I really like this team! Great to see them making fundamental plays(rebounds, moving the ball etc..) someone said this earlier and I agree..:they should run some more plays for Dort. He had more offensive potential and is going to continue to improve as the season progresses.
He's just better in his current role as the scrappy, energy guy off the bench. Him and Dorsy make life difficult for the opposing team while you rest some of the better shooters. And Petraistis is good at scoring underneath the basket on hustle plays.
We have 2 good shooting options in Camden and Ames. Bell has been successful as a deep shooter in the past so hopefully that skill will re-emerge. Good energy from Petraitis and Dorsey.
I do worry that Pippen will get frustrated against better interior play. We'll also see how Dort and Ilic do against it. K State will be a good test. There's a lot to like so far.
I think Pippen is really going to end up primarily a drive and dish free throw merchant this year. He's capable of scoring from anywhere, but our other shooters seem to be better options as pure shooters. As the athleticism in the competition goes up, he's going to have to rely more and more on driving to the basket to help free up everyone else.
Well said. Pippen is a nice addition with a diverse skill set, but will be hard-pressed against more athletic, bigger/stronger defenders. That being said, if he can still get to the line regularly, it’ll help.
And, sorry, this team is better than 2015-2016 (though the proof will be in the pudding). That team had star power but was clunky. This team has better balance. Watch out!
That 2015-2016 team was closer to what our recent teams under Madsen were like. Star power, but a lot of isolation as a result of there not being a lot of chemistry or really strong guard play.
Madsen seems to have found a team that really vibes with how each other sees the game.
Haha I hope you're right. Let's see them vs a power 5 team before saying this though. Kansas State had the number 4 transfer class in the nation. They'll be a good test. That 2015 team will always be near and dear to my heart.
Pretty good ball movement, only eight TO’s last night, and good defense. This is a scrappy team. However I fear the Bears will be overmatched/out-manned in Manhattan. With Carr and Campbell injured, it appears Cal has no ball-handling backup guards (Dorsey is a nice contributor but I think of him more as a swing guy) who can meaningfully contribute. Or, is there a promising walk-on available? Probably not, as none received relevant minutes last night. Also, someone other than Camden and Ames needs to find his shooting stroke. Otherwise Cal will be too easy to defend by talented P4 teams.
Agree, I am not predicting a win against K State, especially without Campbell (and Carr, if he's as projected). Scheme can only do so much and I'm trying to properly calibrate my own expectations. But we DO look like a team capable of pulling off upsets, and maybe that's our next evolutionary step?
I like the fact that Madsen is putting it together. Super early and we have a good test at K State where even a good loss is progress and a learning opportunity, but we seem to be trending up. Beats those frustrating, early season losses to meh teams.
Thanks BP.
Great effort tonight.
Announced attendance was 2,377
Everyone was at the TPUSA event, I rlly hope to see better numbers moving forward
I really like this team! Great to see them making fundamental plays(rebounds, moving the ball etc..) someone said this earlier and I agree..:they should run some more plays for Dort. He had more offensive potential and is going to continue to improve as the season progresses.
Should the slightly ignorant fan read into Petraitis playing much less than last year (https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/team/stats/_/id/25/season/2026/table/game/sort/avgMinutes/dir/desc) as a sign that the other players around him this year are better than last year?
I think it's because there's really no better 6th man on our roster.
He's just better in his current role as the scrappy, energy guy off the bench. Him and Dorsy make life difficult for the opposing team while you rest some of the better shooters. And Petraistis is good at scoring underneath the basket on hustle plays.
This, exactly. He's competing with Camden and Bell for time, and Camden is a better scorer while Bell is longer and a better shooter.
Cal men’s basketball scored 93 tonight in regulation at home vs CSU Fullerton
That’s their most points scored in regulation at home since Nov 13, 2015 when they beat Rice 97-65
We have 2 good shooting options in Camden and Ames. Bell has been successful as a deep shooter in the past so hopefully that skill will re-emerge. Good energy from Petraitis and Dorsey.
I do worry that Pippen will get frustrated against better interior play. We'll also see how Dort and Ilic do against it. K State will be a good test. There's a lot to like so far.
I think Pippen is really going to end up primarily a drive and dish free throw merchant this year. He's capable of scoring from anywhere, but our other shooters seem to be better options as pure shooters. As the athleticism in the competition goes up, he's going to have to rely more and more on driving to the basket to help free up everyone else.
Well said. Pippen is a nice addition with a diverse skill set, but will be hard-pressed against more athletic, bigger/stronger defenders. That being said, if he can still get to the line regularly, it’ll help.
We were good at the line so it's a viable strategy!
This team is great. Love the way coach is using Dorsey and Petraitis off the bench.
No issues right now that are not coachable (including some of the turnovers by Pippen). This looks like a tournament team.
Big test Thursday.
And, sorry, this team is better than 2015-2016 (though the proof will be in the pudding). That team had star power but was clunky. This team has better balance. Watch out!
That 2015-2016 team was closer to what our recent teams under Madsen were like. Star power, but a lot of isolation as a result of there not being a lot of chemistry or really strong guard play.
Madsen seems to have found a team that really vibes with how each other sees the game.
Haha I hope you're right. Let's see them vs a power 5 team before saying this though. Kansas State had the number 4 transfer class in the nation. They'll be a good test. That 2015 team will always be near and dear to my heart.
Pretty good ball movement, only eight TO’s last night, and good defense. This is a scrappy team. However I fear the Bears will be overmatched/out-manned in Manhattan. With Carr and Campbell injured, it appears Cal has no ball-handling backup guards (Dorsey is a nice contributor but I think of him more as a swing guy) who can meaningfully contribute. Or, is there a promising walk-on available? Probably not, as none received relevant minutes last night. Also, someone other than Camden and Ames needs to find his shooting stroke. Otherwise Cal will be too easy to defend by talented P4 teams.
Agree, I am not predicting a win against K State, especially without Campbell (and Carr, if he's as projected). Scheme can only do so much and I'm trying to properly calibrate my own expectations. But we DO look like a team capable of pulling off upsets, and maybe that's our next evolutionary step?
We're gonna win on Thursday. Believe it.
I will always love it when the Bears win! Go Bears!
I like the fact that Madsen is putting it together. Super early and we have a good test at K State where even a good loss is progress and a learning opportunity, but we seem to be trending up. Beats those frustrating, early season losses to meh teams.
Just keeping things competitive in Manhattan Thursday against a quality, P5 program would be encouraging.
Hopefully no repeat of last year’s blow-out L when they were down 20 at the under 4 TO v a good-not-great Vandy team.