6 bench points the whole game, you wanted to see a little more on the offensive end from Ilic (double digit rebounds from him but got worked on the glass on several occasions), despite all the struggles from the first half the game was right there in the balance, going over 3 minutes without a made field goal stings. A Quad 3 loss is horrible for a March Madness resume, basically makes Miami a must win? Interested to see what the potential path is to get to the dance from here on out, can't imagine there's much room for error left...
GlueAndBold and I threw this scenario back-n-forth in an earlier thread…see below….
We win this with Dort.
_______________
Right now, they’re 15-5, 3-4 in the ACC with solid wins over fUCLA on a neutral court, home v UNC, and @ Furd….per Lunardi, as of Tuesday 1/27 Bracketology they are the 8th team out currently…he’s been very slow to recognize the Bears, as other NCAAT prognosticators have been higher on them, FWIW. Even CBS, notoriously down on the Bears, has them in a first 4 game .
Sweet spot for legitimate at-large contention IMO is to get to 10-8 IN the ACC. 9-9 will likely put us on the wrong side of the bubble but still in consideration.
@ FSU - with no Dort, let’s just call this an L (15-6, 3-5, and a 2nd Q2 L - not ideal). A W would be fantastic, but down our only consistent ACC caliber-big it’s going to be a challenge..
@ MIA L (15-7, 3-6 - likely off the bubble)
v GA TECH W (16-7, 4-6)
v CLEM W (Becoming a must-win 17-7, 5-6)
@ SYR L (17-8, 5-7)
@ BC W (Must win - Tournament teams don’t lose at this school) (18-8, 6-7)
v Furd W (Must win) (19-8, 7-7)
v SMU W (Must win) (20-8, 8-7) - back on the right side?
v PITT W (21-8, 9-7)
@ GA TECH W (Must win - can’t lose at GA TECH late in the year) (22-8, 10-7)
@ WFU L (Tough place to play) (22-9, 10-8)
ACCT - Going to have to get the 1st round W to feel safe bc an L would likely be another bad L at the wrong time….then a 2nd round game, maybe an L…2 wins there and getting to the Quarters would be really nice. But let’s say 1-1….that’s a final record of 23-10…probably not a lock, and maybe in the play-in game, but…..
@FSU is pretty likely to stay a Q2 game the whole season.
Worst loss of the season is a Q2 road loss by 2 points when we're down a key player. A lot of this performance was discouraging, but Cal definitely still has a shot at the tournament. We've lost a fair amount of leeway but next game isn't into must-win territory yet imo.
Agreed - this loss shrunk their margin for error…which is now somewhat razor thin, and also makes certain games basically gotta-haves..
It all depends on Dort’s return though. As we saw tonight, this team becomes far too one-dimensional without him, and other than a put-back and some key boards, they basically got nothing from the bigs in his place.
First game I’ve watched where the coaching lost the game. Really really awful plays drawn up. Lineups are tough with the injuries but I cannot understand some of the decisions in regards to trying to win
6 bench points the whole game, you wanted to see a little more on the offensive end from Ilic (double digit rebounds from him but got worked on the glass on several occasions), despite all the struggles from the first half the game was right there in the balance, going over 3 minutes without a made field goal stings. A Quad 3 loss is horrible for a March Madness resume, basically makes Miami a must win? Interested to see what the potential path is to get to the dance from here on out, can't imagine there's much room for error left...
GlueAndBold and I threw this scenario back-n-forth in an earlier thread…see below….
We win this with Dort.
_______________
Right now, they’re 15-5, 3-4 in the ACC with solid wins over fUCLA on a neutral court, home v UNC, and @ Furd….per Lunardi, as of Tuesday 1/27 Bracketology they are the 8th team out currently…he’s been very slow to recognize the Bears, as other NCAAT prognosticators have been higher on them, FWIW. Even CBS, notoriously down on the Bears, has them in a first 4 game .
Sweet spot for legitimate at-large contention IMO is to get to 10-8 IN the ACC. 9-9 will likely put us on the wrong side of the bubble but still in consideration.
@ FSU - with no Dort, let’s just call this an L (15-6, 3-5, and a 2nd Q2 L - not ideal). A W would be fantastic, but down our only consistent ACC caliber-big it’s going to be a challenge..
@ MIA L (15-7, 3-6 - likely off the bubble)
v GA TECH W (16-7, 4-6)
v CLEM W (Becoming a must-win 17-7, 5-6)
@ SYR L (17-8, 5-7)
@ BC W (Must win - Tournament teams don’t lose at this school) (18-8, 6-7)
v Furd W (Must win) (19-8, 7-7)
v SMU W (Must win) (20-8, 8-7) - back on the right side?
v PITT W (21-8, 9-7)
@ GA TECH W (Must win - can’t lose at GA TECH late in the year) (22-8, 10-7)
@ WFU L (Tough place to play) (22-9, 10-8)
ACCT - Going to have to get the 1st round W to feel safe bc an L would likely be another bad L at the wrong time….then a 2nd round game, maybe an L…2 wins there and getting to the Quarters would be really nice. But let’s say 1-1….that’s a final record of 23-10…probably not a lock, and maybe in the play-in game, but…..
@FSU is pretty likely to stay a Q2 game the whole season.
Worst loss of the season is a Q2 road loss by 2 points when we're down a key player. A lot of this performance was discouraging, but Cal definitely still has a shot at the tournament. We've lost a fair amount of leeway but next game isn't into must-win territory yet imo.
Agreed - this loss shrunk their margin for error…which is now somewhat razor thin, and also makes certain games basically gotta-haves..
It all depends on Dort’s return though. As we saw tonight, this team becomes far too one-dimensional without him, and other than a put-back and some key boards, they basically got nothing from the bigs in his place.
Cal goes the final 3:45 without a FG.
This one is going to hurt.
bad loss
Real bad.
Cal always finds a way to maximize the pain
First game I’ve watched where the coaching lost the game. Really really awful plays drawn up. Lineups are tough with the injuries but I cannot understand some of the decisions in regards to trying to win
Drawing up multiple plays for Dai Dai on an off night is a puzzler.
Chris Bell’s minutes should also start to decrease. Guy is not there mentally…benched tonight.
This loss is entirely on the coaching staff. The 4-minute stretch in the 1H with that garbage lineup was the difference.
If they miss the Dance, it’s because of this L.
I sadly think those hopes are dashed now
Yup. There’s still a path but the margin for error now becomes so slim I don’t see this team doing it.
They were completely exposed athletically v a 1-6 team. Can’t lose that game.
why is pippen shooting a 3 with the game on the line? he is an awful 3pt shooter. ugh
1 point in the last 3 minutes rarely wins games
Nope. Dai Dai and Camden forcing shots.
Crying Oski
Damn. Credit for making a game of it, at least.
Ouch
Having Dort and Petraitis out is hard to overcome.
Exactly. This roster is just too thin - can’t survive off nights by guys without both of those 2.
Getting outrebounded is a bit on the nose.
No rebound there is devastating
Ilic useless,
Agree with the announcer- better to take a good shot then two rushed ones