Washington St. 77, Cal 75: Missed Opportunity In Pullman

by norcalnick on Jan 21, 2012 5:15 PM PST in California Golden Bears Men's Basketball

A four way tie in the loss column atop the conference isn't so bad . . . but you can't help but feel that Cal missed a golden opportunity to strengthen their hold on the Pac-12. The Bears had chances to put this game away a few times, but Washington St. was just too good at scoring throughout. It feels greedy to bemoan a road split, but this one was there for the taking.

There's a reason we all feared this game. We only got to watch about 24 minutes of this game thanks to internet problems in Pullman, but Cal just didn't look good on defense throughout, and it certainly didn't sound different towards the end of the game. The Bears played like a team dragging from long trips and cold weather. WSU, to their credit, took advantage to the tune of a 61.2 eFG% . . . which is really good. Or, from a Cal defense perspective, really bad. It always comes down to our ability to force bad shots, and today Cal didn't do that.

If you're inclined to look at the bright side, Cal has an entire eight days to rest up practice, and prepare to welcome a reeling Stanford team that has lost two straight games by double digits. And you know it's going to be a Haastile environment because it's CGB BASKETBALL NIGHT! The Bears still very much control their destiny, and they'll get back on track soon.

Hopefully the women's team can exact some revenge tomorrow. More thoughts on this game tomorrow morning. Drown your sorrows here, Cal fans.

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Comments

Standard. I was hoping we’d pull that out, but was braced for a bad outcome.

We’re tied for first in the Pac-12, and we’re a bubble team. Might as well embrace it, boys. And enjoy the ride.

by Reef on Jan 21, 2012 5:17 PM PST reply actions

Brandon Smith and Robert Thurman are our bench

I like both of those guys, but they can’t be counted on for anymore than the random good performance. Guys need to develop fast.

We’re back to being a five man team in big games. Again. For the fourth year in a row. Annoys the hell out of me.

by Avinash Kunnath on Jan 21, 2012 5:21 PM PST reply actions

I think the heavy minutes we’re asking from our starters are going to continue to be problematic…and were certainly a major storyline today. If there’s a bright side it’s that this was probably the most grueling road trip remaining this year (assuming we get to rest guys at Utah). But it will continue to have a cumulative affect, and does not bode well for the P12 tournament and beyond.

by Reef on Jan 21, 2012 5:25 PM PST up reply actions

Kamp played 38 minutes today and 39 against UW.

by LeonPowe on Jan 21, 2012 5:26 PM PST up reply actions

WSU didn’t play anyone more than 33 minutes today. We had four guys play more than that. And we’re the road team, coming off some tough travel and a tough battle on Thursday. No wonder we couldn’t stay in front of anybody.

by Reef on Jan 21, 2012 5:28 PM PST up reply actions

one of those 5 men is skinny freshman playing out of position at the 5. Another is a 5th year senior with a lot of miles on his legs.

www.californiagoldenblogs.com

by CBKWit on Jan 21, 2012 5:26 PM PST up reply actions

Drink Drank Drunk last night, drunk the night before, gonna get drunk tonight like I’ve never been drunk before.

by paleodan on Jan 21, 2012 5:22 PM PST reply actions

Cousin Souse?

by Scootie on Jan 21, 2012 5:26 PM PST up reply actions

and by that do you mean

apple cider and ultimate ninja?

www.californiagoldenblogs.com

by CBKWit on Jan 21, 2012 5:26 PM PST up reply actions

MMMMMmmmmm. Apple cider. My lady is out of the house, with your lady. I don’t think I really want to get drunk by myself.

by paleodan on Jan 21, 2012 5:46 PM PST up reply actions

well fuck then

LET’S CALL RAGNAROK, GET TOGETHER AND GET SHIT FACED AND FUCK SOME BITCHES AND BY THAT I OF COURSE MEAN PLAY SETTLERS OF CATAN AND LISTEN TO ELECTRONICA

www.californiagoldenblogs.com

by CBKWit on Jan 21, 2012 5:50 PM PST up reply actions

Also, Monty was stubborn

Stuck to the man-to-man way longer than was prudent. WSU guards were blowing by us for most of the game and it got Aden going. Force a guy like Aden to stay outside and hit jumpers rather than getting to the paint and getting easy layups.

