I've seen enough of this team this year to say how impressed I am with their play and development. Have to give Fox his due, as this team plays hard and smart. Like McClean said tonight, no one is going to play the Bears and find it easy. We will of course lose plenty of games, to the top teams, but we will beat teams at Haas who don't come in playing their top ball. I'm happy to cheer for a team that plays smart and hard. Our Bears are doing that. Go Bears!
Kinda ironic losing arguably our best player to a transfer (Bradley to SDS) has made the team better. Gotta believe that how they are playing now will help recruiting.
Feel bad for Coach Hurley. Doing the best he can and some heckler was all over him. Some were pretty funny and I saw some Cal fans in hysterics. Especially the one about Hurley being the 70th choice to replace K at Duke behind Matt Dougherty and Lefty Driesell
Don't feel bad for him. He was a huge whiner through the entire game, and IMO stepping too far onto the court a few times when the ball was at that end. The heckler had some good ones, though most fell flat.
Yep, don't feel bad. Every coach signs a contract knowing they do public work. When your team sucks, you get heckled. If you are a jerk, your team is heckled. People don't really heckle Wilcox because he's a straight up great guy. Same for Fox, really. Hurley is a known entity, and his team this year lacks execution, so he pays a certain price.
Agreed - Lars is definitely starting to figure it out, and you’re right on the aggressiveness. That’s a great sign.
I am tough on Cal ball players, and it’s so nice to see the game slow down for them as they improve. Something’s starting to click for him & this should help with his confidence. Nice work - happy for him!!!
Definitely a solid start with different players contributing. I like that they are attacking the basket but find the open man when the defense collapses.
Tough to say...the next month will say a lot. They can lose 6 of next 7 but if they’re competitive in some of them, they may be good. We’ll see.
Given how Wyking’s coaching malpractice torpedoed the squad and literally set the program back a decade, the fact that they are finally playing competent basketball in year 5 is a major plus, though. So there’s that...
Lots to like from this 1st half. Not perfect but impressive. Coach fox has gotten the players believing in themselves and trusting the system. Even Glimpses of him giving them the freedom to push the ball up court if its there.
The biggest factor in this game is Hurley is not a top flight coach. Decent recruiter though.
None. Fox signed 2, but both are bigs, incl. Alajiki’s buddy ND Okafor, who had offers from big time programs like Baylor. They also signed an athletic 6’8” guy from Chicago.
That leaves 2(?) scholarships, maybe for the transfer portal or JC guys? Hopefully they land a PG, bc while Joel doesn’t completely dagger you offensively, a PG that’s more of a threat on O would really help, IMO. Plus JB’s a liability late in close games with the FT shooting. Hyder is really only a minutes eater, tho they say he’s still “injured”.
Yeah after I posted my last comment I looked at the two signings and they look like some serious dudes no what they are rated. Cal has had some great players come out of Chicago. With ND choosing Us over the no.1 ranked team in the country speaks volumes.
Maybe we still have a shot at the guy who played AAU with Monte Bowser
I've seen enough of this team this year to say how impressed I am with their play and development. Have to give Fox his due, as this team plays hard and smart. Like McClean said tonight, no one is going to play the Bears and find it easy. We will of course lose plenty of games, to the top teams, but we will beat teams at Haas who don't come in playing their top ball. I'm happy to cheer for a team that plays smart and hard. Our Bears are doing that. Go Bears!
Kinda ironic losing arguably our best player to a transfer (Bradley to SDS) has made the team better. Gotta believe that how they are playing now will help recruiting.
Bradley was our best player, but everyone else seemed to struggle when he was on the court. I think they just deferred to him too much.
Alajiki is just a damn heady basketball player....
Feel bad for Coach Hurley. Doing the best he can and some heckler was all over him. Some were pretty funny and I saw some Cal fans in hysterics. Especially the one about Hurley being the 70th choice to replace K at Duke behind Matt Dougherty and Lefty Driesell
Don't feel bad for him. He was a huge whiner through the entire game, and IMO stepping too far onto the court a few times when the ball was at that end. The heckler had some good ones, though most fell flat.
Yep, don't feel bad. Every coach signs a contract knowing they do public work. When your team sucks, you get heckled. If you are a jerk, your team is heckled. People don't really heckle Wilcox because he's a straight up great guy. Same for Fox, really. Hurley is a known entity, and his team this year lacks execution, so he pays a certain price.
He will not be there after this season
Wow Lars is on fire!
Snd an assist from Kuany!
Cal lead is solid. A good team effort!
That was Lars Thiemann's best rebound of his career....
And a nice little lefty jump hook...if Lars can hit that consistently, he can be a factor.
Lars had a very good game. Aggressively rebounded… in fact those were some of the toughest rebounding I’ve seen from him
Also aggressive and successful on offense
He also changed a couple shots of driving guards, and defended pretty well
He’s coming into his own now, although his effectiveness will continue to be based on match ups (like most players)
Agreed - Lars is definitely starting to figure it out, and you’re right on the aggressiveness. That’s a great sign.
I am tough on Cal ball players, and it’s so nice to see the game slow down for them as they improve. Something’s starting to click for him & this should help with his confidence. Nice work - happy for him!!!
Now let’s get Hyder on track!! ;-)
This game will get closer by the end . Still the Bears are up snd playing like a team. Go Bears!
Celestine is pretty pure when he sets his feet...and he just had a sweet look to Makale....
Bears sharing the basketball well....nice!!!
Definitely a solid start with different players contributing. I like that they are attacking the basket but find the open man when the defense collapses.
Yes good ball movement...
Palms of victory 🌴
holy shit, is Cal actually good?
Tough to say...the next month will say a lot. They can lose 6 of next 7 but if they’re competitive in some of them, they may be good. We’ll see.
Given how Wyking’s coaching malpractice torpedoed the squad and literally set the program back a decade, the fact that they are finally playing competent basketball in year 5 is a major plus, though. So there’s that...
A big PAC 12 W! Go Bears!!
Lots to like from this 1st half. Not perfect but impressive. Coach fox has gotten the players believing in themselves and trusting the system. Even Glimpses of him giving them the freedom to push the ball up court if its there.
The biggest factor in this game is Hurley is not a top flight coach. Decent recruiter though.
That guy heckling Hurley from midcourt was pretty good.
Yeah, Bobby could be in trouble down in Tempe.
Nice 3 by Kuany! 29-16
If Kuany can start hitting 3's, look the Fock out!!!
Jared Hyder smh....make a play man, geez...and Joel, make a layup.
Are either of our PGs P12 caliber rotation players on a contending team? Probably not. Need to recruit a floor general, Mark....
Gotta think how the Bears are playing will impact the recruiting of the missing pieces of the puzzle. Any idea who Fox and Co are going after?
None. Fox signed 2, but both are bigs, incl. Alajiki’s buddy ND Okafor, who had offers from big time programs like Baylor. They also signed an athletic 6’8” guy from Chicago.
That leaves 2(?) scholarships, maybe for the transfer portal or JC guys? Hopefully they land a PG, bc while Joel doesn’t completely dagger you offensively, a PG that’s more of a threat on O would really help, IMO. Plus JB’s a liability late in close games with the FT shooting. Hyder is really only a minutes eater, tho they say he’s still “injured”.
Yeah after I posted my last comment I looked at the two signings and they look like some serious dudes no what they are rated. Cal has had some great players come out of Chicago. With ND choosing Us over the no.1 ranked team in the country speaks volumes.
Maybe we still have a shot at the guy who played AAU with Monte Bowser
The team is competing
Go Bears!!
Hopefully everyone will stay healthy in this Omicron-challenged environment of the New Year. Go Bears!