I am not a nega bear fan but clearly this is a team with very little leadership and questionable coaching. I had high expectations but this team is just going through the motions. Am I wrong?

barrington;842651597 said:

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I am not a nega bear fan but clearly this is a team with very little leadership and questionable coaching. I had high expectations but this team is just going through the motions. Am I wrong?

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You are not wrong. Although my expectations were not high, they have underperformed. Players and coaches both have not shown up. Don't want to get too negative either, but am not looking for much different play this season.

Their results are far below their talent. To get handled that way by worst team in the conference...yikes.

What is frustrating is that we've seen the same problems for about 5-8 years now:

1) Poor free-throw shooting. Just a killer.

2) I've never seen a team miss so many layups and bunnies year in and year out. Contagious. We lose a good 8-10 points on point blank shots each game.

3) We are without a spot up 3 point shooter who extends defenses and parks out at the arc.

4) Over reliance on athleticism, at the seeming sacrifice of some very basic fundamentals and gluts of boneheaded plays--I mean plays that are beyond head scratchers.

5) Misuse of energy. They will put in the effort running the floor or trapping, but then can be really lazy on the glass and flat footed on defense. This is more true this year. So many times a player literally just watching a scramble for the ball or the other team driving. I am a hack player with a thimble of these players' ability, and yet I play harder at the gym then what I see sometimes.

When the athleticism clicks, we can dominate, but that is obviously not happening this year. I just hope they grow from this year, because this group of players can be special if they put the work and effort into it.

I think this team lacks players. Hard to win when you lose so many from a already-small roster.

with such a thin roster we don't have any legs to play the type of game we want to play
losing two guards before the season and a center very early is too much to overcome for a team who already had a small roster
we are also a young team with the core freshmen and sophs, and no seniors

are those excuses? they might sound like it, but no, they are not excuses

The team cannot defend in the half court. They need to utilize their length to press, either full court or half court trap. Since they have been short on personnel [only 6-7 players] they cannot afford to expend all their energy pressing. The Bears have consistently scored in the forties & fifties on the road. It's not enough to win. Today was the rare day that Kristine Anigwe was able to play 36 minutes and score 30 points. However, she did not have an assist and commited 8 TOs. There is zero consistently from one half to the next or one game to the next. Last game Cal only commited 12 TOs. Today they double that to 24 turnovers with only 11 assists. When Anigwe is the entire team, the other players don't seem to get emotionally involved and do not score much. Asha Thomas and Gabby Green seldom score during road games. I don't understand but it's a fact. Davidson scored 10 points vs Utah in the first half on perfect shooting and only had one shot in the second half and failed to score. Explain that to me, please?

Gottlieb is very close to losing this team from my observations. To have three McDonald's AAs and Courtney Range on the floor, they should not be getting blown out by the last place team by 21 points...It was a blowout at intermission, too.

When we beat UCLA, Louisville and Nebraska, Thomas was scoring in double digits and Cowling was taking quite a few more shots and attacking the basket. With those two going into a shell, we have become imbalanced on offense. And on defense, we just seem to run out of gas. I would not be trapping or pressing this year when we basically have only two guards who have to play almost 40 minutes a game. Plus, one of our coaches may eventually notice that Green can't shoot form the outside and that she should be posting smaller people up inside instead.

Got to keep positive but it is hard to with 24 turnovers...yikes! Just as with any team it can get to a point where a team has to learn how to not to lose. Sound fundamentals will trump athleticism. Looks like fundamentals beat the team today.

And per instagram news.... Evina Westbrook was in Oregon today watching the Ducks verses the Trojans.

maybe the team has too much talent and not enough winners. Winners thrive on adversity they use it as fuel for competition. Winners use circumstances that most could use for excuses and turn them into ways to win. Winners though out manned compete every single play and forces their opponent to use up every ounce of competitive spirit to gain a win. They respect their opponent enough to make them earn it.

