I wrote what is shown below on yesterday's article, not this new one.
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Bob R.
16 hrs ago
Gobears49
A heartbreaker. Too bad, as this is Cal's year in basketball. Most of our very top players will be leaving.
Can't believe it's true that Cal will have to go east next year to play half or so of it's league basketball games. Tell me I'm dreaming. If not, it's so stupid that will be happening. Once it happens people will say how could that have happened and many will demand it somehow must change.
I agree with your rotation assessment. However, we saw how gassed Aimaq was last game (and seemed kinda flat to start this one) so I think he tried to give him more rest. Bona is a handful. I think Larson may become the quintessential "Madsen guy," an unheralded big who can defend.
We had good opportunities to win/tie this one. Celestine had a good look and was one of our best 3PT shooters.
It's frustrating how UGLY-we-don't-have-no-alibi we often look in half court sets but that's a roster issue. Good defense gets us in transition where we look so much prettier. We played UCLA tighter than anyone during their hot streak.
This team definitely exceeds expectations, especially given the injuries. Which is why losses sting again. Cal is back!
As I have been saying for many years……Cal is the only team in PAC 12 that consistent gets homered at home….be it football, baseball or basketball by refs who simply don’t fear the repercussions for a bad/terrible call in a questionable situation. And the likelihood of a homer call AGAINST the home team (in this case Cal) has been much much greater when it’s USC or UCLA we are playing. Most recent example is the previously mentioned foul call against Amac on a poorly take bad shot by SC’s big down low….a missed shot but ref gifted a 2 shot foul in a critical situation. Incidentally, the refs all game long failed to call many hand check, body blow fouls on UCLA while calling Cal for every ticki tacki foul they could thereby treading ucka’s so called “aggressive” defense. Ucla went to the line probably 2-3 times as much as Cal . Ironically, I watched the game AT ucla and that game was call much more objectively and ucla did not get away with their hand checking/ body blow defense. Of course there were other reasons Cal lost that were self inflicted, but that’s a separate issue and doesn’t excuse being hundred at home. Maybe this is a good reason to rid ourselves of the PAC12…..the successful/championship history of teams such as UCLA (in basketball) and USC (in baseball will no longer be a factor
We played Virginia home-and-home, and I don't remember there being bad calls. They've been dominant more recently so I don't think they get that bias as much. Every time we play Duke in March, though.
I agree that sometimes I look on the court and wonder who’s going to score but the bigger reason I thought Cone needed to go back in was because Brown was getting embarrassed and at that point he became so tentative that he was handling the ball like a hot potato ( which was a good thing at that point because the defensive sharks were feasting)
That 1 minute series maybe cost use the game 2 turnovers, 4 bruin points - potentially an 8 point swing)
After all I said about Aimaq, he was key to our comeback. For a stretch in the 2nd half, he played outstanding defense in the paint. And then for whatever reason, he stopped again. Sigh.
Great game that displays our progress nonetheless, alongside the obviously gaps in our roster we already knew about.
The switch to the zone defense was effective because of the energy by the Cal players. Given UCLA's depth, and our lack of depth, it's a wonder the game was so close. Celestine is improving each game, but to paraphrase Shakespeare, my kingdom for some free-fhrows. Given the game we played, our missed free-throws cost us victory.
Would love to hear how WFC thinks of the depth Cal has this season vs. other PAC teams. Seems to be very weak. Next season Cal will, undoubtedly, be the least experienced in their starting lineup vs. other conference teams, though that conference comparison will, I believe, be versus ACC teams. In the most recent prior WFC article, I just raised how Cal's travel schedule next season against ACC teams will look and how that would affect their class attendance at Berkeley schedule. Surprised nobody has brought up that subject to date.
Cal is 290th in the country in percentage of minutes played by bench players, which ranks 11th in the conference, ahead of only Colorado. Of course, the fact that USC ranks 1st in the Pac-12 in bench minutes and Colorado last is an indication that giving your bench lots of minutes is not inherently a good thing, and merely a style description.
