I really like Rytis. Great energy, all heart and hustle. No question that we're dancing if he stayed healthy, which is saying a lot about a guy on the 2nd unit.
Would not mind at all seeing him withdraw from the portal.
He was a high energy guy who was fun to watch. Seeing him cheering teammates off the bench while injured this past year, including east coast games when he was allowed to travel with the team gave me hope he was committed enough to Cal and the Bay to stay for his final year. Oh well, can only wish him well. Meanwhile there's a 6'4 guard who led the Big Sky Conference in scoring for Montana this past year, including putting up 30 vs Tennessee, who's entered the portal. He's from Oakland and might well be interested in returning home. With ex-Cal asst. under Montgomery,Travis DeCuire being the head coach at Montana, perhaps that a connection that could help. Just a thought.
Hope Cal finds a way to keep him. He's a great 6/7th man ceiling raiser and it was fun seeing him out hustle everyone. Also continuity with rotation players is sadly a luxury these days. I wouldn't blame him if he finds somewhere to start at a mid major though
It will be interesting to see where he lands, given his rugged, gutsy style of play and, as a result of said play style, his subsequent injury history, which is concerning.
Cal never saw the player they thought they were getting after his breakout 2nd year for AFA up in Jim Knowlton's favorite town - he averaged 15 a game and shot the 3 at a 35% clip as a SO.
Unfortunately, he played through injury in '24-'25, one that affected his shooting, as his efficiency numbers reflected. He was on his way to a real solid year in basically the perfect role for last year's club before the significant injury that cropped up after the game v UCLA cost him the rest of the season.
The unfortunate injury to Rytis almost certainly cost Cal a Tournament bid last year, which is a major dagger. He was in the perfect spot and filled such a valuable role as a glue guy. For a program with limited NIL resources though, Cal can't be allocating valuable resources to injured players - that is a luxury that programs with a better funded NIL can afford. Or perhaps he drops down to the mid-major level to be more of the go-to guy.
Madsen reportedly has secured another transfer commit, Michael Cooper (G) from Wichita St.
Best thing to happen to us is the Portal and NIL! Now we can compete legally!
I really like Rytis. Great energy, all heart and hustle. No question that we're dancing if he stayed healthy, which is saying a lot about a guy on the 2nd unit.
Would not mind at all seeing him withdraw from the portal.
He was a high energy guy who was fun to watch. Seeing him cheering teammates off the bench while injured this past year, including east coast games when he was allowed to travel with the team gave me hope he was committed enough to Cal and the Bay to stay for his final year. Oh well, can only wish him well. Meanwhile there's a 6'4 guard who led the Big Sky Conference in scoring for Montana this past year, including putting up 30 vs Tennessee, who's entered the portal. He's from Oakland and might well be interested in returning home. With ex-Cal asst. under Montgomery,Travis DeCuire being the head coach at Montana, perhaps that a connection that could help. Just a thought.
Hope Cal finds a way to keep him. He's a great 6/7th man ceiling raiser and it was fun seeing him out hustle everyone. Also continuity with rotation players is sadly a luxury these days. I wouldn't blame him if he finds somewhere to start at a mid major though
It will be interesting to see where he lands, given his rugged, gutsy style of play and, as a result of said play style, his subsequent injury history, which is concerning.
Cal never saw the player they thought they were getting after his breakout 2nd year for AFA up in Jim Knowlton's favorite town - he averaged 15 a game and shot the 3 at a 35% clip as a SO.
Unfortunately, he played through injury in '24-'25, one that affected his shooting, as his efficiency numbers reflected. He was on his way to a real solid year in basically the perfect role for last year's club before the significant injury that cropped up after the game v UCLA cost him the rest of the season.
The unfortunate injury to Rytis almost certainly cost Cal a Tournament bid last year, which is a major dagger. He was in the perfect spot and filled such a valuable role as a glue guy. For a program with limited NIL resources though, Cal can't be allocating valuable resources to injured players - that is a luxury that programs with a better funded NIL can afford. Or perhaps he drops down to the mid-major level to be more of the go-to guy.