Cal Bears center Milos llic (8) takes the ball against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Logan Imes (2) at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley on Fri Jan 2, 2026 (Cal Bears X photo)

Cal Bears podcast Michael Villanueva:

#1 Dai Dai Ames had a strong offensive season coming in — how would you assess his impact Friday night both in scoring and tempo for Cal he finished with 23 points.

#2 Justin Pippen has been one of the team’s key playmakers — what adjustments did Notre Dame make to limit his effectiveness and how did he respond, Pippen finished with 14 points.

#3 John Camden was one of Cal’s most efficient shooters — what did you think about his shot selection and contribution on both ends tonight?

#4 Lee Dort with four points and 11 rebounds brings rebounding and interior presence — how critical was his work on the boards, and do you feel it set the tone defensively late in the game?

#5 Looking at role players like Semetri Carr with six points, how important was the bench production Friday night, and what can that depth mean moving forward in ACC play?

Michael Villanuevea is a Cal Bears beat writer and podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com