Yeah, this squad needs some production from someone other than the troika…especially on nights when 1 of the big 3 don’t fire. Could’ve used a good day on O from either KK or Newell to pick up the slack.
I don't think either of them have the offensive skill set to do that. They're just clumsy on offense. I think Rodney Brown Jr. just needs to be a sophomore before the end of the year.
If Tyson decides to leave our best three players will soon be leaving. At least Madson has learned lot on how to recruit. Love the guy. Hope he recruits a few more players that are a bit younger than out top guys this season. He will fill up Haas next year.
In light of that general rule, what does the basketball schedule look like for men's and women's basketball look like for 2024? Is Cal really going to play eighteen away basketball games in 2024-25 against ACC teams in that year? How can those teams have time to go to class in Berkeley every week duirng the conference schedule given those starting facts? Play away games against ACC teams once the conference schedule starts every other week? Seems to be best choice but would appear it still would be pretty brutal.
Looking forward to reading something from WFC on this subject in the future. Surprised this subject has not yet (to my knowledge, at least) been discussed.
If it does not take much time, can you send a link to WFC to show that schedule. Makes sense that there is a reasonable to solution to this potential problem. Since just about all teams are on the east coast I'm looking to see when Cal gets a break to have it's players get to return home during the ACC conference season and attend classes.
Gobears49
I wrote what is shown below on yesterday's article, not this new one.
----------------------------------------
Bob R.
16 hrs ago
Gobears49
A heartbreaker. Too bad, as this is Cal's year in basketball. Most of our very top players will be leaving.
Can't believe it's true that Cal will have to go east next year to play half or so of it's league basketball games. Tell me I'm dreaming. If not, it's so stupid that will be happening. Once it happens people will say how could that have happened and many will demand it somehow must change.
I agree with your rotation assessment. However, we saw how gassed Aimaq was last game (and seemed kinda flat to start this one) so I think he tried to give him more rest. Bona is a handful. I think Larson may become the quintessential "Madsen guy," an unheralded big who can defend.
We had good opportunities to win/tie this one. Celestine had a good look and was one of our best 3PT shooters.
It's frustrating how UGLY-we-don't-have-no-alibi we often look in half court sets but that's a roster issue. Good defense gets us in transition where we look so much prettier. We played UCLA tighter than anyone during their hot streak.
This team definitely exceeds expectations, especially given the injuries. Which is why losses sting again. Cal is back!
As I have been saying for many years……Cal is the only team in PAC 12 that consistent gets homered at home….be it football, baseball or basketball by refs who simply don’t fear the repercussions for a bad/terrible call in a questionable situation. And the likelihood of a homer call AGAINST the home team (in this case Cal) has been much much greater when it’s USC or UCLA we are playing. Most recent example is the previously mentioned foul call against Amac on a poorly take bad shot by SC’s big down low….a missed shot but ref gifted a 2 shot foul in a critical situation. Incidentally, the refs all game long failed to call many hand check, body blow fouls on UCLA while calling Cal for every ticki tacki foul they could thereby treading ucka’s so called “aggressive” defense. Ucla went to the line probably 2-3 times as much as Cal . Ironically, I watched the game AT ucla and that game was call much more objectively and ucla did not get away with their hand checking/ body blow defense. Of course there were other reasons Cal lost that were self inflicted, but that’s a separate issue and doesn’t excuse being hundred at home. Maybe this is a good reason to rid ourselves of the PAC12…..the successful/championship history of teams such as UCLA (in basketball) and USC (in baseball will no longer be a factor
You seriously think the name brand effect of North Carolina and Duke and Virginia basketball will be less than the observed UCLA effect?
We played Virginia home-and-home, and I don't remember there being bad calls. They've been dominant more recently so I don't think they get that bias as much. Every time we play Duke in March, though.
I may have erred on the side of optimism!!!