What can you do. Expect one or two more of these derrrp performances this season. Hopefully we can get to 14 wins in-conference.

by Avinash Kunnath on Jan 21, 2012 5:24 PM PST reply actions

The derp Cal games are why I still have hope UW can catch up.

We are subject to them ourselves, but maybe we’ll have fewer?

by UW11Bowdown on Jan 21, 2012 9:42 PM PST up reply actions

Would've definitely liked to see more bench players regardless.

I know we have a long week off, but you don’t think our starters were sucking air at the end?

Jorge 38, Crabbe 38, Kamp 35, Cobbs 34. 2009 all over again.

by Avinash Kunnath on Jan 21, 2012 5:26 PM PST reply actions

Agreed

We need to trust Murray a bit more, I think.

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

by FrankCohen on Jan 21, 2012 5:29 PM PST up reply actions

Or just have Brandon Smith get back in the swing of things after the concussion.

The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS

by norcalnick on Jan 21, 2012 5:33 PM PST up reply actions

Remember that this team should actually be a lot deeper. Gary Franklin, DJ Seeley, Max Zhang and Richard Solomon – at least three of those would’ve been nice tonight. (Franklin probably wouldn’t have helped)

by LeonPowe on Jan 21, 2012 5:54 PM PST up reply actions

Thank you for adding that last parenthetical.

by Reef on Jan 21, 2012 5:58 PM PST up reply actions

Amoke.

by Avinash Kunnath on Jan 21, 2012 5:59 PM PST up reply actions

Yeah, I’d like to see more Murray. We need him pretty desperately, so it might be time to throw him out there and see if he can step up.

"i, for one, welcome our new atomic overlords" - GoldBlooded

by atomsareenough on Jan 21, 2012 7:00 PM PST up reply actions

Monty is asleep at the switch!

Attractive, Intelligent, Smart A**

by Neil Vincent Roberts on Jan 21, 2012 7:06 PM PST up reply actions

I doubt that’s the case, but even if Murray hasn’t been all that impressive in practice… At this point, who cares, we need the depth. He can’t hurt us that badly in short spurts, especially if he’s on the floor with 2 of Jorge/Crabbe/Cobbs.

"i, for one, welcome our new atomic overlords" - GoldBlooded

by atomsareenough on Jan 21, 2012 7:16 PM PST up reply actions

It was a joke/reference

to this

Attractive, Intelligent, Smart A**

by Neil Vincent Roberts on Jan 21, 2012 7:27 PM PST up reply actions

Ahhh. There is no way I would have known that :)

"i, for one, welcome our new atomic overlords" - GoldBlooded

by atomsareenough on Jan 21, 2012 7:42 PM PST up reply actions

Brian Herch commented a couple of time on CGB

Attractive, Intelligent, Smart A**

by Neil Vincent Roberts on Jan 21, 2012 7:51 PM PST up reply actions

Finally

Why did Cobbs pass up that last shot to Jorge? Sounds like he was wide open. Baffling.

by Avinash Kunnath on Jan 21, 2012 5:28 PM PST reply actions

From the highlights, it looked like he lost his balance a bit after pump faking the defender

But he certainly had a better position than Jorge.

by johnnycougar on Jan 21, 2012 9:04 PM PST up reply actions

That was one hell of a game.

Well played and I wish you guys nothing but the best the rest of the season!

Attractive, Intelligent, Smart A**

by Neil Vincent Roberts on Jan 21, 2012 5:29 PM PST reply actions

agreed

we both suck. yay!

www.californiagoldenblogs.com

by CBKWit on Jan 21, 2012 5:31 PM PST up reply actions

If Aden has truly turned the corner and figured things out, your team becomes very dangerous.

The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS

by norcalnick on Jan 21, 2012 5:36 PM PST up reply actions

I am going to be honest

Aden is scaring me….
he might actually be the scorer Wazzu needs

Attractive, Intelligent, Smart A**

by Neil Vincent Roberts on Jan 21, 2012 6:09 PM PST up reply actions

Yep!

Great game guys. I thought we had given it away when Motum traveled at the very end. Couldn’t make the and 1 or hold onto the ball to ice it? I told my gf “I know how this ends, Crabbe buries a 3, we go into overtime and lose.”

Good luck the rest of the way.

by jackswift on Jan 21, 2012 5:45 PM PST up reply actions

Ok I've settled down a bit and all I have to say is...

all this means is that our remaining games mean that much more, so we have to fucking pack Haas for our remaining home games, and help our team win this fucking conference. Oh, and FUCK STANFURD. No fucking mercy this Sunday.

