World Serles game https://ibb.co/LvLMJNy

Please report.

Half time Cal 44 St Martin 41. Much better hustle. Team playing hard. South and Bradley raining threes. Jhd has not played. Antevich started along with Lars, Bradley, Austin and South. South is a player. No Kuani yet
No Irving. Coach very animated. Giving directions. Notdrinking much water

oskidunker said:

---

Half time Cal 44 St Martin 41. Much better hustle. Team playing hard. South and Bradley raining threes. Jhd has not played. Antevich started along with Lars, Bradley, Austin and South. South is a player. No Kuani yet
No Irving. Coach very animated. Giving directions. Notdrinking much water

---

Maybe that is in person. Here is mine....

Shooting better
On Ball defense and rotation HORRIFIC.
We have to clean that up or Zona will drop 100 on us. Ditto Oregon. Washington would but they like it slow.

Bradley was the best player on the team last year and had the best attitude. No quit in him. I am a huge fan.

oskidunker said:

---

Half time Cal 44 St Martin 41. Much better hustle. Team playing hard. South and Bradley raining threes. Jhd has not played. Antevich started along with Lars, Bradley, Austin and South. South is a player. No Kuani yet
No Irving. Coach very animated. Giving directions. Notdrinking much water

---

76-58 8 min to go. Working the ball into the middle of zone. Good passing

How do the bigs look? Especially Lars?

https://pac-12.com/live/university-california

Final score: Cal 98 St. Martins 75

Maybe 25 assists. Players moving without the ball. Night and day from last year.

No help defense in the first half. Better in the second. In addition to previous comments really liked Brown.

Harris Dyson not suited up. (I think; don't have the greatest eyesight)

Coach was actually coaching

Box Score:
https://calbears.com/documents/2019/10/30//Exh_StMartins.pdf

Very encouraging. I can't see us making the postseason, but we should be much better than last season.

Starters:
Lars looks like a modest downgrade from Vanover, but he started, has a good body for a 7 ft. freshman, and should develop into a good Pac-12 post.
Grant was more confident and was good against the zone, catching entry passes at the free throw line and hitting jumpers (6 for 8 fgs).
Matt shot and played well, as usual.
Kareem was our best player on both ends of the floor. He had 3 steals, a block, and 23 points.
Paris looked about the same as last year, nothing special.

Subs (in order of appearance?):
Jacobi looked healthy and athletic. He should develop into a good Pac-12 player eventually.
Andre was solid, but unspectacular.
Dimitrios was probably nervous. He couldn't get ahold of loose balls and shot poorly before finally making a 3 in late in the 2nd half.
Joel didn't shoot from outside, but showed much more energy and flash than Paris, with some nifty assists. I expect him to take over as starting point guard at some point this season.
Thorpe has a good, strong body for Pac-12 basketball, unlike anyone else on our team.
Jules got walk-on minutes (entering just before Jacob, David and Logan).

Kuany and Juhwan were in street clothes.

If they develop, I can see this team potentially being a contender next year, with a starting lineup of:
Theimann (soph)
Thorpe (soph)
Gordon (junior)
Bradley (junior)
Brown (soph)

and rotation players:
Harris-Dyson (junior)
Kelly (junior)
Anticevich (junior)

If Kuany and Klonaras can contribute, so much the better.

" Lars looks like a modest downgrade from Vanover"

I will be following Vanover's stats this year to see if he is as bad as I think he is. He follows the Sonny Dykes playbook: Give up 2 points for every point scored.

bearister said:

---

" Lars looks like a modest downgrade from Vanover"

I will be following Vanover's stats this year to see if he is as bad as I think he is. He follows the Sonny Dykes playbook: Give up 2 points for every point scored.

---

+1. Guy was REALLYYYYYYYY SLLLLOOOOOOWWWWWWW

Very well done RJABear!

I'm assuming the place mostly empty. Did even 500 attend?

At least 1000. You could sit wherever you wanted

bearister said:

---

" Lars looks like a modest downgrade from Vanover"

---

I believe that Lars is an upgrade from Vanover

Lars does not have the 3-Pt shot. That 3-pt shooting was the best thing about Vanover.

Lars is much more athletic and physically proportional. He looked like a player will be a star in two years. He just needs a few thousand reps to make the post moves automatic. Right now he is thinking and not reacting, and the slight hesitation limits his game.

