Category: Cal Bears

Home is where the heart is: Cal Bears easily handle the Hampton Pirates 80-66

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Photo credit: @Pac12Network

By: Ana Kieu

The California Golden Bears defended Haas Pavilion after a 80-66 win over the Hampton Pirates on Tuesday night. In case you didn’t know, Hampton men’s basketball is based in Hampton, Virginia (go look it up if you don’t believe me!).

Anyhow, it was a good win for the Bears, who showed the Cal students, alumni and fans that home is where the heart is. The Bears’ starting lineup consisted of Darius McNeill, Paris Austin, Justice Sueing, Matt Bradley and Andre Kelly.

The Bears pounced on the Pirates from the get-go. Paris Austin opened the scoring with the first basket of the game and Justice Sueing followed up by hitting two from the line. The Bears trailed by only one point at the time, but they overcame adversity and went on a 10-0 run–thanks to scores from Austin, McNeill and Connor Vanover–midway through the first half. The Bears brought a far-fetched 48-31 lead to the locker room at the end of the first half.

The Bears slightly cooled off in the second half. The Pirates outscored the Bears 35-32, but the game was pretty much out of reach for the visiting team.

At a media break, Hampton closed the lead 54-44, while Cal was unable to score in 3:06 (minus the fact that Kelly led the Bears with four points at the time. The Bears picked up the pace, which led to four Bears in double figures with under six minutes on the scoreboard. The Bears then went on a 7-0 run in the last 2:25 to close out the game on a high note. Also, note that Austin hit a three-pointer to extend the Bears’ lead back to double digits.

The Bears got a 80-66 win over the Pirates in their home opener. Austin led the Bears with 20 points and six assists in the victory. As a result, Austin earned the Opus Bank #12Best moment tonight.

Notes
The Bears’ nonconference schedule includes more than 18,000 miles of travel.

The bulk of Cal’s nonconference travel comes in a 20-day span between roundtrip travel to China (November 2 to 10) and Brooklyn, N.Y. (November 16 to 21). Other stops away from Haas Pavilion include Fresno, Calif. and a trip through the Caldecott Tunnel to face Saint Mary’s.

No other team in the nation will travel more during their nonconference slate than Cal.

Up Next
The Bears return home to host the Detroit Titans on Thursday, November 15 at 7:00 pm PT on PACN.

Cal Bears Football podcast with Morris Phillips: Cal, after surprise comeback at USC, gets set to host Stanford for the Big Game Saturday

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Photo credit: @CalFootball

On the Cal Bears Football podcast with Morris:

#1 A miracle comeback for the Cal Bears (6-4) Saturday at USC (5-5) for a 15-14 win, snapping a 14-game losing streak to USC at the Los Angeles Coliseum.

#2 Cal head coach Justin Wilcox said it’s great to be bowl eligible.

#3 The Bears were hibernating in the first half of Saturday’s game at USC but started to make their comeback in the third quarter and Traveon Beck scored Cal’s second touchdown for the game winner.

#4 USC had a 14-0 lead, but the Bears roared back. Cal got their first touchdown in the third quarter and took a one-point lead 15-14.

#5 The Bears will face Stanford (6-4) and Colorado (5-5) for their next two games. The Big Game is this Saturday at Cal, which it could turn out to be one of the season’s best.

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

NCAAFB podcast with Daniel Dullum: New AP Top 25; Cardinal back in hunt for the bowl; USC coach Helton on the bubble after loss to Cal

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photo from Louisville Courier: Bobby Petrino didn’t have answers as Wake Forest beat the Cards 56-35, giving Louisville a record of 2-6 start, its worst season since 1997’s 1-10. Oct. 27, 2018.(Photo: Matt Stone/Louisville Courier Journal)

On the NCAAFB podcast with Daniel:

1. Louisville Cardinal Bobby Petrino (36-26) fired their coach during his show on WAVE TV. The announcement came from the crawl on the screen below.

2 The New AP Top 25.

3 Stanford romps past Oregon State, Cardinal now Bowl Eligible.

4 Cal slips past USC, Trojans coach can begin packing his bags; Bears are Bowl Eligible.

5 Arizona State stuns UCLA, Sun Devils now Bowl Eligible under Herm Edwards!

6 Boise State upsets No. 16 Fresno State in the Mountain West.

7 Minnesota upsets Purdue 41-10, same Boilermakers who drubbed Ohio State 49-20 on Oct. 20.

Daniel does the NCAAFB podcasts each Sunday for Michelle Richardson at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

All About The Coaching: Cal’s improbable 15-14 upset win over USC rooted in strategy and adjustments

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By Morris Phillips

How to end a 14-game losing streak in 60 easy steps. If it sounds complicated, that’s because it is.

