Cal playing like a team up at half 49-31. Utah still getting lots of 2nd chances off of miss shots but D is terrific!

Sloppy and stupid fouls end of 3rd but Cal leads 68-57.

that big lead? with four minutes to go - it's almost all gone. and Anigwe has four fouls.

Wow. Utah up 77-76 with one minute left. Bean having a nice home coming with 7 assists...

Ugh.

Talk about a meltdown. Wow. 18 point lead completely blown because of the same old stuff. Sloppiness, undisciplined play, can't make shots down the stretch, second chance points. How the hell do you leave Kuklok open when she is hitting everything from the outside!

Coach G is a incredible person, and great face for the program. I'm happy she is a Cal bear. However, I am not happy with her as the coach. Unpopular opinion- she is not a good coach. These young women are incredible players. There has to be a way to motivate and to teach the necessary fundamentals to not allow this to happen. I am going to go through the schedules the past three years and find all of our meltdowns (even if they ended up with a W at the end). That was absolutely painful to watch.

Team looks tired. Heavy legs. Not getting back on defense. Not sure what Lindsey can do except play the bench more.

KJFan;842631008 said:

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Team looks tired. Heavy legs. Not getting back on defense. Not sure what Lindsey can do except play the bench more.

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And get us a longer bench to work with! I love this team, but hate seeing them so worn out all the time. I didn't see today's game.

I've said before that LG would be the perfect AD, but I've never been totally sold on her basketball coaching in terms of X's and O's and player development. Her first two years were phenomenal, but she inherited a great team. Since then pretty disappointing. In terms of X's & O's and player development, I think Joanne was better. LG is a better motivator and better recruiter, but you either need to have the whole package or you find assistants who can shore up your weaknesses, like when Joanne hired Morrison for recruiting.

I'm not saying throw out the baby with the bathwater, but I'd be more comfortable if LG had a really savvy co-pilot, kind of like Amy Tucker at Stanford or Bob Starkey at Texas A&M.

I don't have a long list of names, but Gail Goestenkors would be amazing (if she were willing to take an assistant college coaching job). And although the scandal a couple years back would likely preclude this, I always thought Adrian Wiggins delivered amazing results. Nikki Caldwell's recruiting has been very subpar at LSU, and some think she's in the hot seat. Though not much older than LG, if at all, I think she's definitely better in terms of X's & O's and player development. LG & Caldwell would be an incredible "good cop/bad cop" tandem, but given that Caldwell is making a million bucks a year at LSU, I doubt it would even be in the cards.

I mean, it's hard not to be pretty disappointed when you have Charli Turner-Thorne and Scott Rueck in your conference, doing amazing things with players Cal hadn't even lightly recruited.

KJFan;842631008 said:

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Not sure what Lindsey can do except play the bench more.

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...you would think!! Everyone but the coaches have a different idea. That's how you build confidence for the bench player.

I don't know that I have seen many games likes this where when it was done I was just "Huh?". We seemed so much better than them the whole game. We were on a total roll and they were a mess. I mean they looked a full level in talent beneath us. And the game never seemed in doubt, until it wasn't. That game is really going to hurt in seedings. I'm just sort of stunned.

blungld;842631028 said:

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I don't know that I have seen many games likes this where when it was done I was just "Huh?". We seemed so much better than them the whole game. We were on a total roll and they were a mess. I mean they looked a full level in talent beneath us. And the game never seemed in doubt, until it wasn't. That game is really going to hurt in seedings. I'm just sort of stunned.

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The people who sat next to me felt the exact same way.

Article: http://bit.ly/1kYOiE2

kat0189;842631013 said:

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I've said before that LG would be the perfect AD, but I've never been totally sold on her basketball coaching in terms of X's and O's and player development. Her first two years were phenomenal, but she inherited a great team. Since then pretty disappointing. In terms of X's & O's and player development, I think Joanne was better. LG is a better motivator and better recruiter, but you either need to have the whole package or you find assistants who can shore up your weaknesses, like when Joanne hired Morrison for recruiting.

I'm not saying throw out the baby with the bathwater, but I'd be more comfortable if LG had a really savvy co-pilot, kind of like Amy Tucker at Stanford or Bob Starkey at Texas A&M.

I don't have a long list of names, but Gail Goestenkors would be amazing (if she were willing to take an assistant college coaching job). And although the scandal a couple years back would likely preclude this, I always thought Adrian Wiggins delivered amazing results. Nikki Caldwell's recruiting has been very subpar at LSU, and some think she's in the hot seat. Though not much older than LG, if at all, I think she's definitely better in terms of X's & O's and player development. LG & Caldwell would be an incredible "good cop/bad cop" tandem, but given that Caldwell is making a million bucks a year at LSU, I doubt it would even be in the cards.

