HoopDreams said:

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Sam has exceeded my expectations for him already. I wasn't expecting any of the freshmen to have a big impact yet, but Alajiki is a hooper

First, he's got a nice catch and shoot and FT form

And his defense stood out

His ability to defend a lightning quick guard was a revelation for this team (and coach)

Before this game, he would have been behind both Kelly and Grant so his minutes would have been very limited

But if he can defend a guard/wing and shoot the trey, he can get more minutes

And I absolutely love the fire he plays with. He was even intense after the game when he was leaving the court

That type of fire and swagger is important for a team

https://instagr.am/p/CWemG7SpPNV

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Agreed. I had a really good feeling about him when we signed him, but then was advised to temper expectations. We needed at least 1 wing to "break out" (assuming Celestine is healthy). I'm sold. He should start over Shepard for multiple reasons.

calumnus said:

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HoopDreams said:

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Sam has exceeded my expectations for him already. I wasn't expecting any of the freshmen to have a big impact yet, but Alajiki is a hooper

First, he's got a nice catch and shoot and FT form

And his defense stood out

His ability to defend a lightning quick guard was a revelation for this team (and coach)

Before this game, he would have been behind both Kelly and Grant so his minutes would have been very limited

But if he can defend a guard/wing and shoot the trey, he can get more minutes

And I absolutely love the fire he plays with. He was even intense after the game when he was leaving the court

That type of fire and swagger is important for a team

https://instagr.am/p/CWemG7SpPNV

---

Agreed. I had a really good feeling about him when we signed him, but then was advised to temper expectations. We needed at least 1 wing to "break out" (assuming Celestine is healthy). I'm sold. He should start over Shepard for multiple reasons.

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I know I'm being technical here, but in reality the "start" label isn't as important as minutes played. Wherever Sam fits into the rotation, we need him on the court A LOT..

RedlessWardrobe said:

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calumnus said:

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HoopDreams said:

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Sam has exceeded my expectations for him already. I wasn't expecting any of the freshmen to have a big impact yet, but Alajiki is a hooper

First, he's got a nice catch and shoot and FT form

And his defense stood out

His ability to defend a lightning quick guard was a revelation for this team (and coach)

Before this game, he would have been behind both Kelly and Grant so his minutes would have been very limited

But if he can defend a guard/wing and shoot the trey, he can get more minutes

And I absolutely love the fire he plays with. He was even intense after the game when he was leaving the court

That type of fire and swagger is important for a team

https://instagr.am/p/CWemG7SpPNV

---

Agreed. I had a really good feeling about him when we signed him, but then was advised to temper expectations. We needed at least 1 wing to "break out" (assuming Celestine is healthy). I'm sold. He should start over Shepard for multiple reasons.

---

I know I'm being technical here, but in reality the "start" label isn't as important as minutes played. Wherever Sam fits into the rotation, we need him on the court A LOT..

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Agreed, it is minutes and combos. That said, I like Alajiki getting major minutes and playing with the other starters (Kelly, GA, Brown, Celestine). Part of what is going to make Cal basketball worth watching this year and give us some hope for the future is development of the young players. Alajiki is fun. Cal basketball needs more fun.

Shepard is a good second unit PG, you can put him on the floor with Lars and other non-scorers and he will run point and provide scoring.

Knowlton could at least be helpful here by saying to Fox: "Start playing Sam maximum minutes or you are going to be fired at midseason."

I'm ambivalent about Fox but I'm sure Knowlton should not be offering basketball coaching advice to anyone.

stu said:

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I'm ambivalent about Fox but I'm sure Knowlton should not be offering basketball coaching advice to anyone.

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I am not a fan of Fox but yeah, Knowlton clearly knows nothing about basketball and cares little. Even when interviewed at Big Game he said something like "The one day a year when these two great universities compete"

calumnus said:

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stu said:

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I'm ambivalent about Fox but I'm sure Knowlton should not be offering basketball coaching advice to anyone.

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I am not a fan of Fox but yeah, Knowlton clearly knows nothing about basketball and cares little. Even when interviewed at Big Game he said something like "The one day a year when these two great universities compete"

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I would normally be tempted to say I want to hear the sound byte for myself. But I can totally believe he said this. I guess having such a pedigree of military and academic excellence doesn't necessarily translate to an AD job at Cal.

stu said:

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I'm ambivalent about Fox but I'm sure Knowlton should not be offering basketball coaching advice to anyone.

