What are the keys for the rest of the season?

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eastcoastcal
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2:51p, 12/9/23
Posted this on the other board but then figured I could also post here!

We've had several close losses where we come up just short. I want this to be a successful season and I think we're very close to putting it together- I also know that we've dealt with injuries and as a result are learning to play together with a full team (that will be completed with Devin returns).

I really think we can be very competitive in conference play. I have not given up on the postseason despite a 3-5 record- I really think we hang tough with anyone, and Matta (butler coach) said it himself- we're the best 3-5 team in the country.

What are the keys to taking the final couple steps and actually winning games en masse? What comes to mind for me are:

- Working on our turnover propensity
- Limiting opponents on the offensive glass
- Better defense (I know this is vague but I'm not enough of a technician to know exactly how to diagnose our issues)

Anyone have any insight or thoughts?
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Shocky1
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2:52p, 12/9/23
play defense
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75bear
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3:10p, 12/9/23
Defense and turnovers are the two biggies, everything else is smaller potatoes.
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Big C
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3:15p, 12/9/23

Everything that's been mentioned: The guys will continue to come together and play as a team, which will sort of make up for us not really having a point guard. The TOs will decrease a little bit and the defense will tighten up. We will win our share, the rest of the way. Too bad we got off to a slow start, but them's the breaks, especially with an all-new program.

Bottom line, we are in pretty good shape for the coming years, especially if the NIL continues to come through.
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eastcoastcal
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3:39p, 12/9/23
great points. what exactly goes into improving defense? is it just unreserved effort? are we missing assignments, issues off-ball, or what? Can anyone diagnose it? Totally agree it's a glaring issue, but probably curable with the right coaching, correct?
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sluggo
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4:09p, 12/9/23
Rodney Brown on the ball, Jalen Tyson off the ball, Grant Newell on the bench. For the defense, a 2-3 zone is needed. Aimaq and Cone cannot defend anyone, but they are valuable offensive players.
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sluggo
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In reply to eastcoastcal • 4:11p, 12/9/23
eastcoastcal said:
great points. what exactly goes into improving defense? is it just unreserved effort? are we missing assignments, issues off-ball, or what? Can anyone diagnose it? Totally agree it's a glaring issue, but probably curable with the right coaching, correct?
No, I don't think the defensive problems are fixable, which is why I advocate a zone. Aimaq can't move his feet and Cone get bullied.
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Big C
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In reply to eastcoastcal • 4:14p, 12/9/23
eastcoastcal said:
great points. what exactly goes into improving defense? is it just unreserved effort? are we missing assignments, issues off-ball, or what? Can anyone diagnose it? Totally agree it's a glaring issue, but probably curable with the right coaching, correct?

I think when you get a bunch of new players, with a new coach, they can be a split second off in getting to where they need to be, when they need to be there. We're talking about a small margin for error, times 5 players. But if they have the "want to" then things get better over the course of the season, especially with a good coaching staff.
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Johnfox
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4:19p, 12/9/23
I think we need to give Rodney Brown more minutes. These last 3 games (SDSU, Santa Clara, and Butler) he has made the most of his minutes. If he can put some muscle on, he is primed for a big sophomore season.
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JimSox
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In reply to eastcoastcal • 6:30p, 12/9/23
eastcoastcal said:
Posted this on the other board but then figured I could also post here!

We've had several close losses where we come up just short. I want this to be a successful season and I think we're very close to putting it together- I also know that we've dealt with injuries and as a result are learning to play together with a full team (that will be completed with Devin returns).

I really think we can be very competitive in conference play. I have not given up on the postseason despite a 3-5 record- I really think we hang tough with anyone, and Matta (butler coach) said it himself- we're the best 3-5 team in the country.

What are the keys to taking the final couple steps and actually winning games en masse? What comes to mind for me are:

- Working on our turnover propensity
- Limiting opponents on the offensive glass
- Better defense (I know this is vague but I'm not enough of a technician to know exactly how to diagnose our issues)

Anyone have any insight or thoughts?