Grainger2874;842651778 said:

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maybe the team has too much talent and not enough winners. Winners thrive on adversity they use it as fuel for competition. Winners use circumstances that most could use for excuses and turn them into ways to win. Winners though out manned compete every single play and forces their opponent to use up every ounce of competitive spirit to gain a win. They respect their opponent enough to make them earn it.

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We need to recruit player who can be developed aside from our super recruits. We need a strong guard who can lead the team. Too many wings and no true shooting guard. Also, a true power foward. Someone who can help rebound and help Kristine in the center. More players to create a cooperative environment.

annarborbear;842651740 said:

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When we beat UCLA, Louisville and Nebraska, Thomas was scoring in double digits and Cowling was taking quite a few more shots and attacking the basket. With those two going into a shell, we have become imbalanced on offense. And on defense, we just seem to run out of gas. I would not be trapping or pressing this year when we basically have only two guards who have to play almost 40 minutes a game. Plus, one of our coaches may eventually notice that Green can't shoot form the outside and that she should be posting smaller people up inside instead.

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Not to pile on, but WHY? WHY? This team really has a lot of talent. Lacking a bit, but the big question is WHY? And the fan base for this team is soooo sensitive, it is almost difficult to ask.

OdontoBear66;842651792 said:

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Not to pile on, but WHY? WHY? This team really has a lot of talent. Lacking a bit, but the big question is WHY? And the fan base for this team is soooo sensitive, it is almost difficult to ask.

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I would be putting some of it on the coaches, some on the players, some on the circumstances. The question is what can be changed for next year? I'm not sure. I would bring in a new assistant with some different ideas about offense. I would be expecting greater maturity from a few of our players, and would also be demanding it. I would find a guard from overseas who can at least get it across half court and set up an offense when giving others a rest. But, unfortunately, it could now every well take more than one additional year to get this turned around.

annarborbear;842651814 said:

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I would be putting some of it on the coaches, some on the players, some on the circumstances. The question is what can be changed for next year? I'm not sure. I would bring in a new assistant with some different ideas about offense. I would be expecting greater maturity from a few of our players, and would also be demanding it. I would find a guard from overseas ...

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Pretty much spot-on. I was disappointed in the attitude of a coach who spoke pregame a few weeks after the Saint Mary's loss in that early home tournament-- the excuse that Cal merely didn't get up for SMC. Felt like denial of cracks that were clearly much deeper. The mid-majors #58 RPI Gaels are a better team than Cal now, partially due to their competitive advantage from down-under recruiting and some mean defense to overcome an inconsistent offensive game. No amount of cultish cliches (we only want top starter quality players on a relatively short bench blablabla) is going to change the facts and #84 RPI for Cal.

They must once-and-for-all leave the rusting Boyle tracks behind them. However, Lindsay is positive, young and has won a lot of big games and I would certainly not support changing Head Coaches now - the players seem to respond to her leadership style, and she should be seen as an investment and a work-in-progress with a long-term Cal payoff. Starting over could be much much worse and set the program far back. Cal can correct their course for next year building on the core of physically and mentally maturing young talent.

Go Bears! Finish this teachable moment 2015/16 derailment with some sweet wins and maybe an post season ride down the NIT highway lined with blue & gold pride. Lets avoid being be too tough on the players so long as they continue to give their best effort, as Yogi said, "it ain't over till its over."

For no reason other than I follow both teams I'll compare our men and our women. Last season our men were short handed and didn't do too well, this season they're improving. They've won all of their home games and this week got their first conference road wins.

Experience and depth: Our men have (career scholarship players not blueshirting) 1 senior, 5 juniors, 3 sophs, and 2 freshies. Our women have (not injured) 0 seniors, 2 juniors, 3 sophs, and 3 freshies. That's a huge difference but our women should be in a better position next season.

Balance: Our men have 4 guards, 4 wings, 1 forward, and 2 centers. Our women have 2 guards, 3 wings, and 3 forwards. Next season Chen might be productive at center, but we'll still need more guards.

