Yes, it is early, but, here are the facts:

We are 10-5 (1-2 in Pac-12) which is not too bad as three of our loses have been to Top-25 teams. But, we have a RPI of 80 and no road wins at all (neural court wins are not road wins). Also, we do not have any wins against Top-25 or sure NCAA teams.

With a win on Sunday, we get a conference road win against a Top-25 team, our conference record will be 2-2 and things will be looking up. With a lose on Sunday, we are likely looking at NIT unless things turn around considerably. Here are the reasons:

. Pac-12 will likely get only five teams into the NCAA.
. You have to figure UCLA, Oregon, Arizona and USC with a Top-25 ranking and excellent RPI are a lock to get into NCAAs.
. Therefore, realistically, only one of Utah, Cal, Arizona State, Colorado and Washington State (Pac-12's competitive teams) will get into NCAA (although Washington State will fade as soon as they start playing the better teams in Pac-12).
. Stanfraud, Washington and Oregon State are already out of any realistic consideration.

So, IMHO, Sunday is a key game for the success of the Basketbalk season.

Go Bears, Pop the Condoms!

so are you gonna do your part & be at the galen center sunday to create gameday energy & support for the bears?

I wish I could. When I lived in the LA area, I always attended the Cal Football and Basketball games.

The latest RPI still has Cal as 80 which makes the USC game a must win if we want to get into NCAA.

Bears are not even on the bubble at this point. They need to win every winnable game between now and the final road trip of the year. That means only losing to Oregon and Arizona on the road and beating Oregon at home in Feb. That would get them back into the discussion heading into the tough Colorado/Utah trip.

I agree USC is a must this weekend. Don't be fooled by their #25 ranking, they are very beatable.

calbear80;842786471 said:

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Also, we do not have any wins against Top-25 or sure NCAA teams.

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That's quite an understatement. Cal does not have any wins against Top-100 or remotely possible at-large NCAA teams.

The Pac12 is looking at getting in 4 teams at this point.

Spilled milk it is, but Cal was tied (Virginia) or up at the half (Seton Hall and Arizona) in 3 of its 5 losses. Different results in those games and the season outlook is completely different.

Maybe if we get Rooks back (hopefully this Sunday), the results will be different.

Go Bears!

tsubamoto2001;842786645 said:

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Spilled milk it is, but Cal was tied (Virginia) or up at the half (Seton Hall and Arizona) in 3 of its 5 losses. Different results in those games and the season outlook is completely different.

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I know this is arrogant and stupid of me; but my thought is that, if I were a member of the team, the above facts would make me very angry - first at myself, then at the world, then at whomever I could think of (oracular or human - I don't care) that might either have some responsibility for those facts or (better) some ability to change that awful dynamic.

walton said that he saw rooks in practice a week ago, and thought he was no where ready to return.
I was happy to see rooks enter the game, but I blinked my eyes and he was gone.
puzzling what that was about, but I don't think we see rooks at usc unless ivan or king get in foul trouble
actually I'd really like to see what davis could do against a legit 4

calbear80;842786647 said:

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Maybe if we get Rooks back (hopefully this Sunday), the results will be different.

Go Bears!

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After USC, the next seven games are Washington, Washington State, @ Oregon, @ Oregon State, Stanfraud, Utah and Colorado. Five of those eight games are in Berkeley. As Pac-12 schedule goes, that is the "softer" part of the schedule. I hope we win at least six out of those eight games.

In those eight games, if we win:
. 7: NCAA, here we come.
. 6: Still alive for NCAA.
. 5: NCAA bubble team, but NIT sure thing.
. 4: NIT bubble team.
. Anything Less: When does the Water Polo season start?

Go Bears!

calbear80;842787022 said:

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After USC, the next seven games are Washington, Washington State, @ Oregon, @ Oregon State, Stanfraud, Utah and Colorado. Five of those eight games are in Berkeley. As Pac-12 schedule goes, that is the "softer" part of the schedule. I hope we win at least six out of those eight games.

In those eight games, if we win:
. 7: NCAA, here we come.
. 6: Still alive for NCAA.
. 5: NCAA bubble team, but NIT sure thing.
. 4: NIT bubble team.
. Anything Less: When does the Water Polo season start?

Go Bears!

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Perhaps, if Cal beats USC tonight. Even then, I would adjust your numbers down one.

Close does not count! If we don't show up for USC, you might see the Sonny Dykes movement pick up. Since next years class looks underwhelming CM better make his mark this year!

tsubamoto2001;842786645 said:

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Spilled milk it is, but Cal was tied (Virginia) or up at the half (Seton Hall and Arizona) in 3 of its 5 losses. Different results in those games and the season outlook is completely different.

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bi bison bob, will you be making your ususal misinformed negative comments on the game thread while you get drunk (again) in front of your tv?

do you ever actually go to a cal athletic event in person?

are you a bitch azz male stripper?

troll#

bi bison bob, maybe you could have a game viewing party with fat slice & fat cocoon, who would get the chips?

Personally I don't eat Bison Burgers, even though Burger Me in Truckee sells quite a few to Tired skiers. To each his own.

