Bears Set Sights On Wake Forest
BERKELEY – The California men’s basketball team ends a three-game home stand Saturday when it hosts Wake Forest in Haas Pavilion. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. PT with broadcasts on ACC Network and 810 AM.
GAME INFORMATION
Date & Time: Saturday, Feb. 8 | 2 p.m. PT
Location: Berkeley, California | Haas Pavilion
Watch: ACC Network | Dave Feldman (PxP) & Jerod Haase (Analyst)
Listen: 810 AM & Varsity Network App | Justin Allegri (PxP) & Theo Robertson (Analyst)
Live Stats: Statbroadcast
INSIDE THE MATCHUP – CAL vs. WAKE FOREST
Series record: Cal leads, 2-1
Cal (12-11, 5-7 ACC) and Wake Forest will meet for the first time since the 2000 NIT Quarterfinals in Greensboro, North Carolina, where the Demon Deacons won 76-59. Wake Forest went on to win the 2000 NIT title.
ACC Network analyst Jerod Haase was a freshman on the 1992-93 Cal squad that defeated Wake Forest 81-75 at Oakland Arena on Dec. 22, 1992. Haase played 30 minutes, tallying four points, four boards, one assist and one steal.
Mark Madsen is 0-1 in his coaching career against Wake Forest. His 2022-23 Utah Valley team lost a 68-65 overtime contest to the Demon Deacons on Nov. 15, 2022.
The Demon Deacons (17-6, 9-3) are 4-4 in true road games and 6-5 away from home this season, most recently earning a 79-73 win at Stanford on Wednesday.
STARTING FIVE
1. Star Power
Jeremiah Wilkinson continues to traject toward being one of the most dynamic freshmen to put on a Golden Bear uniform. The left-hander ranks 10th nationally in scoring (13.4 PPG) among power-conference freshman guards and has taken a leap since being inserted into the starting lineup five games ago, averaging 19.6 PPG since Jan. 22. He also owns a 2.0 assist-to-turnover ratio (12 assists, 6 turnovers) in those five starts. A two-time ACC Rookie of the Week, Wilkinson has scored double figures in 17 of the past 19 games, including 10 times in 12 ACC contests.
2. Back In Action
Cal’s leading scorer Andrej Stojakovic (18.3 points per game, fifth in ACC) returned to the court Wednesday vs. NC State following a four-game absence (injury/illness). Stojakovic, who has scored 20-plus points nine times in his past 16 games played, tallied just six points in the win against the Wolfpack but made his presence felt elsewhere in 25 minutes off the bench; he posted four rebounds, two assists and a block.
3. All Grit
Rytis Petraitis has won over the Golden Bear fan base with a do-it-all style of play. While much of Petraitis’ game – hustle, energy, grit – doesn’t show up in the box score, the junior forward leads Cal in assists (24, 2.0 APG), steals (13, 1.1 SPG) and offensive rebounds (39, 3.3 ORPG) in ACC play. Petraitis has posted two double-doubles in the past five games as well – 18 points, 10 rebounds at SMU; 12 points, 13 rebounds (eight offensive) vs. Florida State.
4. Attack The Rim
The Bears are scoring more than 67% of their points in the paint or at the free throw line this season, signaling an emphasis on getting to the rim. Cal leads the ACC (18th nationally) with 17.3 free throws made per game and has shot 80% or better at the line in nine games, including seven times in conference play. The Bears average 33.1 paint points per game; they’ve scored 40-plus paint points five times, most recently in back-to-back wins against Florida State and Miami (Jan. 22-25).
5. Season Sweep
Cal snapped a two-game skid and secured a season sweep of NC State with a 74-62 win Wednesday in Haas Pavilion. Three weeks after five Bears scored in double figures on the way to a 65-62 win over the Wolfpack in Raleigh, Cal played another well-rounded game with 16 assists on 27 made field goals, a 42.9% clip (9 of 21) from 3-point range, and a +12-rebound margin (44-32). Cal improved to 10-4 at home this season with the victory, as well as 3-0 in midweek ACC home games.
UP NEXT
Cal switches time zones again to play at No. 2 Duke on Wednesday. Tipoff at Cameron Indoor Stadium is at 6 p.m. PT.
SUPPORT THE BEARS
Tickets for the 2024-25 campaign can be purchased by visiting CalBears.com/Tickets, calling 800-GO-BEARS (462-3277) or emailing goldstandard@berkeley.edu. Fans can support the Golden Bears through the Cal Men's Basketball Excellence Initiative or the California Legends Collective.