Despite their one-point advantage going into halftime, the California Golden Bears (7-11, 2-9 Pac-12) lost to the Arizona State Devils (5-8, 2-5 Pac-12), 68-72, Thursday night.
California finished the first half strong, despite being shooting only 35.1% compared to Arizona State's 42.9%. Junior forward Andre Kelly was responsible for California's lead, with back-to-back scores with 1:39 remaining in the game. He brought the home team's lead down to a single point with a fast-break dunk and put his side ahead with a layup just 43 seconds later.
Kelly finished the evening with a double-double: 16 points, 13 rebounds, one assist and one steal.
California star-scorer Matt Bradley also had a double-double. He put up a game-high 26 points, including three out of eight three-point attempts completed, 10 rebounds and one assist.
Despite the eye-popping stats, the Sun Devils pulled away in the second half, giving the Golden Bears only four minutes and 12 seconds of game-time with a lead.
With the loss, California's third-straight, the Golden Bears fall to last place in the Pac-12 Conference standings. They will face off against an Arizona Wildcats team, fresh off a 64-73 loss against the Stanford Cardinal.
Preview of a future rant: when you're down multiple possessions and there's somewhere around 1:30 to a 1:00 left in the game, not fouling is bad strategy. Also, not shooting 3s is bad strategy. Doing BOTH of those things is AWFUL strategy. More later. Sigh.
I don't have cable so I haven't seen a single game this season. Why are we still turning the ball over at such a prodigious level? This seems to me a big issue that plagues the Fox tenure both seasons. Looks like Bradley is the biggest offender, I'm guessing because he's playing hero ball and opponents are doubling him.
Watched a good part of the game. We're back to our bad habits -- give the ball to Bradley and watch him force it up. Cal was actually a better team when Bradley was out and we had a more diversified attack, including Anticevich, who is not mobile at all but a very good shooter when he is open.. Where was he tonight? Haven't seen the stats yet but I think he was left out in the contest, a la the pre-Bradley injury part of the season.
It may be impossible, but Fox needs to train Bradley to play team ball instead of putting his head down and charge to the basket, or occasionally pull back for a three pointer. But that may be too much of a change for him to do that. Cal has some decent talent but it is not being unlocked when Cal plays Bradley-ball. Bradley needs to learn to look for teammates to pass the ball to. When he has the ball he is only looking to shoot. Actually, that is up to Fox to teach the team how to do that. Not sure he's the coach who can do that. Do we really have any plays or schemes that Fox can teach that can unlock our not too shabby talent?
BTW, ASU's center, who we could not stop, is my idea of a deep post point scorer. Kelly is a good scorer, but is not dominant down deep. He's more of a forward center who also has a good mid-range shot. A good player who shoots well but not a dominant one.
Preview of a future rant: when you're down multiple possessions and there's somewhere around 1:30 to a 1:00 left in the game, not fouling is bad strategy. Also, not shooting 3s is bad strategy. Doing BOTH of those things is AWFUL strategy. More later. Sigh.
I think next time, we should try scoring more than the opponent.
This is my first time watching Cal basketball this year. Who else is up in this place?
I don't have cable so I haven't seen a single game this season. Why are we still turning the ball over at such a prodigious level? This seems to me a big issue that plagues the Fox tenure both seasons. Looks like Bradley is the biggest offender, I'm guessing because he's playing hero ball and opponents are doubling him.
Watched a good part of the game. We're back to our bad habits -- give the ball to Bradley and watch him force it up. Cal was actually a better team when Bradley was out and we had a more diversified attack, including Anticevich, who is not mobile at all but a very good shooter when he is open.. Where was he tonight? Haven't seen the stats yet but I think he was left out in the contest, a la the pre-Bradley injury part of the season.
It may be impossible, but Fox needs to train Bradley to play team ball instead of putting his head down and charge to the basket, or occasionally pull back for a three pointer. But that may be too much of a change for him to do that. Cal has some decent talent but it is not being unlocked when Cal plays Bradley-ball. Bradley needs to learn to look for teammates to pass the ball to. When he has the ball he is only looking to shoot. Actually, that is up to Fox to teach the team how to do that. Not sure he's the coach who can do that. Do we really have any plays or schemes that Fox can teach that can unlock our not too shabby talent?
BTW, ASU's center, who we could not stop, is my idea of a deep post point scorer. Kelly is a good scorer, but is not dominant down deep. He's more of a forward center who also has a good mid-range shot. A good player who shoots well but not a dominant one.
At the 9:48 mark, Andre Kelly had an offensive rebound and scored, but the score was credited to ASU. They never corrected it
Just single handedly keyed a 6 point swing
Man Hyder stinks
Sometimes I feel like I'm talking to myself.
I'm liking Kelly
ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-basketball! -John Tesh's brother