good story, and some interesting stats (lowest turnovers in the conference). Agree that 4 TOs in an entire game is unbelievable, and then to also think it was an OT game. I don't think I've ever seen it.
Tyson is the best player in a long time (Jaylen Brown was more talented, but less productive/efficient)
Gotta fill Haas. I will as always try to spread the word in the RSF for perhaps 1 or 2 extra students, but if everyone can bring a friend or encourage one additional person to attend it would be great
Besides social media, I don't see much on campus promotion of these games. For example, why not have a sign in the RSF about the game for the entire week, or at least the day of the game???
Cal needs to go all in on running their offense through Tyson. He needs to take more shots but take what is given to him. I liked that he took the midrange shots given to him in recent games. Sometimes he drives too deep into the trees when he could pull up for an easy two. His drives should also set others for even more open threes.
How many of you were at the game? We need to get more people in Haas. It was a great time for sure. The students did not show up in the same numbers at the UW game.
I know that the ushers were doing their job to kick students out of nonstudent seats but no one was going to be in those seats. Maybe after half they should allow students to move down to at least fill all bench seats. It makes so sense to kick them out of seats when the place is mostly empty.
Man, I would be there if I lived in the State. Go Bears! Can't wait to see if the Bears can build on this. Love the spirit of this team and so proud of them. I keep saying, watch their body language and you can see they are in it together to win it. Can't ask for much more than that. No one is going to take us lightly for the rest of this year.
TIL: Cal Poly is a Pac-12 affiliate for wrestling. Actually, only ASU, Oregon State, and Stanfurd have wrestling teams - so the Pac-12 added Cal Poly, CSU Bakersfield, and [checks notes] Little Rock Arkansas.
Tyson being part of a “Cal turnaround” would entail having something close to a winning season. It’s probably not happening this year, and if it’s to happen in Tyson’s subsequent season, the Bears would need to replace their current seniors with equals or upgrades, which will be extremely challenging to do. I like Curtis as a guy to develop, for example, but matching the production of Aimaq would take a sudden breakout season by him, Okafor, or a proven top level big guy coming to Cal through the transfer portal. Barring that, I think Cal’s roster this year is better than it will be next year. I don’t think Tyson having the ball even more in his hands will solve that, no matter how good his stats. A really productive offense requires efficiently distributing the ball, smart passes in rhythm that improve everyone’s offensive play, and at least a viable and consistent presence in the middle. Having Askew back will help with the offensive balance and passing game. But it was encouraging to me that one of Cal’s most productive stretches tonight was in the first half with three second stringers (Newell, Brown, Larson) and no Tyson in the game. That collection of guys on the floor played good defense, took care of the ball together with a motion passing offense, and got pretty good shots for themselves and others (whoever else was in the game at the time).
I guess we all get to decide how far Cal needs to come for it to be a turnaround, but being the best player on a team that goes from 270th to 123rd (and still rising) on Kenpom and is clearly a solidly competitive team in the conference qualifies in my book.
Assuming Tyson returns (which is a huge assumption, I think he's NBA bound personally), I think we improve. First, don't underestimate what having another year in the same system can do, especially on defense. Second, I think Madsen can and will hit the transfer portal and bring in some decent players.
Cone and Kennedy departing are not huge losses. Their shooting splits are horrid, and Cone is frequently the weakest link on defense. I think Celestine and Rodney Brown will more than pickup their offensive production. Daws is tough to replace. He's the best post scorer we've had in some time and a good rebounder, but also a turnstile at the most important defensive position.
You really think Tyson’s NBA-ready? He will need to improve on his defense quite a bit in order for that to happen. In the Butler game, in which Cone hit two clutch threes that nearly won the game for Cal, Tyson got exploited repeatedly down the stretch once Butler’s key scorer started taking advantage of the defensive vulnerability. The ex-player/color commentator on the telecast mentioned all Butler needed to do was keep having Jahmyl Telfort school Tyson in the midrange as he flat out couldn’t guard him. That’s how it played out. Given his athletic tools and determination that we see on offense, Tyson is capable of becoming a good, physical defender if he really focuses on it. I think he’d benefit from another year, especially if Cal can hire a top notch defensive assistant coach to work with him.