Comparable players (a total judgement call): Cowling / Bird, Anigwe / Rabb, and Mosely / Moute a Bidias are pretty close. Green is playing something like Singer, with high BBIQ but a soph shooting slump. Range is playing more and better than Domingo but their games are similar. Same with Thomas and Chauca. Our men don't have anyone much like Davidson or Waters. But IMHO the crucial difference is our women have nobody like Wallace, Brown, Matthews, Rooks, or Okoroh. Nobody to pressure the defense with drives to the hoop. Nobody to stretch the defense with deadly 3-point shooting. Nobody to bang inside, protect the rim, clean up the boards, and absorb 10 fouls. Maybe Gabby Green can develop like Jaylen Brown. Perhaps Chen Yue can develop like Kam rooks. But I think we'll need to recruit female equivalents to Tyrone Wallace and Jordan Matthews.

stu;842651877 said:

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For no reason other than I follow both teams I'll compare our men and our women. Last season our men were short handed and didn't do too well, this season they're improving. They've won all of their home games and this week got their first conference road wins.

Experience and depth: Our men have (career scholarship players not blueshirting) 1 senior, 5 juniors, 3 sophs, and 2 freshies. Our women have (not injured) 0 seniors, 2 juniors, 3 sophs, and 3 freshies. That's a huge difference but our women should be in a better position next season.

Balance: Our men have 4 guards, 4 wings, 1 forward, and 2 centers. Our women have 2 guards, 3 wings, and 3 forwards. Next season Chen might be productive at center, but we'll still need more guards.

Comparable players (a total judgement call): Cowling / Bird, Anigwe / Rabb, and Mosely / Moute a Bidias are pretty close. Green is playing something like Singer, with high BBIQ but a soph shooting slump. Range is playing more and better than Domingo but their games are similar. Same with Thomas and Chauca. Our men don't have anyone much like Davidson or Waters. But IMHO the crucial difference is our women have nobody like Wallace, Brown, Matthews, Rooks, or Okoroh. Nobody to pressure the defense with drives to the hoop. Nobody to stretch the defense with deadly 3-point shooting. Nobody to bang inside, protect the rim, clean up the boards, and absorb 10 fouls. Maybe Gabby Green can develop like Jaylen Brown. Perhaps Chen Yue can develop like Kam rooks. But I think we'll need to recruit female equivalents to Tyrone Wallace and Jordan Matthews.

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The men's team and women's team reflect the personality of their coaches. The men's team play hard nosed basketball and play with intensity. LG inherited hard nosed players (including those JB recruited just before she left) but now she has her own recruits. Cavanaugh seemed like a player that Martin would love.

I think people readily forget that this is NOT the same team that went 25-10 last season; came within a point of winning the Pac-12 Tournament; advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament on their HOME court. Three freshmen have stepped on the floor for the Bears where once stood Brittany Boyd and Reshanda Gray. Support this team! They need us badly. I'm going to Seattle next week to do what I've done all season as a season ticketholder - cheer on my Bears!

SFCALBear72;842652089 said:

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Three freshmen have stepped on the floor for the Bears where once stood Brittany Boyd and Reshanda Gray.

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And Mercedes Jefflo.

But we'll be all right, especially if the fans keep coming.

SFCALBear72;842652089 said:

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I think people readily forget that this is NOT the same team that went 25-10 last season; came within a point of winning the Pac-12 Tournament; advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament on their HOME court. Three freshmen have stepped on the floor for the Bears where once stood Brittany Boyd and Reshanda Gray. Support this team! They need us badly. I'm going to Seattle next week to do what I've done all season as a season ticketholder - cheer on my Bears!

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I support the team too and realize the turnover...and that the conference is tough...but 3 wins? That's pretty hard to swallow given the talent (no matter how young).

blungld;842652140 said:

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I support the team too and realize the turnover...and that the conference is tough...but 3 wins? That's pretty hard to swallow given the talent (no matter how young).

