67 Comments

Just back from the game and that was awful. While it was hard to see Cal not have a consistent attack against the zone, the final numbers indicate we outplayed them aside from the free throw line. Live, at the game, it was so obvious we were getting called for ticky tack fouls and UW wasn't. But why didn't we keep playing the outside/inside game in the 2nd half? Why didn't Lars get more time and points? Fox was furious at the refs for the entire second half. At every time out he was cornering one of them with complaints. But as right as he may have been, we also lost because we didn't have a plan of attack. UW scored so many points off a basic pick and roll or drive and dish play. We never did that. Yikes.

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We really missed Joel. Despite his limitations on offense and at the FT line, he runs the offense and the ball handling alone would’ve been helpful. Plus, he would’ve drawn the Terrell Brown assignment, and that kid ate Jordan Shepherd and Jared Hyder alive.

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Jan 13, 2022·edited Jan 13, 2022

In a game with two very evenly matched teams, a 2:1 foul disparity where the home team makes more than 3x as many FTs as the visiting team even attempts is going to be a talking point.

Yes, the Bears were careless with the ball at times and struggled with the length of the matchup zone...but that type of inequity should raise some eyebrows, and the flagrant 1 on KK was laughable.

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That was frustrating and disappointing

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Jan 13, 2022·edited Jan 13, 2022

Very. I turned the game off after that awful call on KK...Cal's not gonna win a road game with that inequity in whistles....they scored 4 points the final 8:30 minutes of the game, tho. Embarrassing.

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You can’t be in a players cylinder like the announcers are saying

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Jan 13, 2022·edited Jan 13, 2022

The refs in that game were an embarrassment and yet another example of why officiating in the Pac-12 is the worst in the country.

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Jan 13, 2022·edited Jan 13, 2022

Turning this game off. That's a focking joke.

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Shepherd hurting them.

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Lars scoring and defending

UW gets their first defensive foul, and then refs call another ticky tak foul on Celestine

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Jan 13, 2022·edited Jan 13, 2022

That's a DOGSCHITT call...LT going for a free ball on the alley-oop.....no body contact.

That is ONLY called in the Pac 12.

Typical awful P12 officiating...7 fouls called in the entire 1H, then 7 in a minute of play in the 2H...it's why the conferences officials are an embarrassment.

And it's a P12 edict...these same officials ref other conference's games and those fouls aren't routinely called like they are in the P12.

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Kuany with a TO again...he can't play v this UW team. Sit his a$$ down, Fox...he can't handle the matchup zone.

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Trying to play slow against a pressing aggressive zone is tough. When Cal attacks the gaps, good looks lead to buckets.

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Jan 13, 2022·edited Jan 13, 2022

But Kuany is not strong enough with the ball and tries to dribble through the zone when he doesn't have the skills.

Multiple TOs trying to do it...probably won't see him the rest of the night..

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Yes kuany shouldn’t be handling the ball.

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I think he's actually a decent ball handler for a guy his size....just not v this aggressive UW zone that's getting away with being handsy.

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IF Cal doesn't turn the ball over, they win this game. TOs kill them v UW.

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Jan 13, 2022·edited Jan 13, 2022

Lars with 2...now 3 buckets...not bad!

That's all this team needs from LT...

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Kuany is maddening!!!

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Refs calling ticky-tack fouls on Cal, and letting UW bang...this is rather inequitable.

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I look at a guy like this Roberts kid on UW and wonder how ANYONE can guard him...looks like a beast.

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I don't understand why Foreman is in the dog house with a short leash. I'd prefer he had more minutes than Brown or Hyder. However, I did like the bigger line up with Shephard at PG, Alajiki & Celestine. Celestine plays under control, doesn't tend to rush it & has a nice shot!

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He’s currently playing through an injury. Not in the dog house. Their managing his minutes so he can play but not aggravate

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Jan 13, 2022·edited Jan 13, 2022Liked by BentPawn

Joel Brown, Celestine, Alajiki, Grant & AK is their best lineup on a normal day

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Not sold on Brown...better defender, can't shoot, turns the ball over and a liability in close games at the FT line. We need more scoring options and Foreman gives that.

