I know plenty of folks were down on the weak non-con schedule last year but the 12-1 was the only reason Cal was even in the NCAAT bubble discussion up until the brutal Pitt loss. Given the travel, NIL budgets, and baseline talent level of the ACC schools, .500 in conference is pretty much the ceiling for a still re-building Cal program. That’s likely good enough to Dance, if you take care of business in the non-conference. That’s going to be a helluva lot tougher to do this year.
The good news is the talent level on this roster is as high and deep as it’s been in Madsen’s Cal era. Grabbing transfers from P4 leagues like the SEC and ACC (Wilkins, Ross, Ali, Indrusaitis) rather than the Patriot League, WAC and Coastal, is a step in the right direction; plus, the return of Dort, Carr, Ruff & Yeanay, and the additions of Cooper and a legit Euro big in DD, and quality FR, gives them a chance. Look forward to your roster breakdown for a deep dive!
You got, what, 5 P4 non cons? Vs. USC, Vandy, @ Utah, Houston & Minnesota on neutral? Take care of all your gimmes, and gotta go at least 2-3….3-2 would be fantastic and set you up to Dance with a .500 ACC slate.
I'd rather test our mettle against real competition in non-conference play than to only play patsies. At least you know where you stand, plus this actually helps more with the NCAA committee than the other approach.
Agree that this year, a more challenging schedule with 5 Power Conference opponents is the right play.
I thought last year’s soft schedule though was perfect, given where the club was at. We all know the previous HC/AD bozos destroyed the program - MM and crew needed to taste some success, build some recruiting momentum, be in the national discussion for the first time in nearly a decade…IMO.
Hopefully Cal basketball is now healthy enough where they can continue to improve despite the schedule getting harder….we’ll see.
It was defensible last year, though IMO they could still have gotten one or two more challenging opponents on the schedule, just to help with the computer rankings.
Thanks BP!!
I know plenty of folks were down on the weak non-con schedule last year but the 12-1 was the only reason Cal was even in the NCAAT bubble discussion up until the brutal Pitt loss. Given the travel, NIL budgets, and baseline talent level of the ACC schools, .500 in conference is pretty much the ceiling for a still re-building Cal program. That’s likely good enough to Dance, if you take care of business in the non-conference. That’s going to be a helluva lot tougher to do this year.
The good news is the talent level on this roster is as high and deep as it’s been in Madsen’s Cal era. Grabbing transfers from P4 leagues like the SEC and ACC (Wilkins, Ross, Ali, Indrusaitis) rather than the Patriot League, WAC and Coastal, is a step in the right direction; plus, the return of Dort, Carr, Ruff & Yeanay, and the additions of Cooper and a legit Euro big in DD, and quality FR, gives them a chance. Look forward to your roster breakdown for a deep dive!
You got, what, 5 P4 non cons? Vs. USC, Vandy, @ Utah, Houston & Minnesota on neutral? Take care of all your gimmes, and gotta go at least 2-3….3-2 would be fantastic and set you up to Dance with a .500 ACC slate.
Pumped for this season!
Thank G*d for Cal basketball news! Been checking everyday for it. The mystery is killing me.
Anybody have any intel on how the MBB team is looking?
Working on the article this week. You'll see something once October hits.
Correction: the season finale is down on the farm. Cal hosts Furd on January 23.
I'd rather test our mettle against real competition in non-conference play than to only play patsies. At least you know where you stand, plus this actually helps more with the NCAA committee than the other approach.
Agree that this year, a more challenging schedule with 5 Power Conference opponents is the right play.
I thought last year’s soft schedule though was perfect, given where the club was at. We all know the previous HC/AD bozos destroyed the program - MM and crew needed to taste some success, build some recruiting momentum, be in the national discussion for the first time in nearly a decade…IMO.
Hopefully Cal basketball is now healthy enough where they can continue to improve despite the schedule getting harder….we’ll see.
It was defensible last year, though IMO they could still have gotten one or two more challenging opponents on the schedule, just to help with the computer rankings.