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Conference is tough. Don't know if it is tougher than last year. UCLA is better for sure. Replacing Boyd, Gray and Jefflo with Anigwe, Thomas and Mosley is not easy. One could argue that Anigwe did a good job replacing Gray. She is better in points per game, rebounds, blocks, steals, free throw %; is the same in field goal % and fouls. The only thing that was worse was she committed 1.5 more turnovers per game. Range, Green, Cowling, Davidson and Waters had one more year of experience. Range also played more games this year. Jefflo's defense is under appreciated and sorely missed this year. I suspect the biggest difference between 13-5 and 3-13 is Boyd. There were times last year when the team was gassed and demoralized, but she never gave up. I still remember the Long Beach State game where Gray got thrown out early and we played horribly, but Boyd kept hustling and almost won the game on an off balance NBA 3 pointer that was ruled a split second late. I see SI as that kind of player - we really need her.

The LG offense worked OK in the Final Four year because somebody could toss up a shot and our unique rebounders would vacuum up the misses and score. It also worked fairly well in subsequent years due to Boyd's uncanny ability to dish off amazing passes and to get to the basket herself when needed. Now, without those unique assets, and with limited outside shooting, this same offense is predictable and easily defensible. Add to it the lack of any boxing out effort/technique on the defensive end, and we are capable of losing to even average teams.

Hope that Lindsay realizes she has to do better in these areas, and cannot always expect unique talent to be available to make this system work. That said, it is also time to insist that Cowling take twice as many shots per game and become a major scorer. I would stop using Cowling as a guard. This has changed her mentality into a passive player who too often just hangs around outside not doing much of anything.

@ HoopDreams: No, they're not excuses; they're reasons. This has been a weird season--an intersection of unexpected, unfortunate events--and I don't blame the players, and I'm tired of blaming the coaches; blame is too easy. Sometimes bad things happen and if we feel lousy about it, how do the players feel?

Thanks, SFCALBear72. I agree.

BearBint;842652305 said:

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Thanks, SFCALBear72. I agree.

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Thank you, BearBint. Good to hear.

BearBint;842652302 said:

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@ HoopDreams: No, they're not excuses; they're reasons. This has been a weird season--an intersection of unexpected, unfortunate events--and I don't blame the players, and I'm tired of blaming the coaches; blame is too easy. Sometimes bad things happen and if we feel lousy about it, how do the players feel?

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In the short run, bad luck and weird things can happen to any team. That is from basic probability theory. Over the course of a season, there is high significance to metrics. Any winning organization MUST be a learning organization. That requires honest evaluation, not cultish blindness to facts, and waiting for something to happen. It just doesn't work that way for winners.

Having said that, the wonderful, great Cal fans should not be so focused on offense. Defense, rebounding, turnovers, motivation (including conditioning) - that is where coaches and players have the biggest impact. Yes, there are some offensive X's and O's that a coach must get right based on opponents; but you can only ask for what your players are capable of executing at their personal bests. The turnovers usually come correctable mental farts, IMHO.

There are things that can be learned from this season, for all hopefully long-term staff and the four year players. That's not blame, that's INTELLIGENCE AND BUILDING STRATEGIC ADVANTAGE.

We can build on what we have, learning, growing, correcting/improving.

This season is still not lost.

john1953;842652548 said:

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Having said that, the wonderful, great Cal fans should not be so focused on offense. Defense, rebounding, turnovers, motivation (including conditioning) - that is where coaches and players have the biggest impact. Yes, there are some offensive X's and O's that a coach must get right based on opponents; but you can only ask for what your players are capable of executing at their personal bests....We can build on what we have, learning, growing, correcting/improving.

This season is still not lost.

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Thanks, John--good post. If I could see just one strongly improved aspect of Cal WBB (preferably this season!), it would be rebounding.

