How can Cal keep up with the competition in the ACC? Louisville the other day signed a SG rated as top five in the portal. It is reported they will spend $10+ million on their Men's BB team this coming season. Cal athletics is not in a position to do that. Until this changes 500 seasons in FB and BB will be our baseline, I fear.
Good coaching is how we do it. Cal has the ability to build a program that can compete if the university wants to, the hole the program is in right now is just extremely mistimed. Step 1 is just making it to the dance first -- I think we're a bubble team this year (that's like 2nd 4 out) if we don't have all those injuries. With all the travel we're doing, the most important thing we need is depth.
This year *looked* better than last year, but our unfortunate guard play couldn't be overcome in ACC play. They had the individual skill sets, but were just undersized, not quick enough, etc., and were exposed last year. This year, we have 3 new guards coming in (hopefully 4), so we'll just have to see if next year also looks better than this year.
It starts with better execution on defense, specifically scheme, X’s and O’s, fundamentals, and technique. You don’t need a roster of 4 and 5 * kids to play solid defense.
Until we're able to recruit higher star bigs (which we currently are not), I'm not opposed to this grad transfer strategy. Madsen has shown the ability to pick out centers / fowards that are able to fill the specific roles he picked them for. While we haven't had bigs that can consistently take over games, I don't feel like it's ever been a weakness outside of depth. This way, we don't have to spend time developing 17-18 year olds while hoping they pan out -- we know what we're getting.
Where I'm more concerned with Madsen's recruiting work is around our guard play. Hopefully Dai Dai plus the two freshmen pan out.
Last year he improved his shooting but never got on the floor. My shooting comment is mainly from watching him during warmups. Maybe he could improve his strength and get some playing time next year.
I really mean no disrespect to these guys and anyone who wears the Cal jersey deserves our support, but again, Madsen talks about national championships and I don't see the sort of players capable of competing at the highest levels of the ACC or nationally in these players. We've been middling, and it seems we will remain middling. I've been hoping for more of a splash, and perhaps that is coming. Go Bears!
'Middling' is being extremely generous: in Mad Dog's first year of conference we were dead last; this year we were 15th out of 18. A 'middling' 9th place finish would be major improvement. (And same thing should be said for football.)
He has bought in Tyson and Andrej via the portal, players who could have gone anywhere. Ames had multiple top tier options and chose Cal. There are still plenty of big names out there that they are targeting.
Dai Dai is a solid add - he’s a P5 caliber player that brings a solid stroke and can defend on the perimeter. Ilic is a skilled big, albeit at a mid-major, that can hopefully stretch the floor a bit, and he’s more skilled as a passer than our bigs last year. Dorsey should fill a role, and he along with Campbell should hopefully see fewer mpg in a depth role.
Still plenty of work if they’re gonna make a push for the Dance, and the guys that stuck around need to improve.
I respect your insights and knowledge. Even Duke has role players who were from mid major sorts of schools. But they anchor their team around three freshman super stars who are NBA lottery picks. I realize we are not likely to make it to the final four next year, but in year 3 of a rebuild I would sure like to see us make the dance and win a first round game.
It’s certainly a huge season - year 3 of a regime after the 1st and 2nd year were pretty much carbon copies, albeit with massive roster upheaval.
There’s only 2 years of data with Mark at the Power conference level, but I agree - if Cal is going to play the style of basketball that Madsen has shown in his first 24-months here, they need an influsion of talent because it’s just too tough to win in the ACC, especially some of those Quad 1 games you gotta get to dance, with a roster comprised mostly of mid-major players. Not saying that mid-major kids can’t win at this level, but you need to execute so much better on both offense and defense (ie like Loyola Chicago a few years ago) than they have. Especially on D.
These adds are solid, but the roster still needs a couple more proven talents, and some returning players to take a real step forward, to feel at all comfortable with them even making a push for the Tournament. Another legit, Sissoko-type big with athleticism and a starting caliber 2-guard would be ideal….Aidan Mahaney anyone!!!
Agreed 100%. Not even close to good enough, especially against good/elite teams.
Of the games we played v Tournament teams (Vandy, Mizzou, SDSU, Clemson, Louisville, Duke, UNC), only Missouri was really competitive and I coulda swore we basically went the entire 2H without getting a stop…need to play at least competent defense to have any chance to dance.
I do still think he would be an asset to this roster given his pedigree and experience. Storrs didn’t work out and he may be looking to rehab that image in a spot where he can be the go-to guy….with Andrej in town, not sure that’s here.
How can Cal keep up with the competition in the ACC? Louisville the other day signed a SG rated as top five in the portal. It is reported they will spend $10+ million on their Men's BB team this coming season. Cal athletics is not in a position to do that. Until this changes 500 seasons in FB and BB will be our baseline, I fear.
Good coaching is how we do it. Cal has the ability to build a program that can compete if the university wants to, the hole the program is in right now is just extremely mistimed. Step 1 is just making it to the dance first -- I think we're a bubble team this year (that's like 2nd 4 out) if we don't have all those injuries. With all the travel we're doing, the most important thing we need is depth.
