Category: Cal Bears

Cheez-It! More Like Can’t Believe It: Cal drops mistake-marred, 10-7 decision in overtime to TCU

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By Morris Phillips

College football games aren’t normally this complicated.

But to introduce some historical perspective, college football bowl games have been known to get tricky, with the meeting of Horned Frogs and Bears at Chase Field in Phoenix on Wednesday clearly fitting that bill.

No football game should have more in-game storylines than points scored, but this one did, a 10-7 season-ending, overtime loss for the Cal Bears to TCU in which there were nine interceptions for the teams combined.

Three of the four quarterbacks to see action threw multiple picks (and looked bad in doing so), Cal’s Jaylinn Hawkins intercepted three balls, TCU used two place kickers to ultimately yield one made field goal, and Cal’s Steven Coutts punted nine times.

Also, Patrick Laird, the Bears’ indispensable running back carried the ball seven times then spent the remainder of the game on the sideline injured.

For starting TCU quarterback Grayson Muehlstein, who had four of his balls picked, missed on 13 of his 17 pass attempts and was briefly benched only to end the game as a decoy limited by injury, things couldn’t have deteriorated any faster. But Muhlstein was a winner when Jonathan Song connected on a 27-yard field goal in the first overtime to end it.

“Turned the ball over way too many times, but we managed to just hang in there and just keep fighting,” Muhlstein said afterwards.

The Bears played great defense as always led by prolific tacklers Evan Weaver and Jordan Kunaszyk, but simply made too many mistakes on offense. The Bears would finish with a meager 160 yards passing, but that came loaded down with 17 incompletions and five interceptions.  The fifth, thrown in overtime by seldom-used, fifth year senior Chase Forrest was returned 84 yards by TCU’s Juwaun Johnson, as big a play as possible in overtime without ending the game immediately.

“We just made too many mistakes during the game to win against a quality opponent like that,” said Cal coach Justin Wilcox.

And somehow, after Johnson’s mega-return didn’t end up as a game-winning touchdown thanks to 330-pound Jake Curhan running nearly 100 yards to push Johnson out of bounds, the Horned Frogs would need to run 10 more plays to set up Song’s game-winning field goal.

Ten plays. How’s that?

Well, first off nimble-footed TCU sports information director Mark Cohen stepped on to the field and promptly fell on his face, his sideline celebration 50 yards behind Johnson’s big return drew a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

“Have you guys ever known that, in 150 years of football that the SID gets a penalty?” TCU coach Gary Patterson asked.

Eight plays later–all runs for five yards or less, except one (eight yard gain)–the Horned Frogs felt they had drawn close enough to attempt a game-winning field goal.

But an attempt by which kicker?

Song converted TCU’s extra-point after Sewo Olonilua’s one-yard touchdown run tied the game in the third quarter. But with TCU in position to kick a game-winning field goal at the end of regulation, and after a Cal timeout, Patterson pulled Song for backup Cole Bunce.

Bunce then missed a 44-yard attempt as time expired.

In overtime, and again after a Cal timeout. Patterson stuck with Song and he converted from 27 yards.

Olonilua was named the game’s MVP after he rushed for 194 yards including the game-tying touchdown from two yards that was initially ruled down at the one-yard line.

Chase Garbers led Cal to a first quarter score culminating with his four-yard run. But despite completing 12 of 19 passes, Garbers was benched at halftime after throwing three interceptions.

The Bears would go the final three quarters and overtime without scoring another point.

Cal Bears podcast with Morris Phillips: Cal (5-6) will take on Seattle (11-3)–tall order game for Bears

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bearinsider.com photo: Darius McNeil of the Cal Bears brings the ball up court against the San Jose State Spartans last Friday night at Haas Pavilion in a eight point win for Cal

On the Cal Bears podcast with Morris:

#1 Cal (5-6) got a 88-80 eight-point win over the visiting San Jose Spartans (3-8) on Friday night at Haas Pavilion. Is this a measuring stick for both teams that they’re rebuilding and both have improved?

#2 The Bears’ Darius McNeil led with 22 points. It was his season-high. Morris talks about the kind of season that he’s having.

