cal audio feed, and the opening advertisement was the Aaron Rodgers “discount-double-check” State Farm commercial. SO perfect.
CGB: Wasting Your Potential, Your Time, & Your Life Since 2006.
I’m watching the Ucla video with the sound off, and the Cal audio. But yes, it’s very nice to have Aaron Rodgers on that intro ad.
CGB: The Strangest Blog
We're better against man-to-man
But we did OK against Ohio St.’s zone, and we should dominate the glass against it.
The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS
by norcalnick on Dec 29, 2011 8:31 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
This game is not at all representative of how the Bears have played so far this year.
CGB: The Strangest Blog
Oh, goddess,
this is the most frustrating game since the last frustrating game.
Damn UCLA, my alma mater. But good for Sherb’s 3-pointer.
Yes. I confess.
I graduated from Down There.
But I have been a loyal Cal WBB fan for a decade now. And shall die so.
And then two straight Cal turnovers leading to Ucla scores, and the Bears are back down 46-41.
CGB: The Strangest Blog
This game is killing me
And I’m not even watching!
The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS
by norcalnick on Dec 29, 2011 9:01 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
Another 3 for Sherbert. 56-53 Ucla, with 14 seconds left. Dare I say, it’s a longshot for the Bears at this point?
CGB: The Strangest Blog
UCLA grad or not, in the immortal words of Sue Bird:
“DIE, B_____ES!!!!!!!!!!”
Bears lose 60-55
That was the poorest game the Bears have played this year. So it can only get better, right?
CGB: The Strangest Blog
That was ugly.
No offensive flow. Turnovers trying long entry passes into the post? What the hell was that? Was I suffering from Man to Women’s game transition shock?
I think Coach G’s got some work to do.
How can you outrebound by 20 and lose? How can you shoot such poor FT’s?
Wow.
okay, there you go.
Well, how can Cal improve their shot selection to get a higher % there?
I mean, we have players.
Well, as I said above, this is the poorest game the Bears have played this year, and it is not representative of the way they have played so far this year. And bear in mind that the Cal team does not have a single senior and only three juniors. So they are young and playing their first Pac-12 game.
CGB: The Strangest Blog
Absolutely.
Keep in mind, everyone, this is our LARGEST margin of defeat for the season. Only our fourth loss, and the first one where we lost by more than three points. Conversely, we’ve already defeated a ranked team, played another to within a single point, and we’ve absolutely demolished lesser opponents.
This game was not at all what Cal women’s basketball is. Just wait and watch – you’ll see.
CGB: Wasting Your Potential, Your Time, & Your Life Since 2006.
Well I'm depressed
This is a game we have no business losing. Tough game coming up on Saturday, so at least we can redeem the week then.
The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS
by norcalnick on Dec 29, 2011 9:47 PM PST via mobile reply actions
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| Fresno St. | Sat 09/03 | W 36 - 21 |
@
Colorado
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Sat 09/10 | W 36 - 33 |
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Washington
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Sat 09/24 | L 23 - 31 |
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Oregon
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Thu 10/06 | L 15 - 43 |
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USC
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Utah
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Sat 10/22 | W 34 - 10 |
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UCLA
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Sat 10/29 | L 14 - 31 |
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Washington St.
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Sat 11/05 | W 30 - 7 |
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Oregon St.
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Sat 11/12 | W 23 - 6 |
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Sat 11/19 | L 28 - 31 |
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Fri 11/25 | W 47 - 38 |
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Wed 12/28 | L 10 - 21 |