USC is ripe for a let down. Put Anfdy Enfield in the drivers seat with OJ.

Shocky1;842787660 said:

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bi bison bob, maybe you could have a game viewing party with fat slice & fat cocoon, who would get the chips?

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Your mom. Tell her to bring the petition while she's at it. Your monster thread did just about as much for cal basketball as cuonzo's offense.

fat_slice;842787691 said:

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Your mom. Tell her to bring the petition while she's at it. Your monster thread did just about as much for cal basketball as cuonzo's offense.

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look fat slice, whatever you, fat cocoon & bi bison bob feel is the best way to celebrate the magic of cal basketball is your choice, nobody is here to judge you

Shocky1;842787692 said:

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look fat slice, whatever you, fat cocoon & bi bison bob feel is the best way to celebrate the magic of cal basketball is your choice, nobody is here to judge you

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There has been zero magic in Cal basketball since I flew to Syracuse to watch our team barely lose it to unc in the sweet sixteen. I take that back - it was magical to see Geno Carlisle hit the free throw on an and one in MSG to win the NIT. Where were you?

To be clear - I'm actually pro cuonzo. I'm passionate and most of my comments unfortunately come during games where I need to vent. But sheesh - the last several years/decade has been anything but magical.

Go bears

the bears were undefeated on gamedays at haas last season, that was kinda magical to a lot of fans

understand everybody wants lots of wins right now, trust me the staff & the players want it more than anybody

Rabb's 1st foul would make me lose my hair as a coach

fat_slice;842787705 said:

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There has been zero magic in Cal basketball since I flew to Syracuse to watch our team barely lose it to unc in the sweet sixteen. I take that back - it was magical to see Geno Carlisle hit the free throw on an and one in MSG to win the NIT. Where were you?

To be clear - I'm actually pro cuonzo. I'm passionate and most of my comments unfortunately come during games where I need to vent. But sheesh - the last several years/decade has been anything but magical.

Go bears

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Hmmmm......I understand (I think) but if you think there hasn't been magic you missed this. My Son's first Cal game. Sadly he really doesn't understand it goes down hill from here.....

Kovy;842788040 said:

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Rabb's 1st foul would make me lose my hair as a coach

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Cuonzo won't have that problem

We beat U$C on a very close game. That is GREAT in many ways.
. A victory in a revenue sport against condoms.
. A W against a top-25 team.
. A road conference win.

Beatind U$C in LA keeps us alive for an NCAA bid, but, we still have a lot of work to do.

Go Bears!

calbear80;842790394 said:

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We beat U$C on a very close game. That is GREAT in many ways.
. A victory in a revenue sport against condoms.
. A W against a top-25 team.
. A road conference win.

Beatind U$C in LA keeps us alive for an NCAA bid, but, we still have a lot of work to do.

Go Bears!

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It was a 3-game swing relative to USC:
a win for us
a loss for them
we now win a tie-breaker if we finish even with USC

calbear80;842790394 said:

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We beat U$C on a very close game. That is GREAT in many ways.
. A victory in a revenue sport against condoms.
. A W against a top-25 team.
. A road conference win.

Beatind U$C in LA keeps us alive for an NCAA bid, but, we still have a lot of work to do.

Go Bears!

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Even if we don't make the tourney (I know - bite my tongue), beating the toejams in a revenue sport at their place to knock them out of the rankings(?) made my week.

socaltownie;842788120 said:

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..... if you think there hasn't been magic you missed this. My Son's first Cal game. .....

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Excellent example!

chazzed;842791591 said:

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Even if we don't make the tourney (I know - bite my tongue), beating the toejams in a revenue sport at their place to knock them out of the rankings(?) made my week.

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But then the Toejams get run out of the building by 20 points by Utah (after the Toejams started with a 10-15 point lead) - a little sobering.

R90;842790423 said:

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It was a 3-game swing relative to USC:
a win for us
a loss for them
we now win a tie-breaker if we finish even with USC

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Well said.

Go Bears!

mikecohen;842792990 said:

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But then the Toejams get run out of the building by 20 points by Utah (after the Toejams started with a 10-15 point lead) - a little sobering.

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They are a very poorly coached group.

At this point I break things down this way.

Great Recruiters/Shitty Coaches: Enfled and Romar
poor Recruiters/Shitty Coaches: Kent (at Wazzu)
Great Recruiters/Adequate Coaches: Martin + Enabler at UCLA
Good Recruiters/Great Coaches: Criminal Thug in Eugene
Great Recruiters/Good Coaches: Donut boy.

socaltownie;842793601 said:

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They are a very poorly coached group.

At this point I break things down this way.

Great Recruiters/Shitty Coaches: Enfled and Romar
poor Recruiters/Shitty Coaches: Kent (at Wazzu)
Great Recruiters/Adequate Coaches: Martin + Enabler at UCLA
Good Recruiters/Great Coaches: Criminal Thug in Eugene
Great Recruiters/Good Coaches: Donut boy.

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That sums it beautifully. I hope Cuonzo truly is a great recruiter.

parentswerebears;842793607 said:

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That sums it beautifully. I hope Cuonzo truly is a great recruiter.

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Apparently one great year makes a great recruiter.