Well, first of all, we're 3-6 not 3-5. Secondly, are we healthy except for Askew? I didn't like that knee injury Okafor suffered. I think he's a pretty important player. And Tyson's ankle. He was limping late in the game, and Butler took it right to him for three consecutive buckets in the second OT. Decided the game. Let's hope he'll be ok.
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oskidunker
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7:17p, 12/9/23
I have never seen so many close losses. You gotta think we will start winning a few…
Go Bears!
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Civil Bear
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In reply to oskidunker • 8:02a, 12/10/23
oskidunker said:
I have never seen so many close losses. You gotta think we will start winning a few…
Not at Cal, but this reminds me of Romar's Udub team many years ago with Brandon Roy and Nate Robinson. They lost a butt load of close games until finally winning one in OT and then going on a tear for several seasons.
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CALiforniALUM
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9:56a, 12/10/23
Maybe coach needs to push somebody. He probably learned that somewhere, from someone.
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bearsandgiants
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In reply to oskidunker • 10:53a, 12/10/23
oskidunker said:
I have never seen so many close losses. You gotta think we will start winning a few…


Ever hear of a guy named Wilcox?
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calumnus
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In reply to bearsandgiants • 1:14p, 12/10/23
bearsandgiants said:
oskidunker said:
I have never seen so many close losses. You gotta think we will start winning a few…


Ever hear of a guy named Wilcox?


That used to be the Mark Fox calling card too: "We lost 20 games by single digits. Just start making some of our threes and….."

Both a product of slow down, boring "defense first" plodding offenses, low scoring games.

Until this year with Spavital. Madsen's team (so far) is more like this year's Wilcox team. Needs to learn to win, avoid turnovers and finish smartly and confidently.
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bearsandgiants
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6:04p, 12/10/23
The Rodcast is fantastic again. Why can't he consult on this team? The defense needs big time help and he seems to know how to remedy it. What a waste of talent.
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KoreAmBear
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In reply to sluggo • 8:18p, 12/10/23
sluggo said:
Rodney Brown on the ball, Jalen Tyson off the ball, Grant Newell on the bench. For the defense, a 2-3 zone is needed. Aimaq and Cone cannot defend anyone, but they are valuable offensive players.
Why does it look like Grant is playing with such little confidence after a very solid freshman year? He came out pretty strong his first game, got injured and didn't finish off the game, then has not looked good since then. He definitely has the talent but he has to play like he belongs out there and right now that's not what he's doing.
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RedlessWardrobe
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8:20a, 12/11/23
I'm not a coach, so as usual my opinion may be oversimplifed. After watching Grant play last year, it feels like his role in the particular offense we run this year seems to be more dependent on him being a creator moving toward the basket from further distances as opposed to receiving the ball more often with his back to the basket from shorter distances. The one obvious result has been a brutal increase in turnovers.

With fewer games during this three week span and more practices, perhaps Madsen will devote some time to address this issue.
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sluggo
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In reply to RedlessWardrobe • 12:51p, 12/11/23
RedlessWardrobe said:
I'm not a coach, so as usual my opinion may be oversimplifed. After watching Grant play last year, it feels like his role in the particular offense we run this year seems to be more dependent on him being a creator moving toward the basket from further distances as opposed to receiving the ball more often with his back to the basket from shorter distances. The one obvious result has been a brutal increase in turnovers.

With fewer games during this three week span and more practices, perhaps Madsen will devote some time to address this issue.
I think this is right. Newell has some ball handling ability and some ability to shoot. But not so much that you actually want him to do these things. With so much offensive talent on the team other teams are daring him to make plays. I think he would be better focusing on rebounding and defense. And maybe developing a spot or two on the floor on offense where he is best.
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HearstMining
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1:24p, 12/11/23
Newell had a nice mid-range shot last year, Maybe they can work some weak-side screens for him flash to the middle for a 12-15 ft shot. That would also put him in better rebounding position. Like everyone else, I'm backseat driving here.
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RedlessWardrobe
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2:42p, 12/11/23
Back seat driving is welcome.
What it comes down to here is that Grant is more of a catch and shoot (sometimes catch and turn) kind of a guy as opposed to a create your own shot type of guy.
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