We could have two more wins this season if we just had an average number of turnovers per game. The good news is that the number purely stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid stupid. Stupid, turnovers has gone down between UTEP and Tulane.
Madsen has a LOT of work to do. Another game of WAY too many turnovers (I counted 21, same as Monday night) and fouls (not as many as Monday night, though). Our defense in the paint barely exists. And our offense around the basket is extremely weak. The team was in the game only because of the high number of 3s made. When some good teams shut down our 3s, we will get blown out unless the players learn to get inside. I don't think that being at full strength will help that much if Madsen can't get the team playing basic basketball. It will be another LONG season if the team does not start playing basic basketball.
Would love to get solid minutes for minutes for Brown, Vlad, Larson, even once we’re filull strength…development from them, along with gaining some consistency by Newell and ND, will be crucial as Madsen rebuilds the program.
But the games are entertaining, and despite the defensive struggles and unsustainably high turnover rates, the team is right there.
Nov 23, 2023·edited Nov 23, 2023Liked by Avinash Kunnath
A frustrating but deserved loss. Tulane is theoretically the best team we've played yet and Cal still led for the majority of the game. Interior defense and turnovers both need work, badly. SDSU's going to score quite a lot on us come Saturday.
Turnovers and poor defense can be signs of either a team being new or of poor coaching. They're "out of sync" errors. Right now, it's almost certainly the former so we just have to look for progress as the season goes on.
The key here is that we aren't getting blown out and we can see a path to success. We're better than we were last year.
Really. He doesn't lack effort and he's actually a very solid post defender, but he is a total loss playing help defense and staying in front of anyone off the dribble.
couldn't tell ya, he in addition to everyone else needs to understand their leverage better, be in a position to make a play, and do so without fouling
Exactly. I mean, the kid can definitely board, but this is some of the worst defense I’ve seen in over 40 years of Cal hoops viewing, and unfortunately he’s right in the middle of that. Sure, Kennedy will help, but right now, it’s just way too easy for the opposing teams to get whatever they want. Yikes.
That sucked BUT that was way more entertaining than anything I ever saw by a Mark Fox team. We should have won but we just ran out of gas down the stretch. Too many turnovers and some bad defense in the second half doomed us. Madsen really needs to tighten up the defense in the paint. Tulane had way too many easy shots down low. However, this team looks much improved and that gives me hope.
Oh absolutely more fun to watch, plus UTEP and Tulane are good. And the baseline talent is there to compete, unlike at anytime in the Fox era.
Frustrating now, but if they curtail the turnovers, they can win even with the absolutely awful D they play. It’s just impossible to win when you turn the ball over 21 times.
Couple of lapses, including Tulane’s last 3, which was just way too easy…but definitely better effort and they’re boarding well. Stripes letting them play - really not much different stylistically from the past few games - the refs are letting some contact go.
I know it's not about appearance or style... but Pavlovic needs to shave his beard and cut his hair... I can't watch that. Having said that - I really enjoy watching the bears play when they're on. SO MUCH more exciting than the last couple of years. Would like to win a few, though.
We could have two more wins this season if we just had an average number of turnovers per game. The good news is that the number purely stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid stupid. Stupid, turnovers has gone down between UTEP and Tulane.
Per Kenpom Cal is also one of the five unluckiest teams in D1 right now. Three consecutive losses by three points each will do that.
How do I delete te double post below?
Madsen has a LOT of work to do. Another game of WAY too many turnovers (I counted 21, same as Monday night) and fouls (not as many as Monday night, though). Our defense in the paint barely exists. And our offense around the basket is extremely weak. The team was in the game only because of the high number of 3s made. When some good teams shut down our 3s, we will get blown out unless the players learn to get inside. I don't think that being at full strength will help that much if Madsen can't get the team playing basic basketball. It will be another LONG season if the team does not start playing basic basketball.
Cal’s close but just can’t make that final push and this was the easiest part of the schedule.
Conference’s first 6 games are brutal for a young team.
As a fan, I have to now suspend game counting and watch each game with a goldfish’s memory.
Would love to get solid minutes for minutes for Brown, Vlad, Larson, even once we’re filull strength…development from them, along with gaining some consistency by Newell and ND, will be crucial as Madsen rebuilds the program.
But the games are entertaining, and despite the defensive struggles and unsustainably high turnover rates, the team is right there.
A frustrating but deserved loss. Tulane is theoretically the best team we've played yet and Cal still led for the majority of the game. Interior defense and turnovers both need work, badly. SDSU's going to score quite a lot on us come Saturday.
