Can't wait for today's expedited edition of Knowlton Notes arriving in my inbox and praising Coach Fox for his resilience and noting the heightened energy at Haas yesterday. The best is yet to come.
Good for the players to have a convincing win, albeit against a bad team. Hopefully they'll have enough confidence to sneak an upset in conference play.
Dec 22, 2022·edited Dec 22, 2022Liked by Rick Chen
This was a pretty balanced article against Fox. Basically accuses him of the same style of play that JW runs for the football program: One that is good at defense, is flawed and boring on offense, and also loses. JW is hoping to fix this with Spav, what does Fox have?
Exactly why I posted it. It cuts because we see Benson become so thoroughly convinced despite having an open mind. Both teams suffered from offensive malpractice. Presumably Musgrave requires a NFL roster (which you can't expect in college). For Fox, it's all on him because players work both ends of the court and the HC strategizes both directly.
So I'm willing to give Wilcox a shot with Spav since it is something different at an impact position. Fox just needs to be canned.
Musgrave's offense would suck in the NFL too. It's at least 15 years out of date. But beyond that, he is such a shitty play caller. The ball could actually move a little bit when Geep took over duties.
I'm glad for the players but they really missed an opportunity to do something special and go 0-30. Think about it! It's something that has never been done and that is what we do at Cal. All sarcasm aside, I loved Fox at the press conference saying, "we have work to do". NO SHIT!!!!! Fox has to start packing for his inevitable firing and stop smoking all of that good Northern California weed. Only somebody who is completely high would make such a ludicrous statement.
KenPom has them at 275 of 363 teams. Not worst but even a marginally competent P5 team should beat them handily. (Us being at 241 is below that bar but we did it.)
I have no idea how USF lost that but from what I've read UTA dominated from the tip. UTA was ranked 296 at the time...just a real head scratcher. Could legit tank USF's tourney resume.
1. Joel and Lars drove this win. Joel got to the rim with ease and hit a bunch of little flip shots in the lane and some really nice layups over and around the UTA defenders. Lars was bigger than the entire UTA team and once he caught the ball with one-step to the basket, he was decisive and went up strong with his jump hooks. I didn't look at the box score, but I'm betting he was like 6-8 around the rim or something. (Just looked: 8-10!) If he could learn how to seal smaller, faster opponents OR learn to catch lobs, he probably could have had 25. Once he caught the ball around the post, he was scoring or getting fouled.
2. Wrenn Robinson gave us some very nice minutes allowing Joel to get a rest. I was worried because UT-A pressed the entire game even after they were down 25 points. I was worried about Joel getting exhausted. Robinson didn't do much on the box score, but he was steady, didn't the turn the ball over, and hit a tough shot with the shot clock running down to save a possession.
3. ESPN's Zach Lowe often talks about defenses "playing on a string" where players rotate and fill in and "help the helper" always filling the spot as the offense passes the ball around to stress the defense. I think we have a lot of good individual defenders - Joel, Kuany, Roberson, Newell, etc - but as UT-A got deeper into their offense, we often ended up giving up open shots because we would just miss a rotation or weren't communicating well. Thankfully UT-A shot terribly. (16-50, 5-25 from 3)
4. We still give up a lot of offensive rebounds
5. Team is still playing together and playing for each other. When Joel hit back to back fast break layups early in the second half, the entire team ran out onto the floor and Fox yelled at them to get back (rightfully). Askew was waving a towel the entire night and jumped up and down - I think he'll be ok soon.
6. First game all season where I saw the team setting some solid screens. Really helped out the purpose of the offense (as Rod Benson referred to in his Chronicle article - our offense is often a lot of running to spots but not accomplishing anything because everyone just slips screens and the defenders are never stressed about staying with their men).
Nice to get off the schneid. We really should have had 4-6 more of these games.
Wrenn Robinson is super good from the film I watched. Fox has been complaining all year about not having guards when he had a capable guard on his bench.
Wrenn has only been on the team for like 2 weeks - and I hate to agree with Fox, but he really doesn't have enough ball handlers. But that is also his fault - the roster construction is up to him.
I know but having a guy like that join the team 2 weeks in is a blessing. He’s more skilled than any guards we have besides askew and Celestine. I’m my opinion he’s a gem of a walk on. He should be the backup point guard for this team.
good comments
Celestine is also playing a leadership role from the bench, staying engaged, cheering the team, talking to the guys
Cal basketball is such a failure. They failed to go winless this season which I secretly wanted.
I think this attitude sucks for the players and current student athletes, just because you don't like the coach.
Still 6 below the Knowlton Line
Can't wait for today's expedited edition of Knowlton Notes arriving in my inbox and praising Coach Fox for his resilience and noting the heightened energy at Haas yesterday. The best is yet to come.
Good for the players to have a convincing win, albeit against a bad team. Hopefully they'll have enough confidence to sneak an upset in conference play.
