Game Preview: Cal Golden Bears

No. 10 Texas versus California

Tip Time: 6:30pm, CST (30 minutes after the conclusion of the consolation game)

TV: ESPN2

The Basics

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[*]Cal hired Cuonzo Martin as Head Coach in April this year. Martin and the Bears are off to a 3-0 start.

 

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[*]Cal is 3-3 against Top 25 teams over the last 12 months.

 

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[*]The Bears returned 3 starters off last years team, and a total of 8 players that had game experience. Those 3 starters (F – Kravish; G – Wallace; G – Bird) account for roughly half of Cal’s scoring.

 

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[*]Cal has a 2-1 lead over Texas in their all-time series, but both of those wins came in the 1960’s. Texas beat Cal in the 2000 Preseason NIT.

 

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Schedule/Results

Cal 91 – Alcorn State 57

Cal 93 – Kennesaw State 59

Cal 73 – Syracuse 59

Scouting Report

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[*]Jordan Mathews is the name to know on Cal’s squad. Matthews smoked ‘Cuse for 22 points, 20 of them in the second half, and was 6-12 from the floor. He leads Cal in scoring at just under 19 ppg.

 

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[*]David Kravish already has 9 blocks this season and provides excellent help defense.

 

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[*]Cal has used a 3-guard starting lineup in all three of their games. The Bears have some size on the bench with multiple players averaging 14-16 minutes/game. Whether Martin adjusts the lineup to add height is something to watch.

 

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[*]The Bears, particularly Jabari Bird, shoot the 3 very well. Bird was 4-5 from three point range against Syracuse and the Bears hit 4 consecutive 3-pointers in the closing minutes of the first half to pull away from the Orange.

 

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[*]Cal’s freshman center, Kingsley Okoroh, is 7’1”(254 pounds), and Kravish is 6’10” – the Bears have the height to frustrate Texas, but not the depth. Okoroh & Kravish must stay out of foul trouble for Cal to be successful.

 

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[*]At the small forward spot, Tyrone Wallace (6’5”, 200) is a prolific rebounder. Wallace leads the team in offensive (5) and total rebounds (22).

 

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[*]Cal has a solid assist:turnover ratio of almost 2.0 and their rebounding margin/game is over 8.

 

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