Tag: Cal Bears

Is it August yet? San Jose State and others gather for Bay Area Football Media Day

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Photo credit: Ana Kieu, Sports Radio Service

By: Ana Kieu

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — College football is just around the corner, and we’re less than five weeks away from the San Jose State Spartans’ season opener versus UC Davis on August 30. But, like you should already know, San Jose State isn’t the only Bay Area college football team, as the Stanford Cardinal and Cal Golden Bears sort of dominate on the other side of the Bay. Also, the San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders are the main attractions, as they’re NFL teams that may be dawdling right now, but they’re chock-full of history. So, with that in mind, let’s take a look at all the football teams the Bay has to offer–whether they’re good, bad or just okay.

California Golden Bears
Last season, the Golden Bears, who compete in the Pac-12 Conference, were led by first-year head coach Justin Wilcox and played their home games at California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, Calif. The Bears finished the 2017 campaign with a 5-7 record (2-7 Pac-12), which wasn’t that bad; but there could always be room for improvement.

Oakland Raiders
The Raiders recently confirmed that they’ll relocate to Las Vegas in the near future, and the Oakland-Alameda Coliseum in Oakland, Calif. will just be the home of one team, the Oakland A’s. Anyways, the Raiders’ fan base is very loyal, and I’m pretty sure their fans will travel to Vegas when they can. The Raiders, however, finished the 2017 campaign 6-10 and missed the playoffs, so it’s time for the team to click-clack boom, diversify their rushing attack and improve their defense under the guidance of returning head coach Jon Gruden, who previously coached the team from 1998-2001.

San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers have a lot to prove, and this year should be a difficult test for general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo was arguably the biggest hero towards the end of the 2017 campaign as he helped the 49ers win five games for a 6-10 record. After that, Garoppolo signed a 5-year, $137.5 million contract extension, which made him the highest-paid player in NFL history at the time. Now, the 49ers have to stay healthy and amp up their offense.

San Jose State Spartans
Oh, where should I start when it comes to the San Jose Spartans? I know, I’m an alumna who was fortunate to cover my alma mater, but there’s a laundry list of items for this team to work on. The youth movement under first-year head coach Brent Brennan was certainly a positive, but the Spartans finished the 2017 campaign with a 2-11 record (1-7 MW) and need to rebuild its secondary, then find ways to stay consistent.

Stanford Cardinal
The Cardinal–coached by head coach David Shaw–is yet another team in the Pac-12 Conference and they play their home games at Stanford Stadium. The Cardinal finished the 2017 campaign with a 9-5 record (7-2 Pac-12). The Cardinal is a pretty good team, but in college football, the offseason antics appear to be almost endless.

Notes
Washington Redskins long snapper and Cal alum Nick Sundberg turned 29 on July 29.

San Jose State has 66 freshmen and sophomore on its roster. With 14 remaining starters and 40 overall letter winners, San Jose State was selected by a media poll to finish 6th in the MW’s West Division. In addition, webflyer.com confirmed that San Jose State will have less than 7,000 air miles of travel for its 5 road games with air travel and a 300-mile round trip to Fresno, Calif. this coming season.

Stanford center Jesse Burkett was named as the Cardinal’s National Scholar-Athlete nominee. Also, Stanford star Bryce Love was named to Walter Camp Football’s Player of Year preseason watch list. Love is a human biology major and an aspiring pediatrician.

Cal Bears Podcast with Morris Phillips: Cal most likely will finish up in the Pac 12 cellar and headed to an all-time season loss record

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Photo credit: @CalMBB

On the Cal Bears Podcast with Morris:

BERKELEY–It’s very unlikely that the Cal Bears will avoid 12th place this season they have not finished last in the Pac 12, Pac 10, Pac 8 since 1980. They’re not going to avoid those couple of loses at home this week where they dropped games to Washington and Washington State. They head to Arizona State on Thursday and Arizona on Saturday. Wazoo has a one game lead over Cal for 12th place and they would have to lose twice to back into last if there’s a tie Cal would be saddled with that 12th seed in the conference tournaments.

These are very unusual times for Cal the next loss is the 22nd loss they’ve never lost 22 ball games in a season in 111 years in Berkeley of playing basketball but that looks absolutely assured this year unless they become hot and win out the national championship which would be quite a story within itself but very unlikely. Things are in flux in the Pac 12 Arizona, Utah, and USC are all caught up in this FBI college basketball scandal to varying degrees and obviously we’ve heard a lot about Arizona and head coach Sean Miller who offered freshman Deandre Ayton $100,000 to sign on with AZ. Miller in a FBI wiretap was reportedly recorded offering Ayton the money it will be interesting to see how much longer Miller will remain at Arizona who Cal plays this Saturday at the McHale Center.

