28 Comments

I am so excited about the new opportunity that the Baseball team now has.

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That’s an incredibly solid roster, and an amazing turnaround to this point. Should at the very least play competent basketball and be completely watchable. With some luck on the injury front, a little standard FR—>SO improvement from Newell and ND, plus a rebound from Askew and Celestine, this squad could easily be in the Bubble conversation come February.

One spot available…it’ll be interesting to see who it is.

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Is there still a spot? We have 15 names.

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May 13, 2023·edited May 13, 2023

Ragsdale, McCloskey and Robinson are walk-ons, so 1 scholarship remaining, though I wouldn't be surprised if Robinson gave the team some productive minutes, at least in some small spurts...he showed some ability when pressed into action last season, and in a more open system, with better shooters, he could definitely be a rotation piece.

Aziz Bandaogo, who will be commanding close to 7-figures next year, is a long shot...

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Aren't teams capped at 15 players total? Or is that an old rule?

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I believe it’s an old rule, but am not certain. I know they get 13 scholarships now, so maybe the final one goes to Robinson. But I hear they’re still out recruiting…

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Agree. It will be interesting how this team comes together. New coach. New players. New teammates. New system. New school. New conference.

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May 13, 2023·edited May 13, 2023Liked by TD_24

Aimaq, Cone and Tyson immediately and significantly upgrade the roster from a talent perspective…the Bears can at least now hang with Arizona, the LA schools, and other solid squads with length and athleticism. When your leading returning scorer (Askew at 15.5 ppg) becomes, what, your 5th (??) best option, suffice it to say things could be really different, in a good way.

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May 12, 2023Liked by TD_24

Makes me so very, very happy to see Tony Gonzalez back on campus and talking to coach. Just about my favorite Bear of all time, or high among them. Love that guy. Local kid and such a stud. NFL All Star. More of TG around our programs is better. I wonder if he is retired and living back in CA?

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He's been doing NFL broadcast work and Amazon says he's still with the TNF team for 2023. As far as I can tell he still lives in Austin (where he moved a couple years ago).

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Big needed change! I really think we will be competitive with these players.

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May 12, 2023Liked by TD_24

To be totally fair, NOW is the time to assess this hire as part of Knowlton's resume. I LOVE the hire and think Madsen will do well, but there are no guarantees, and I don't think it's fair to wait for year 3's win/loss record to then say he did or didn't do a good job. Given the outright giddy enthusiasm for the Madsen hire I think we need to give Knowlton something in the A range, unless there are idiosyncrasies in how he could have done it better. Then we cross our fingers and hope for the best.....and hope there was a bigger buyout if Stanfurd tries to hire him than any other school.....

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It's more that Knowlton flunked the midterm but the final is heavily weighted. Madsen is a potential A+ hire and our new football coaches are at least a B but potential A-level hires.

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Roger that. I'm just saying a hire is made on the information and options available at the time of the hire. If Madsen doesn't pan out, I would have a hard time blaming Knowlton, with the exception of if there's info he should have known about, but didn't. I don't think that's our situation with Maddog Madsen.

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Agree, if Madsen flops it would be very difficult to blame Knowlton. It would be hard to attribute credit to Knowlton (though that's being unfair to him since he can't hire based on hindsight). This was a great hire by Knowlton done on the right timeline.

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May 12, 2023Liked by TD_24

If any of these new players can shoot a jump shot from more than 5ft out, I will be happy. Last years team couldn’t.

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May 12, 2023·edited May 12, 2023

Are we assuming Brown and Curtis will be asked to blue shirt?

And agree 100% we can be good or even very good next year.

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if we don't have a third big, we will probably try to play small with Nowell at the 4. But if someone gets in foul trouble, we might need Curtis.

Brown has some skills and hopefully will get some spot minutes, but I think it Bowser would play over Brown next year

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That was my biggest concern, that we're a bit undersized. I'm mostly worried about defense but Mad Dog was literally a defense-minded PF/C so I'm gonna trust him.

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Monty is a serious X factor…hopefully that last effort in the P12 Tournament gave him some confidence and he can use it as a spring board.

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I think i just overlooked them to be honest and assumed they wouldn't get much of any PT, which is now updated

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Since sliced bread was invented in 1928, and Cal won the national title in 1959, I'd have to disagree on this roster changeover being the greater accomplishment.

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Could there be a more cal answer then this?

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author

ive been foiled!

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Well, aluminum foil was invented around 1910...

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With new names having been flying at us out of the portal tube for a couple of months, it’s great to read an assessment such as this from someone who pays close attention. Even better, someone who is willing to mention what he doesn’t know. Well done, and much appreciated.

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May 12, 2023Liked by TD_24

Hear hear. Go Bears!!!

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yeah graduate assistants are on the back bench and basically take stats and stuff during media TO's. there are inherent limitations that come with the position however knowing what Randle can bring to the table, he could be solicited for advice whenever asked.

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