Cal Men's Basketball Preview: Bears wrap up LA road trip against SC at the Galen Center
5th game against a top 15 team in the last month
Date: Saturday January 29th, 2022 (4PM Pac-12 Networks)
Opponent: #15 USC Trojans
Record: 17-3 (Conference: 7-3)
Standings: 3rd in Pac-12
KenPom Ranking: #26
Opponent Team Stats: 74.3PPG/41.6RPG/15.0APG/5.3SPG/4.5BPG
Key Players:
Chevez Goodwin
Power Forward (6-foot-9/225lbs)
Senior
12.4PPG/7.2RPG
60.7%-FG/48.4%-FT
Isaiah Mobley
Center (6-foot-10/240lbs)
Junior
14.4PPG/8.7RPG/3.4APG
46.8%-FG/41.0%-3PT/66.7%-FT
Boogie Ellis
Point Guard (6-foot-3/185lbs)
Junior
12.2PPG/3.4RPG/2.8APG
43.1%-FG/34.1%-3PT/75.0%-FT
Drew Peterson
Small Forward (6-foot-9/195lbs)
Junior
11.6PPG/6.0RPG/3.1APG/2.2TPG
50.0%-FG/47.4%-3PT/63.6%-FT
Expected Starting 5:
Guard Boogie Ellis
Guard Max Agbonkpolo
Forward Drew Peterson
Forward Chevez Goodwin
Center Isaiah Mobley
The Bears have their 5th game against a top 15 team in the last month. If it was all about perimeter scoring with the Bruins, this game will be about the interior scoring of the Trojans. Chevez Goodwin and Isaiah Mobley are still the same efficiently scoring duo the Bears faced off against earlier this month. Drew Peterson, who had his best game of the season against us at Haas Pavilion, has continued his stellar play becoming a creator and facilitator on the offense. This is bound to be another tough uphill climb for the Bears that are struggling in all aspects of the game.
Make sure to check out the recap from the Bears’ last game against UCLA.
Cal’s Win Probability and Score according to KenPom: 14% (58-70 Loss)
The schedule didn't break incredibly well for the Bears in terms of a measuring stick, considering LA/AZ/SC are all elite....Bears can be an average team (tho they're probably not) and still go 0-6.
The real test of 3rd year progress under Fox will come in the month of Feb: 8 games, 7 winnable (only @ Ducks is a surefire loss IMHO)... 2 v Stan, @ OSU, and home v. Wash schools and Mountain schools, with the game v Colorado shaping up HUGE for Buffs NCAA bubble chances.
What are we satisfied with in Feb? 4-4?
What gets Fox on the hot seat? 2-6?
Thoughts?
Good luck Bears...you're gonna need it.