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

 

 

Cal Bears Men’s Basketball Podcast with Morris Phillips: Opposition cutting through Cal’s defense like butter; Bears open two game homestand Thursday against Ducks

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photo credit: @cal_bb_fanly

On the Cal Bears Podcast with Morris:

1 Like butter the Cal defense failed again to stop another team’s offensive and paid dearly dropping the their eight eighth straight loss to USC to 77-59 at Galen Center in Los Angeles

2 Cal head coach Wyking Jones said after the game that the Bears can’t continue beating themselves with 20 turnovers Sunday

3 Cal drops it’s win loss record to (7-15) the fourth worst record for a Cal team 22 games into the season

4 In your column your mention Cal is facing inbalance, unrelenting lessons facing the highest level in NCAA Basketball

5 The Bears are back at it again at Haas Pavilion facing the Oregon Ducks on Thursday night

The Cal Bears Podcasts with Morris Philips can be heard each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

 

Cal Bears Men’s Basketball Podcast with Michael and Morris: Takes you on a tour of Cal’s road trip and review Bears trip to UW and WSU

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Photo credit: @CalMBBall

On the Cal Bears Men’s Basketball Podcast with Michael and Morris:

Cal drops game two of road trip to Wahzoo: After trailing 30-25 at halftime, Cal simply let this one get away. The Cougars outscored Cal by 20 in the second half and they registered an easy 78-53 win, WSU’s first in conference play after starting 0-4.

Meanwhile, Cal’s dropped four straight, all by double-digits, erasing any momentum built in their stirring comeback win at Stanford in the Pac-12 opener. The Bears scored just 53 points while totaling just six assists, both season lows.

In game one last Thursday in Seattle Cal had a shot at beating the Huskies at UW but couldn’t seal the deal: Thursday night in blustery Seattle, the Bears started fast, suffered a mental gaffe right before the half, surrendered the first couple of baskets after the break, and fell to Washington, 66-56 at Alaska Airlines Arena. Cal dropped its third in a row after winning at Stanford in the conference opener, scoring a season-low 56 points. While spotty offense was the headline for what ailed the Bears, it was just part of the story along with the visitors’ issues at the foul line, and the sudden disqualification of leading scorer Don Coleman with more than 12 minutes remaining.

Join Michael Duca and Morris Phillips each Tuesday for the Cal Bears Men’s Basketball Podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Cal Bears Basketball Podcast with Morris Phillips: No point guard, no offensive passing; Cal tries to figure out how to snap losing skid Wednesday vs. Arizona

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Photo credit: @CalMBBall

On the Cal Bears Basketball Podcast with Morris:

1) Cal dropped it’s fourth straight game on Saturday to Washington State 78-53 and the second half of the game for WSU in scoring was led by Robert Franks

2) In the last 20 minutes of the second half Cal’s effort was lacklustered which led to demise in the loss

3) Cal head coach Wyking Jones said he’s not sure what team will show up. The team that comes out plays decent offense and keeps up with the opposition or the team that falls apart and loses the game

4) The Bears loses have come in double digits in their last four games

5) With the home floor on Wednesday night against the Arizona Wildcats the Bears will be looking to snap it’s skid at Haas Pavilion

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

Cal Bears Basketball Podcast with Morris Phillips: 11 years in the waiting first time USC & UCLA knocks off Cal; It was an easy win for UCLA

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Photo credit: TheAthletic.com

On the Cal Basketball Podcast with Morris:

1 First time in 11 years that Cal is beaten by USC and UCLA

2 The Trojans and the Bruins didn’t have to put up too much sweat in facing Cal this week

3 UCLA got a 13-2 start on Cal from the opening tip in their 107-84 win

4 The 107 points and 17 threes were UCLA’s best offensive effort of the season

5 As Cal licks its wound and prepares for Washington Thursday and Washington State on Saturday

Morris Phillips covers Cal Bears Men’s Basketball for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

 

Stanford Cardinal Podcast with Alexandra Evans: Pickens returns from foot injury; Okpala’s defense good looking forward to tuning up on offense

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Photo credit: @StanfordMBB

On the Stanford Men’s Basketball Podcast with Alexandra:

Stanford Cardinal head coach Jerod Haase has expressed his concerns about the defense particularly after dropping a home game against Cal on their home floor at Maples Pavilion last weekend. The Cardinal held a 17-point only to see it dissolve in 7.5 minutes of the first half. Haase was also concerned about their 6-8 record and how to pull out of it but laying defense as a big factor.

The return of Dorian Pickens is key for the Cardinal, Pickens was out after missing seven weeks due to a foot injury, and Kezie Okpala, who missed the first 12 games of the season due to improving his academics and made his first appearance at Sacramento for the neutral site game against the Kansas Jayhawks. It was a game that Okpala remembered with mostly Jayhawks fans, but Okpala–despite losing the game by 21–pushed hard throughout the game.

