Category: Cal Bears

Bears In the Win Column: Cal holds off San Diego, 75-70

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By Morris Phillips

BERKELEY, CA–Five made 3-pointers in a span of less than three minutes–an anomaly for the 2021-22 Cal Bears–fueled the host club to their first win of the season, 75-70 over San Diego.

“(Jordan) Shepherd made a great play, I was open and shot it with confidence,” Joel Brown said of Cal’s first half run that fueled Cal’s evening. “From there, it opened up everything.” 

Grant Anticevich led Cal with 17 points, shooting 5 for 8 from the floor, and making all three 3-point attempts. The fifth-year senior has lead the Bears in scoring in two straight games.

The other three Cal Bears that have been in heavy usage thus far this season: guards Brown, Shepherd and forward Andre Kelly produced complimentary, balanced numbers as well. Leading scorer Shepherd had 14 points, three assists, Kelly had 13 points, eight rebounds, and Brown had 12 points and seven assists.

This time out the Bears weren’t tentative offensively or bereft of made buckets, they shot 50 percent from the floor for the first time. And they backed that with a 10 for 15 clip from three and 69 percent success at the free throw line. After the game was tied at 32 at halftime, the Bears pulled ahead in the first seven minutes after the break, using an 8-0 run that saw them down 43-38, then up 46-43. They then led for the final 13 minutes, 24 seconds of the game.

The Bears hadn’t been this efficient shooting threes since the 1996-97 season, and again, they weren’t expected to be dialed in like Steph with this group, this season.

“We made enough shots to win,” Coach Mark Fox said.

“The thing that probably drives me crazy more than anything is especially when it’s guys we deem as snipers,” said USD coach Sam Scholl, who obviously wasn’t fooled by Cal’s 28.1 percent shooting from three coming in. “Their snipers got off a few too many 3s.”

San Diego was paced by senior Joey Calcaterra with 18 points, and four made threes. Jase Townsend had 16 points, four assists and Terrell Brown 11 points, 11 rebounds, five blocked shots in a spirited performance for San Diego.

Jalen Celestine and Makale Foreman comprised the biggest co-conspirators for Cal off the bench, as both played extensive minutes for a second game after both were absent in the opener. Foreman was 3 of 4 for 8 points in 20 minutes, while Celestine went scoreless in 12 minutes. Lars Thiemann picked up the slack with Kelly in foul trouble, playing 12 minutes and scoring four points.

“We had a couple too many breakdowns on their good players and they made us pay,” Scholl said of his Toreros, who could have started the season 3-0 for the first time since 2013.

Cal hosts Southern Utah on Thursday evening at 7:00 pm with television coverage on the Pac-12 Network. Southern Utah has already gained a foothold in the Bay Area, losing to St. Mary’s in Moraga on Monday, 70-51.

Cal Bears basketball podcast with Morris Phillips: Did Shepherd get robbed in the closing seconds at UNLV?; Cal gets ready for San Diego tonight

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The UNLV Rebels Bryce Hamilton (13) drives the lane on the Cal Bears guard Jalen Celestine (32) during Sat Nov 13, 2021 contest at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas (photo by Las Vegas Review Journal)

On the Cal Bears basketball podcast with Morris:

#1 Morris like you mentioned in your recap on Saturday night that the UNLV Running Rebels (2-0) hinged on a key aspect that won them their game over the Cal Bears (0-2) 55-52 and that was the three point shot.

#2 You talked about Cal’s guard Jordan Shepherd who in the opener scored 27 points against UC San Diego but the Rebels got the memo on Shepherd and held him down to just nine points that might have been the difference in the game.

#3 UNLV head coach Kevin Kruger was pleased with the how the players shutdown Cal on three different action plays saying the defense executed it perfectly.

#4 Shepherd had his second three point attempt blocked and missed a lay up in the final seconds as head coach Mark Fox questioned if there was contact or not?

#5 The Bears host the San Diego Toreros (3-0) at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley tonight and hope that having the home floor will give them some kind of advantage. The Toreoros have won three straight to start the season and are getting some scoring from guard Jase Townsend, Terrell Brown, and Marcellus Ellington. Morris, set this one up for us tonight for a 6pm tip.

