Update after watching mid way through second half. Our rebounding looked good, actually, until mid second half. Really good. Not too concerned there. Ola Joseph had a bad game. Lots of fouls, not great shooting. Has to improve. Andrej should be fine. Looked good to me. Blacksher is our best player and will be gone, sadly (sounds familiar) but Andrej will emerge and these two will make a nice 1-2 punch. We look strong. Finesse isn't there yet but should come. Braun was talking us up all game, way over selling us, but that's nice. We have to find another shooter. It's going to kill is. They have to make open shots. This really seems like the only problem with this team, and it's a HUGE one. Fun game to watch. They play hard and look like a good team. Would like to see a lot more of Petraitis, he's scrappy and a bit nervous but I think will be a major contributor eventually. Big men are strong and helpful. Fun to watch. Go Bears

BearGreg said:

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Context matters:

Cal held out two starters from the Santa Clara game and after an initial blitzing from St. Mary's, Cal outscored them in the last half of the scrimmage. Further, the Bears started the Gaels scrimmage trying out a new defense for nearly the very first time. Once they went back to their regular D, things were quite different.

More importantly, the Bears are an entirely new team whilst St Marys and Santa Clara return a solid core. Let's see where things sit in January

I'm not saying this is a great Basketball team etiher today or in March, but I do know its WAY too early to judge them

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I am going to be honest - this is where the board's moderators occasionally digress to boosterism.

Look, we are not at practice. Many of us no longer live in the Bay Area. But it is crystal clear from the eye test that

1) We don't defend the rim very well
2) We are SLOW on defense
3) We have one guy who likes to get court burns.

I am starting to think that 14 wins is Way too optomistic. I hope at least 10.

socaltownie said:

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BearGreg said:

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Context matters:

Cal held out two starters from the Santa Clara game and after an initial blitzing from St. Mary's, Cal outscored them in the last half of the scrimmage. Further, the Bears started the Gaels scrimmage trying out a new defense for nearly the very first time. Once they went back to their regular D, things were quite different.

More importantly, the Bears are an entirely new team whilst St Marys and Santa Clara return a solid core. Let's see where things sit in January

I'm not saying this is a great Basketball team etiher today or in March, but I do know its WAY too early to judge them

---

I am going to be honest - this is where the board's moderators occasionally digress to boosterism.

Look, we are not at practice. Many of us no longer live in the Bay Area. But it is crystal clear from the eye test that

1) We don't defend the rim very well
2) We are SLOW on defense
3) We have one guy who likes to get court burns.

I am starting to think that 14 wins is Way too optomistic. I hope at least 10.

---

Um, "occasionally"? LOL! I think it's pretty well understood and acknowledged how these moderators portray the various sports programs at Cal. Personally, it's fine by me as I just know to take their assessment with the appropriate grain of salt.

HKBear97! said:

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socaltownie said:

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BearGreg said:

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Context matters:

Cal held out two starters from the Santa Clara game and after an initial blitzing from St. Mary's, Cal outscored them in the last half of the scrimmage. Further, the Bears started the Gaels scrimmage trying out a new defense for nearly the very first time. Once they went back to their regular D, things were quite different.

More importantly, the Bears are an entirely new team whilst St Marys and Santa Clara return a solid core. Let's see where things sit in January

I'm not saying this is a great Basketball team etiher today or in March, but I do know its WAY too early to judge them

---

I am going to be honest - this is where the board's moderators occasionally digress to boosterism.

Look, we are not at practice. Many of us no longer live in the Bay Area. But it is crystal clear from the eye test that

1) We don't defend the rim very well
2) We are SLOW on defense
3) We have one guy who likes to get court burns.

I am starting to think that 14 wins is Way too optomistic. I hope at least 10.

---

Um, "occasionally"? LOL! I think it's pretty well understood and acknowledged how these moderators portray the various sports programs at Cal. Personally, it's fine by me as I just know to take their assessment with the appropriate grain of salt.

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Through problem is that this is also the only place to really vent/dialogue about how to change things and if just happy talk about talent levels then the coaches get thrown under bus rather that asking of there are systemic things (aka administration stuff) that limit recruiting which are more important t than the revolving coaches door

Harky4 said:

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Johnfox said:

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The team had glaring issues from the get go. We'll be lucky to get to 500

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I doubt that we can match last year's 13 wins. If so, then our hope of steady progress by Madsen from the Fox and Wyking cellars becomes an illusion. Yes, the ACC seems to be tougher from its bottom to its top, but if we finish last or next to last it will be a damming criticism of our coaching and the level of talent that they have recruited.

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I have been as frustrated as anyone, but the ACC this year is at a historical low in terms of quality teams. Pitt and Clemson are probably the 2nd and 3rd best teams in the league. If we are still losing THIS week to the Virginia schools, THAT will be a problem!