I was talking to bentpawn, rob and Nick about this - Daws is an A+ rebounder in a phone booth but like a C rebounder in space. He's really good receiving and going one dribble to the hoop to score, or catching in the dunkers position and even as a catch and shoot big off the pick and pop BUT he also falls in love with facing up and trying to drive and he's got a loose handle and turns the ball over easily. He's a player that has a bunch of As and a bunch of Cs on his report card. But his As are really important.
I think its sort of a fallacy to predict the future success of a team on the basis of replacing the production of individual players, i.e. comparing the sum of the current parts vs the projected sum of the future parts. I just think team sports are more dynamic than that, and at a high level when you look at the direction and momentum that Madsen is building it's quite reasonable to expect a winning season next year.
Very knowledgeble, inside the rim, comments. I need to start watching more games to see the Madsen magic on display. Makes me have some hope Cal can make the tournament pulling out even more magic in Las Vegas.
In the presser, I think Madsen said he told the guys to foul if they got a clear chance, but don't foul someone that might be in a catch-and-shoot position. Which makes sense, but I think Cone had the perfect opportunity once the Coug put the ball on the floor.
good story, and some interesting stats (lowest turnovers in the conference). Agree that 4 TOs in an entire game is unbelievable, and then to also think it was an OT game. I don't think I've ever seen it.
Tyson is the best player in a long time (Jaylen Brown was more talented, but less productive/efficient)
Gotta fill Haas. I will as always try to spread the word in the RSF for perhaps 1 or 2 extra students, but if everyone can bring a friend or encourage one additional person to attend it would be great
Besides social media, I don't see much on campus promotion of these games. For example, why not have a sign in the RSF about the game for the entire week, or at least the day of the game???
Cal needs to go all in on running their offense through Tyson. He needs to take more shots but take what is given to him. I liked that he took the midrange shots given to him in recent games. Sometimes he drives too deep into the trees when he could pull up for an easy two. His drives should also set others for even more open threes.
How many of you were at the game? We need to get more people in Haas. It was a great time for sure. The students did not show up in the same numbers at the UW game.
I know that the ushers were doing their job to kick students out of nonstudent seats but no one was going to be in those seats. Maybe after half they should allow students to move down to at least fill all bench seats. It makes so sense to kick them out of seats when the place is mostly empty.
Man, I would be there if I lived in the State. Go Bears! Can't wait to see if the Bears can build on this. Love the spirit of this team and so proud of them. I keep saying, watch their body language and you can see they are in it together to win it. Can't ask for much more than that. No one is going to take us lightly for the rest of this year.
Need to work on shot selection.
Go Bears!
TIL: Cal Poly is a Pac-12 affiliate for wrestling. Actually, only ASU, Oregon State, and Stanfurd have wrestling teams - so the Pac-12 added Cal Poly, CSU Bakersfield, and [checks notes] Little Rock Arkansas.
Tyson being part of a “Cal turnaround” would entail having something close to a winning season. It’s probably not happening this year, and if it’s to happen in Tyson’s subsequent season, the Bears would need to replace their current seniors with equals or upgrades, which will be extremely challenging to do. I like Curtis as a guy to develop, for example, but matching the production of Aimaq would take a sudden breakout season by him, Okafor, or a proven top level big guy coming to Cal through the transfer portal. Barring that, I think Cal’s roster this year is better than it will be next year. I don’t think Tyson having the ball even more in his hands will solve that, no matter how good his stats. A really productive offense requires efficiently distributing the ball, smart passes in rhythm that improve everyone’s offensive play, and at least a viable and consistent presence in the middle. Having Askew back will help with the offensive balance and passing game. But it was encouraging to me that one of Cal’s most productive stretches tonight was in the first half with three second stringers (Newell, Brown, Larson) and no Tyson in the game. That collection of guys on the floor played good defense, took care of the ball together with a motion passing offense, and got pretty good shots for themselves and others (whoever else was in the game at the time).
