Time: 2 PM PT/5 PM ET
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Line: Cal by 2
Cal tries to rebound from a tough matchup with San Diego State when they play a perfectly adept Golden Eagles squad. Jeff Faraudo with a scouting report.
Here’s what coach Mike Montgomery needs from his team today:
– Cal must control tempo and retreat defensively better than it did Wednesday vs. San Diego State against another team that wants to run.
– The Bears must hold their own on the boards against a team that outrebounded Ole Miss on the road by eight.
– They need senior Markhuri Sanders-Frison, nursing plantar fasciitis in both feet, to enjoy some good fortune and stay on those feet a full game. He has nine rebounds or more in five of Cal’s eight games.
– They need their freshmen [Allen Crabbe, Gary Franklin, Emerson Murray, Richard Solomon] to show some growth today after struggling aganst San Diego State. The four combined to score eight points on 2 for 14 from the field.
After the jump, some numbers on the Eagles.
Southern Miss Primer: Ranked 60th by Pomeroy
Current Record: 5-1
Signature Games: Beat 112th ranked South Florida 60-53, lost to 58th ranked Mississippi 86-81
All numbers courtesy of Pomeroy. Numbers indicate national rank in D-I.
| Offense | Defense | |
| Efficiency | 109.3 (48) | 95.3 (90) |
| Effective FG% | 51.8 (73) | 39.6 (6) |
| Turnover % | 18.7 (77) | 18.1 (292) |
| Offensive Rebound % | 43.9 (5) | 32.7 (182) |
| FTA/FGA | 47.4 (34) | 46.5 (287) |
These stats look intimidating at first, but don't think of it as TOO impressive--Southern Miss's strength of schedule ranks only 279th (Cal by contrast ranks 7th).
Alpha Dog
Senior forward Gary Flowers (6'8", 214 lb)--Offensive rating of 113.6 (422nd national rank), 31.6% of possessions (22nd), 36.3% of shots taken (10th), 8.9 offensive rebound rate (473rd), 8.6 block rate (62nd), 6.0 fouls drawn per 40 minutes (202nd)
Sidekicks
Senior forward Josimar Ayarza (6'9", 235 lb)--Offensive rating of 115.7 (335th), 24.8% of possessions (393rd), 15.8 offensive rebound rate (43rd), 14.6 turnover rate (442nd), 5.5 block % (193rd), 6.3 fouls drawn per 40 minutes (157th)
Senior guard R.L. Horton (6'0", 180 lb)--Offensive rating of 128.4 (79th), 25.1% of shots taken (488th), 55.5 eFG% (340th), 59.4 true shooting % (305th), 10.6 turnover rate (132nd).
Role Players
Freshman guard Devonte (DJ) Newbill (6'4", 195 lb)--Offensive rating of 134.2 (30th), 64.3 eFG% (75th), 68.3 true shooting % (54th), 14.2 offensive rebound rate (91st), 80.0 FT rate (53rd)
Junior guard Angelo Johnson (6'0", 180 lb)--Offensive rating of 125.2 (79th), 57.7 TS% (405th), 29.5 assist rate (137th), 68.8 FT rate (106th)