#3 Andre Kelly finished second in scoring with 21 points and 10 assists. Morris talks about his efforts this season.

#4 The Bears certainly didn’t want to lose again after coming off a loss to Fresno State 95-73 (9-2) and the Spartans were coming off a loss to Stanford (6-5) 78-73.

#5 Cal’s next game is at Haas Pavilion against the Seattle Redhawks (11-3) in Berkeley at 5 pm on December 29th. Morris tells us a little of this up and coming game.

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

 

Cal Bears basketball podcast with Michael Duca and Morris Phillips: McNeil and Kelly lead the way in Cal’s 88-80 win over SJSU

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calbears.com photo: The Cal Bears Darius McNiel (1) led Cal in scoring with 22 points against the San Jose State Spartans at Haas Pavilion Friday night in Berkeley

On the Cal Bears basketball podcast with Michael and Morris:

In a Christmas-break clash between two local rebuilding programs, the California Golden Bears and San Jose State Spartans met at Haas Pavilion Friday evening in front of a small but enthusiastic crowd. Cal prevailed, 88-80. Darius McNeil (season-high 22 points) and Andre Kelly (21 points and 10 rebounds, both career highs) led Cal, while Oumar Barry had a career-high 18 points, one of four Spartans in double figures.

Michael and Morris do the Cal Bears podcasts each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Cal prevails over San Jose State to win 88-80

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Photo credit: @CalMBBall

By: Michael Duca

BERKELEY, Calif. — In a Christmas-break clash between two local rebuilding programs, the California Golden Bears and San Jose State Spartans met at Haas Pavilion Friday evening in front of a small but enthusiastic crowd. Cal prevailed, 88-80. Darius McNeil (season-high 22 points) and Andre Kelly (21 points and 10 rebounds, both career highs) led Cal, while Oumar Barry had a career-high 18 points, one of four Spartans in double figures.

The Spartans, behind five players in double figures, were coming off a loss to Stanford where they gave the Cardinal all they wanted, and more, before succumbing 78-73.  Cal was coming off a 95-73 drubbing at the hands of Fresno State.

While both teams opened the game shooting poorly (a combined 2-for-11 in the first three minutes), the Golden Bears (4-6) rode runs of 5-0 and 7-0 to double up the Spartans (3-7), 14-7, in the first seven minutes of play.  It would be misleading to attribute the low scoring to defensive aggressiveness, and each team committed just one personal foul in the game’s first 10 minutes of play.

After the first media timeout, at 16:00, the Bears found the range, hitting 4 of their next 5 shots including 3-of-9 shooting from long distance to extended their lead from 5-4 to 17-9 at the second media timeout.

When the third media timeout rolled around, at 7:27, Cal, trying to solve the Spartans’ 3-2 zone, was riding a cold streak of nearly 5 minutes without a field goal, and more than eight minutes with just a single layup. It got so bad, usually reliable Matt Bradley came up with a steal in the Spartan paint and ran the length of the floor, only to miss the cripple layup. A minute later, San Jose State tied the game at 19 apiece.

The teams traded scores until intermission, which came with the Spartans holding a 32-30 advantage, despite having a less-than-stellar 4/10 assist/turnover ratio.  San Jose State out-shot Cal 48% to 35% and outrebounded them 18-14. Andre Kelly led the Golden Bears with 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting, and six rebounds. Post man Oumar Barry led San Jose State, also with 12 points (on 4-of-6 shooting) and six rebounds, en route to a career scoring high of 18.

Cal came out of the intermission smoking, shooting 70% in the first six minutes and opening a 14-point lead behind 9 points from Darius McNeil.

“They were packing in,” McNeil said, “they wanted us to shoot it (in the first half), we just started hitting them after halftime.”

“I talked to him at halftime,” noted Coach Jones, “and told him he needed to shoot the ball more.”

The Golden Bears were more aggressive to the hoop in a 26-11 run to start the half, and as a result were in the bonus with nearly 13 minutes left in the game.

“Coach had us start to press and we got some turnovers and opened a lead,” said McNeil.