I guess we all get to decide how far Cal needs to come for it to be a turnaround, but being the best player on a team that goes from 270th to 123rd (and still rising) on Kenpom and is clearly a solidly competitive team in the conference qualifies in my book.
I prefer to look at this season as the year we stopped the free falling. Winning is nice but seeing us battling game in game out is seriously fun!
This group of Bears, MadDog and Co. have made the program relevant again. Love your insights keep them coming.
Assuming Tyson returns (which is a huge assumption, I think he's NBA bound personally), I think we improve. First, don't underestimate what having another year in the same system can do, especially on defense. Second, I think Madsen can and will hit the transfer portal and bring in some decent players.
Cone and Kennedy departing are not huge losses. Their shooting splits are horrid, and Cone is frequently the weakest link on defense. I think Celestine and Rodney Brown will more than pickup their offensive production. Daws is tough to replace. He's the best post scorer we've had in some time and a good rebounder, but also a turnstile at the most important defensive position.
You really think Tyson’s NBA-ready? He will need to improve on his defense quite a bit in order for that to happen. In the Butler game, in which Cone hit two clutch threes that nearly won the game for Cal, Tyson got exploited repeatedly down the stretch once Butler’s key scorer started taking advantage of the defensive vulnerability. The ex-player/color commentator on the telecast mentioned all Butler needed to do was keep having Jahmyl Telfort school Tyson in the midrange as he flat out couldn’t guard him. That’s how it played out. Given his athletic tools and determination that we see on offense, Tyson is capable of becoming a good, physical defender if he really focuses on it. I think he’d benefit from another year, especially if Cal can hire a top notch defensive assistant coach to work with him.
I don't think he is NBA-ready. I think he is NBA-draftable.
I was talking to bentpawn, rob and Nick about this - Daws is an A+ rebounder in a phone booth but like a C rebounder in space. He's really good receiving and going one dribble to the hoop to score, or catching in the dunkers position and even as a catch and shoot big off the pick and pop BUT he also falls in love with facing up and trying to drive and he's got a loose handle and turns the ball over easily. He's a player that has a bunch of As and a bunch of Cs on his report card. But his As are really important.
I think its sort of a fallacy to predict the future success of a team on the basis of replacing the production of individual players, i.e. comparing the sum of the current parts vs the projected sum of the future parts. I just think team sports are more dynamic than that, and at a high level when you look at the direction and momentum that Madsen is building it's quite reasonable to expect a winning season next year.
also Madsen brought in a bunch of portal talent this season - I think it's a reasonable expectation that he can find similar players for next season.
Gobears49
Very knowledgeble, inside the rim, comments. I need to start watching more games to see the Madsen magic on display. Makes me have some hope Cal can make the tournament pulling out even more magic in Las Vegas.
Tyson was incredible.
Great recap. All it’s missing is the final score.
And 81-75 is a far sight better than KenPom (whoever that is) predicting WSU 75-71.
Tyson had every right to celebrate that one.
There continues to be reasons to follow Cal basketball. Optimism for next year?
The mistake in not fouling at the end of regulation certainly tempted ill fate. And made it 5 minutes harder than it needed to be.
Yup. I was following on the ESPN ticker and saw them up 3 with :04 left…kept waiting for the foul, and then bang, 3…of course.
In the presser, I think Madsen said he told the guys to foul if they got a clear chance, but don't foul someone that might be in a catch-and-shoot position. Which makes sense, but I think Cone had the perfect opportunity once the Coug put the ball on the floor.
That’s what Don MacLean said.
Go Bears! A good win. Nice to be competitive.