What isn’t complicated is this: Normally stoic Cal head coach Justin Wilcox richly deserved to cut it all the way loose with his emphatic gesturing as his Bears put the finishing touches on their improbable comeback win at USC Saturday night.

And USC coach Clay Helton might want to skip listening to sports radio on his lengthier than usual drive home after the game.

Wilcox’s Bears ended their 14-game losing streak to USC at the Los Angeles Coliseum with a performance that was literally all over the place. But regardless of the methods, Wilcox predicted it, scripted it and willed it, giving creedence to his mandate that his football team win at least six games this season and go bowling for the first time since 2015.

“I appreciate what it means to be bowl-eligible. It’s hard to win in this conference and it’s hard to win at USC,” Wilcox said. “It’s a big deal for all the Cal Bears out there.”

To make it happen, Cal played dead in the first half, came roaring back into the game in the third quarter, and stay focused–if not productive–to seal the deal in the fourth.

Firstly, kick returner Ashtyn Davis flubbed the opening kickoff, briefly losing the ball, only to recover it at the three-yard line with a knee on the turf where he was ruled down. On the first play from scrimmage, Patrick Laird was dropped after a 2-yard gain, and Chase Garbers threw a pair of incomplete passes, forcing Cal to punt.

Inauspicious start for the Bears? Yes. It would continue.

Confident that it could key on Laird, and stop the Cal receivers in their tracks, the Trojans defense shined in the first half, limiting the Bears to three first downs and 60 yards in total offense. Meanwhile, USC would recover from failing to capitalize on excellent field position afforded by Cal’s poor first position. After seeing a fake field goal turned pass to the kicker blow up in playcaller Helton’s face, the Trojans stayed patient, scoring touchdowns on two of their four second quarter possessions to lead 14-0 at the half.

Helton, who assumed play-calling duties from offensive coordinator Tee Martin following back-to-back losses in the final two games in October, dialed up a pair of touchdowns that overcame the absences of reveiver Michael Pittman Jr. and running back Stephen Carr. With quarterback J.T. Daniels back from missing a game due to a concussion, the Trojans functioned admirally. After Daniels 23-yard pass to Tyler Vaughns for a touchdown, USC led 14-0 with more than half of the second quarter to go.

But things would change dramatically in the third quarter when a snap over Daniels’ head would result in a safety with Aca’Cedric Ware recovering the ball in the end zone with a pair of Cal defenders in proximity for a possible touchdown. The Bears trailed 14-2 at that point.

But superior field position would set up Cal’s first touchdown, and Traveon Beck’s interception would set up Cal’s second touchdown. After Garbers scampered in from five yards out, the Bears led 15-14 with time remaining in the third.

Over Cal’s next three possessions–all in the fourth quarter–Cal would run just 12 plays and gain 36 yards, jeopardizing their lightning rally in the third. But Cal’s defense made it work, coming up with a pair of sacks and timely pass breakups to keep the Trojans sinking in mud. As soon as USC reached midfield and approaching position for a lead-changing field goal try, Evan Weaver would come up with a sack of Daniels to force a punt.

Weaver would record a game-best 12 tackles and a second sack on USC’s previous possession.

With Cal needing first downs to bleed out the clock, they did just that, running 10 plays that evaporated the game’s final 4:50, and setting off a wild celebration on the Cal sideline while the majority of the Coliseum fell silent.

The Bears improved to 6-4 with games at home against Stanford and Colorado remaining that could turn Cal’s season from encouraging to extraordinary.

Meanwhile, the Trojans again blew a lead, falling to 5-5, and increasing the chatter across Southern California that Helton should be fired. If the Trojans can’t beat UCLA next week and/or Notre Dame after Thanksgiving, the rumblings will grow even louder.

Plenty Of Room To Grow: Cal Bears look inexperienced in 76-59 loss to Yale in China

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By Morris Phillips

Truthfully, the 2018-19 Cal Bears basketball team is less experienced than the previous version that featured seven newcomers and landed in the Pac-12 basement a year ago.

You didn’t need a close-up observation to conclude that. Nor did most get one. The Bears opened their season with a ragged loss to Yale, 76-59 in Shanghai, China on Saturday afternoon, which was shown live in the U.S. on Friday night.

One statline immediately jumped off the page for Cal: they shot 20 percent from the field in the first half, registering just one assist.

“(Yale) found a very good rhythm in sharing the ball and running their plays all the way through. We have to do a better job of that,” coach Wyking Jones said. “We have to trust each other. We have to continue to trust each other more on the offensive end.”

The Bears led briefly, 9-8 with 10:24 remaining in the first half before the Bulldogs put the game away with a 15-0 run that came with leading scorer, Miye Oni, on the bench with two fouls. While Yale patiently ran their sets seeking favorable matchups to drive or shoot, the Bears failed to set each other up, instead settling for tough shots.