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Or offering hockey advice to the basketball team.

Our basketball team could use a goalkeeper.

4thGenCal said:

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KoreAmBear said:

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calumnus said:

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stu said:

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I'm ambivalent about Fox but I'm sure Knowlton should not be offering basketball coaching advice to anyone.

---

I am not a fan of Fox but yeah, Knowlton clearly knows nothing about basketball and cares little. Even when interviewed at Big Game he said something like "The one day a year when these two great universities compete"

---

I would normally be tempted to say I want to hear the sound byte for myself. But I can totally believe he said this. I guess having such a pedigree of military and academic excellence doesn't necessarily translate to an AD job at Cal.

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I would want to hear the sound byte as well, as He strongly supports all of the sports and is a tireless advocate for Cal.(not to say mistakes have not been made, but the budget is balanced and the majority of the donors respect him) Good news is that Knowlton has secured all the necessary approvals (numerous levels/campus committee's/Chancellor etc) to pursue the much needed practice facility. Now architectural plans are being formally drawn up. It will be multi use facility for both basketball teams and gymnastics at a minimum)

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Whoa. Are you saying we're at some point going to spend tens of millions on a dedicated basketball practice facility that's not dedicated to basketball? So we tell the five-star recruit he can come in any time, day or night, to work on his game... unless the pommel horse is out there?

Or would it be a separate area for gymnastics? Wait, didn't we give up gymnastics years ago?

> Or would it be a separate area for gymnastics? Wait, didn't we give up gymnastics years ago?

hey-hey..
https://calbears.com/sports/womens-gymnastics/schedule
https://calbears.com/news/2021/4/16/womens-gymnastics-cal-earns-nine-all-american-awards.aspx

Big C said:

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4thGenCal said:

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KoreAmBear said:

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calumnus said:

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stu said:

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I'm ambivalent about Fox but I'm sure Knowlton should not be offering basketball coaching advice to anyone.

---

I am not a fan of Fox but yeah, Knowlton clearly knows nothing about basketball and cares little. Even when interviewed at Big Game he said something like "The one day a year when these two great universities compete"

---

I would normally be tempted to say I want to hear the sound byte for myself. But I can totally believe he said this. I guess having such a pedigree of military and academic excellence doesn't necessarily translate to an AD job at Cal.

---

I would want to hear the sound byte as well, as He strongly supports all of the sports and is a tireless advocate for Cal.(not to say mistakes have not been made, but the budget is balanced and the majority of the donors respect him) Good news is that Knowlton has secured all the necessary approvals (numerous levels/campus committee's/Chancellor etc) to pursue the much needed practice facility. Now architectural plans are being formally drawn up. It will be multi use facility for both basketball teams and gymnastics at a minimum)

---

Whoa. Are you saying we're at some point going to spend tens of millions on a dedicated basketball practice facility that's not dedicated to basketball? So we tell the five-star recruit he can come in any time, day or night, to work on his game... unless the pommel horse is out there?

Or would it be a separate area for gymnastics? Wait, didn't we give up gymnastics years ago?

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Two things.

First - Women's Basketball is basketball. Also if the volleyballs are stored in baskets, well . . .. you see where I'm going with this.

Second - if I was an elite Men's basketball recruit and I was told that the dedicated practice facility had to be shared with WOMENs basketball and WOMENd volloeyball , well . . . . I would probably be OK with that

BeachedBear said:

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Big C said:

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4thGenCal said:

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KoreAmBear said:

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calumnus said:

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stu said:

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I'm ambivalent about Fox but I'm sure Knowlton should not be offering basketball coaching advice to anyone.

---

I am not a fan of Fox but yeah, Knowlton clearly knows nothing about basketball and cares little. Even when interviewed at Big Game he said something like "The one day a year when these two great universities compete"

---

I would normally be tempted to say I want to hear the sound byte for myself. But I can totally believe he said this. I guess having such a pedigree of military and academic excellence doesn't necessarily translate to an AD job at Cal.