The pesky Spartans refused to go away, however, cutting the lead back to 8 with 6:30 to play. A Matt Bradley block of a Michael Steadman layup at 5:00 produced the Bears’ third defensive stop in four possessions and led to a 12-point cushion with 4:46 to play, 77-65. The Spartans weren’t done yet, however. An 11-0 run in the game’s final three minutes saw the Golden Bears clinging to a 4-point lead inside a minute, after a 2:40 scoring drought.

San Jose State head coach Jean Prioleau said, “I think we have a very competitive group.  We are resilient, and in the beginning stages of building a program in the South Bay Area. I think we shot very well tonight, maybe the best in school history. We had a lot of live ball turnovers, and that’s very bad for us.  We switched up our man and zone, and they hit some threes, but we lost because of live ball turnovers.”

The Spartans committed 15 turnovers, while the Golden Bears had a season-low 5.

Paris Austin, who had a career-high 11 assists and zero turnovers, hit a pair of free throws with 36 seconds left, and a foul on Steadman on the ensuing possession all but sealed the deal, giving Austin another pair of free throws with a 6-point lead.  Austin netted both to give the Bears their final cushion. The 88 points are the most surrendered by San Jose State this season.

“It felt like this was a complete team effort,” said a smiling Coach Jones, “which is what you want. Paris Austin stands out, because we have been talking about sharing the ball, and 11 assists with no turnovers does that. He didn’t care about his points, but they took care of themselves.”

The double-double for Kelly was the first of his career.

“I just try to shoot a high percentage from the field,” Kelly said, “and I tried to make plays tonight. To be honest, I don’t look at the stat sheet, I didn’t know how good my night was.”

Coach Jones knew how good it was. “I would love to see him do that every night,” Jones said.

Next up for Cal is a December 29 game at Haas vs. the Seattle University Redhawks. Tipoff is at 5 pm.

Not Just the Shots: Cal beaten decisively at Fresno State, 95-73, as all goes south except their shooting

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By Morris Phillips

On Wednesday, the Cal Bears had 28 made baskets on 49 percent shooting, and their opponent, host Fresno State had 29 made baskets on 51 percent shooting.

Sounds like a close game with both teams dialed in on the offensive end, right?

Hardly, the Bears did little right with exception of shooting the basketball, and were beaten start to finish by the Bulldogs, 95-73. As the game approached halftime, the Bears grew stagnant offensively, and Fresno State took off, leading by as many as 25 points in the second half.

“At the end of the first half is when we stopped sharing the ball and that’s where they made their run,” said Cal coach Wyking Jones. “It is concerning because that’s how we played at the beginning of the season. I would think that we would have learned at this point that we have to move the ball to be good.”

The Bears did little right outside of three, quality performances offensively from Justice Sueing, Paris Austin and Andre Kelly. Fresno State drove to the basket at will against Cal, leading to their stellar shooting numbers as well as a whopping 38 free throw attempts, of which they converted 29. The Bulldogs also enjoyed a healthy advantage on the glass (36-27) while getting at least two made 3-pointers from three, different guys in their starting lineup.

Fresno State stayed hot, winning for the sixth, consecutive time despite two weeks of inactivity for study and final exams.

“We had six guys in double-figures and I think we had a low turnover rate until the end, we got a little bit sloppy at the end,” first-year head coach Justin Hutson said. “Cal is a 40% 3-point team and to go 3-for-15 and 20% was a big difference for us tonight.”

The Bears’ offense never gained traction, even as Cal battled evenly with Fresno State approaching halftime. Justice Sueing’s layup with 3:31 remaining brought Cal within 34-31, but the Bulldogs finished the half on a 10-1 run to seize control.

Grant Anticevich replaced the concussed Connor Vanover in the Bears’ starting lineup, but suffered his second straight below par game, missing four of his five shots.

New Williams scored 19 points to led Fresno State, he was one of six Bulldogs to score in double digits, including all five starters.

Fresno’s 95 points was the team’s high for the season, although they had scored at least 90 three times previously.

The Bears return home Friday to face San Jose State at 7 pm at Haas Pavilion.

Cal Bears basketball podcast with Morris Phillips: It’s unsettling as Cal can make you crazy in close game wins

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Photo credit: @CalMBBall

On the Cal basketball podcast with Morris:

#1 Talk about that unsettled feeling after 48 hours even after getting a buzzer beater win past Cal Poly on Saturday night at Haas Pavilion 67-66.