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Jan 13, 2022·edited Jan 13, 2022

Completely agree...but he runs the O ok and with those other guys, they have scoring. Prentice Magruder was a net zero shooting as well.

Foreman isn't healthy enough to play big minutes.

And notice Shepherd is not in the lineup. He hurts them, IMHO...not an instinctual basketball player.

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Prentice! Played pick up with Anwar and all those guys at RSF...good memories!

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Played against Prentice at RSF as well. He was . . . not nice. Just a few years after McQueen graduated he was playing in an adult league I was in Walnut Creek. It's was a D league too. Talk about a drop off.

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Ya, I never met Prentice...those Benton Harbor MI boys were tough.....

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Jan 13, 2022·edited Jan 13, 2022

Loved those players. Chatted with Anwar after the UNC loss in SYR in '97...really nice guy.

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Hands down nicest player I met/played with at RSF--and I've played with several over decades--was Jamal Boykin. He was freakishly nice.

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I think he still lives in the East Bay...I see him occasionally!

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Jan 13, 2022·edited Jan 13, 2022

How does UW with their aggressive defense have zero defensive fouls in an entire half (yet called a ticky tak foul on Kelly)

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Very fair question....Cal was turning the ball over pretty early in the shot clock!!

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Please give Marsalis minutes over Jared Hyder

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Jan 13, 2022·edited Jan 13, 2022

Oh agreed. I was so excited when they got Hyder, too. This kid averaged nearly 10 ppg as a true FR? Doesn't look like he's capable of it.

And is Marsalis ready to run the O tho? Haven't seen enough of him this year to know whether he can handle the ball at this level....thought he's more of a wing, not a point....but congratulations on his first bucket!

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Personally I would play him along side Jordan Shepard while Joel is out. He’s also great defensively.

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Well, hog my hooter....Alajiki triggers a huge run.

Impressive turnaround, fellas, with next to nothing from AK22.

Nice work, boys. Nice work.

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OMG. That basket!!!

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Celestine is GOOOOOOD...so smooth

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Turn overs somehow even before Lars charge

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Alajiki will make and impact in 3...2....1

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There he is with the D, forcing the TO

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Jan 13, 2022·edited Jan 13, 2022

AND another....KID MAKES PLAYS.

Future All-Pac-12 player....hopefully he stays at Cal...

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And another....sensing a trend here, Mark Fox. Just sayin....

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Jan 13, 2022·edited Jan 13, 2022

Kuany needs to be stronger with the ball. JFC Fox, get Alajiki in there.

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There's a big shot, KK!! He shows flashes of brilliance at times!

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UW is jumping the passing lanes and trapping

Classic Syracuse zone

Unfortunately it’s working

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Cal looks like they've never seen a zone defense before....like cavemen seeing fire for the first time.

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This is a different type of zone … it’s a trapping, extended zone, not a passive zone most teams use

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No, I understand...everyone knows Boeheim's matchup zone, hoopdreams...but UW is NOT F-ING SYRACUSE....they're garbage.

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C'mon Lars. Gotta be better than that. Boo

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Shep!

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Jan 13, 2022·edited Jan 13, 2022

Sam F-ing ALAJIKI....ALL DAY LONG

Kid should be starting over Kuany & playing 20+ mpg

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Not good start

Not having brown is huge problem

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Not recruiting a PG last year hurts...Hyder gives you nothing.

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author

No Joel Brown tonight. UW without their backup center.

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Jan 13, 2022·edited Jan 13, 2022

Who the F is gonna guard Roberts? Kid looks huge.

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RemovedJan 13, 2022·edited Jan 13, 2022
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Jan 13, 2022·edited Jan 13, 2022

P12 Officials anticipate fouls more than officials in any other conference. And this is a matchup zone with long and quick athletes that got away with a lax whistle tonight against a team that was missing it's PG - not every team can simulate this.

The officiating tho allowed UW to be aggressive bc they weren't calling anything...

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