California’s Jabari Bird, left, and UC Davis guard Darius Graham fight for the ball in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016, in Berkeley, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

The Virginia Cavaliers (9-1) and ranked 12th will match up with the Cal Bears (9-2) ranked 13th at Haas Pavilion tonight (Wednesday) a 7:00PM PST tip off in Cal’s bid to extend their home win streak to 28. The Bears are happy with Jabari Bird who is playing in his fifth game since returning from the DL. Bird has the ability to take the ball in and out. If you got Bird sitting on a wing ready to shoot kind of like Patrick Christopher did the last time Cal won a conference championship that draws the attention of the defense outside.

This game will be a very good testament of that Virginia has given up fewer than 48 points a game and they do it by packing all five of their players in the paint. That should open things up very much were talking Cal’s Sam Singer if the Cavs are paying attention to penetrate and kick out. There should be wings, mid wings and three point areas that are wide open.

Michael Duca does the Cal Bears podcasts each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com