My views on individual players:
* Lars is way ahead of Vanover at the same stage last year. He could be a star with more experience & conditioning.
* Matt Bradley looks even better than last year. He was a force early, but was limited by 4 fouls.
* Kareem South is very skilled and active on both ends of the court, a clear upgrade over McNeil. Kareem and Paris give us 2 solid 5th year players in the back court.
* And Joel Brown was electric with clever bullet passes. He's looks like a solid back-up now, and may challenge Paris for the starting spot by January.
* Grant Anticevich was more confident and productive; he's earned the starting PF spot.
* Andre Kelly showed stronger offensive moves and is ready to step in when needed.
* Jacobi Gordon also looked improved; he moved well without a brace, but it's hard to tell how much he will contribute.
* D.J. Thorpe looks explosive, but only played 6 minutes. He seemed tentative, perhaps indicating his leg may not be fully healed.
* Dimitrios Klonaris didn't play enough to show how much he will contribute.
* Juhwan & Kuany were there, but didn't suit up.

Overall:
* We finally have depth in both the back court and front line, which might improve even more when (and if) Juhwan & Kuany can play.
* The 26 assists were very impressive, especially by Brown (6 in 14 2nd half minutes) & Austin (7 in 29 minutes). Bradley & South also had several assists.
* Defense obviously is a work in progress; but there is reason for optimism.

All-in-all, it was a good showing against a week team who's best player scored 17 in the first half but then pulled up lame. We might know more after playing Romar's Pepperdine on Tuesday.

Based on some of the very good analysis in this thread, I am starting to think the 16 consecutive losses record set last year is safe.

Just a couple notes to add to the good summaries provided by RJA and GrandPa...

Austin still had trouble defending at point of attack. Was surprised that Brown didn't get any first half minutes. Brown looks like a natural distributor. Yes, will be interesting to see how point guard roles evolves this year. Austin and Brown did play together at times in the second half.

Was interesting as well to see Austin used at the free throw line spot against the zone. Bradley and South as shooters on the perimeter.

Thorpe threw down some impressive warmup dunks. Strong and wide shoulders. Cal's frontcourt is significantly upgraded from last year (but green). Lars is strong and can hold position in the post. Showed good hands on a couple plays. Has a good motor, but like Kelly defense will improve with positioning experience and conditioning.

Anticevich looked really comfortable. Backcourt with three guys who aren't perimeter threats -- Austin, JB, and JHD, make Anticevich's shooting very much needed.

Had JHD played he would have likely slowed down the dude who went for 18 in the first half.

Thankfully the video board hype clip preceding the starting lineup is much shorter than last year.

GrandPa Bear said:

---

* Lars is way ahead of Vanover at the same stage last year. He could be a star with more experience & conditioning.

---

I agree completely.

Vanover progressed dramatically as the season went on. While Lars is a deserving starter now (and Vanover only started 15 of his 28 games), I don't see Lars playing this year at the level Vanover reached by the end of last season.

Vanover vs. Stanford:
33 minutes, 24 points on 9-12, 5-6 3s, 6 blocks, 5 rebounds.

R90 said:

---

GrandPa Bear said:

---

* Lars is way ahead of Vanover at the same stage last year. He could be a star with more experience & conditioning.

---

I agree completely.

Vanover progressed dramatically as the season went on. While Lars is a deserving starter now (and Vanover only started 15 of his 28 games), I don't see Lars playing this year at the level Vanover reached by the end of last season.

Vanover vs. Stanford:
33 minutes, 24 points on 9-12, 5-6 3s, 6 blocks, 5 rebounds.

---

Vanover had a hell of game against the furds, but even with that nearly unconscious performance he only ended up at 35% from three on the season. Seems like his shooting is lauded quite heavily for matching the NCAA average.

Austin is Austin: no shoot, not enough pass, really poor decision making.

Civil Bear said:

---

R90 said:

---

GrandPa Bear said:

---

* Lars is way ahead of Vanover at the same stage last year. He could be a star with more experience & conditioning.

---

I agree completely.

Vanover progressed dramatically as the season went on. While Lars is a deserving starter now (and Vanover only started 15 of his 28 games), I don't see Lars playing this year at the level Vanover reached by the end of last season.

Vanover vs. Stanford:
33 minutes, 24 points on 9-12, 5-6 3s, 6 blocks, 5 rebounds.

---

Vanover had a hell of game against the furds, but even with that nearly unconscious performance he only ended up at 35% from three on the season. Seems like his shooting is lauded quite heavily for matching the NCAA average.

---

That's true, but he probably compares better with other 7-footers from three. He is still maturing, and may get better at shooting threes. He had some talent, and I was sorry to see him go.

bearister said:

---

" Lars looks like a modest downgrade from Vanover"

I will be following Vanover's stats this year to see if he is as bad as I think he is. He follows the Sonny Dykes playbook: Give up 2 points for every point scored.

---

Did Vanover get a waiver to be able to play this season?