This season is not lost--unless one expects to see players playing up to potential, in which case this season is quite lost. I rather see the players progress and succeed than win. This season I see neither.

Cal Geek;842651637 said:

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I think this team lacks players. Hard to win when you lose so many from a already-small roster.

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Last year 6 players played 88% of the minutes. This year 6 players played 90% of the minutes. Last year the players that hardly played were 2 seniors and a sophomore. This year the players that hardly played are 1 junior and 1 freshman.

I agree with most of the Bear Insider fam points: other Pac 12 teams loaded up this year or more seasoned, combo-coaching, youth, no 3 point sniper (or consistent shooter), injuries, lack of bench...this is a growing pain year. I don't mean to keep rehashing the point but who cares about backing/sliding our way into the "dance" (NCAA tourney) just to say we punched a ticket?!. I'd rather have a fresh start, work on team building, grinding it out in a WNIT run... get seeded high enough to host (have a good crowd come out to support). I still BELIEVE! Next year is looking up! :gobears:

GATC;842652570 said:

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Last year 6 players played 88% of the minutes. This year 6 players played 90% of the minutes. Last year the players that hardly played were 2 seniors and a sophomore. This year the players that hardly played are 1 junior and 1 freshman.

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Minutes played this season (so far): FR 38%, SO 43%, JR 19%, SR none
Weighted average experience (entering season): 0.81 year

Minutes played last season (NCAA 2nd round): FR 37%, SO 27%, JR none, SR 36%
Weighted average experience (entering season): 1.34 years

Minutes played 2013-14 (NCAA 2nd round): FR 26ne, SO none, JR 41%, SR 33%
Weighted average experience (entering season): 1.80 years

Minutes played 2012-13 (NCAA 5th round): FR none, SO 27%, JR 32%, SR 41%
Weighted average experience (entering season): 2.14 years

So every year since our Final Four appearance our experience has decreased, and our results seem to reflect that. Next season our experience should be better, unless freshies play most of the minutes.

stu;842652967 said:

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Minutes played this season (so far): FR 38%, SO 43%, JR 19%, SR none
Weighted average experience (entering season): 0.81 year

Minutes played last season (NCAA 2nd round): FR 37%, SO 27%, JR none, SR 36%
Weighted average experience (entering season): 1.34 years

Minutes played 2013-14 (NCAA 2nd round): FR 26ne, SO none, JR 41%, SR 33%
Weighted average experience (entering season): 1.80 years

Minutes played 2012-13 (NCAA 5th round): FR none, SO 27%, JR 32%, SR 41%
Weighted average experience (entering season): 2.14 years

So every year since our Final Four appearance our experience has decreased, and our results seem to reflect that. Next season our experience should be better, unless freshies play most of the minutes.

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Nice analysis. Even though we play different teams each year, I will list the records so that we have some frame of reference knowing that this is a factor:

2009-2010 24-13 (11-7)
2010-2011 18-16 (7-11)
2011-2012 25-10 (13-5)
2012-2013 32-4 (17-1)
2013-2014 22-10 (13-5)
2014-2015 24-10 (13-5)
2015-2016 12-15 (3-13) to date

No doubt that experience is a factor. It appears that 2013-2014 should have been better based on the experience so I thought I would look at points/minute. I think I said this before, but I will repeat it. The points per minute for the 7 year period is 5% more for seniors than freshmen. In fact it is pretty even between the classes. If you look at the different players as you go through the classes, it presents a different story. The Anigwe/Thomas/Mosley class is +20% in points/minute. The Green/Cowling/Davidson class is -25%. The Range/Jefflo/Waters class is -7%. The Boyd/Gray/Hartman class is +22%. The Jemerigbe/Lyles/Sherbert class is -5% and the magnificent 7 class of Stallworth/Brandon/Caldwell/Clarendon/Pierre is -2%. Obviously points aren't everything but it is one of the key factors and when the Anigwe/Thomas/Mosley class is generating 60% more points per minute than the Green/Cowling/Davidson class, it may mean something. Maybe it supports what a lot of people here have been saying in that Cowling and Davidson should shoot more and Green should be posting up and improving on finishing her drives instead of shooting 3's.