Morris does the Cal Bears basketball podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Rebel Rebel: Cal falls short at UNLV, 55-52 with Bears’ Shepherd held to 9 points

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By Morris Phillips

The Bears visit to the Vegas bright lights, and a meeting with the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels, hinged on one aspect: 3-point shooting.

The Runnin Rebels attempted more, made more and that allowed them to get past Cal, 55-52 at the Thomas & Mack Center. The Rebels were 10 of 29 from three, the Bears 4 of 14. That and some critical defensive stops in the game’s final two minutes decided a close game.

On Cal’s final possession, leading scorer Jordan Shepherd, who scored 27 points in Cal’s loss to UCSD was rushed into a lengthy 3-point attempt that drew iron but bounced away. Shepherd had a rough afternoon, missing 14 of his 17 shot attempts, and was held to nine points.

“We had about three actions we thought they might do,” UNLV coach Kevin Kruger said. “They guarded it absolutely perfectly.”

Shepherd missed a second 3-point attempt, and had his attempted layup blocked with 27 seconds left. All three stops were part of the Rebels big defensive stand that kept Cal scoreless in the final two minutes.

“We had a layup to win the game. I don’t know if there was contact or not,” coach Mark Fox said.

“That’s the final step for us. Learn how to close a game like this. Certainly I thought our defense was much better than it was the other night.”

Grant Anticevich led Cal with 11 points, 10 rebounds, and Andre Kelly had eight points, eight rebounds and Joel Brown started, and saw 29 minutes of floor time, but finished with seven points, four rebounds.

Cal was limited to 36.8 percent shooting from the floor. The Rebels with their constantly changing personnel groupings, which included four transfer players, stuck with man-to-man principles throughout. The Bears were just as good at their end by harassing UNLV into rushed shot attempts. They played zone predominantly and limited the Rebels to 37.5 percent shooting.

Jalen Celestine and Makale Foreman made their season debuts for Cal, but neither got it going offensively. Celestine played 24 minutes, scoring four points and Foreman was scoreless in six minutes, missing both his shot attempts.

UNLV got 12 points, five rebounds from Bryce Hamilton, and Michael Nuga contributed 10 points, six rebounds.

“We were picked, what were we picked, eighth? We wear UNLV on our chest with pride. We’re here to bring it back to what it once was.”

The Bears host the University of San Diego Toreros on Monday night at Haas Pavilion at 6pm.

Cal Bears Football podcast with Daniel Dullum: Cal-USC postponement gives Bears a week to prepare for Stanford

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Cal Bears head coach Justin Wilcox stands on the sidelines with his players against the Oregon State Beavers on Sat Oct 30, 2021photo. Wilcox said the team followed all the Covid 19 protocols but nonetheless Sat Nov 13, 2021 game against USC has been postponed to Dec 4, 2021 (AP News file photo)

On the Cal Bears Football podcast with Daniel:

#1 Whose dumbfounded the most in the Cal Bears (3-6) Covid 19 situation head coach Justin Wilcox who said the team followed protocols or the other head scratcher how did the team contract Covid 19 that forced them to postpone this Saturday’s game with USC (4-5).

#2 Either way Daniel the Bears get a week off after that grueling game in Tucson where Cal quarterback Ryan Glover just couldn’t get any offensive traction going against the struggling Arizona Wildcats (1-8).

#3 The key thing in the game against the Wildcats the Bears who were missing over 24 players due to Covid 19 protocols coach Wilcox had a rough time getting second stringers, practice squad players and back up to jell in what some would call a thrown together situation.

#4 How important will this week be for the Bears to regroup from last week’s loss in Arizona get a week off and prepare for the Big Game against the Stanford Cardinal (3-6) at Stanford Stadium next Sat Nov 13. The Cardinal are coming off that horrendous loss to the Utah Utes (6-3) 57-7 and are looking for a better game. How do you see the Bears and Cardinal matching up next week?

#5 Lastly Cal quarterback Chase Garbers will have had two weeks off the first week against Arizona where he sat out for Covid 19 protocols and this Saturday for the same reasons. Enough time to recover from the Covid issues and start throwing the rock in preparation against the Cardinal.