I mean, it's hard not to be pretty disappointed when you have Charli Turner-Thorne and Scott Rueck in your conference, doing amazing things with players Cal hadn't even lightly recruited.

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Could Kelly Sopak make a good assistant or is that just way too big of a jump to that level? Probably get a laugh or to for even thinking that.

I like his coaching philosophy from top to bottom and what he instills in his players to be their very best.

KJFan;842631008 said:

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Team looks tired. Heavy legs. Not getting back on defense. Not sure what Lindsey can do except play the bench more.

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what bench?

GOLDEN;842631046 said:

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Could Kelly Sopak make a good assistant or is that just way too big of a jump to that level? Probably get a laugh or to for even thinking that.

I like his coaching philosophy from top to bottom and what he instills in his players to be their very best.

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Heck if anything, if we got Kelly perhaps that will influence SI and other Calstars to consider Cal. It can't hurt..

Cal started 1QTR okay, Great 2nd Qtr, 3rd Qtr stated to peter out, and 4 Qtr was a disaster. Utah started to attack our hoop continuously in the 4th, and we couldn't or wouldn't adjust to Utah's game. This is strictly on the coaches to adjust the defense but we failed. This loss is on the coaches.

Full disclosure -- I have never seen the women play in person. But I have watched them a lot on TV or feeds. I do think there are some fundamentals lacking (boxing out, help defense, stopping the ball, free throw shooting) but I think a lot of it comes down to the team being tired. When a team is tired, they just "forget" to do what they are supposed to do.

I do think we should stop playing zone. A lazy or tired zone is the easiest defense to beat and that is how this team plays zone. It isn't an attacking zone defense. And if you are going to play zone, then I would just pack it in the middle with 3 or 4 players, and have 1-2 players close to the shooters on the other team. For the non-shooters, don't even contest and focus on boxing out.

Offensively, the flex offense doesn't seem to work. Though it is a relatively simple offense schematically, to run it really well, you need players who konw how to read screens and are willing to mix it up when the defense takes something away. I don't think this team is there yet.

I only saw the 2nd half of today's game but Gabby Green made three very bad decisions in transition defense within a 2-3 minute span. I don't know if this is what she is being told, but when the other team gets the ball and she is the furthest person back, she starts running towards the ball handler instead of getting back to the paint to defend our goal. I think and hope it is because she is tired and so she is choosing the lazy option. But if she is being told to do this, it is poor coaching. I would also start her up on top and have her screen down (or have someone back screen for her) to post up her defender. She is not the fleetest of foot so to have her as the safety defender is not good but i do think she can be effective scoring from inside, using her size and strength against smaller defenders.

On the positive side, no one should really be complaining about a lack of playing time.

We lost to a 5th-ranked Oklahoma team on 12/08/2008 after leading 52-26 at half. Like this game against the Utes, that loss as well was on the coaches. http://www.calbears.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=30100&ATCLID=207734156

Thomas had the shot of the year; how much fun was that???

Rather shocking loss after such a big lead.

Boyle2.0 running out of excuses. Hubris has infected the coaching staff.

Utah dictated the game. the Cal players were gassed in Q4. Seven player rotation is a failure.

Joseta Fatuesi is very skilled for such a large body; obviously it was an opportunity to get KC Waters some minutes with the matchup and perhaps, Anigwe could have been rested and kept out of foul trouble too.

NCAA players are a constant work in progress. At Cal, that appears to describe the young coaches, too.

At this middle point in the season, the RPI is this staff's performance review. They are on written notice by the loyal Bear loving fans here who want to see this talented team win. Still a long way to go, but its looking like sub optimization, and an NIT year.

Never too late to make adjustments, and be creative. Cal needs to get off this track and that requires tops-down self-examination.

OMG Asha made an amazing shot. Her defense is progressing.

It would be nice to have a player off the bench with a crazy motor when the offense gets stagnant; its hard to believe Cal could not have found someone who fit that role. D1 and 2 is full of smaller skilled motivated guards who probably would have loved coming off the bench at Cal rather than starting at 5-22 Oompa Loompa State.

The most important thing now is win the next battle, and align the strategy to win the war.

john1953;842631108 said:

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It would be nice to have a player off the bench with a crazy motor when the offense gets stagnant; its hard to believe Cal could not have found someone who fit that role. D1 and 2 is full of smaller skilled motivated guards who probably would have loved coming off the bench at Cal rather than starting at 5-22 Oompa Loompa State.