Class balance has been a problem and not bringing anyone in for the 2012-2013 class has taken its toll. LG inherited a very large team coming in (14). The good thing about that class is that Boyd and Gray kept their commitments, but Stallworth and Johnson left and Rogers cannot play for health reasons but is on scholarship. Then Sherbert left so the 14 became 10 and it would have been good to bring in a couple of players for the 2012-2013 class but I guess it was too late. LG compensated by bringing in the following year 4 freshmen (Range, Jefflo, Waters and Ben Abdelkader) and 2 Junior transfers (Dunn and Shine). But that resulted in 4 seniors and 5 juniors. 3 graduated and 2 left the program which lead to the small roster last year. Since you have to start recruiting players years before they come, starting with a class imbalance, sudden departures and a few misses can really disrupt the best laid plans. If you look back, what happened this year is not much different than what has been happening the past 4 years. If SI comes (which is everyone's dream come true) the class balance will not be too bad with Range and Water being seniors and the junior and sophomore classes looking solid. But we will be short of guards even if she comes so I can understand the comments here about looking for another guard.

Stu, thanks for a clear-cut analysis of one major problem with this season. Talent is good, but experienced talent is so much better.

BearBint;842652302 said:

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@ HoopDreams: No, they're not excuses; they're reasons. This has been a weird season--an intersection of unexpected, unfortunate events--and I don't blame the players, and I'm tired of blaming the coaches; blame is too easy. Sometimes bad things happen and if we feel lousy about it, how do the players feel?

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Ah, BearBint, not to be harsh, but this season has not been good. You wish not to blame the coaches or the players. I can only think you like no blame---a mystery, and bad stuff happened. Don't think that works. And I do not wish to beat a dead horse, but I think things need to be evaluated here. What really is the reason for this year?

And do not get me wrong. I wished and thought this season was about to be good, then add Sabrina I. and be even better. So what I suggest right now, is that final hope is becoming distant as why should she want to come and save a ship that is sinking? And I don't even understand why things have turned so badly. But rather than forgiving maybe you can give your insight into the season.

I think there has to be accountability, by both players and coaches. Good or bad, in basketball or life, we all have to accept responsibility for the way things turn out. (That's existentialism in a nutshell.)

OdontoBear66;842653767 said:

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Ah, BearBint, not to be harsh, but this season has not been good. You wish not to blame the coaches or the players. I can only think you like no blame---a mystery, and bad stuff happened. Don't think that works. And I do not wish to beat a dead horse, but I think things need to be evaluated here. What really is the reason for this year?

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Oh, OB66, I think this season has sucked in a number of ways. At least some of the players and coaches and staff are to blame, if only because they didn't deal effectively with unforeseen problems. Or didn't practice enough. Or didn't care enough. Or failed to listen. And so forth.

But what is the point of hashing and rehashing who is to blame? We are not in the confidence of the players, coaches, and staff. Things have already been evaluated over and over, and I daresay the evaluation will continue and I can always ignore these threads. I prefer Stu's stats in any case; they are facts.

Meanwhile I blame my attitude on Epictetus, the Stoic philosopher (55-135), whom I read once in a while. One of his most important teachings is not to worry about that which you cannot control; know what your business is, and tend to it. Cultivate your moral values and actions, and to hell with status. (Epictetus was evidently neither a parent nor a politician nor a basketball fan.)

Big game tonight. Just a few minutes ago freshman Olivia Hauger down a set and facing match point fought back to win and keep Cal Women's Tennis at #1 in the country after our #1 and #2 lost. Maybe our Women's Tennis Team and Women's Gymnastic Team will inspire our team. Is SI going to be there?