Join Daniel for Cal Bears football podcasts every Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Cal Bears Football report: Cal’s next game vs. USC postponed to Dec 4th due to Covid 19 protocols

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Cal Memorial Stadium will sit empty this Sat Nov 13, 2021 as this week’s game against the USC Trojans has been canceled due to more than half of the team positive for Covid 19 or Covid 19 protocol issues. USC and Cal has rescheduled the game to Dec 4, 2021 (photo from the Pac 12)

SRS Staff Report

Last week when the Cal Bears left to take the flight to Tucson and play at Arizona the team left 26 players behind including starting quarterback Chase Garbers. The result was Cal losing to a team the Wildcats who had a 20 game losing streak and who were 0-8 this season by a 10-3 final.

The quarantine and testing situation at Cal doesn’t look like things have improved much as multiple Cal players have either tested positive or they are in quarantine trying to recover from Covid 19 and the Bears who were supposed to play USC this Saturday in Berkeley have rescheduled the contest to Dec 4th. The Bears next game will be the Big Game at Stanford on Nov 20th so far that game is still on target to be played and it will be over ten days as the players should be out of quarantine by then.

Cal Athletic Director Jim Knowlton said the decision to cancel the game was not an easy choice to make saying, “It was a difficult decision to postpone this Saturday’s game against USC, we know how important every one of our games is to our student-athletes, especially our seniors who have been incredible representatives of the program, but it was the right thing to do. Due to additional impact on specific position groups, we have decided to postpone Saturday’s game. We have had multiple COVID-19 positives within our program, and we are taking every step we can to mitigate the spread and protect the greater community.”

Oh-Oh Opener: Cal upset at Haas by upstart UC San Diego, 80-67

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By Morris Phillips

BERKELEY, CA–Defend and start the season in the win column were the objectives for the Cal Bears, and neither were met.

Toni Rocak, the 6’8″ senior from Switzerland, had 27 points, eight rebounds as the UC San Diego Tritons, in year two of their four-year transition from Division II to Division I, pulled the upset on the Bears at Haas Pavilion, 80-67. The Tritons trailed 37-33 at the half, but took the lead in the first five minutes after the break, and maintained it, in a 47-point outburst that was littered with Cal defensive breakdowns.

The Bears were led by Jordan Shepherd, the transfer from Charlotte, who had 27 points, and Andre Kelly with 17. The Bears started fast, building a 28-17 first half lead, but led by just four at the break, and scored just 30 points in the second half. Cal didn’t settle for threes, making five of 18, but they were most hurt at the free throw line where they missed 10 of their 24 attempts. Cal shot 45 percent from the floor during the opening 20 minutes, only attempting 10 3-pointers, making three.

Rocak paced the Tritons in the opening half with 16 points, including four of six from the line. Rocak averaged just 12.8 points in 2020-21 in 17 minutes per game, and apparently is enjoying a bigger role with UCSD this time around. The Tritons opened the second half on a run, gaining a 45-43 advantage with 15:05 remaining. They held only one lead in the game’s first 25 minutes–2-0.

“We stuck with what we know and what we do and kept trusting each other,” Rocak said. “In those moments it’s easy for everybody to try to do their own thing but we stuck with being in group and being unselfish, and great things happen when we share the basketball.”

The Bears were heavily dependent on the quartet of Joel Brown, Grant Anticevich, Kelly and Shepherd with 6’9″ Kuany Kuany the fifth starter who logged just 13 minutes. 6’3″ guard Jarred Hyder was the first reserve off the bench, playing 15 minutes, and holdover Dimitrios Klonaras along with 6’7″ freshman Sam Alajiki were the remainder of the eight-man rotation. Junior center Lars Thiemann and freshman Obinna Anyanwu saw five minutes of action each, with Jared Celestine and Makale Foreman as the two most conspicuous absences from the Cal rotation.

“We just have to be sharper,” Kelly said of his Bears. “It was the first time with this group together. We’ll bounce back. We’ll respond the right way.”

“I’m very disappointed in our team’s play today,” Cal coach Mark Fox said. “It’s my responsibility to get it cleaned up and make sure this doesn’t define our season.”

Further information could clear up the status of Celestine and Foreman, both of whom played extensively in 2020-21, and are expected to be significant contributors going forward.

The Tritons got 18 points from Bryce Pope, and 10 from Matt Gray, who received his first ever starting assignment. Freshman Francis Nwaokorie was the most significant UCSD reserve, scoring nine points before fouling out in his first collegiate game. The win was UCSD’s first against a Pac-12 opponent, they had been 0-12 against Pac-12 competition previously. They also captured their first ever road win since transitioning to Division I. They went 0-7 last season. The Tritons and the Bears had met just four times previously with the last meeting in 1985.

