Because of the late start, I've got a bit more time between my actual job and game time.
So let's get this game thread going a bit early.
Cal is 2-8 in conference play and ASU is 1-5. The league standings are a bit wonky because of the different amount of games played (as can be seen in Cal and ASU's conference records above). But most standings have Cal and ASU at the bottom of the Pac-12.
If Cal can pull off the win tonight, that'll move them from 11th, where they are now, to ninth, displacing the Washington schools, which are each 2-7. That should be motivation enough to start the desert trip with a win.
Some thoughts as we await tip-off:
How healthy is Bradley? As covered in our preview of the ASU/Arizona games, not fully healthy. Fox indicated he didn't think Matt would be back to full-health for the rest of the season. It clearly showed in his return against USC as Bradley scored 11 points in 24 minutes, going 5-of-14 from the field, including 1-of-6 from three-point range while committing four fouls.
Bradley has been the best this year at attacking downhill and drawing the defense and fouls. ASU fouls a lot (ranking No. 327 for opponent free-throw to field goal rate). If the outside shot isn't falling like it hasn't been this year for Bradley, is his ankle feeling good enough to attack and draw some fouls (he didn't attempt a free-throw against USC)?
Stopping Remy Martin and Alonzo Verge. Both seniors have been brutal to Cal over the years. Verge, who is leading the Sun Devils in three-point percentage and is the returning Pac-12 Sixth Man of the Year, didn't play when the teams met in Berkeley last December. But he'll suit up tonight. Meanwhile, Martin did what Martin always seems to do to the Bears and dropped 22 points, leading all scorers and out-dueling Cal's Bradley.
If the Bears want to stay in this and have a chance and pulling off the win, they'll need to keep these two in check.
Turnovers and threes. Two of the biggest equalizers in college hoops. Arizona State has been bad at guarding the three (opponents are shooting 36.3% from long-range against them), but good at turning teams over (turnover rate of 22.1%, No. 45 in the country).
Cal, however, has been worse at guarding the three, giving up 40.7% to opponents and 42.5% to Pac-12 foes. The Sun Devils are one of the worst three-point shooting teams in the league, but have guys like Verge and stretch-four freshman Marcus Bagley that are capable of going off.
The team that can control the ball and knock down some threes early will gain the upper-hand in this one.
Pace. ASU plays fast (like No. 15 in the nation for pace). Cal plays slow (like No. 314 in the nation for pace). It'll be interesting to see which team can enforce its will. When the teams met in Berkeley, the pace was 71 possessions. That was ASU's second-slowest game of the year (Oregon State played them to 64 possessions). And it was probably a bit too fast. If Cal can keep the pace in the 65 to 70 possession range, it'll be helpful. If the pace is edging towards above 70, Cal is letting itself get sucked too much into how ASU wants to play.
Go Bears!
So let's get this game thread going a bit early.
Cal is 2-8 in conference play and ASU is 1-5. The league standings are a bit wonky because of the different amount of games played (as can be seen in Cal and ASU's conference records above). But most standings have Cal and ASU at the bottom of the Pac-12.
If Cal can pull off the win tonight, that'll move them from 11th, where they are now, to ninth, displacing the Washington schools, which are each 2-7. That should be motivation enough to start the desert trip with a win.
Some thoughts as we await tip-off:
How healthy is Bradley? As covered in our preview of the ASU/Arizona games, not fully healthy. Fox indicated he didn't think Matt would be back to full-health for the rest of the season. It clearly showed in his return against USC as Bradley scored 11 points in 24 minutes, going 5-of-14 from the field, including 1-of-6 from three-point range while committing four fouls.
Bradley has been the best this year at attacking downhill and drawing the defense and fouls. ASU fouls a lot (ranking No. 327 for opponent free-throw to field goal rate). If the outside shot isn't falling like it hasn't been this year for Bradley, is his ankle feeling good enough to attack and draw some fouls (he didn't attempt a free-throw against USC)?
Stopping Remy Martin and Alonzo Verge. Both seniors have been brutal to Cal over the years. Verge, who is leading the Sun Devils in three-point percentage and is the returning Pac-12 Sixth Man of the Year, didn't play when the teams met in Berkeley last December. But he'll suit up tonight. Meanwhile, Martin did what Martin always seems to do to the Bears and dropped 22 points, leading all scorers and out-dueling Cal's Bradley.
If the Bears want to stay in this and have a chance and pulling off the win, they'll need to keep these two in check.
Turnovers and threes. Two of the biggest equalizers in college hoops. Arizona State has been bad at guarding the three (opponents are shooting 36.3% from long-range against them), but good at turning teams over (turnover rate of 22.1%, No. 45 in the country).
Cal, however, has been worse at guarding the three, giving up 40.7% to opponents and 42.5% to Pac-12 foes. The Sun Devils are one of the worst three-point shooting teams in the league, but have guys like Verge and stretch-four freshman Marcus Bagley that are capable of going off.
The team that can control the ball and knock down some threes early will gain the upper-hand in this one.
Pace. ASU plays fast (like No. 15 in the nation for pace). Cal plays slow (like No. 314 in the nation for pace). It'll be interesting to see which team can enforce its will. When the teams met in Berkeley, the pace was 71 possessions. That was ASU's second-slowest game of the year (Oregon State played them to 64 possessions). And it was probably a bit too fast. If Cal can keep the pace in the 65 to 70 possession range, it'll be helpful. If the pace is edging towards above 70, Cal is letting itself get sucked too much into how ASU wants to play.
Go Bears!