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

by FrankCohen on Jan 21, 2012 5:51 PM PST reply actions

*next Sunday

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

by FrankCohen on Jan 21, 2012 5:51 PM PST up reply actions

Frank, when we lost to Oregon State in football in the “extra minute” game in 1989, I threw a shoe through my closet door….

by fiatlux on Jan 21, 2012 5:53 PM PST up reply actions

When we lost to UW being up 21-10 with 4 minutes to go, I sat in the stands for an hour after the game staring at the field.

by LeonPowe on Jan 21, 2012 5:56 PM PST up reply actions

If we beat furd then we’re right on pace for 14-4, which should be enough to win the conference this year.

The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS

by norcalnick on Jan 21, 2012 5:55 PM PST up reply actions

I honestly don't think it'll take better than 12-6 or 13-5

"Tonight, we skate with them. Tonight, we stay with them. And we shut them down because we can!" | Herb Brooks

by Coug999 on Jan 21, 2012 5:59 PM PST up reply actions

With Solo out and everyone expected to play 35+ in every tough contest, I’ve stopped thinking about the big picture. (This is in part reflexive Cal-fan defensiveness.) Let’s just win the next one.

by Reef on Jan 21, 2012 5:59 PM PST up reply actions

Pac-12 is just a mess this year.

by UW11Bowdown on Jan 21, 2012 7:25 PM PST reply actions 3 recs

And it’s not even a sexy, exciting mess you wouldn’t mind waking up next to after a night out. It’s just a sad, confusing, pathetic mess that you are embarrassed to be stuck in a relationship with.

"i, for one, welcome our new atomic overlords" - GoldBlooded

by atomsareenough on Jan 21, 2012 7:43 PM PST up reply actions 6 recs

Never done either, but rec’d

Am I known as Cugel the Clever for nothing?

by Cugel on Jan 21, 2012 11:05 PM PST up reply actions

Disappointing loss

but far from the end of the world. In a lot of ways, this split is better than the other possible split (beat Wazzu but lose to Washington). At the very least, we’re still tied for first and (for whatever that’s worth) actually having beaten the other teams that also have 2 conference losses.

I can see having only one game next week really benefiting the team.

Go Bears!

by LEastCoastBears on Jan 21, 2012 9:26 PM PST reply actions

Your split beats Stanford's egg any day

Around these parts, a man could get hurt for wearing purple.

by PullManiac on Jan 21, 2012 9:40 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs

hm...

I’m currently trying to make up my mind if Cal and UW end up tied if I’ll claim we were co-conference champions like the Pac-12 will or if I’ll just say we finished in 2nd place. It’s a tough one.

by UW11Bowdown on Jan 21, 2012 9:40 PM PST up reply actions

Love how diverse the commenting crew is in here. Fans from all over the conference (well, OK< mostly Cal and the Washingtons) discussing the game(s) and the Pac-12 MBB scene reasonably and calmly. Great stuff, guys!

In the Game of Trolls, you either troll or you die.
CaliforniaGoldenBlogs: Read It | Follow It | Like It | Wear It

by TwistNHook on Jan 21, 2012 9:59 PM PST reply actions

Not to be harsh

but get the fuck out of here you cock

www.californiagoldenblogs.com

by CBKWit on Jan 21, 2012 10:05 PM PST up reply actions 2 recs

Hey, that’s exactly what you wrote to me in my birthday card this year!

In the Game of Trolls, you either troll or you die.
CaliforniaGoldenBlogs: Read It | Follow It | Like It | Wear It

by TwistNHook on Jan 21, 2012 10:38 PM PST up reply actions

lies

I don’t celebrate your birthday

www.californiagoldenblogs.com

by CBKWit on Jan 21, 2012 10:40 PM PST up reply actions

CGB and CougCenter have the best Pac-12 basketball coverage I've seen.

It’s been fun discussing things, even if I didn’t come around here from Thursday night until after we won today.

by UW11Bowdown on Jan 21, 2012 10:27 PM PST up reply actions

Thanks

for beating Stanford

In the Game of Trolls, you either troll or you die.
CaliforniaGoldenBlogs: Read It | Follow It | Like It | Wear It

by TwistNHook on Jan 21, 2012 10:38 PM PST up reply actions

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