Golden Nuggets: Cal Uses Defense to Extend Winning Streak Over Oregon to Ten

After the Bears' win over the Ducks coach Montgomery was encouraged by his team's performance. While the win was a positive, he was especially pleased that the team won despite a poor offensive performance.

On the game

"More than anything, it was the way we were able to win because we weren't very smooth offensively. Oregon was very good defensively taking us out of stuff. The ability for them to switch with like athletes, they took us out of what we wanted to do. We didn't make the best decisions early on. The fact that we were able to hang in defensively was huge for us. That's something that we have to do if we're going to have a chance. That was really pleasing; that the guys dug down and cut it up defensively. We practiced for an hour yesterday. Coming off a night game with a day game today, we stressed their transition game and second shots. We felt like they're a great offensive rebounding team and that they ran the break well. They only had three second chance points and six fast break points which was the key to the game for us: taking those things away as best we could. The fact that they almost got another second chance basket at the end but we blocked it, was huge. It has to be a confidence builder knowing that we can play better, knowing that we can play better offensively. We didn't have anyone go off offensively but we were still able to stay in there."

On the crowd
"I thought the crowd both games was very good. I thought they were into it. Of course they were the kind of games you can get into because they're close and one possession here or there could make all the difference. That makes it fun. In a college environment, that's what you're after. You don't expect perfection; you just want to see guys compete. Both teams were competing. It was a defensive game all the way around. It shows the emotion. It's kind of like to go from the brink of losing to winning. That's where that happens."

Monty even sounded optimistic about entering the second half of the conference schedule.

On entering the second half of conference play
"We've had five road games. We're one up in that way. We're the only team with five. You're going to play the top four teams in a row. It was very pleasing to get that one. Washington plays tonight. They've got ASU and they've lost four in a row. Obviously certain people are tougher for each team to play. We've always talked about trying to win at home and then trying to see what you can get on the road. If we can continue to defend we can give ourselves a chance."

Is it too early for optimism?

Basketball

More from the postgame press conference.

Cal Men's Basketball: Mike Montgomery - Oregon Post Game (2/2/13) (via calathletics)

• The men's team capped the weekend sweep with a 58-54 upset over the no. 10 Ducks.
• Faraudo's open thread traces the ebb and flow of the game. Cal outscored Oregon 16-4 over the final six and a half minutes.
• The women's team used a strong defensive effort to defeat Oregon State 60-38. The Bears held Oregon State to 14 first-half points on an abysmal 21.4% field goal shooting.

Rugby

• The Bears opened PAC conference play with a shutout win over ASU. The Bears led 50-0 at halftime, but the final score remains a mystery. For whatever reason, this is the second consecutive game whose final score was not posted by CalBears.com

Tennis

• The no. 13 men's team remains undefeated after a 5-2 win over Pacific.

Swimming and Diving

• Six members of the women's team won individual events as the no. 7 Bears defeated no. 12 UCLA 165-135.