The Tritons welcomed six new faces to their roster but it mattered little when the game was on the line. The Bears shot just 40 percent for the game as their offense and defense wilted in the second half.

The Bears travel to Las Vegas on Saturday to face the UNLV Rebels at 5pm. The first road contest of their season will be televised on the Stadium network.

Cal Bears basketball podcast with Morris Phillips: Big test Tuesday as Cal opens at home vs. UC San Diego

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Cal Bears practice offense vs. defense at their home gym Haas Pavilion in Berkeley as they prepare to meet UC San Diego in their home opener on Tue Nov 9, 2021 (photo from @CalMBBall)

On the Cal Bears basketball podcast with Morris:

#1 Morris, you wrote a pretty enlightening opener to your game recap after the Cal Bears 92-58 pre season win over Cal State LA that nobody really know if the Bears will win enough to satisfy their fan base.

#2 So as head coach Mark Fox was told by Athletic Director Jim Knowlton that after taking the job there is a lot of work in front of him to build up the team. I know you have mentioned that the one hope is that Cal does not go undefeated during the regular season.

#3 How realistic how possible is it that Cal could have some decent performances against conference team in the Pac 12 I know it’s hard to judge just watching one pre season game.

#4 Morris, wanted to ask you about Grant Anticevich who led Cal with 23 points on Monday Nov 1st’s game he’s been at the top of the leaderboard in scoring for numerous games do you see him stepping up to fill some of departed Matt Bradley’s shoes?

#5 Cal opens the season against the UC San Diego Tritons Tuesday, coach Fox wants this team ready and taking off out of the gate how ready do you see this team on Tuesday?

Join Morris for complete Cal basketball podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Arizona defeats COVID-decimated Bears 10-3, snaps 20-game skid

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The Cal Bears Ethan Saunders defensive end (99) gets a sack on the Arizona Wildcats quarterback (10) Will Plummer on Sat Nov 6, 2021 at Arizona Stadium in Tucson (Cal Bears photo)

By Daniel Dullum
Saturday, November 6, 2021

Arizona (1-8) took advantage of a COVID-19-depleated California (3-6) roster and defeated the Golden Bears 10-3 Saturday in Tucson, Ariz., snapping the Wildcats’ 20-game losing streak.

The Golden Bears (3-6) were without starting quarterback Chase Garbers, three starting offensive linemen, and three defensive starters, all held out of the game for testing positive. In addition, Cal assistant coaches Geep Chryst, Andrew Browning, Angus McClure and Tre Watson also tested positive and did not travel with the team, according to ESPN.

Cal issued a statement on Friday, announcing that 99 percent of its roster was vaccinated. The combination of positive tests and injuries reportedly left the Golden Bears with 42 scholarship players for the Pac-12 game.

The Golden Bears had two positive COVID tests earlier in the week, and the city of Berkeley then required the entire team to be tested on Wednesday, revealing the outbreak.

The COVID outbreak had a direct effect on the Bears’ offense. With the starting center, left guard and left tackle sidelined, backup quarterback Ryan Glover – a transfer from Western Carolina – completed 11-of-29 passes for 94 yards and was sacked four times. To compound matters, Cal gained only 28 total rushing yards on 24 carries.

After a scoreless first half, Arizona (1-8) took the first lead of the game on a 29-yard field goal by Tyler Loop with 6:25 remaining in the third quarter. Cal tied the game at 3-3 four minutes later when Nick Lopez, filling in for Dario Longhetto, booted a 34-yard field goal.

Arizona surged ahead with 2:21 remaining in the fourth quartert on Michael Wileuy’s 30-yard touchdown run.

The Wildcats’ top two quarterbacks, Jordan McCloud ad Gunner Cruz, were already out for the season. Three backups, Will Plummer, Jamarye Joiner and Luke Ashworth, each attemped at least one pass. Plummer had all 16 of Arizona’s completed passes on 28 attempts for 129 yards and one of three Wildcat passes intercepted.

Next Saturday, the Golden Bears return home to host Southern California (4-5).

