Losing this one balances out the positive feelings from that shock Oregon win. An unexpected road pick-up erased by losing the one home game left on the schedule we were supposed to take.
Feb 20, 2022·edited Feb 20, 2022Liked by Alex Khalifa
Thanks Alex...great write-up. Much appreciated...frustrating game.
As an unabashed Alajiki fan because of his versatility on D, physicality, toughness and shooting strength, especially from 3, the 6 minutes were inexplicable...and inexcusable (barring an un-declared injury of course). Fox’s aversion to playing FR is one of his major weaknesses, imho, and shows his inability to adapt to the roster he himself has compiled. Sam should be getting 15-20 minutes per night (Obinna & now Roberson 5-6 mpg, too) because he’s a good enough ball player, especially on D, to do so. He makes things happen and is one of few guys on the roster that has a legitimate nose for the ball.
I’ve also wanted to see Kuany play down-low a bit more. While he lacks the physical strength to consistently bang with the big bodies on the block, his athleticism and length could have been a major advantage on a team that lacks a rim protector. Having KK chase SGs around the 3 point line defensively for most of the year has seemed like a major missed opportunity from Fox, and shows a lack of imagination and innovation from a guy that is a “defensive” mind.
I don’t see any way Knowlton makes a change, given the APR/AK22 injury excuse/OR road sweep...also don’t see how Fox gets this team anywhere above 10th place or near .500 in P12 play next year, given his clear limitations, stubbornness and seeming refusal to adapt. If he can somehow land a scoring PG, that’d be something, but I don’t think they even have any schollies left until someone inevitably enters the portal.
Darkest period in my lifetime for Cal hoops, and I am disappointed because I feel for the MBB program the same way Boss Tanaka felt about the Council that runs the Tokyo Underground in Kill Bill...he loved it...
I’d LIKE to argue the point that AK22’s injury gave us a look into what the team would look like next year without our above and beyond post scorer, if he were to leave which he absolutely can. And that looks bleak. MAYBE that’s enough for some of the donors to want a move? Pure speculation.
We had Many opportunities to win, but nobody could put the ball in the basket, and Utah had four And-ones which is very unusual
Can’t even complain about the FT disparity in this one
Not to single out one player but Grant missed a lot of open looks, and as a fifth year senior he is the one to step up and win this type of game
Lars not only filled the box score but he also outplayed their best player. That should have been enough to beat Utah at home
Yes, Brown had only 4 points but if you put that stat in a summary saying he didn’t do enough you should have at least acknowledged that he should have had 6 points
That basket was in crunch time and would have been a huge play. Also he had two clutch FTs at the end. I also noted those FTs were picture perfect with the perfect arc and back spin
I think he can substantially improve his FT percent with a ton of reps in the off-season
2K had a good all around game and is showing more confidence. He will start for us next year
Celestine with the clutch shot to make the buzzer beater possible. He also locked down Gach who has slashed us every game in the past. Grant and 2K also defended him at times
Shepherd makes lots of pump fakes, and hesitation moves and they work well, but Utah’s guards weren’t biting on either (probably Utah coaches scouted him well and they executed the defense well, unlike Oregon who too often try to block shots)
My guess was Sam didn’t play in second half due to defensive. Sam is VERY active on defense but he sometimes is in the wrong place or makes defensive mistakes
Roberson got 2 minutes because he’s just not ready yet, and made a dumb foul. (Grabbing his man from behind because he couldn’t stay with his cut). The type that drive coaches crazy.
Obinina was in to try to defend their center and best player. That experiment clearly didn’t work
For various reasons, Fox is asking (having to ask??) this roster's key players to do things that are a bit beyond them - namely, Grant, Shepherd and Joel...
To be fair, Grant is at best a 4th option on even an average team - he should be averaging 20 minutes max, and 8-9 points off the bench, with 4-5 rebs. He can hit an open jumper, and put a body on a non-elite big defensively - that's basically the extent of his game...it's not his fault he's gotta be the 2nd scoring option on this team now that AK is out. But he's a big with NO back to the basket game, and he is not quick enough to take a guy of the dribble...because he can't create his own shot consistently, his points come off passes, or the fade away, and he's inconsistent at those...like the kid, just wish the team was better so he could play a role that he's more suited to.