---

I would want to hear the sound byte as well, as He strongly supports all of the sports and is a tireless advocate for Cal.(not to say mistakes have not been made, but the budget is balanced and the majority of the donors respect him) Good news is that Knowlton has secured all the necessary approvals (numerous levels/campus committee's/Chancellor etc) to pursue the much needed practice facility. Now architectural plans are being formally drawn up. It will be multi use facility for both basketball teams and gymnastics at a minimum)

---

Whoa. Are you saying we're at some point going to spend tens of millions on a dedicated basketball practice facility that's not dedicated to basketball? So we tell the five-star recruit he can come in any time, day or night, to work on his game... unless the pommel horse is out there?

Or would it be a separate area for gymnastics? Wait, didn't we give up gymnastics years ago?

---

Two things.

First - Women's Basketball is basketball. Also if the volleyballs are stored in baskets, well . . .. you see where I'm going with this.

Second - if I was an elite Men's basketball recruit and I was told that the dedicated practice facility had to be shared with WOMENs basketball and WOMENd volloeyball , well . . . . I would probably be OK with that

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exactly! you might have to hang out with 20-30 in shape college women when your stretching and getting ready for practice. is that gonna be a problem?

smh said:

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> Or would it be a separate area for gymnastics? Wait, didn't we give up gymnastics years ago?

hey-hey..
https://calbears.com/sports/womens-gymnastics/schedule
https://calbears.com/news/2021/4/16/womens-gymnastics-cal-earns-nine-all-american-awards.aspx

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Am I losing my mind or did we AT ONE POINT IN TIME drop at least men's gymnastics? (I see we have mens and womens now.)

BeachedBear said:

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Big C said:

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4thGenCal said:

---

KoreAmBear said:

---

calumnus said:

---

stu said:

---

I'm ambivalent about Fox but I'm sure Knowlton should not be offering basketball coaching advice to anyone.

---

I am not a fan of Fox but yeah, Knowlton clearly knows nothing about basketball and cares little. Even when interviewed at Big Game he said something like "The one day a year when these two great universities compete"

---

I would normally be tempted to say I want to hear the sound byte for myself. But I can totally believe he said this. I guess having such a pedigree of military and academic excellence doesn't necessarily translate to an AD job at Cal.

---

I would want to hear the sound byte as well, as He strongly supports all of the sports and is a tireless advocate for Cal.(not to say mistakes have not been made, but the budget is balanced and the majority of the donors respect him) Good news is that Knowlton has secured all the necessary approvals (numerous levels/campus committee's/Chancellor etc) to pursue the much needed practice facility. Now architectural plans are being formally drawn up. It will be multi use facility for both basketball teams and gymnastics at a minimum)

---

Whoa. Are you saying we're at some point going to spend tens of millions on a dedicated basketball practice facility that's not dedicated to basketball? So we tell the five-star recruit he can come in any time, day or night, to work on his game... unless the pommel horse is out there?

Or would it be a separate area for gymnastics? Wait, didn't we give up gymnastics years ago?

---

Two things.

First - Women's Basketball is basketball. Also if the volleyballs are stored in baskets, well . . .. you see where I'm going with this.

Second - if I was an elite Men's basketball recruit and I was told that the dedicated practice facility had to be shared with WOMENs basketball and WOMENd volloeyball , well . . . . I would probably be OK with that

---

Two things.

First - I get that, in this day and age, we can't build a fancy practice facility for men's basketball and not include women's. Didn't say otherwise. I'm totally missing where you're going with the volleyball thing.

Second - Isn't the point of a dedicated practice facility that we can tell basketball recruits we have this cool place where they can go to work on their game any time, 24/7, 365? (and then they benefit from actually doing that) If it can be big enough that it can also accommodate space for other sports fine, but isn't this something that we're building for potential revenue sports (mans/womens basketball)? The other sports can benefit by using the floors in Haas and RSF that basketball no longer needs to use.

In short, as long as the men's basketball team has a dedicated facility that they can use any time they want, I don't care what other teams also have their own spaces in the facility. If they benefit, too, great, but not at the expense of the primary goal here: Men's basketball.


Edit: BeachedBear, sorry for the possible hint of sarcasm in this post; I am also watching us lose to Florida and it's putting me in a bad mood.

> Am I losing my mind or did we AT ONE POINT IN TIME drop at least men's gymnastics? (I see we have mens and womens now.)

that was my memory too, yet pac-12.org lists us among 5 conference squads
https://pac-12.com/sport/mens-gymnastics
Arizona State, California, Oregon State, Stanford, Washington

calbears too..
https://calbears.com/sports/mens-gymnastics/roster
# go figure