This year *looked* better than last year, but our unfortunate guard play couldn't be overcome in ACC play. They had the individual skill sets, but were just undersized, not quick enough, etc., and were exposed last year. This year, we have 3 new guards coming in (hopefully 4), so we'll just have to see if next year also looks better than this year.
It starts with better execution on defense, specifically scheme, X’s and O’s, fundamentals, and technique. You don’t need a roster of 4 and 5 * kids to play solid defense.
That too. But money talks. Big article in today's WSJ on Duke and how their comeback to the Final Four was fueled by $$$....https://www.wsj.com/sports/basketball/duke-cooper-flagg-nil-collective-ncaa-tournament-final-four-196aa6b1?mod=hp_listc_pos2
Solid perhaps, but to get out of the bottom 1/2 of the ACC, we are going to need to upgrade our talent level in a major way.
Looks solid but another Grad transfer with only one year (I think) left to play?
Just would hate having to do an almost complete reset every year.
I guess we have to get who we can get to win and then build a multi year team.
Until we're able to recruit higher star bigs (which we currently are not), I'm not opposed to this grad transfer strategy. Madsen has shown the ability to pick out centers / fowards that are able to fill the specific roles he picked them for. While we haven't had bigs that can consistently take over games, I don't feel like it's ever been a weakness outside of depth. This way, we don't have to spend time developing 17-18 year olds while hoping they pan out -- we know what we're getting.
Where I'm more concerned with Madsen's recruiting work is around our guard play. Hopefully Dai Dai plus the two freshmen pan out.
Any hope Devin Curtis has progressed into a rotation player?
Last year he improved his shooting but never got on the floor. My shooting comment is mainly from watching him during warmups. Maybe he could improve his strength and get some playing time next year.
He didn't play for around half the season due to injury.
Lost year due to injury so unlikely, unfortunately.
Would be nice tho
Tall boi, but would he be functioning like a center?
Hopefully can stretch the floor a bit, and he seems a decent passer for a big.
Need more size and interior athleticism.
I really mean no disrespect to these guys and anyone who wears the Cal jersey deserves our support, but again, Madsen talks about national championships and I don't see the sort of players capable of competing at the highest levels of the ACC or nationally in these players. We've been middling, and it seems we will remain middling. I've been hoping for more of a splash, and perhaps that is coming. Go Bears!
'Middling' is being extremely generous: in Mad Dog's first year of conference we were dead last; this year we were 15th out of 18. A 'middling' 9th place finish would be major improvement. (And same thing should be said for football.)
He has bought in Tyson and Andrej via the portal, players who could have gone anywhere. Ames had multiple top tier options and chose Cal. There are still plenty of big names out there that they are targeting.
That's what I'm hoping. Some splashy gets.
Dai Dai is a solid add - he’s a P5 caliber player that brings a solid stroke and can defend on the perimeter. Ilic is a skilled big, albeit at a mid-major, that can hopefully stretch the floor a bit, and he’s more skilled as a passer than our bigs last year. Dorsey should fill a role, and he along with Campbell should hopefully see fewer mpg in a depth role.
Still plenty of work if they’re gonna make a push for the Dance, and the guys that stuck around need to improve.
I respect your insights and knowledge. Even Duke has role players who were from mid major sorts of schools. But they anchor their team around three freshman super stars who are NBA lottery picks. I realize we are not likely to make it to the final four next year, but in year 3 of a rebuild I would sure like to see us make the dance and win a first round game.
It’s certainly a huge season - year 3 of a regime after the 1st and 2nd year were pretty much carbon copies, albeit with massive roster upheaval.
There’s only 2 years of data with Mark at the Power conference level, but I agree - if Cal is going to play the style of basketball that Madsen has shown in his first 24-months here, they need an influsion of talent because it’s just too tough to win in the ACC, especially some of those Quad 1 games you gotta get to dance, with a roster comprised mostly of mid-major players. Not saying that mid-major kids can’t win at this level, but you need to execute so much better on both offense and defense (ie like Loyola Chicago a few years ago) than they have. Especially on D.
These adds are solid, but the roster still needs a couple more proven talents, and some returning players to take a real step forward, to feel at all comfortable with them even making a push for the Tournament. Another legit, Sissoko-type big with athleticism and a starting caliber 2-guard would be ideal….Aidan Mahaney anyone!!!
I'm a bit scared of how bad his defense has been.
Agreed 100%. Not even close to good enough, especially against good/elite teams.
Of the games we played v Tournament teams (Vandy, Mizzou, SDSU, Clemson, Louisville, Duke, UNC), only Missouri was really competitive and I coulda swore we basically went the entire 2H without getting a stop…need to play at least competent defense to have any chance to dance.
Oh, sorry. I should have been clear -- I was talking about Mahaney.
Ah, ok true that. Point taken.
I do still think he would be an asset to this roster given his pedigree and experience. Storrs didn’t work out and he may be looking to rehab that image in a spot where he can be the go-to guy….with Andrej in town, not sure that’s here.
Solid add as well.
Agreed.