Shepherd as well is being asked to do probably more than he is comfortable. He's a solid contributor on a good team, but in Berkeley Fox has made him the centerpiece of the offense. At all his stops, he's been an inefficient scorer, and his <35% shooting nights are becoming somewhat routine. Likewise, Joel Brown has become a real solid member of the roster, but even he is probably better suited to an AJ Diggs role as a backup PG that provides a steadying influence to run the 2nd team on O and to provide a strong defensive presence.
We really don't know why Sam only played just 6 minutes, but I would tend to disagree with the wrong place/defensive mistakes take (respectfully hoopd) ;-) , as EVERYONE on this team makes those same mistakes. Far too often, every player on this team gets lost on the defensive end, because teams know how to attack Fox's D....run a motion offense with plenty of ball movement, and eventually a Bear misses an assignment and an open look materializes. Would love to see Fox run a more aggressive, pressure style D, but he doesn't.
Agreed...that's why I think Sam is being mis-used, tho I'm not in the practices/locker room, of course...certainly there's a reason, because he gives a good accounting of himself every game. And Sam definitely brings it defensively, and he can aptly defend a SG, SF or PF, and is even passable matching up with PG or C...there must be some reason he isn't playing more minutes, and unfortunately based on what I've seen, the only thing I can say with certainty is that based on his track record as an HC, Fox doesn't give FR consistent minutes, instead choosing to role with upperclassmen. He didn't give Celestine big minutes as a FR, either. If his teams were better, I'd understand not playing your better players more minutes, but this team is consistently at the bottom of the conference, largely because of his unimaginative, inefficient 1950's Indiana basketball-style offense...it's a bad look.
I thought based on the eye test, we are doing better.
But the eFG% numbers do not back this up, nor does the record. As Rob said, whether we're losing by 8 points or 20, we're still losing because we flat out do not hit enough shots and turn the ball over far too often. The game is basketball, and we don't make enough baskets.
Defensively, we probably play well enough to win more games than we have. The similarities to the football program are striking.
Losing this one balances out the positive feelings from that shock Oregon win. An unexpected road pick-up erased by losing the one home game left on the schedule we were supposed to take.
Yeah, I'd say a 9 point home win over a Colorado team that was a 5 seed in the NCAA tournament is roughly similar
Thanks Alex...great write-up. Much appreciated...frustrating game.
As an unabashed Alajiki fan because of his versatility on D, physicality, toughness and shooting strength, especially from 3, the 6 minutes were inexplicable...and inexcusable (barring an un-declared injury of course). Fox’s aversion to playing FR is one of his major weaknesses, imho, and shows his inability to adapt to the roster he himself has compiled. Sam should be getting 15-20 minutes per night (Obinna & now Roberson 5-6 mpg, too) because he’s a good enough ball player, especially on D, to do so. He makes things happen and is one of few guys on the roster that has a legitimate nose for the ball.
I’ve also wanted to see Kuany play down-low a bit more. While he lacks the physical strength to consistently bang with the big bodies on the block, his athleticism and length could have been a major advantage on a team that lacks a rim protector. Having KK chase SGs around the 3 point line defensively for most of the year has seemed like a major missed opportunity from Fox, and shows a lack of imagination and innovation from a guy that is a “defensive” mind.
I don’t see any way Knowlton makes a change, given the APR/AK22 injury excuse/OR road sweep...also don’t see how Fox gets this team anywhere above 10th place or near .500 in P12 play next year, given his clear limitations, stubbornness and seeming refusal to adapt. If he can somehow land a scoring PG, that’d be something, but I don’t think they even have any schollies left until someone inevitably enters the portal.
Darkest period in my lifetime for Cal hoops, and I am disappointed because I feel for the MBB program the same way Boss Tanaka felt about the Council that runs the Tokyo Underground in Kill Bill...he loved it...
I’d LIKE to argue the point that AK22’s injury gave us a look into what the team would look like next year without our above and beyond post scorer, if he were to leave which he absolutely can. And that looks bleak. MAYBE that’s enough for some of the donors to want a move? Pure speculation.
Nice analysis. The Bears did just enough to lose unfortunately.
