17 Comments
Feb 10Liked by BentPawn

Great post. Thank you!

Expand full comment
author

I think he’s turned a corner as a basketball player after the ASU defeat. He’s been stellar since that game with or without the scoring.

Just sucks we only get him for a year.

Expand full comment

Thanks BP. Fun team to watch and so easy to root for.

Expand full comment

I have heard from a reliable source that Jane Cone, though the shortest man on the team, still has the highest vertical leap. If this is true, then he is truly a phenomenon.

Expand full comment

Rumor has it that he once dunked on Mark Madsen in practice.

Expand full comment
Feb 9·edited Feb 9

Just the elevation he gets on his jumpers is impressive - allows him to get those shots off against bigger players.

Expand full comment
author

Spelling error, Jimmy. You may want to revise :-)

Expand full comment

Thank you!!

Expand full comment

Love to see hustle and read appreciation of it!

The team, as constructed, is incomplete. But Madsen and the players are doing everything possible to maximize the ability to win.

Expand full comment

Gobears49

Cal to the NCAA's. Should be the team's motto.

Expand full comment

I had a couple of comments I was getting ready to make (mainly about Cone’s evolution from only being a 3 point shooter to adding some 10-12’ runners as well as shifting to drawing fouls against Stanford which not only helped from the line, but also got their bigs into foul trouble so they couldn’t be as aggressive against Daws and Celestine) but you already wrote them in.

So I’ll add that as an attendee of the SC/LA games - Cone did come up to the stands after the game - the players were saying hi to friends and family and he came by and thanked us for being there and for the support.

Also! His sister sang the national anthem before an early season game - so that was also cool.

Expand full comment

must run in the family. J Cone is also a good singer

Expand full comment
Feb 9Liked by BentPawn

Fantastic piece. Really appreciate you BP for calling out the defense first as Cone's on-ball defense was visibly improved from my POV. Also very cool to read the media insider stuff about the surprise appearance of Collier and the press room dynamic w Madsen and the players. This rounds out the quality of character we have re-established as part of Cal basketball. Go Bears!!

Expand full comment

On the broadcast Walton and Robinson commented that Collier was on a minutes restriction. Clearly Enfield scrapped that plan.

Expand full comment
Feb 9Liked by BentPawn

This is such a well deserved and well done appreciation for Cone. I've been paying attention to his play and defense, in particular. He's ferocious off the ball, and impacts the game in so many ways that do not show up in the stat sheet. I'm not sure he subs out of many games at all. Dude is a monster and as coach said after the game, he's as fit as an NBA player. Seems he is having fun and I'm so happy he is a Bear!

Expand full comment

He’s leading the Pac-12 in minutes played right now at 35.8 mpg and probably playing one of the more strenuous positions

https://basketball.realgm.com/ncaa/conferences/Pacific-12-Conference/7/stats

Expand full comment

The Bear does not quit.

Expand full comment