Cal started returning sophomores Justice Sueing and Darius McNeill, junior transfer point guard Paris Austin along with freshmen Matt Bradley and Andre Kelly. Missing was the experience, size and shot blocking ability provided by graduated seniors Marcus Lee and Kingsley Okoroh. With only two returning starters and Juwan Harris-Dyson unavailable due to a hand injury, Cal had few options stylistically.

Meanwhile, Yale, picked to finish third in the Ivy League, had Oni, more experience, and the continuity provided by coach James Jones heading the Bulldogs for the 20th, consecutive season.

“We did a good job defensively, getting stops, and rebounding. And then we were able to get in a good rhythm on offense,” said Jones, the Ivy League’s longest tenured coach.

Oni, limited to just 17 minutes on the floor due to fouls, still put up 16 points with three made 3-pointers. The 6’6″ junior guard shared high scoring honors for Yale with reserve Azar Swain.

Austin led Cal with 18 points, but managed just two assists. Leading returning scorer Sueing finished with 9, missing 11 of his 14 shot attempts.

NBA Hall of Fame inductee Yao Ming and Joseph Tsai, Yale graduate and Alibaba co-founder, sat together courtside at the annual Pac-12 international showcase held at the Baoshan Sports Center. The game concluded a week of touring and goodwill for players from both schools.

Headline Sports with London Marq: Can Giants really sign Harper?; The waving of Bruce Irvine; Chinese fans love Cal basketball; Gold Gloves for the A’s Matt’s

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washingtonpost.com photo: Former Washington National Bryce Harper turned down a $300 million deal from the Nats and is seeking employment elsewhere. The Giants are actively seeking Harper’s services and could strike up a deal.

On Headline Sports with London:

#1 How realistic is it that the San Francisco Giants will be able to sign free agent Bryce Harper?

#2 The San Francisco Giants tried to pull all the strings without a general manager. The position was filled when they hired Farhan Zaidi as they rebuild the team. In reality everyone knows the one pulls all the levers and ropes behind the curtain for the Giants player personnel is that ole wizard team vice president Brian Sabean.

#3 How big of a mistake was it for the Oakland Raiders in waving defensive end Bruce Irvin?

#4 The Cal Bears will be in Shanghai this Friday for their second game of the season against Yale on Friday. Fans in Shanghai have been flocking to see the Cal and Yale teams.

#5 The Oakland A’s Matt Olson and Matt Chapman each won Gold Gloves. This is first time any A’s first or third baseman have won in 12 years.

London Marq does Headline Sports each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Cal Bears football podcast with Morris Phillips: After loss to Wazoo, Cal now needs a win against USC, Stanford or Colorado to have a shot at the bowl

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Photo credit: cougcenter.com

On the Cal Bears Football podcast with Morris:

#1 The Cal Bears (5-4) got close, but couldn’t get another going late in Pullman in a 19-13 loss to Washington State University (8-1).

#2 WSU’s Aesop Winston Jr with 32 seconds remaining left caught a 10-yard pass to get Wazoo up and past Cal for the game winner to break a 13-13 tie.

#3 WSU head coach Mike Leach said it was like a war out there and he was glad his players stuck it out when it was tough.

#4 For quarterback Brandon McIlwain, another frustrating game. McIlwain, who said the Bears competed, and Cal could have won the game.

#5 Cal’s bowl chances are dimming. They need a win against one of the following: USC, Colorado, or Stanford.

Morris does the Cal Football podcast each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

The Great Escape: No. 8 Washington State avoids Cal’s upset bid with a touchdown in the game’s final minute

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By Morris Phillips

Preparation, effort and playmaking put the Cal Bears on the precipice of the biggest upset in the Pac-12 Conference this season. But ultimately, the Bears were let down Saturday night by late-game execution in a frustrating 19-13 loss at No. 8 Washington State.

Aesop Winston Jr. caught a 10-yard touchdown pass with 32 seconds remaining to break a 13-13 stalemate, and the Cougars escaped with their Pac-12 title and national championship aspirations intact.

The improving Bears remain one game short of bowl eligibility, and the Cougars stay on track for possibly the biggest season in their program’s history, but it almost didn’t turn out that way.

“I think it’d be a war, and it was,” coach Mike Leach said. “It came down clear to the end and I was proud of our guys for sticking in there and finding a way to win when it’s tough.”

“We knew we could have won that game,” Cal’s Brandon McIlwain said. “Today it just didn’t go that way. Out team fights. We compete and we put ourselves in the position to win.”

The biggest component to Cal’s upset bid was their approach to limiting WSU quarterback Gardner Minshew, who had thrown for at least 319 yards in every game this season. While Cal gave up 334 yards passing to Minshew, they dictated how and when the graduate transfer got those yards with an intricate gameplan.

