The coach got the players. Most good coaches can coach bad players somewhat, but Fox is a retread who has always thrived on (semi) talent, and can't coach up players. Can we please see the end of this as soon as possible?
After Mark Fox leaves, it'll be disheartening if he receives any job offer in college athletics anywhere in North America. If teams want to top out at his top level (Nevada/UGA) please give new coaches a chance.
I get it. Portland State and Oregon State are cannon fodder for Gonzaga and Duke in a tournament. I think I know who is going to be in the final. At least Oregon State gets a chance for revenge in the consolation game.
Oregon State is 3-1, but the loss is to Portland State. They take on Duke at home on Thanksgiving, so that will be interesting. Maybe they're improved. I believe they got to the Elite Eight a couple years ago.
I can see why basketball can thrive in more of a small-school atmosphere like Gonzaga and St. Mary's, but most Power 5 schools aren't doing as badly as Cal. I'd be interested to hear from Fox why he is having so much trouble restoring the program to respectability after the Wyking Jones period, although I can understand why he'd prefer not to comment on the topic.
You were right the first time. The problem is the players. There shouldn’t be a need to coach 3-pt defense. Defense is purely effort, and Cal’s was lacking. When a coach says “it’s on me”, he means “I coached the hell out of these guys and they came out & gave a lackluster effort”. Brown and Alajiki were good, worked hard, did a lot of good things. Lars works hard, but is not that coordinated, and still has no hands. Askew is playing like early Jordan Shepard - going 1 on 4, making lazy passes, showing poor judgement. He has physical talent, but it’s apparent why this 5* has shuffled from program to program. The fact that a few of his contested Hail Mary 3’s at the end of the game dropped shows shooting skill, but either light it up before the game is out of reach, or work on making your teammates better. A different coach is not going to turn this group into winners. Fox is correct that you need long, athletic players to win in today’s game, and which he is starting to get, but they are almost all missing the most essential skill-putting the ball in the damn basket.
Cal Men's Basketball: Southern Dominates Cal, 74-66.
So is he going to resign then?
Best for everyone
The coach got the players. Most good coaches can coach bad players somewhat, but Fox is a retread who has always thrived on (semi) talent, and can't coach up players. Can we please see the end of this as soon as possible?
After Mark Fox leaves, it'll be disheartening if he receives any job offer in college athletics anywhere in North America. If teams want to top out at his top level (Nevada/UGA) please give new coaches a chance.
Don't know what to say at this point. We are wandering in the wilderness with very few possible positive outcomes for the season.
I get it. Portland State and Oregon State are cannon fodder for Gonzaga and Duke in a tournament. I think I know who is going to be in the final. At least Oregon State gets a chance for revenge in the consolation game.
Oregon State is 3-1, but the loss is to Portland State. They take on Duke at home on Thanksgiving, so that will be interesting. Maybe they're improved. I believe they got to the Elite Eight a couple years ago.
Well they didn’t block. But they made up for it by not shooting
I can see why basketball can thrive in more of a small-school atmosphere like Gonzaga and St. Mary's, but most Power 5 schools aren't doing as badly as Cal. I'd be interested to hear from Fox why he is having so much trouble restoring the program to respectability after the Wyking Jones period, although I can understand why he'd prefer not to comment on the topic.
You were right the first time. The problem is the players. There shouldn’t be a need to coach 3-pt defense. Defense is purely effort, and Cal’s was lacking. When a coach says “it’s on me”, he means “I coached the hell out of these guys and they came out & gave a lackluster effort”. Brown and Alajiki were good, worked hard, did a lot of good things. Lars works hard, but is not that coordinated, and still has no hands. Askew is playing like early Jordan Shepard - going 1 on 4, making lazy passes, showing poor judgement. He has physical talent, but it’s apparent why this 5* has shuffled from program to program. The fact that a few of his contested Hail Mary 3’s at the end of the game dropped shows shooting skill, but either light it up before the game is out of reach, or work on making your teammates better. A different coach is not going to turn this group into winners. Fox is correct that you need long, athletic players to win in today’s game, and which he is starting to get, but they are almost all missing the most essential skill-putting the ball in the damn basket.
Gobears49
I think we cut it to six right before the game ended.
A good article might be what our starting lineup might be when we get Celestine back (f he can come back) and can play Clayton.