Cal MBB Preview: The Terriers are coming! The Terriers are coming!

The Wofford Terriers are coming to town, the Bears’ final tune-up game before heading to Maui next week. Why does the school sound familiar you ask? Well, that is probably because you have seen them in the NCAA Tournament. Since 2010, the Terriers have gone to the big dance 4 times, most recently in the 2014-2015 season. The terriers were led through all those appearances by HC Mike Young.

Mike Young’s squad could look to make another run to March Madness this year with a young, yet experienced squad. The average years of experience for this Wofford team stands at 1.46 years and return 6 of their 9 players who averaged double digit minutes last season. They are led by Junior Guard Fletcher Magee and Junior Forward Cameron Jackson. Magee was the team’s leading scorer last season, averaging 18.6 PPG on 43.8% shooting and shot 42.3% from beyond the arc on 265 attempts. Jackson is their best frontcourt player, averaging 12.6 PPG on 58.8% shooting while also collecting 5.7 RPG last season.

So what do the Bears have to do stop this team?

Here are my three victory points for Thursday night.

1.LIMIT 3 POINT OPPORTUNITIES

The Terriers are a great 3 point shooting team, and if we’re going to play alot of 23 Zone, that could be our kryptonite. We need to rotate quickly on the perimeter and force them inside to our two elite shot blockers and not allow them to take open 3s. Kingsley Okoroh and Marcus Lee should be able to have their way on offense and defense, as Wofford’s only legitimate big is Matthew Pegram at 6-11.

2. FORCE WOFFORD INTO LATE SHOT CLOCK

The Terriers have a good group of guards and wings that want to shoot from deep. If our defense can force them to move the ball around trying to find an opening, they might have to settle for long contested 3s and that could be the best way for Cal to drain the clock while getting good defensive possessions. Cal also needs to attack the passing lanes and get into the minds of Wofford’s guards and force them to hesitate on their decision making.

3.CREATE HAVOC FOR TEMPO AND EASY BASKETS

The press looks to have improved from Riverside to Cal Poly, so why not have it improve a third game! The Bears need to use the press inorder to create some easy transition baskets while forcing Wofford to use more of the shot clock trying to push up the court. Perhaps getting Juhwan Harris-Dyson back could ignite some more turnovers as HC Wyking Jones has called him the best second level defender on the team.

Wofford Key Players:

JR G Fletcher Magee: 6-4/193/17PPG/50-FG%/35.7-3PT%

SO G Nathan Hoover: 6-4/180/8.5PPG/2RPG

JR F Cameron Jackson: 6-8/205/14PPG/8RPG/3.5SPG/55.6-FG%

SO F Donovan Theme-Love: 6-1/185/4.5PPG/2RPG/2APG/1.5SPG

JR C Matthew Pegram: 6-11/250/10PPG/6RPG

SR G Derrick Brooks: 6-3/205/2PPG/2.5RPG/1.5APG

What are your predictions for the game? How much of an improvement do you expect to see from the Bears? Let us now in the comments below!