The foul call on 2K. Perhaps it was technically correct but if it was the rule it doesn't make sense. Since CBB has incorporated this whole process of the elbow play, and the video review, I for one have been sickened by it. I try to be as politically correct as the next guy (understand the injury factor) but more times than not since its implementation, I have seen players unjustly called for this "fragrant" foul more than there should be.
When I was in high school my coach addressed the rule pertaining to "elbow swinging." His instruction was that a player could possess the ball with his elbows out, and what determined a possible foul was whether his elbows were "swinging" side to side, as opposed to the player "pivoting", with his feet, causing his elbows to move. There should always be a natural zone of possession that the player holding the ball should be entitled to that allows him to manuever. Evidently, the current rule restricts a player from rebounding with his elbows out. What technically qualifies as "elbows out?" What amazes me is that Kuany is called for a "flagrant one" when initially he wasn't even called for a foul. Why is that? Because most of these refs subconciously view the elbow issue the same way my high school coach addressed it. Just can't stand what I saw, and I know I will be seeing it again.
That being said, the Bears were on their way to losing anyway. Like many, really like MacLean as a commentator, and even though he has a tendency to over emphasize things, his issue with Cal's constant unchanging style of play is completely relevant.
In the games this team has won recently, the Bears were able to dictate the style of play basically from beginning to end. This is where SoCal's "talent factor" comes in. If you can't adjust your strategy in certain situations it will almost certainly the restrict the number of games you win. Fox has taught the Bears well in games where they match up athletically, but when a team like Washington speeds up play like last night the Bears have shown no ability to adjust. Its like having a car that runs well in 4th gear on a moderate freeway, but on a faster freeway the Bears have no "overdrive" capacity. They just simply keep playing their same game. A coach needs to teach a team to adapt to certain situations. So far I haven't seen that from Mark Fox.
Other observations: despite the horrific foul call, the disparity was really due to the fact that Washington played zone the entire game while the Bears were in a man to man.
I thought we would have been better prepared against a zone, since we have decent outside shooters, but except for the last 10 minutes of the first half it didn't look like it.
Really like Celestine's game. Solid combination of talent and basketball smarts out there. Wish we had five of him in different ht/wt dimensions.
I guess that's enough for now.