Like many others, I'm sure, l am interested to follow the current sentiment about our coach. Calfanz inspired me to start a thread where folks can do that without having to bump a thread title that is so thoroughly negative.

If you agree, maybe we could use this one to continue the discussion?

Do we have to? Let Knowlton handle this. Go to games or not. Enjoy what you can and dont worry about something we have no control over ...

You're free to not participate.

oskidunker said:

---

Do we have to? Let Knowlton handle this. Go to games or not. Enjoy what you can and dont worry about something we have no control over ...

---

I agree with you, but people are going to discuss the coach whether we like it or not. And I will be there every game, staying until the last buzzer, win or lose. Even so, I am interested in hearing the opinions of the more knowledgeable on this board about whether the coach is making progress with the team. What he is doing right and the things that we need to improve on. I would just prefer not to have to see a thread that discussed those things with such a thoroughly negative title.

Go!Bears said:

---

oskidunker said:

---

Do we have to? Let Knowlton handle this. Go to games or not. Enjoy what you can and dont worry about something we have no control over ...

---

I agree with you, but people are going to discuss the coach whether we like it or not. And I will be there every game, staying until the last buzzer, win or lose. Even so, I am interested in hearing the opinions of the more knowledgeable on this board about whether the coach is making progress with the team. What he is doing right and the things that we need to improve on. I would just prefer not to have to see a thread that discussed those things with such a thoroughly negative title.

---

Fully agree. FWIW, my view is that there are some hints of progress, but the sample size is so small at this point that any conclusions regarding this season are silly.

The Santa Clara game may provide some quick answers to certain pending questions.

UrsaMajor said:

---

Go!Bears said:

---

oskidunker said:

---

Do we have to? Let Knowlton handle this. Go to games or not. Enjoy what you can and dont worry about something we have no control over ...

---

I agree with you, but people are going to discuss the coach whether we like it or not. And I will be there every game, staying until the last buzzer, win or lose. Even so, I am interested in hearing the opinions of the more knowledgeable on this board about whether the coach is making progress with the team. What he is doing right and the things that we need to improve on. I would just prefer not to have to see a thread that discussed those things with such a thoroughly negative title.

---

Fully agree. FWIW, my view is that there are some hints of progress, but the sample size is so small at this point that any conclusions regarding this season are silly.

---

I actually see many signs of progress. But there is such a long way to go, that it is hard to see them. But in almost every aspect (talent, development, coaching, offense, even defense) there is improvement AND potential for more. The only slippage I'm seeing based on the small sample size is rebounding. At least we had Kingsley and Marcus last year.

Go!Bears said:

---

oskidunker said:

---

Do we have to? Let Knowlton handle this. Go to games or not. Enjoy what you can and dont worry about something we have no control over ...

---

I agree with you, but people are going to discuss the coach whether we like it or not. And I will be there every game, staying until the last buzzer, win or lose. Even so, I am interested in hearing the opinions of the more knowledgeable on this board about whether the coach is making progress with the team. What he is doing right and the things that we need to improve on. I would just prefer not to have to see a thread that discussed those things with such a thoroughly negative title.

---

He seems to be an OK recruiter, but I haven't seen any evidence that he can actually coach X's and O's or build up better fundamentals in his players. So my expectation is we'll win games where we can out-talent the other team, lose a few of those due to poor tactics, and lose the rest because we're deficient in both.

Just have to wait until we move on to a real coach to see if he can get more out of the players we have.

It's just one mans opinion, but mike Montgomery did not seem impressed. At all

Dyson can score layups against one of the worst teams in the nation raned 283 out of 353 teams. That won't work much against pac 12 teams. We have been told he has been shooting hundreds of jumpers per day to improve his outside shot. Not one taken so far. Open several times and declined the shot, which makes sense against bdw teams.

I am looking forward to see if he has indeed created a shot beyond point blank range. Let's hope so.

oskidunker said:

---

Dyson can score layups against one of the worst teams in the nation raned 283 out of 353 teams. That won't work much against pac 12 teams. We have been told he has been shooting hundreds of jumpers per day to improve his outside shot. Not one taken so far. Open several times and declined the shot, which makes sense against bdw teams.

I am looking forward to see if he has indeed created a shot beyond point blank range. Let's hope so.

---

had a conversation with Jay John who said JHD isn't shooting much because his finger is still bothering him.

If last year didn't happen and this was Jones' first year at the helm virtually everyone would be happy. We have a young team with talent. The team is improving. The recruiting is good to very good. This has the makings of a sustainable solid program with exciting upside.

Yogi Bear said:

---

Go!Bears said:

---

oskidunker said:

---

Do we have to? Let Knowlton handle this. Go to games or not. Enjoy what you can and dont worry about something we have no control over ...

---

I agree with you, but people are going to discuss the coach whether we like it or not. And I will be there every game, staying until the last buzzer, win or lose. Even so, I am interested in hearing the opinions of the more knowledgeable on this board about whether the coach is making progress with the team. What he is doing right and the things that we need to improve on. I would just prefer not to have to see a thread that discussed those things with such a thoroughly negative title.

---

He seems to be an OK recruiter, but I haven't seen any evidence that he can actually coach X's and O's or build up better fundamentals in his players. So my expectation is we'll win games where we can out-talent the other team, lose a few of those due to poor tactics, and lose the rest because we're deficient in both.

Just have to wait until we move on to a real coach to see if he can get more out of the players we have.