The Bears’ defensive line eschewed a powerful pass rush on Minshew in order to put themselves in position to limit big plays and tackle pass catchers in front of them. The byproduct of the unusual approach was numerous pass deflections at the line of scrimmage, and Evan Weaver’s interception that set up Cal’s first and only touchdown in the second quarter.

That strategic wrinkle alone put the WSU crowd on edge, mindful of Cal’s upset of the Cougars in Berkeley last November. The Bears supplemented the approach with a time-consuming pace on offense that moved the chains and kept Minshew and the Washington State offense on the sidelines.

The Bears finished the game with 69 offensive snaps, while the Cougars were limited to a season-low 66 along with an average of only 6.5 yards per pass attempt. But Cal needed to fortify their approach with a couple of timely big plays on both sides of the ball, and that never transpired.

Instead, with the Bears in position to take a fourth quarter lead, McIlwain threw an interception at the goal line, and prior to that Garbers was picked off as well. Garbers avoided disaster by stripping WSU defensive back Willie Taylor III on his interception return near the goal line. When the stripped ball miraculously bounded past several defenders and out of the back of the endzone, Cal retained possession.

That led to Greg Thomas’ 42-yard field goal to bring Cal even at 10 just 36 seconds before halftime.

Winston’s game-winner came after both teams squandered opportunities to break a 13-13 tie in the fourth quarter. The former San Mateo Serra and CCSF star was one of 11 receivers to catch at least one ball for WSU in the game, and the final drive proof that the Cougars depth wore on the Cal secondary. The drive covered 69 yards in six plays, following a Cal three-and-out.

Minshew completed passes to three, different receivers on the drive.

WSU improved to 8-1, 5-1 in conference, Cal fell to 5-4, 2-4. The Cougars remain on track to represent the Pac-12 North in the conference championship game, and if they win out, could gain a berth in the National Championship bracket.

Cal needs a win against USC, Colorado or Stanford to gain bowl eligibility with six wins.

Cal Bears Basketball report: Cal shows off some offense in 82-62 exhibition win over Cal State East Bay

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photo from goldenbearinsider.com: Cal Bear’s Matt Bradley who was instrumental for Cal’s offensive scoring against Cal State East Bay on Tuesday night at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley

By Michael Duca and Morris Phillips

BERKELEY, Calif. –The offensive showing on Tuesday night at Haas Pavilion by the Cal Bears is delivered much more than last season’s 8-24 team with a 20-point win over Cal State East Bay 82-62. The Bears were trying to get that chemistry going after a suspect first half.

The Bears finally rattled off a 10-1 run of Cal State and took a 21-point lead.

Paris Austin who transferred from Boise State to Cal, said in postgame interviews: “I think we’ve got some good athletes on our team. Transition will be something that would be really good for us, but it starts on defense. Our team defense and then rebounding a ball and getting out early.”

The Bears’ Justice Sueing hit a three-pointer and the Bears’ Jacob Gordon also hit a three. Gordon is amazing he’s coming off an Achilles tear and he he hit a pair of free throws. The Bears’ Grant Anticevich complimented the offensive run with a dunk during the run.

Also, the Bears got three assists in the 10-1 run keeping in mind that the Bears had a dismal record on assists, ranking 350 in the NCAA and averaging 9.8 a game. The assist factor was working so good Austin got eight of 12 assists for Cal. Sueing, who took many of Austin’s passes, converted to help build up the offensive assist numbers.

Matt Bradley also was a big part of scoring with Austin saying, “Tonight I knew that, in order to play good my first game, I just had to play really aggressive and not really think about messing up or getting a bucket whatever it was.”

Michael Duca and Morris Phillips cover Cal Bears Basketball for the 2018-19 season for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Cal Bears football podcast with Morris Phillips: Bears’ defense puts stop to Washington’s offense in 12-10 nail-biter last Saturday

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Photo credit: @WayneThallander

On the Cal Bears football podcast with Morris:

#1 What happened? How did Cal stop Washington’s offense in a 12-10 win at Memorial Stadium on Saturday?

#2 Washington quarterback Jake Browning got benched and was the reason because he wasn’t converting?

#3 At halftime, UW had the edge 7-6 and Cal’s kicker Greg Thomas wasn’t able to kick a field goal through the uprights missing a 41-yard field goal and Washington head coach Chris Peterson benched Browning, who couldn’t produce.

#4 The Cal offense was able to get 245 yards, but it was Cal’s defense that held back Browning and the UW offense.

#5 It’s off to Pullman to face Wahzoo and those Washington State University Cougars and Morris tells us how this game will shape for next Saturday.

Join Morris on the Cal Bears podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com