Fox still needs to go. (Rod Benson here: https://www.sfgate.com/collegesports/article/cal-mens-basketball-column-17670025.php)
This was a pretty balanced article against Fox. Basically accuses him of the same style of play that JW runs for the football program: One that is good at defense, is flawed and boring on offense, and also loses. JW is hoping to fix this with Spav, what does Fox have?
We're not good at defense though - that's the thing.
Exactly why I posted it. It cuts because we see Benson become so thoroughly convinced despite having an open mind. Both teams suffered from offensive malpractice. Presumably Musgrave requires a NFL roster (which you can't expect in college). For Fox, it's all on him because players work both ends of the court and the HC strategizes both directly.
So I'm willing to give Wilcox a shot with Spav since it is something different at an impact position. Fox just needs to be canned.
Musgrave's offense would suck in the NFL too. It's at least 15 years out of date. But beyond that, he is such a shitty play caller. The ball could actually move a little bit when Geep took over duties.
I'm glad for the players but they really missed an opportunity to do something special and go 0-30. Think about it! It's something that has never been done and that is what we do at Cal. All sarcasm aside, I loved Fox at the press conference saying, "we have work to do". NO SHIT!!!!! Fox has to start packing for his inevitable firing and stop smoking all of that good Northern California weed. Only somebody who is completely high would make such a ludicrous statement.
Is UTA the worst team in the NCAA?
KenPom has them at 275 of 363 teams. Not worst but even a marginally competent P5 team should beat them handily. (Us being at 241 is below that bar but we did it.)
They just spanked USF whose coach is on our big board and who also just spanked #25 ASU.
I have no idea how USF lost that but from what I've read UTA dominated from the tip. UTA was ranked 296 at the time...just a real head scratcher. Could legit tank USF's tourney resume.
Drove up to watch the game - my notes:
1. Joel and Lars drove this win. Joel got to the rim with ease and hit a bunch of little flip shots in the lane and some really nice layups over and around the UTA defenders. Lars was bigger than the entire UTA team and once he caught the ball with one-step to the basket, he was decisive and went up strong with his jump hooks. I didn't look at the box score, but I'm betting he was like 6-8 around the rim or something. (Just looked: 8-10!) If he could learn how to seal smaller, faster opponents OR learn to catch lobs, he probably could have had 25. Once he caught the ball around the post, he was scoring or getting fouled.
2. Wrenn Robinson gave us some very nice minutes allowing Joel to get a rest. I was worried because UT-A pressed the entire game even after they were down 25 points. I was worried about Joel getting exhausted. Robinson didn't do much on the box score, but he was steady, didn't the turn the ball over, and hit a tough shot with the shot clock running down to save a possession.
3. ESPN's Zach Lowe often talks about defenses "playing on a string" where players rotate and fill in and "help the helper" always filling the spot as the offense passes the ball around to stress the defense. I think we have a lot of good individual defenders - Joel, Kuany, Roberson, Newell, etc - but as UT-A got deeper into their offense, we often ended up giving up open shots because we would just miss a rotation or weren't communicating well. Thankfully UT-A shot terribly. (16-50, 5-25 from 3)
4. We still give up a lot of offensive rebounds
5. Team is still playing together and playing for each other. When Joel hit back to back fast break layups early in the second half, the entire team ran out onto the floor and Fox yelled at them to get back (rightfully). Askew was waving a towel the entire night and jumped up and down - I think he'll be ok soon.
6. First game all season where I saw the team setting some solid screens. Really helped out the purpose of the offense (as Rod Benson referred to in his Chronicle article - our offense is often a lot of running to spots but not accomplishing anything because everyone just slips screens and the defenders are never stressed about staying with their men).
Nice to get off the schneid. We really should have had 4-6 more of these games.
Honestly we should give you an award just based on the fact you drove up to watch the game.
Wrenn Robinson is super good from the film I watched. Fox has been complaining all year about not having guards when he had a capable guard on his bench.
Like alpha has said and me too we needed to get some guys from the RSF and now we basically have.
I don't quite think that's accurate. Wrenn Robinson was playing at CCSF and not just "a guy from the RSF"
Wrenn has only been on the team for like 2 weeks - and I hate to agree with Fox, but he really doesn't have enough ball handlers. But that is also his fault - the roster construction is up to him.
I know but having a guy like that join the team 2 weeks in is a blessing. He’s more skilled than any guards we have besides askew and Celestine. I’m my opinion he’s a gem of a walk on. He should be the backup point guard for this team.
We really don't have any other guards! It's all a bunch of wingmen!
I’m still viewing this on a certain browser. There is a long way to go for me to see that differently.
I get it. He's 36-60.
I saw on TV that Kai also entered the portal. That’s bad news if it’s true
Good for the players, lets them get that nagging proverbial weight off their shoulders