Mady Sissoko Center from Michigan State just transferred to cal! Mark Madsen isn’t playing and building a whole arse Avengers Squad 😭😭🔥 I rly hope this is just the beginning and we see cal going dancing again!!
This is good, Madsen has shown he knows how to work the portal. Hopefully this year's crew will stick around longer than some of last year's group did, they should have a better idea what to expect now.
I'm not trying to be a downer and maybe you guys can tell me why I am wrong, but I was really concerned with what appeared to be the lack of fundamentals last year. I was particularly concerned with giving up offensive rebounds, bad defense, really stupid reaching fouls, and the lack of offensive ball movement. The play was so inconsistent. My daughter is a student and die hard Cal fan and we would talk after these games. We were like how the hell did we just win that game. We would say on some days Cal could beat any team in the country but on other days we couldn't beat her high-school girls JV team. And after the epic collapse to Stanford, I had a horrible feeling and was not shocked by the quick exit of almost every remaining player.
So now I am shocked and overjoyed that Madsen has redeemed himself in such a huge way. I really want to hear your thoughts on my comments about the fundamentals.
“Downerism” without a surfeit of f-bombs and articulated from an informed perspective; It’s what gets the conversation going, as evidenced by this very thread. Much appreciated!
Also, unfortunately in this day and age, we're seeing transfers run wild in both bball and football, but that's an overall trend. Transfer numbers are up everywhere, so while the mass exodus was a bit jarring, it's not just our school's problem. Really it may be a blessing that the new coaching staff got to reload so quickly with players that may be more suitable to how they want to play.
A team with a bunch of new faces will need time to gel, which is not something the team had last year. They had a bunch of transfers and players recruited and coached by the previous coaching staff. Hard to blame coach Madsen for their fundamentals (or lack thereof, in your opinion). He took a team from the depths and got us some nice wins last year despite some tough losses. More importantly for me, he has revitalized and energized the Cal fan base. Did all that in one year, let the man cook, don't be a Debbie downer unnecessarily.
Honestly I think his enthusiasm and standing in the basketball world is the most important thing that we need at this point. Cal basketball was pretty much dead and he single handedly revived us. So yes I'll stop the downerism. Was just curious because I felt like a lone voice last year with some of my criticisms. Go Bears!
Just when I thought Madsen had completly blown it with the epic end of year fail, he has completely redeemed himself! I wish we could get Jalen Celestine to come back, and maybe Devin Askew.
Thanks for the update. I got really scared with the pitiful ending of the season. And when literally the entire team jumped ship I thought Madsen had lost the faith. What do you know about Aiden Mahaney? I haven't seen Cal mentioned as a possibility.
I’d just say we gotta keep the faith with Madsen. This is a long term play. You can’t abandon a coach so quickly after a bad stretch. That said, glad to have you back!
I think you should just accept the good right now and let the building happen. Rebuilding the fan base is something that was near impossible. Madsen is doing it. He is turning around trends and I think he has a long term plan. I choose to trust this long term plan.
At some point it’ll probably get annoying that I keep saying this, but we are so happy that your son is here. He has truly given so many of us hope when it felt like all was lost with this program not long ago. If there is ever anything this community can do to make sure you know this is your home, you just let us know.
Rough idea of roster (2 scholarships pending). My assumption is Andrej and Rytis are guaranteed starters, but I'm less sure about the others pending further commitments. Insiders are aware of various transfer targets. I'm currently aware of PG Aidan Mahaney, who'd presumably start, and PF/C Mady Sissoko, who'd also presumably start. Looks like we need one more big and one more not-big.
Starters:
PG - Christian Tucker - Presumably Mahaney would overtake Tucker
Wing - Andrej Stojakovic
Wing - Rytis Petraitis
Someone - no idea if they'll want another guard, wing or big to round things out, but presumably one of the transfers would take this spot.
Big - <Mady Sissoko> (not committed, but discussed and 247 crystal ball'd)
Depth:
Guard - DJ Campbell (transfer), Jeremiah Wilkinson (high school), Vladimir Pavlovic (incumbent)
Wing - Joshua Ola-Joseph (transfer), Jeff Nwankwo (transfer)
Big - Lee Dort (transfer), BJ Omot (transfer), Devin Curtis (incumbent)
Where did you hear that Mahaney was considering Cal? I looked up his transfer status and didn't see Cal on the list of possibilities. I hope you're right.
Mady Sissoko Center from Michigan State just transferred to cal! Mark Madsen isn’t playing and building a whole arse Avengers Squad 😭😭🔥 I rly hope this is just the beginning and we see cal going dancing again!!
#MarchMadDogMadness
This is good, Madsen has shown he knows how to work the portal. Hopefully this year's crew will stick around longer than some of last year's group did, they should have a better idea what to expect now.
I'm not trying to be a downer and maybe you guys can tell me why I am wrong, but I was really concerned with what appeared to be the lack of fundamentals last year. I was particularly concerned with giving up offensive rebounds, bad defense, really stupid reaching fouls, and the lack of offensive ball movement. The play was so inconsistent. My daughter is a student and die hard Cal fan and we would talk after these games. We were like how the hell did we just win that game. We would say on some days Cal could beat any team in the country but on other days we couldn't beat her high-school girls JV team. And after the epic collapse to Stanford, I had a horrible feeling and was not shocked by the quick exit of almost every remaining player.
So now I am shocked and overjoyed that Madsen has redeemed himself in such a huge way. I really want to hear your thoughts on my comments about the fundamentals.
“Downerism” without a surfeit of f-bombs and articulated from an informed perspective; It’s what gets the conversation going, as evidenced by this very thread. Much appreciated!