Alexandra Evans is Stanford Cardinal beat writer for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

 

Cal Bears Podcast with Michael Duca and Morris Phillips: Cal win last Saturday at Stanford could help Cal turn the page

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Photo credit: @CalMBBall

By Michael Duca and Morris Phillips

BERKELEY–Cal did kind of a shocking thing being down 17 points behind Stanford last Saturday, down 11 points with 3:29 to play and they pulled it out in regulation and beat the Cardinal on Stanford’s home floor 74-71. 18 points in that last three minutes in 29 seconds. Cal scored 11 out of their last 13 possessions and to say a win like that is rare is an understatement.

When you think about the history of Cal at Maples Pavilion visiting Stanford and all of the struggles this might be one for the ages but definitely one that will last in the memory for quite awhile and for a team this young another building block for them to take and grow with. With 3:29 to play, FS1 broadcaster Steve Levin said Cal was trying to get it into single digits.

The Bears have a tough task coming as they face USC this Thursday and UCLA on Saturday.

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

 

 

Cal Bears Mens Basketball Podcast: Morris Phillips and Michael Duca discuss Cal’s shocking win at San Diego State

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Photo credit: San Diego Union Tribune

On the Cal Men’s basketball podcast with Morris & Michael:

The Cal Bears in their last contest at San Deigo State University last Saturday led for most of that game in which Cal won it 62-61 and the game with Central Arkansas that was played on Wednesday, December 6th at Cal in which Central Arkansas won by a convincing margin 96-69. Central Arkansas did catch UCLA coming back from China with the shoplifting incident and took them to overtime in Pauley Pavilion and lost 106-101.

You have to consider them capable even when their not playing Cal, but on Cal’s part, they went to San Diego and won, led most of the game and put up with boisterous Viejas Arena. The Bears own offense efficiency so far this year is really surprising the one thing that wasn’t surprising that happened on Saturday in San Diego and the Bears were able to put up that 13 point lead with 13 minutes to go in the game. Things got really tough for them and they went 12 full minutes and scored five points and only rescued themselves by scoring the last five points of the game.

Cal host Cal State Fullerton Saturday at 1:00PM at Haas Pavilion.

Morris does the Cal Bears basketball podcast each Monday and then Tuesday nights with Michael Duca at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Offense evaporates after halftime, Cal loses at home to No. 18 Arizona

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Arizona’s Rawle Alkins, left, shoots as California’s Ivan Rabb defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Friday, Dec. 30, 2016, in Berkeley, Calif. (AP Photo/George Nikitin)

By Morris Phillips

Ideally, opponents visiting Haas Pavilion that get kicked to the floor upon arrival shouldn’t then be offered a hand up.

But that’s exactly what coach Cuonzo Martin felt transpired as his Bears squandered an early 13-point lead in a 67-62 loss to No. 18 Arizona.

After baffling the Wildcats (12-2, 1-0) with an active defense in the opening 20 minutes, the Bears allowed a big Arizona run to open the second half, then couldn’t keep up offensively in their second, consecutive loss at home following a school-record, 27-game home win streak.

“I just think that, simply, guys that were defending the ball didn’t take pride in defending.  That’s what happened in the second half.  It’s that simple,” Martin said.

After holding Arizona to 26 points in the first half, the Bears allowed 41 in the second, as Cal’s own missed shots may have contributed to the turnaround as much as the defensive indifference that bothered Martin.  The Bears made just nine baskets after halftime, the majority of those in two runs that got Cal close, but not even.

Cal wiped out Arizona’s 41-36 lead with a run led by Ivan Rabb, who finished with team-best 16 points and 16 rebounds. But Arizona’s Chase Comanche answered back with a three-point play to give Arizona the lead for good with 10:33 remaining.

In the game’s final minutes, Jabari Bird’s 3-point basket got Cal within 66-62, but after Bird’s 3-point miss on the ensuing possession, Cal would get no closer.

Cal missed 24 of their 33 shot attempts in the second half as Arizona rallied. Outside of Rabb and Bird, the other seven Bears to see action also missed 24 of 33 shot attempts.

7’0″ center Dusan Ristic led Arizona with 16 points on 8 of 10 shooting. Rangy freshman guard Kobi Simmons keyed the Wildcats’ second half rally and finished with 14 points, three assists. All but five of Arizona’s 67 points came from their starters.

Charlie Moore’s struggles to find consistentcy as a freshman with fewer than 15 collegiate games under his belt continued against Arizona.  The lead guard scored 12 points, but missed nine of his 12 shot attempts. Moore finished with four assists, but four of Cal’s 10 turnovers as well.

The Bears (9-4, 0-1) turn their attention to Arizona State, Sunday evening’s opponent who lost at Stanford on Friday.  The Sun Devils are the only unranked opponent for Cal during this challenging, five-game stretch bridging non-conference and conference play.