Frustrating game. Frustrating loss
We had Many opportunities to win, but nobody could put the ball in the basket, and Utah had four And-ones which is very unusual
Can’t even complain about the FT disparity in this one
Not to single out one player but Grant missed a lot of open looks, and as a fifth year senior he is the one to step up and win this type of game
Lars not only filled the box score but he also outplayed their best player. That should have been enough to beat Utah at home
Yes, Brown had only 4 points but if you put that stat in a summary saying he didn’t do enough you should have at least acknowledged that he should have had 6 points
That basket was in crunch time and would have been a huge play. Also he had two clutch FTs at the end. I also noted those FTs were picture perfect with the perfect arc and back spin
I think he can substantially improve his FT percent with a ton of reps in the off-season
2K had a good all around game and is showing more confidence. He will start for us next year
Celestine with the clutch shot to make the buzzer beater possible. He also locked down Gach who has slashed us every game in the past. Grant and 2K also defended him at times
Shepherd makes lots of pump fakes, and hesitation moves and they work well, but Utah’s guards weren’t biting on either (probably Utah coaches scouted him well and they executed the defense well, unlike Oregon who too often try to block shots)
My guess was Sam didn’t play in second half due to defensive. Sam is VERY active on defense but he sometimes is in the wrong place or makes defensive mistakes
Roberson got 2 minutes because he’s just not ready yet, and made a dumb foul. (Grabbing his man from behind because he couldn’t stay with his cut). The type that drive coaches crazy.
Obinina was in to try to defend their center and best player. That experiment clearly didn’t work
For various reasons, Fox is asking (having to ask??) this roster's key players to do things that are a bit beyond them - namely, Grant, Shepherd and Joel...
To be fair, Grant is at best a 4th option on even an average team - he should be averaging 20 minutes max, and 8-9 points off the bench, with 4-5 rebs. He can hit an open jumper, and put a body on a non-elite big defensively - that's basically the extent of his game...it's not his fault he's gotta be the 2nd scoring option on this team now that AK is out. But he's a big with NO back to the basket game, and he is not quick enough to take a guy of the dribble...because he can't create his own shot consistently, his points come off passes, or the fade away, and he's inconsistent at those...like the kid, just wish the team was better so he could play a role that he's more suited to.
Shepherd as well is being asked to do probably more than he is comfortable. He's a solid contributor on a good team, but in Berkeley Fox has made him the centerpiece of the offense. At all his stops, he's been an inefficient scorer, and his <35% shooting nights are becoming somewhat routine. Likewise, Joel Brown has become a real solid member of the roster, but even he is probably better suited to an AJ Diggs role as a backup PG that provides a steadying influence to run the 2nd team on O and to provide a strong defensive presence.
We really don't know why Sam only played just 6 minutes, but I would tend to disagree with the wrong place/defensive mistakes take (respectfully hoopd) ;-) , as EVERYONE on this team makes those same mistakes. Far too often, every player on this team gets lost on the defensive end, because teams know how to attack Fox's D....run a motion offense with plenty of ball movement, and eventually a Bear misses an assignment and an open look materializes. Would love to see Fox run a more aggressive, pressure style D, but he doesn't.
Good post and I agree
As for Sam, I’m just speculating. Moments before he left the game I actually posted that he was really active/intense defensively
He certainly was going all out defensively so it wasn’t lack of effort which gets most players benched
But he’s a freshman, and Fox and Martin are defensive minded coaches hence my speculation
Agreed...that's why I think Sam is being mis-used, tho I'm not in the practices/locker room, of course...certainly there's a reason, because he gives a good accounting of himself every game. And Sam definitely brings it defensively, and he can aptly defend a SG, SF or PF, and is even passable matching up with PG or C...there must be some reason he isn't playing more minutes, and unfortunately based on what I've seen, the only thing I can say with certainty is that based on his track record as an HC, Fox doesn't give FR consistent minutes, instead choosing to role with upperclassmen. He didn't give Celestine big minutes as a FR, either. If his teams were better, I'd understand not playing your better players more minutes, but this team is consistently at the bottom of the conference, largely because of his unimaginative, inefficient 1950's Indiana basketball-style offense...it's a bad look.
I thought based on the eye test, we are doing better.
But the eFG% numbers do not back this up, nor does the record. As Rob said, whether we're losing by 8 points or 20, we're still losing because we flat out do not hit enough shots and turn the ball over far too often. The game is basketball, and we don't make enough baskets.
Defensively, we probably play well enough to win more games than we have. The similarities to the football program are striking.
It'd say that's a little deceptive, as our 20-21 season had a more abbreviated non-conference schedule, and also the Pac-12 was better last year.