I didn't see the game, but I'm posting these pressers with Fox, Lars, South, Kelly, and Gordon, in case anyone missed them. Very informative as to the difference between this year and last, without mentioning Wyking Jones by name. I was very impressed with the positive outlook of the players and the coach, the philosophy of making each other better, and closeness of the team with themselves and with the coaches. Very upbeat. I look forward to seeing if this carries over through games against better competition and the inevitable losses which most teams have, especially young ones. One player I had wondered about was Kelly, as the media had given the impression that he was unhappy getting benched at the end of last season for Vanover, and his parents had voiced concerns over his playing time. I noticed in the box score for the game that Kelly did not play many minutes, but Kelly seemed especially enthusiastic about the team and coaches this year. Not a tough opponent, but there were good signs based on the interviews.

RJABear said:

---

My wife and I made the drive to Berkeley to see the new look Bears. We left encourage. The Bears may not a tournament team. The team was much better than the last few years.

Big improvement on last year

• good player movement without the ball
• good ball movement.
• Anticevich was open at the free throw line all night and they used Grant to demolish the zone.
• Kareem South is a charismatic mature grad-transfer. They played a video interview of Kareem at halftime. Good leader.
• Matt Bradley and Paris Austin were solid.
• Cal sank 11 three and had plenty of good looks.
• coaches were coaching during the game
• the coaches kept coaching. with one minute left, Jacob Orender drove the baseline and turned the ball over. Coach Fox let Jacob know that was a bad decision and that Jules was open at the top of the key.
• every body played. Bench was emptied
• every player knew what to do.
• regardless of who was on the floor, the team passed until there was a decent look
• 54+% field goal shooting

Things that need work

• defense was poor
• Lars Thiemann is big and athletic. he will be a good player. This year may be rough. He was a little hesitant. Otherwise he might have dominated a small St Martin's lineup
• 61% free throw shooting

It was an exhibition game against and over-whelmed and short St Martins. Don't read too much into the game

---

Great report, thanks!

I emboldened your last sentence. We have always tried to draw too many conclusions from these exhibition games. I get it. I do it, too, but I remember about ten years or so ago, we had Eric Vierneisel as the next Glen Rice.

I was shocked by how jacked Lars looks. Kid is going to be a stud and I'm basing this entirely off seeing brief video of his right arm.

"... but I remember about ten years or so ago, we had Eric Vierneisel as the next Glen Rice."

Hey, EV went 4 for 4 from the arc in his first game. He just should have retired after that game.

One more thing I forgot to add. I don't recall many, if any, poor shot selections. I realize it was a weak opponent, but we've had weak opponents the past couple of years and still took too may bad shots.

They didnt have to heave from beyond the arc be cause clock was expiring.

LudwigsFountain said:

---

One more thing I forgot to add. I don't recall many, if any, poor shot selections. I realize it was a weak opponent, but we've had weak opponents the past couple of years and still took too may bad shots.

---

Amazing what you get from an organized offense

last night we constantly saw
- player movement off the ball
- an entry past to the free throw line to disrupt the zone

Big C said:

---

RJABear said:

---

My wife and I made the drive to Berkeley to see the new look Bears. We left encourage. The Bears may not a tournament team. The team was much better than the last few years.

Big improvement on last year

• good player movement without the ball
• good ball movement.
• Anticevich was open at the free throw line all night and they used Grant to demolish the zone.
• Kareem South is a charismatic mature grad-transfer. They played a video interview of Kareem at halftime. Good leader.
• Matt Bradley and Paris Austin were solid.
• Cal sank 11 three and had plenty of good looks.
• coaches were coaching during the game
• the coaches kept coaching. with one minute left, Jacob Orender drove the baseline and turned the ball over. Coach Fox let Jacob know that was a bad decision and that Jules was open at the top of the key.
• every body played. Bench was emptied
• every player knew what to do.
• regardless of who was on the floor, the team passed until there was a decent look
• 54+% field goal shooting

Things that need work

• defense was poor
• Lars Thiemann is big and athletic. he will be a good player. This year may be rough. He was a little hesitant. Otherwise he might have dominated a small St Martin's lineup
• 61% free throw shooting

It was an exhibition game against and over-whelmed and short St Martins. Don't read too much into the game

---

Great report, thanks!

I emboldened your last sentence. We have always tried to draw too many conclusions from these exhibition games. I get it. I do it, too, but I remember about ten years or so ago, we had Eric Vierneisel as the next Glen Rice.

---

Yes, the reports are encouraging but it is true last year we beat D2 Cal State East Bay by 20 in the exhibition.

Still, it sounds like the way we played is what is most encouraging.