Most of it comes down to players...Braun's offenses looked capable when he had quality P10-caliber offensive players on the roster like POY Ed Gray, Sean Lampley, Joe Shipp, Ryan Anderson, Leon Powe, etc. The only player Fox has had that is even in the conversation with those names is Matt Bradley, and the team around him just wasn't where it needed to be. This team isn't either - while Cal is definitely much more capable on the court in year 3 of Fox, at the end of the day, the 4 guys commanding the most minutes (Joel, AK22, GA and Shepherd) are ALL limited in big ways....
Truth is, some coaches have a dynamic enough system to compensate for below average offensive players...neither Braun nor Fox though are those coaches.
My view is that our game plan is ineffectual in late game situations. Took far too long to get open looks, which pretty much doomed us. Fox doesn't seem to be able to strategize inside of 3:00 situations.
We did well defending the 3, except for one player who was 4-7 (rest of WSU was 2- 15
Kelly had 14 rebounds over two longer and more athletic post players, but we were out rebounded by 7. Where was everyone else?
We only had 8 turnovers (good). We held them to 39% shooting which isn't terrible.
So it was our offense which was the main problem.
USC and UCLA are top defenses, but WSU also is a good defensive team, and UW has the syracuse zone we and other teams can't handle (stanford lost to UW with more 21 turnovers, 3 more than Cal)
I thought we only had trouble with UW's zone, as we've handled them well before, but vs WSU we looked as bad, except for the turnovers. We actually couldn't get it in the middle once.
It was extremely unfortunate that Brown got up to the game by halftime, but only got to play a minute. I think he should have gotten more time even though he was rusty and didn't know the game plan as our two PG had poor games again
Grant could not guard Jakimovski, who hit 4 of 7 decidedly wide open 3's...GA really can't guard anyone, and is not an incredibly good or physical rebounder because he spends most of his time outside of the key.
This Cal team goes as he goes, and he really struggles v good teams.
Exactly....when the O was run through Kelly, it was definitely more efficient. Teams are taking AK22 away, and Grant and Shepherd are not efficient enough to pick up the slack.
I think Fox's inexplicable substitution pattern contributes greatly to the offensive malaise and inconsistency. Considering he's constantly shuffling players in and out of the lineup nearly every whistle, there's really no surprise the O has such little rhythm.
Nah. The team is actually better without him. Respectfully...the ball didn't move from Bradley's hands & there was no flow on O....too much standing around.
I think plenty of people are on the Alajiki train, Bob...just look at the production when he plays....kid makes things happen whenever he is on the court, and should be starting on the wing ahead of Kuany.
We've gone from shooting 38% from three in non-conference play to 28% in Pac-12 play.
After the ASU game, we're shooting 24% from three.
If those threes don't fall our offense is toast. Teams swarm Kelly and are happy to let us rip from outside.
As teams zone us up more, seems like the looks are getting more based in hot potato-ing the ball a lot along the perimeter in looks for a long three.
Braun gets a bad rap. Ben's Bears were the UNLV Runnin' Rebels compared to these Mark Fox teams.
Most of it comes down to players...Braun's offenses looked capable when he had quality P10-caliber offensive players on the roster like POY Ed Gray, Sean Lampley, Joe Shipp, Ryan Anderson, Leon Powe, etc. The only player Fox has had that is even in the conversation with those names is Matt Bradley, and the team around him just wasn't where it needed to be. This team isn't either - while Cal is definitely much more capable on the court in year 3 of Fox, at the end of the day, the 4 guys commanding the most minutes (Joel, AK22, GA and Shepherd) are ALL limited in big ways....
Truth is, some coaches have a dynamic enough system to compensate for below average offensive players...neither Braun nor Fox though are those coaches.
I am not a Shepherd fan...
Joel, Celestine, Alajiki, GA, AK22, with Shepherd/Makale/KK/LT all off the bench.
In a different coach's system, KK would be a far dynamic player.
My view is that our game plan is ineffectual in late game situations. Took far too long to get open looks, which pretty much doomed us. Fox doesn't seem to be able to strategize inside of 3:00 situations.
Kelly can't get out rebounded by a guard on that missed FT...
Again....unfortunate offensive rebounds allowed by Kelly down the stretch.
Where's Grant to help? 6 points, 5 boards from GA ain't gonna get it done. This is what he does tho.
Inexcusable foul by Lars Thiemann...stupidly awful.
A game changer - just like the flagrant on KK Wed.
Alajiki needs to play more minutes..why the F doesn't he?
What do we have to do to get calls in the paint?
We did well defending the 3, except for one player who was 4-7 (rest of WSU was 2- 15
Kelly had 14 rebounds over two longer and more athletic post players, but we were out rebounded by 7. Where was everyone else?
We only had 8 turnovers (good). We held them to 39% shooting which isn't terrible.
So it was our offense which was the main problem.
USC and UCLA are top defenses, but WSU also is a good defensive team, and UW has the syracuse zone we and other teams can't handle (stanford lost to UW with more 21 turnovers, 3 more than Cal)
I thought we only had trouble with UW's zone, as we've handled them well before, but vs WSU we looked as bad, except for the turnovers. We actually couldn't get it in the middle once.
It was extremely unfortunate that Brown got up to the game by halftime, but only got to play a minute. I think he should have gotten more time even though he was rusty and didn't know the game plan as our two PG had poor games again
Grant could not guard Jakimovski, who hit 4 of 7 decidedly wide open 3's...GA really can't guard anyone, and is not an incredibly good or physical rebounder because he spends most of his time outside of the key.
This Cal team goes as he goes, and he really struggles v good teams.
Hard to win with 57 (or whatever) points. The offense is not consistent.
Exactly....when the O was run through Kelly, it was definitely more efficient. Teams are taking AK22 away, and Grant and Shepherd are not efficient enough to pick up the slack.
I think Fox's inexplicable substitution pattern contributes greatly to the offensive malaise and inconsistency. Considering he's constantly shuffling players in and out of the lineup nearly every whistle, there's really no surprise the O has such little rhythm.
Ugh worst outcome. Lots of time, offensive rebound, Kelly fouls out.
Not one pass into Grant in middle of zone
Can our pg watch Robert’s?
So many bad interior passes.
Shepherd with 4 of Cal's 8 to's....he plays just nearly well enough to win...nearly....
Are they going to put brown back in? Seems like he is sick, just not with Covid
Wish we had a Matt Bradley to go to
Nah. The team is actually better without him. Respectfully...the ball didn't move from Bradley's hands & there was no flow on O....too much standing around.
This is a grinder. Winning on the road is tough. I am hoping for the best
Joel Brown is in! What can Brown do for us?
Fumble first touch, dribble ball off foot second touch… bench
Is Cal Calvary (Brown) over the horizon?
I can't figure out which flight he may be on. There is an OAK-Spokane flight that left at 10:45 that landed at 12:39.
He should be arriving shortly if that's his flight. SI says he hasn't arrived yet.
Love that fox is giving Marsalis some early minutes
Their center looks like trouble
Go bears! How did everyone (for those in California/west coast) deal with this morning's tsunami alert?
Go cal
Sam hardly played, and attempted 0 shots.
Very disappointing.
I think plenty of people are on the Alajiki train, Bob...just look at the production when he plays....kid makes things happen whenever he is on the court, and should be starting on the wing ahead of Kuany.
Feeling is mutual after that call.