Turnovers and poor defense can be signs of either a team being new or of poor coaching. They're "out of sync" errors. Right now, it's almost certainly the former so we just have to look for progress as the season goes on.
The key here is that we aren't getting blown out and we can see a path to success. We're better than we were last year.
Hey TD, how did Aimaq win DPOY twice? He’s such a poor defender.
Really. He doesn't lack effort and he's actually a very solid post defender, but he is a total loss playing help defense and staying in front of anyone off the dribble.
couldn't tell ya, he in addition to everyone else needs to understand their leverage better, be in a position to make a play, and do so without fouling
Exactly. I mean, the kid can definitely board, but this is some of the worst defense I’ve seen in over 40 years of Cal hoops viewing, and unfortunately he’s right in the middle of that. Sure, Kennedy will help, but right now, it’s just way too easy for the opposing teams to get whatever they want. Yikes.
He actually wasn't bad today
Need to hone those fundamentals badly
It’s imperative.
That sucked BUT that was way more entertaining than anything I ever saw by a Mark Fox team. We should have won but we just ran out of gas down the stretch. Too many turnovers and some bad defense in the second half doomed us. Madsen really needs to tighten up the defense in the paint. Tulane had way too many easy shots down low. However, this team looks much improved and that gives me hope.
Oh absolutely more fun to watch, plus UTEP and Tulane are good. And the baseline talent is there to compete, unlike at anytime in the Fox era.
Frustrating now, but if they curtail the turnovers, they can win even with the absolutely awful D they play. It’s just impossible to win when you turn the ball over 21 times.
Good night to all is watching
It's over ...
How do u miss that shot
Don’t like playing for OT…they literally got 2 stops in the final 10+ minutes of the game.
Hoo boy, here comes the last possession of the game
Need a big stop
Make a decision
A ton of long lobbing passes around the court.
Ballgame.
Can’t get a single stop.
They need a 2 guard offense. Finally inside game
Again to the inside . Nice
Nice play by Cone
Love Madsen and the direction of the program, and the players are better, but we’ll probably be lucky to win 10 games.
Poor defense + turnovers is an awful combination.
Shoulda called the TO earlier imo. Team needs a reset
Where is the guard play ????
They don't have anyone that can drive to the basket.
That first half defense has certainly regressed. Tyson's really putting the team on his back.
They can't stop that kid Cross.
It’s just too easy. No resistance whatsoever.
But the kids are battling.
Finally a dribble- drive
Why is that kid still up at 1130pm ???
I barely keeping my eyes open
Okafor with another force in traffic.
Multiple Aimaq blocks plus a big alley-oop? Yes please!
THE GUS BUS
Should’ve been an and-1 too
Sweet alley-ooooop!!
I can hear Beluomini now…HOW DO YOU LIKE IT!!!
Wow a inside Dunk finally.. but they love taking 3's .
Cal doesn't have any inside game . I don't believe I have seen one lay up
This team can’t guard anyone
Decent 2nd half startl
They have to reign the turnovers in. You can’t win giving the ball away 20+ times a game.
With the inexplicable lack of box score to go off of, my impressions are:
Solid defense
Pretty good rebounding
Ok offense but incredibly careless
Couple of lapses, including Tulane’s last 3, which was just way too easy…but definitely better effort and they’re boarding well. Stripes letting them play - really not much different stylistically from the past few games - the refs are letting some contact go.
I’m here at my sister’s old high school to watch very long bank shots go in.
YEAH BABY
12 first half turnovers.
6 point lead.
Wow
Love seeing a buzzer-beater heave go our way!
Right?!?!
Our big 3 are solid.
I agree - I cannot wait until the supporting cast comes back from injury. I appreciate the effort from the backups but they struggle.
Newell is high. Seriously, WTF?
Good shot from Cone - especially drawing the foul. Stupid play from the defender though.
That’s a horrible shot by Okafor. Top of the key jumper with 24 secs left on the shot clock? Yikes.
I know it's not about appearance or style... but Pavlovic needs to shave his beard and cut his hair... I can't watch that. Having said that - I really enjoy watching the bears play when they're on. SO MUCH more exciting than the last couple of years. Would like to win a few, though.
I think he gives off good vibes with it
Which vibes are those? Hairy porn star? Guy living in mom's basement?
Absolutely
Tyson’s gotta finish that but a nice out of bounds play.
Nice stroke for Gus Larson.
Nice lead by Tyson.