Pac-12 WBB Media Day: Bears Picked for Last

Media Day for the Pac-12 Women’s Basketball was Tuesday at the conference headquarters in San Francisco.

Cal did not get much love. Stanford, the defending national champ, was a virtual unanimous pick to repeat as conference champs in the preseason poll.

The Bears, who endured a 1-16 season a year ago, were picked by the conference coaches to finish last again. 

But head coach Charmin Smith, who was joined at the event by sophomore wing Dalayah Daniels and junior guard Leilani McIntosh (above), is not one to bemoan the past. She does feel the Bears can learn from it and actually come out better off.

“I am excited about these young women here (Daniels and McIntosh) and the women on our team,” she said. “They have worked extremely hard. We are in a much better place than we were at this time last year. We are excited to get started.”

The fact the Bears are able to work indoors is an instant upgrade from a year ago. “I could start with not practicing on outdoor tennis courts with portable baskets,” Smith said when asked for specifics. “We’ve got people back who weren’t healthy last year, Cailyn Crocker, Jazlen Green, Alma Elsnitz. They are all back practicing with us, going full court and everything. Those are the most significant pieces that make us in a better place than last year.”

With the injuries to those players and others and pandemic restrictions, on some nights the Bears were lucky to field a team. 

“With six or seven players available, we started games in foul trouble,” Smith said. “Knock on wood, nothing compares to that. We can feel positive that whatever adversity we face knowing we’ve been through toughest times we have ever had.”

Even as the losses piled up, the Bears were gaining valuable playing experience.

“Last year was a blessing in disguise in some ways. Not many freshmen get two freshman years. We are going to use that to our advantage,” said Daniels, who led the Bears in scoring with an average of 11.9. “We have a lot of new pieces on our team and a lot of people coming back. A lot of the coaching we’ve been having is going to pay great benefits for us this year. We have a great coaching staff behind us.”

Pac-12 Conference

Coaches and players at media day. Bears second from left 

Daniels feels her role will change this year, for the better.

“For me, coming in I was pretty versatile and I was playing everywhere,” she said. “I think this year it is going to be a lot easier on me because I am going to be able to play a stretch four and be able to have a simpler role.”

“The experience in general, it wasn’t like a full season, but it was like six of our freshmen could see how college basketball is,” McIntosh said. “And I think that really helps us, getting those games under our belt.” 

Smith talked about what the return of Crocker and Green will mean.

“The leadership that they bring, the energy that they bring,” she said. “Those two...You are talking about two Pac-12 starting guards that we didn’t have. The team is really excited to have their voice back, their game back in practice every day. 

“I am just happy for them. They’ve worked extremely hard to come back from their injuries. It’s not easy, and then the pandemic it’s even tougher. I am really glad to have them back out there.”

So are their teammates. 

“They are the biggest trash talkers on the team,” McIntosh said. “Every time we hit the court it’s competition and that pushes you to be better. On the court, I have been playing with Cailyn since like sixth grade. Just knowing everything that she does. And everywhere she is we have that connection. I got close to Jazlen. She is a knock-down shooter.”

As a freshman two years ago, Green averaged 8.8 points, Crocker, 7.5.

Smith will enter the season with an entirely new coaching staff, Her assistants, Paul Reed, Kelly Cole and former Cal player Eliza Pierre are all in their first year on the staff..

And they will find a team and a leader that is ready to show the world last season was not a true sample.

“When you take the beatings that we took in terms of the number of wins last year, it makes you hungry,” Smith said. “We’re fired up. We want to beat up on some other people. I’m excited to get out there with this group.”