The most important thing now is win the next battle, and align the strategy to win the war.

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Right on and great idea about having a spark plug come in off the bench to give us some sort of short burst of energy. Some teams have that sort of player just for that very purpose you mentioned.

However I would not look at the Oompa Loompa State, Chocolateers because the tallest player on their roster is only 4-11.

to

Complaining about the lack of a bench is pointless this season. The team is constituted as it is and that is not going to change. And part of that shortness is due to two late developments - the losses of Jefflo and Cavanaugh. And now Yue's foot injury. Add those three back in the mix, and there is no "short bench" to complain about.

Our coaches are awesome.

But, maybe they have a grad transfer?



They insist on using gold balls.

I feel a bit heart broken after this game.

Was at the game. Very surprised we stuck with a zone D that let them hit Kuklok on the outside over and over.

Also, not sure if it is designed plays but #3 taking it to the basket 3 hurt us bad late as well.

So I don't follow WBB that closely, why do we only have a roster of 9?

rkt88edmo;842631353 said:

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........So I don't follow WBB that closely, why do we only have a roster of 9?

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As stated by ncbears earlier in this thread, we lost two guards just prior to the start of the season; otherwise, we'd have 11 on the roster.

There are a lot of mitigating circumstances for the lack of depth and unbalanced make up of this team this season. The staff is somewhat limited to their options in this respect. Nothing at all like the situation Boyle was in.

SanseiBear;842631368 said:

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As stated by ncbears earlier in this thread, we lost two guards just prior to the start of the season; otherwise, we'd have 11 on the roster.

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We had 10 last year but 3 mainly played in garbage time and the 4th only went in when Gray had foul problems.

The year we went to Final Four, we played eight during the year and shortened it to seven in the tournament. But several of that group were versatile and could swing among positions, no one got injured, and no one got kicked off of the team during the year. With Jefflo still here, we had a good balanced roster this year. Now we don't.

But we are allowed to have a roster of 16? I am surprised there aren't at least a few walk ons to help fill out the roster. Even starting the season with 11 seems oddly low. Then again, if not on scholly basketball has to be brutal for a student athlete with all of the games and travel.

annarborbear;842631447 said:

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The year we went to Final Four, we played eight during the year and shortened it to seven in the tournament. But several of that group were versatile and could swing among positions, no one got injured, and no one got kicked off of the team during the year. With Jefflo still here, we had a good balanced roster this year. Now we don't.

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I we had Jefflo this year, it would help a lot, no doubt since LG would play her. I was looking to see if there was a trend with how LG handled playing time and came up with this:

2011-2012 25-10 all games, 13-5 conference, 12 players, 9 with >10 mins/gm, 8 with >15 mins/gm
2012-2013 32-4 all games, 17-1 conference, 10 players, 9 with >10 mins/gm, 7 with >15 min/gm
2013-2014 22-10 all games, 13-5 conference, 13 players, 9 with >10 min/gm, 9 with >15 min/gm
2014-2015 24-10 all games, 13-5 conference, 10 players, 7 with > 10 min/gm, 6 with > 15 min/gm
2015-2016 10-5 all games, 1-3 conference, 9 players, 7 players with >10 min/gm, 6 players with > 15 min/gm

Firszt of all we are allowed to have 15. Since we use men players to scrimmage, why would you have a bunch of walk-ons who are just going to sit there. Second, your best chance of getting a walk-on on is a player that has a scholarship in another sport. There are just not that many women basketball players in the pool.

I reviewed the remaining fourteen Pac 12 games and the best that I can see for Cal is an 8-10 record. Since the Bears entered conference play with a 9-2 mark, they would finish 17-12. The only postseason that Cal could possibly see is the WNIT.

wvitbear;842631487 said:

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Firszt of all we are allowed to have 15. Since we use men players to scrimmage, why would you have a bunch of walk-ons who are just going to sit there. Second, your best chance of getting a walk-on on is a player that has a scholarship in another sport. There are just not that many women basketball players in the pool.

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Interesting, went back and read the old threads too. I had no idea, sorry for the boothiness of the posts.

8 and 10 with 17 wins would get them into the NCAA. Right now according to Sagarin, the Pac 12 is the number one conference in the country. I believe we will get 8 teams into the tourney. And 8 and 10 will not be 8th place. Also, we have good non conference wins in Louisville, Nebraska, and UCLA. No bad non conference losses in Texas A@M and St. Marys.