Cal Bears Football podcast with Daniel Dullum: Oregon State win for Cal was a great test of will for Bears

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Cal Bears quarterback Chase Garbers drops back to pass against the Oregon State Beavers on Sat Oct 30, 2021 at Arizona in Tucson this Sat Nov 5, 2021 (AP News photo)

On the Cal Bears football podcast with Daniel:

#1 Daniel looking at the Cal Bears (3-5) winning their last two games is this a vast improvement after losing three in a row?

#2 The Bears were coming off a healthy 26-3 win against the Colorado Buffaloes (2-6) to start the first of two wins and in convincing fashion 26-3 and after losing three in a row Cal hosted the Oregon State Beavers (5-3) and won what most critics have said was a big test going back to Memorial Stadium.

#3 The Beavers coming into Cal last Sat Oct 30th had won five of their last six games and had defeated some of the Pac 12’s most challenging teams like the Utah Utes (5-3 and first place) and USC (4-4) for Cal to defeat them 39-25 had to be the Bears biggest win of the season so far.

#4 Daniel, talk about Cal quarterback Chase Garbers he had a big day last week against the Beavers throwing 17-26 for 262 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. The point that he didn’t have any interceptions says the O line was giving him lots of time to throw three touchdowns.

#5 This Sat Nov 6 in Tucson the Cal Bears take on the Arizona Wildcats (0-8) a 12 noon kick off Daniel your in Arizona right now. The Wildcats have not won a single game this year and are starting to feel the pressure. The defense simply could not hold USC in their last game and Wildcats quarterback Will Plummer was 20-34 for 264 yards, no touchdowns and no picks. How do you see this match up this Saturday.

Join Daniel for the Cal Bears podcast at http://www.sportsradioservice.com each Friday

How’s A Fast Start Sound?: Bears cruise past Cal State LA in exhibition opener, 92-58

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By Morris Phillips

BERKELEY, CA–No one knows if the Cal Bears will win enough to satisfy their fan base. No one knows how much time Coach Mark Fox will be afforded to turn things around in Berkeley. And no one knows if the Bears are talented or fortunate enough to win one game in the Pac-12, a conference that has gone from barren to loaded overnight.

But the Bears could grab uncertainty by the throat by winning early, and taking advantage of their one strength: continuity.

That process began on Monday night, in the wire-to-wire, exhibition win over Division II opponent Cal-State Los Angeles, 92-58.

Four of the five starters for Cal on Monday have at least one season in the program, as do 11 of the 14 players that saw action. Starter Grant Anticevich is in his fifth year, Andre Kelly his fourth, and Joel Brown his third. A fourth starter, Kuany Kuany and top reserve Jared Hyder are back for their second seasons.

That experience is key because none of the Bears are considered impact players and no one thinks anyone on the roster has an NBA future. That type of guy, guard Matt Bradley, transfered to San Diego State taking his team-best 18 points per game with him.

But Bradley was the only one to depart the program. So if anything, Cal has an opportunity to surprise more talented teams that might not be up to speed immediately due to them having to integrate a top freshman or key transfer into their starting lineup or core rotation.

The Golden Eagles of downtown Los Angeles typify the prevailing upheaval throughout the college game. They return only one contributor and essentially have an entirely new team. They lost their first exhibition to UC Riverside by 34 points, and they didn’t figure to be much more competitive against Cal.

They weren’t.

Cal shot 62 percent from the floor, led by as many as 39, and won by 34 as well. Anticevich missed just two shots and finished with a game-best 23. Kelly put up 17 points in 17 minutes of action, and he too only missed two shots.

Jordan Sheppard, the lone newcomer for Cal to start the exhibition, scored 11 points, and seven-footer Lars Thiemann added 10.

Sheppard, who spent the last three seasons at Charlotte of Conference USA where he averaged nearly 12 points per game, spoke highly of his new teammate Anticevich after the game.

“That’s the Grant we see every day,” Sheppard said. “It’s nothing new to us. There’s more to come. He played great, unbelievable.”

Freshmen Sam Alajiki and Obinna Anjanwu made their debuts, but for the most part, played tentatively. The pair combined to miss six of their eight shots.

Freshman Marsalis Roberson from Oakland was held out, and sophomore Monty Bowser did not see action.

The Bears open their regular season schedule on November 9, 2pm at Haas Pavilion again the UC San Diego Tritons. That occasion will be only the second time the Bears have actual fans in the building since February 2020 with Monday being the first.