---

My guess is that Wyking Jones, a big in his college days, was likely working with Rooks and Okoroh as an assistant to Wyking Jones. Maybe Eric, Greg, or Moraga could confirm that. Didn't you see improvement in both Rooks and Okoroh in their time at Cal? I sure did. Kingsley especially, who had few or no fundamentals when he arrived. He had and instinct for blocking shots, but that was about it. Even Vanover has way more in the way of fundamentals than either Rooks or Kingsley. I am very interested in seeing how Vanover, Kelly, and Anticevich develop under Wyking Jones this season, to see if I can spot any improvement.

As to Wyking's coaching ability, we need to realize that modern coaching is a two-way street. Coaches recruit incredibly athletic players who were usually the go-to guy on their high school teams, and most have the egos to go with it. They want the ball and they want to score with it. Most do not come into to college now with good defensive fundamentals, or good screening or moving-without-the-ball fundamentals, or with a pass-first ( or at least pass often) fundamentals. This is not the era of Pete Newell, or Bob Knight, where players could be intimidated sometimes. So coaches today can coach all they want, but it the players don't buy in or trust what they are being asked to do, then the team likely loses and the coach looks like he can't coach. And the most dissatisfied will transfer, or sulk. They can try running the coach's plays, but when they start to fall behind in a a game, most modern players will try and take it upon themselves to score on their own. It is not always a selfish thing, or an ego thing. Sometimes, they just feel they need to try and help the team by doing something individually. It doesn't look to be easy coaching the modern players.

And I think Wyking Jones is the real Cal Head Coach. He is likely listed in the Campus directory as Men's Head Basketball Coach, and he is being paid a salary commensurate with the position. It is too much of a salary in my opinion, for coaching a game, but I say that about every Cal Head Basketball or Football Coach.
He may not yet be a good head coach, but until he leaves Cal, he is the real head coach.

tequila4kapp said:

---

If last year didn't happen and this was Jones' first year at the helm virtually everyone would be happy. We have a young team with talent. The team is improving. The recruiting is good to very good. This has the makings of a sustainable solid program with exciting upside.

---

Actually, I'm happy because I'm seeing improvement over last season. If this was year one, I may be questioning Jones (and Knowlton) even more.

The reality was that Jones was never seen as the long term solution to coach Cal MBB. Best case, he turns into a good coach and we keep him. Worst case, he manages the program, keeps it clean and improves in areas where he can - like the roster. Most likely, he grows as a coach, gets replaced when the department is in order and gets a HC job at a mid-major to hone his X/Os even more.

There was not even a short list of coaches willing to step into that situation with a lame duck AD and a lame duck Chancellor and an athletic department with MAJOR financial and operational problems. Not to mention a gutted roster and mediocre fan/media support (being generous). For stepping into that, he warrants my support.

Ok. Forget whats happening. All Hail Wyking Jones!

BeachedBear said:

---

...Actually, I'm happy because I'm seeing improvement over last season.....

---

Ya think? That is because the cupboard was bare last year. It ain't bare anymore. We not only don't have a deficit starting line up, we have at least 3 good players on the bench. Recruiting is aces in my book. I will defer on the coaching issue, but if we make a habit of losing to teams we have more talent than, I won't have find the "we are young" as very soothing ointment. I admit I have a bias in that I am a HUGE Theo fan.

bearister said:

---

BeachedBear said:

---

...Actually, I'm happy because I'm seeing improvement over last season.....

---

Ya think? That is because the cupboard was bare last year. It ain't bare anymore. We not only don't have a deficit starting line up, we have at least 3 good players on the bench. Recruiting is aces in my book. I will defer on the coaching issue, but if we make a habit of losing to teams we have more talent than, I won't have find the "we are young" as very soothing ointment. I admit I have a bias in that I am a HUGE Theo fan.

---

Where is Theo? Did he find a good spot to hone his craft?

Go!Bears said:

---

bearister said:

---

BeachedBear said:

---

...Actually, I'm happy because I'm seeing improvement over last season.....

---

Ya think? That is because the cupboard was bare last year. It ain't bare anymore. We not only don't have a deficit starting line up, we have at least 3 good players on the bench. Recruiting is aces in my book. I will defer on the coaching issue, but if we make a habit of losing to teams we have more talent than, I won't have find the "we are young" as very soothing ointment. I admit I have a bias in that I am a HUGE Theo fan.

---

Where is Theo? Did he find a good spot to hone his craft?

---

https://www.usab.com/basketball/staff/r/robertson-theo.aspx

Don't you mean Wy*****g Jones?? Yes we have some weaknesses on the floor, but it's mostly the coito (coach in title only). Where's Dick Kuchen when we really need him?

bearister said:

---

Go!Bears said:

---

bearister said:

---

BeachedBear said:

---

...Actually, I'm happy because I'm seeing improvement over last season.....

---

Ya think? That is because the cupboard was bare last year. It ain't bare anymore. We not only don't have a deficit starting line up, we have at least 3 good players on the bench. Recruiting is aces in my book. I will defer on the coaching issue, but if we make a habit of losing to teams we have more talent than, I won't have find the "we are young" as very soothing ointment. I admit I have a bias in that I am a HUGE Theo fan.

---

Where is Theo? Did he find a good spot to hone his craft?

---

https://www.usab.com/basketball/staff/r/robertson-theo.aspx

---

Thanks, Bearister. We always like to hear about former players and their accomplishments. I hope Theo can continue to build resume and one day get serious consideration for the Cal HC position.

bearister said:

---

Go!Bears said:

---

Where is Theo? Did he find a good spot to hone his craft?

---

https://www.usab.com/basketball/staff/r/robertson-theo.aspx

---

I saw that, but I wasn't sure what it meant. Is that a full time gig? Then, for the knowledgeable among you, is it a good job?