#2 Cal head coach Wyking Jones said that the shots weren’t falling, but said that he’s happy with the team and that’s most important.

#3 Cal was able to wipe out a ten-point run against Cal Poly. The Mustangs were able to play catch up, and at one point, the game was tied 65-65.

#4 Donavon Fields had 26 points for Cal Poly and was one of the players that kept the Mustangs in the game.

#5 It’s off to Fresno for some Mountain West basketball on Wednesday night. Can the Bears win their third game in a row?

Morris Phillips is a beat writer for Cal Bears basketball at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Holiday Heart-Stopper: Austin’s game-winner carries Bears past Cal Poly, 67-66

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By Morris Phillips

When you win, everybody feels great.

But when it requires a last-second, game-winner to avoid a distasteful measure of embarrassment, almost nobody feels great immediately, and some don’t feel settled for as many as 48 hours.

Paris Austin’s free-throw line jump shot with three seconds remaining delivered the first feeling without erasing the second, in the Cal Bears’ 67-66 win over Cal Poly.

“We are a really good shooting team and shots didn’t fall tonight,” coach Wyking Jones said. “I am very happy with my team, my young team finding a way to get a win. At the end of the day, that’s what’s most important. I see them growing, I don’t know if we win that game last year. Happy that Paris hit the shot, it gives him a lot of confidence. He’s been doing everything that we’ve asked of him.”

The Mustangs of San Luis Obispo and the Big West had done little of note in eight games coming in, but they mustered their biggest effort to date at Haas Pavilion on Saturday night.

After seeing Cal wipe out a second-half deficit with a 10-0 run, the Mustangs hitched their fortunes to Donovan Fields, who scored 26 points and put Cal Poly up 66-65 with 16 seconds remaining.

At that point, the Bears were experiencing a star-crossed, second half in which they shot 61 percent from the field, but saw their 57-52 lead wiped out by a Cal Poly 7-0 run that concluded with 3:22 remaining and the Mustangs up 62-60.

But somehow Cal would survive by subsisting on two made baskets over the final five minutes of the game, both from Austin in the final minute. Not the most satisfying way to beat an opponent picked seventh (of nine) in the Big West, but that conclusion played smaller once Austin confidently delivered the conclusion.

“I crossed (Crowe) over, he bit on the move and I pulled up and made the shot,” Austin said. “It felt good. I knew right away.”

The small guys, Austin and Fields, provided the game’s most focused play, as the Oakland native scored all 10 of his points after halftime. Fields, Cal Poly’s 5’10” point guard, led all scorers with 19 of his 26 points after the break.

Connor Vanover again started at center for the Bears, and scored seven points in the game’s initial minutes. But the seven-footer wouldn’t score again, and then departed early in the second half with a bloody nose and dizziness suffered in a battle for a loose ball.

Grant Anticevich, the effective frontcourt reserve in the win over San Diego State, missed both of his shot attempts in 18 minutes of floor time. Justice Sueing (15), Darius McNeill (10) and Matt Bradley (11) joined Austin in Cal’s balanced scoring.

The Bears travel to Fresno State on Wednesday to face the Bulldogs of the Mountain West. Game time at 7:00 pm PT.

Cal Bears basketball podcast with Michael Duca and Morris Phillips: Cal goes for second straight win at home Saturday vs. Cal Poly

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247sports.com file photo: San Diego State Aztecs forward Jalen McDaniels (5) is boxed out by California Golden Bears forward Grant Anticevich (34) and forward Justice Sueing (10) during the second half at Viejas Arena

On the Cal Bears podcast with Michael and Morris:

The Cal Bears (3-5) Justice Sueing started off this season on fire but cooled off in recent week and then recovered on Saturday night against the San Diego State Aztecs (3-5) in a 89-83 win. Sueing led the Bears with 23 points Morris and Michael talk about Sueing’s turn around.

Sueing was a key factor in the Bears win over the Aztecs, Morris and Michael talk about once Sueing is lit up he stays fired up during a game. Speaking of fired up after the Bears were handed a drubbing by the USF Dons (8-1) in a 19 point loss last Wednesday on their own home floor the Bears came in fired up to get back in the win column.

