27 Comments
Jan 19·edited Jan 19

Been following Cal hoops for 40 years and I don’t recall a Bears team giving up as many uncontested 3’s as this one. Something is just off…either with execution or scheme. Sure, teams are definitely making the extra pass against the kids, but why we’ve been unable to adjust is a puzzler.

The Holland 3 was just as big a dagger. Off a made Cone FT to extend to 4, in fewer than 7-seconds UW is able to get the ball up court, make 2 passes for as wide-open of a 3 as you can get.

That just can’t happen. Still shaking my head over where the breakdowns come from.

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UW had more than a handful of open threes that they missed (esp. that guy Wood - Don McLean had made a point to say, early in the game, that Wood is a guy that Cal cannot afford to leave unguarded at the three point line), and it was only a matter of time before Wood would convert on one. Painful way to lose, but not unexpected given how Cal’s perimeter defense had been looking throughout the game.

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It’s truly perplexing. I took for granted after a few games into the season we’d see some sort of improvement made schematically or with the rotations, but whatever we have done is delivering the same results over and over again. Madsen will continue to build this program through sheer will and moxy, but its becoming clear he’s gonna need some help on the sidelines for his program to truly shine. 3s aside, its also is clear this team really needs a PG. That hole really reveals itself in the overall end of game management.

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In his final full game before the injury bug limited, then ended, his season, Askew looked very much like the well-equipped, savvy PG I’ve been waiting for. Of course, at that stage in his development the storied Cal luck [in this case, the aforementioned injury (-ies)] took over, and scooted him off regular minutes. If he can fully heal over the summer, one would expect he’ll resume his progress as a PG next season. I have other glaring concerns going into next year as finding replacements for the senior leadership and skill sets of Cone/Kennedy/Aimaq will be necessary if Askew’s growth is to meaningfully impact the wins total. It’s very possible the roster will be weaker next season, though Madsen and his staff do seem like good portal recruiters.

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I feel confident we'll continue to see the talent get stronger, but you're right that we might have a leadership void next year, depending on who leaves and what we get from the portal. Reshuffling the deck year after year is probably the new normal. It's nice to see us at least in the conversation for 4-star HS guys again.

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Gobears49

Am just starting to what the men's team. A few beginning comments --

1. I thought Cal played well at the end of the game and so much better than at the start of the season.

2. Cal seems to have a lot of injuries. Who are they and what rank in effectiveness, with them being included, would they rank if they started and were not injured.

3. Seems like a decent crowd. Lots of people sitting behind the basket. What do you think was the approximat crowed size?

4. I am going to make some suggestions as to how Cal might be able to reconstitute the Pac whatever, either this coming season or the following one. I have brought them p toe Knowlton, without any decent response. in the next few days I am going to make my suggestions. Brought them up to Knowlton without a responsed but I have decided he will not do anything to try to reconsider a thing. By the way, I think I read that Knowlton may now be on some sort of probation for a month or two. Would like to see if that is true or not and whaat, if anything he is on probation for. In any event, anything i send to him I will be sending to Christ, if I get her email address. Anyone know wht that is.

Cal fans are being screwed by being in the ACC conference and I don't see anyone, including Knowlton, trying to change that. I will try.

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That sucked but I really thought that we were going to win. Back to the drawing board but we are definitely headed in the right direction.

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The defense is very impressive, offense too. Nice to have a team again.

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I think we were lucky in the first half as U-Dub had plenty of good looks, but missed them, particularly wide-open 3's. Otherwise, they easily coudl have had a sizeable lead at halftime. Defense is still a work in progress.

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This team is good. Just missed a couple free throws at the end.

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Crushing. But still, when I think of how boring games were last year...

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For a brief shining moment on ESPN Gametracker we had an 83 percent chance to win with less than a minute.

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shoulda taken the under

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Jan 19·edited Jan 19

Rebounding and FT shooting were the deciders tonight

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Free throw shooting was terrible

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Fardaws was the last person you wanted at the line there. And he really gagged it.

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and before him, Tyson missed teh front end of a 1-1

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Kennedy was pretty awful too

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Coach Madsen and staff need to work on the 3PT defense next year.

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Well this was a disappointing turn of events.

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So predictable.

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wow

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This last minute is gonna give me a heart attack.

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Oof.

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Defense has been giving the Huskies a ton if open 3s. Been lucky they've been missing them

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3's starting to drop, and they have the lead

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They've been the better team the whole game, difference has just been the 3s.

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