Also, unfortunately in this day and age, we're seeing transfers run wild in both bball and football, but that's an overall trend. Transfer numbers are up everywhere, so while the mass exodus was a bit jarring, it's not just our school's problem. Really it may be a blessing that the new coaching staff got to reload so quickly with players that may be more suitable to how they want to play.
Yes. Look what's happened at Stanford. Mass exits from their basketball and football programs.
A team with a bunch of new faces will need time to gel, which is not something the team had last year. They had a bunch of transfers and players recruited and coached by the previous coaching staff. Hard to blame coach Madsen for their fundamentals (or lack thereof, in your opinion). He took a team from the depths and got us some nice wins last year despite some tough losses. More importantly for me, he has revitalized and energized the Cal fan base. Did all that in one year, let the man cook, don't be a Debbie downer unnecessarily.
Honestly I think his enthusiasm and standing in the basketball world is the most important thing that we need at this point. Cal basketball was pretty much dead and he single handedly revived us. So yes I'll stop the downerism. Was just curious because I felt like a lone voice last year with some of my criticisms. Go Bears!
I get the downerism, being a bear, we've had some tough times, it's hard to not have some skepticism. I appreciate your opinion. Go bears!
A little over 13 months ago, Cal hired Mark Madsen off a 3-29 season.
Pretty remarkable what has transpired since. What a ride.
Just when I thought Madsen had completly blown it with the epic end of year fail, he has completely redeemed himself! I wish we could get Jalen Celestine to come back, and maybe Devin Askew.
Askew committed to Long Beach State, which is a better fit for him.
Celestine could have stayed but chose not too. He’s probably not starting on this team though.
Thanks for the update. I got really scared with the pitiful ending of the season. And when literally the entire team jumped ship I thought Madsen had lost the faith. What do you know about Aiden Mahaney? I haven't seen Cal mentioned as a possibility.
I’d just say we gotta keep the faith with Madsen. This is a long term play. You can’t abandon a coach so quickly after a bad stretch. That said, glad to have you back!
I just submitted a long post with some of my concerns from last year. I really want to believe that I'm wrong.
I think you should just accept the good right now and let the building happen. Rebuilding the fan base is something that was near impossible. Madsen is doing it. He is turning around trends and I think he has a long term plan. I choose to trust this long term plan.
Mahaney is a possibility, but hearing it would be a surprise. Visited Kentucky this weekend.
A recruiting site is predicting Mady Sissoko, an athletic PF/C from Michigan State is leaning towards Cal, which would leave 1 scholarship left.
Cal could probably use another proven big man, or a ball handler.
But this Coaching staff, as well as the Cal community through NIL support, has really done a helluva job the past 2 weeks.
That’s right, bi-atch…….es!!!!!!!
Having followed Cal basketball for 65 years this news is really great! I'm so impressed with what a quality man Cal has in Madsen !
I am pleasantly SHOCKED at how quickly my faith has been restored in Cal Basketball. Despite moving to such a powerful basketball conference.
And thank you W4C staff for sticking with the coverage even when it was so thankless.
Oh my! Oh my! This is such long hoped for great news! I think I might faint.
Congratulations to everyone on the totally fabulous team which is being created before our wondering eyes. Magnificent !!!
At some point it’ll probably get annoying that I keep saying this, but we are so happy that your son is here. He has truly given so many of us hope when it felt like all was lost with this program not long ago. If there is ever anything this community can do to make sure you know this is your home, you just let us know.
I’m unreasonably excited about this basketball season, and hearing what else comes out of the portal for us!
Tucker
Omot
Stoj
Rystis
BIG TBA-Likeley Sissoko
If we land Mahaney then Tucker sits.
https://spartanswire.usatoday.com/lists/possible-landing-spots-for-mady-sissoko-in-the-transfer-portal/
Could be somewhat of a repeat as last year though and struggle against the longer teams with this squad …especially in ACC.
This is a much deeper team than last year. Our top two were great but it got thin really quick for our roster.
Would love one more big, in addition to Mady.
Just going to drop this here (again). Go Bears!
http://spot.fund/CALegendsMensBasketball
Nearly $400K raised with a goal of $500k by the end of the month! Pretty sure 30k came from just this weekend. Let's close this class.
Rough idea of roster (2 scholarships pending). My assumption is Andrej and Rytis are guaranteed starters, but I'm less sure about the others pending further commitments. Insiders are aware of various transfer targets. I'm currently aware of PG Aidan Mahaney, who'd presumably start, and PF/C Mady Sissoko, who'd also presumably start. Looks like we need one more big and one more not-big.
Starters:
PG - Christian Tucker - Presumably Mahaney would overtake Tucker
Wing - Andrej Stojakovic
Wing - Rytis Petraitis
Someone - no idea if they'll want another guard, wing or big to round things out, but presumably one of the transfers would take this spot.
Big - <Mady Sissoko> (not committed, but discussed and 247 crystal ball'd)
Depth:
Guard - DJ Campbell (transfer), Jeremiah Wilkinson (high school), Vladimir Pavlovic (incumbent)
Wing - Joshua Ola-Joseph (transfer), Jeff Nwankwo (transfer)
Big - Lee Dort (transfer), BJ Omot (transfer), Devin Curtis (incumbent)
Where did you hear that Mahaney was considering Cal? I looked up his transfer status and didn't see Cal on the list of possibilities. I hope you're right.
All is holy and Rytis in this world!
This guy is really good. Not the flashiest player but you need guys who know how to contribute in all facets of the game.
Love it!!! Solid team he has rapidly assembled . GO BEARS!