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Jimmy Chitwood's avatar

That W shows tangible progress. Beating a talented, Leonard Hamilton-coached FSU team with size and length…

Imagine this squad with a game-changer at the PG position next year…fingers crossed.

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BentPawn(Don)'s avatar

My bucket list item of "Getting shut down by Leonard Hamilton in a postgame press conference" can now be crossed off. He was grumpy after the game. I'll tell you the story over a beer when we cross paths again.

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Toohandy's avatar

The Bears played really good defense against the taller FSU players. Wilkinson was a real spark on offense. He should start from now on. Sissoko was outstanding both on defense and rebounding.

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Clifford Fewel's avatar

Great win! Is Coach Madsen’s mom still engaged with the program as she was last year? It was always fun to read her thoughts in these comments.

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BentPawn(Don)'s avatar

She has stayed away from commenting this year. We miss her as well.

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Clifford Fewel's avatar

Thank you. I trust she is well.

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ABA Ivan Davis's avatar

This is big. These guys came in one of the better teams in the Atlantic Coast Conference Winning 4 of the last 5 games. For the first time, Cal did not look Intimidated. They continue to stay in motion and attack. No standing still this game and it caused problems for florida state. This is a confidence-building game.

And we might see a run by cal coming up.Because Duke is around the corner , which will be another great test.

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Stanfurdstinks's avatar

It was about this time last year that Cal turned the corner...

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ABA Ivan Davis's avatar

Yep!

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AKBear's avatar

Go Bears! Hope to see a better turnout at Haas! Free T shirts!

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dcblue's avatar

When I tuned in it was definitely a sparse crowd.

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Stanfurdstinks's avatar

Pretty sad showing given that the semester just started. It seems that, after years of futility, the Cal fan base only shows up when we are on the W-train. Hopefully, the bandwagon will get in gear now.

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OaklandBear72's avatar

Attendance was 3,082. The winning (17-3) and ranked Cal women's basketball team would love that kind of support. Their W-train has plenty of seats available. Where are you, Cal fans??

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Stanfurdstinks's avatar

Well, there are other societal issues at play there that even a very progressive institution cannot overcome, it seems.

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Jimmy Chitwood's avatar

100% true.

Wonder how much unfamiliarity with the new ACC opponents might factor in…I mean, TF is Florida State doing in town? ;-)

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BentPawn(Don)'s avatar

I think it's also a factor that the students don't have high school friends going to ACC schools. Can no longer claim bragging rights over your pickup basketball buddy from gym class who ended up going to UCLA.

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Stanfurdstinks's avatar

Definitely could be a factor, though the fact that our biggest student turn-out last year was for a Bronny James U$C team, I think we have entered into a new realm of student body fandom.

Maybe we need influencer plants at each game to motivate them to come?

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Stanfurdstinks's avatar

I mean, if they have @olivacastaxx show up to a MBB game, I might just fly across the country for a seat!

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mrjpark's avatar

Kind of upset that we were able to pass like this the entire time.

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Finn's avatar

Awesome win! What hustle especially from Petraitis and Sissoko.

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Stanfurdstinks's avatar

Beyond the eye-popping offensive rebound numbers, we had 13 assists.

Anybody want to address the elephant in the room? ...the fact that they played better without Andrej. Funny how when the "best players" are out, other players often step up.

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BentPawn(Don)'s avatar

I prefer to say Cal won despite being without Andrej.

Andrej's shots went to Wilkinson, Campbell and Blacksher. We don't want Campbell and Blacksher to take 10+ shots per game as they did last night. FSU's 9 blocks were a season high, way above their normal 5 blocks. If Andrej was there, we would have had a better shooting night as he would not be at a size disadvantage as those 3 were.

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Stanfurdstinks's avatar

Thanks for the incite BentPawn and OC Bear.

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OC Bear's avatar

correlation is not causation. Of those that like to play hero ball on this team, I don't count Andrej in that category. Blacksher, on the other hand.....

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mrjpark's avatar

Our two PGs are the black holes, which is a bit concerning. Best passes / assists are coming from wings and forwards, lol.

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Stanfurdstinks's avatar

Also, any reading into the tea leaves about Benson's last Rodcast and the comment about the bench players not helping Andrej off the floor? Maybe nothing there (given the positive comments of the other starters) but it has my mind spinning a bit (maybe erroneously, but spinning, nonetheless).

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OC Bear's avatar

Wilkinson deserves to start over Blackshur who is still rushing his shot. Perhaps he needs some pine time to watch the faster P4 game.

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Jimmy Chitwood's avatar

Thanks BP!!

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