Pac-12 Conference Opener Looms

Cal men’s basketball coach Mark Fox held a short media availability Tuesday prior to the conference opener against USC at Haas Wednesday evening.

What news there was, wasn’t terribly encouraging for Cal fans. Opening the season 0-7 puts them in a small group of just 7 D-1 teams that are winless on the year.

Things will not get any easier going forward. USC comes to town this week to start the early Pac-12 season, with a road contest at #4 Arizona to follow this weekend.

It’s instructive to note that nearly 25% of the press conference was taken up discussing who will NOT be playing against the teams they face this week. One overriding theme for this season has been the injury report – and it’s only getting slightly more depressing with each passing game.

Here is Fox’s injury report, heavily loaded with backcourt players:

Jarred Hyder will have surgery that will essentially end his season.

Josh Ragsdale was lost (for the season) earlier to knee surgery.

DeJuan Clayton (transfer from Coppin State) – there’s been no update on his return to play.

Jalen Celestine obviously still out.

Sam Alajiki has been in concussion protocol and didn’t play the other night.

Marcellus Roberson has basically been game-to-game.

Six guys. 40% of the projected starting lineup. The leading returning scorer from last season. And, a 1,500-point scorer from the transfer portal.

Here’s how a decidedly subdued Fox put the injury situation: “Celestine and Hyder projected as starters. Not having them has hurt us offensively. That’s been a challenge for us.

“Hyder’s injury – when we knew we wouldn’t have Celestine early, his ability to handle the ball and score was important to our team and we don’t have that. Offensively, we’ve really struggled and we are having to reinvent how we are playing because we essentially have two guards who are trying to manage everything.

“We need to become more productive on the offensive end, more efficient. We’ve turned it over way too much. We’ve got some challenges there. Hopefully, we will get DeJuan back, his scoring, his experience, everything else, but we just haven’t seen the progress in his rehab we had hoped for.

“In the meantime, we will continue to try to find some lineups that can give us some offense. Obviously, with Sam going out the other night, that became even more difficult because we missed his shooting. It’s certainly an area where we have to improve.”

Asked how he would respond to fans who have made their frustration known through their absence, Fox did not avoid the issue.

“I understand people are frustrated. We are frustrated. We are trying to make it better. We scheduled a game for the same time as the pep rally for the Big Game. Everyone is frustrated. I just ask that people direct their frustration at me and not at the players

“To be honest, we don’t worry about outside opinions. We understand people are frustrated like us. Our focus is on trying to get people healthy, because that will make us better, so that is where we put our energies.”

The one bright spot this season has been Devin Askew.  A junior transfer from Kentucky and Texas, Askew is the lone Golden Bear to score in double figures every game and averages 16.7 ppg.

Fox praised Askew’s effort and performance thus far, “We are asking Devin to do far more than is fair. We’ve asked him to handle the ball a ton. Asking him and Joel Brown to play 30+ minutes a night with no other true guards.

“There have been games where they wore down, but Devin has been very productive. He’s learning a new system, but he will only continue to get better. If we can get healthy and find some other guys to finish a few plays, it will take a little of the focus of the defense away from him. He’s certainly seen the lion’s share of people’s intention to stop us. I think that’s hurt his numbers a little bit.

“If you had DeJuan and Jalen, your best two scoring wings, on the floor, that would allow the shots that Devin gets to be a little cleaner, and it would give him other people to throw it to. But he continues to have the right approach, and he’s a great young man.”

When asked how, with so many obstacles already placed in their way, he prepares his team mentally to face two solid top-tier teams, the Bears’ coach was straightforward. “Our team understands the situation. When you only have 8 or 9 guys in practice, when you have to go out and get someone to join the floor for practice – they understand the challenges and they have been very resilient. Obviously, they are frustrated, but they’ve had a pretty mature and focused approach. I think adversity can bring you together  -- obviously, we’ve had a heavy dose of that – but they continue to do the right things and I’ve been pleased with that.”

In keeping with how the season has unfolded to date, Fox wrapped the conference by saying “I do not know yet if (Sam) Alajiki will be cleared to play Wednesday.”

Tip-off Wednesday is at 7 pm. Good seats remain available.

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