Morris talks about Cal’s Grant Anticevich, Conor Vanover, and point guard Paris Austin and how these young players will be a huge contribution to the Bears offensive line up.

Catch Michael and Morris on the Cal Bears podcasts each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Cal Bears basketball podcast with Morris Phillips: Once lit up, Sueing can drain the threes; leads Cal with 23 in big win over San Diego State

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vcstar.com photo: San Diego’s Jalen McDaniels, right, drives the ball against California’s Grant Anticevich (34) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018, in Berkeley, Calif.

On the Cal Bears basketball podcast with Morris:

#1 Justice Sueing started out the season on fire, but cooled off in recent weeks; but on Saturday night against San Diego State (3-5), Sueing led Cal (3-5) with 23 points. What’s been the big turnaround for Sueing?

#2 Sueing was instrumental in leading the Bears to a 89-83 win over San Diego State. Is he one of those players who once gets on fire stays lit up for a whole game?

#3 After getting stomped by the USF Dons (8-1) last Wednesday by 19 points. it looked like the Bears rallied around each other and really made things happen on Saturday.

#4 Cal’s Grant Anticevich, Conor Vanover, and point guard Paris Austin are playing more efficiently. How important were they in this win on Saturday night?

#5 Cal Poly (3-5) is next up to play at Haas Pavilion and the Bears hope to keep it going this Sunday the 16th with a 3 PM tipoff. Morris Phillips will have complete Cal basketball action.

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

Sueing Doing Work: Cal’s leading, returning scorer breaks out in 89-83 win over SDSU

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By Morris Phillips

BERKELEY–The biggest mystery surrounding Cal basketball through seven games was the struggles of Justice Sueing, the team’s leading, returning scorer who hadn’t looked comfortable or been as productive as he was in his breakout, freshman campaign.

Under the bright lights of a tense, tight ballgame versus San Diego State on Saturday night, Sueing provided answers to the questions. The sophomore from Hawaii poured in a game-high 23 points, including a lead-changing 3-pointer with 1:43 remaining as the Bears forced their way past the Aztecs, 89-83.

The win followed Cal’s empty effort in a 19-point home loss to USF on Wednesday, and was every bit of the momentum-gathering, confidence-builder the team needed after a 2-5 start to the season. With rarely-used Grant Anticevich and Connor Vanover thrust into important roles, and point guard Paris Austin playing more efficiently, Sueing’s offensive breakout felt like Cal’s biggest development.

“I’ve been hesitating a little bit too much and not play with a free mind. I came into this game knowing what I was going to do, knowing how I was going to play it,” Sueing said.

Sueing shot 35 percent from the floor in the season’s first seven games (24 of 68), numbers more akin to getting benched, then leading an ascending club offensively. At times, Sueing’s shooting stroke looked disjointed, at other times, the 6’7″ forward barely registered as his less experienced teammates tried to find their offensive rhythm.

Either way, Sueing’s absence on the offensive end of the floor was a recipe for disaster as a young Cal squad grasped for scoring in all five of its losses. Then on Saturday, against a familiar non-conference opponent, the Bears battled for 35 minutes, only to find themselves trailing 76-68, their biggest deficit of the evening.

And that’s when all the growth and confidence emerged almost of nowhere.

First, Darius McNeill hit a three, narrowing SDSU’s lead to six. Paris Austin followed with a three, and Sueing’s three inside two minutes gave Cal the lead.

Freshman Matt Bradley, who came off the bench in a lineup change that allowed Vanover to start, hit a 3-pointer that broke an 83-83 tie with 32 seconds remaining.

In the final seconds, SDSU’s Devin Watson committed a turnover and the Aztecs’ leading scorer Mike Mitchell missed 3-pointer. Meanwhile, the Bears supplemented their four made threes with 7 of 8 from the free throw line in their final push.

“We were just trusting each other I think,” Sueing recounted of the final minutes. “Matt had a huge shot at the end and we all trust him. He’s one of the best 3-point shooters in the country. All of us just trusting each other, feeding off of each other.”