Like the cardiac chart
I’m still steaming over that call at the end
I agree that sometimes I look on the court and wonder who’s going to score but the bigger reason I thought Cone needed to go back in was because Brown was getting embarrassed and at that point he became so tentative that he was handling the ball like a hot potato ( which was a good thing at that point because the defensive sharks were feasting)
That 1 minute series maybe cost use the game 2 turnovers, 4 bruin points - potentially an 8 point swing)
Good reporting. You hit it right on the substitution rotation. That short duration during the first half when Cone and Tyson were sitting really hurt.
Cal lost the game because of the refs! The refs blew it.
After all I said about Aimaq, he was key to our comeback. For a stretch in the 2nd half, he played outstanding defense in the paint. And then for whatever reason, he stopped again. Sigh.
Great game that displays our progress nonetheless, alongside the obviously gaps in our roster we already knew about.
The switch to the zone defense was effective because of the energy by the Cal players. Given UCLA's depth, and our lack of depth, it's a wonder the game was so close. Celestine is improving each game, but to paraphrase Shakespeare, my kingdom for some free-fhrows. Given the game we played, our missed free-throws cost us victory.
Gobears49
Would love to hear how WFC thinks of the depth Cal has this season vs. other PAC teams. Seems to be very weak. Next season Cal will, undoubtedly, be the least experienced in their starting lineup vs. other conference teams, though that conference comparison will, I believe, be versus ACC teams. In the most recent prior WFC article, I just raised how Cal's travel schedule next season against ACC teams will look and how that would affect their class attendance at Berkeley schedule. Surprised nobody has brought up that subject to date.
Cal is 290th in the country in percentage of minutes played by bench players, which ranks 11th in the conference, ahead of only Colorado. Of course, the fact that USC ranks 1st in the Pac-12 in bench minutes and Colorado last is an indication that giving your bench lots of minutes is not inherently a good thing, and merely a style description.
Yeah, this squad needs some production from someone other than the troika…especially on nights when 1 of the big 3 don’t fire. Could’ve used a good day on O from either KK or Newell to pick up the slack.
I don't think either of them have the offensive skill set to do that. They're just clumsy on offense. I think Rodney Brown Jr. just needs to be a sophomore before the end of the year.
Newell looked asleep Saturday.
Was visibly frustrated as he headed to the bench several times. His chair on the bench took a fair amount of abuse.
Gobears49
If Tyson decides to leave our best three players will soon be leaving. At least Madson has learned lot on how to recruit. Love the guy. Hope he recruits a few more players that are a bit younger than out top guys this season. He will fill up Haas next year.
Just shows how difficult it is to build a quality team entirely through the transfer portal.
We're going to have to do it one more time so that Madsen can "prove" himself with normal high school recruits.
Gobears49
Was Celestine obtained through the transfer portal?
No but he’s the only Fox guy that’s made any impact.
Askew hurt. Okafor hurt. Newell can not be counted on consistently. Bowser doesn’t play.
Gobears49
The ACC jumps to eighteen teams for football and basketball in 2024 (presumably for seasons starting that year). https://medium.com/run-it-back-with-zach/conference-realignment-all-the-moves-coming-in-2022-25-130ef706da55
In light of that general rule, what does the basketball schedule look like for men's and women's basketball look like for 2024? Is Cal really going to play eighteen away basketball games in 2024-25 against ACC teams in that year? How can those teams have time to go to class in Berkeley every week duirng the conference schedule given those starting facts? Play away games against ACC teams once the conference schedule starts every other week? Seems to be best choice but would appear it still would be pretty brutal.
Looking forward to reading something from WFC on this subject in the future. Surprised this subject has not yet (to my knowledge, at least) been discussed.
It has. The schedules have all been released, and it doesn't look that bad all things considered.
Gobears49
If it does not take much time, can you send a link to WFC to show that schedule. Makes sense that there is a reasonable to solution to this potential problem. Since just about all teams are on the east coast I'm looking to see when Cal gets a break to have it's players get to return home during the ACC conference season and attend classes.
Thanks.
Well, "good game". And instead of "two weeks late and $1K dollars short" we are a minute late and 75 cents short.