Tag: Cal

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

Cal Bears podcast with Morris Phillips: Cal sigh of relief end 14-game road losing streak; Do the Bears have a chance against UW?

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photo mercurynews.com Cal Bears quarterback Chase Garber (7) had lots of room and lots of time throwing against the Oregon State University Beavers on Saturday

On the Cal Bears podcast with Morris:

#1 How much of relief is it for Cal (4-3) to get back into the conference road win column after 14 straight road tries?

#2 Cal made it no doubt in their 49-7 win in a huge win over Oregon State University (1-6). Was it because Cal came out fired up and prepared or they beat a club who were worse than them?

#3 Changing quarterbacks from Cal Brandon Mcllwain to Chase Garbers. How much did that electrify the offense and why did head coach Justin Wilcox make the change?

#4 The Bears got great held from running back Patrick Laird–a 53-yard run, 193 yards rushing, three touchdowns instrumental in the first half for Cal to take a 21-0 lead.

#5 The Bears host the Washington Huskies on Saturday the Huskies first in the Pac-12 at (6-2). Do the Bears have a chance?

Morris Phillips is a Cal Bears beat writer and does the Bears podcast each Saturday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Cal Bears podcast with Morris Phillips: Cal looks to make amends against winless UCLA at home this Saturday

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photo from 247sports.com file photo: Cal quarterback Brandon McIlwain is all smiles before a game against BYU on Sep 8th who threw against the Arizona Wildcats last Saturday

On the Cal podcast with Morris:

#1 The Bears (3-2) gave the Arizona Wildcats (3-3) two touchdowns in a 24-17 give away. How badly did the defense falter?

#2 Cal head coach Justin Wilcox said looking ahead Cal is going to play in some tough environments and Saturday’s game performance was unacceptable.

#3 Cal quarterback Brandon McIlvain became Cal’s third starting quarterback platooning with quarterback Chase Garbers the three previous games. When Cal got into their third quarterback, you knew there were problems on offense.

#4 McIlwain threw 43 times, 32 completions, 2 touchdowns, 20 carries for 107 yards and passed for 315 yards. He did it all.

#5 This Saturday, October 13th, Cal hosts UCLA (0-5). Do you see Cal, who started out 3-0–now 3-2, having a chance to get back into the win column against the Bruins?

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

Cal Bears Football podcast with Morris Phillips: Perfect no more, the Ducks sink Cal’s defense in first loss 42-24

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Photo from calbears.com: Cal Bears’ Patrick Laird rushed for 92 yards and a touchdown against Oregon last Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley

On the Cal Bears podcast with Morris:

#1 How effective was Oregon’s (2-2) quarterback Justin Herbert against the Cal (3-1) defense on Saturday?

#2 The Ducks who lost to Stanford were after blood after Cal got a 10-7 lead the Ducks and Herbert managed a comeback for Oregon to a 28-10 lead.

#3 Herbert ended up throwing for 225 yards and a 42-24 win over the Bears.

#4 How much help were Herbet’s teammates on both sides of the ball for Oregon?

#5 Cal heads to Arizona (2-2) next, the Wildcats got edged by USC Saturday 24-20. Can this be on of those close games on Saturday between these two teams?

Morris Phillips does the Cal Bears podcasts each Monday at 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 Podcast with Michael Duca and Morris Phillips: Cal trying to put bad taste of Portland State behind them; Stanford up next at the Farm

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AP File: California guard Don Coleman (14) scored 19 points brings the ball up court during NCAA Men’s Basketball game between Portland State Vikings and California Golden Bears 81-106 lost at Hass Pavilion Berkeley Calif. Thurman James / CSM (Cal Sport Media via AP Images)

By Michael Duca and Morris Phillips

BERKELEY–The game that Portland State and Cal played on Thursday, December 21st at Haas Pavilion wound up as a Vikings’ 106-81 win. Before that game, the Bears who were on a two game streak were looking good and making some progress they were getting better each time out they pulled themselves to a .500 record at 6-6. Then they laid a whole clutch of eggs right before Christmas time.

It’s almost as if they went out and scheduled mid majors that were guaranteed to shock assessing the case of Portland State and Central Arkansas who the Bears hosted in Berkeley these are good teams. It’s just not pigeonholed into some kind of fodder for a power five conference team. So Cal got the brunt of that. The unfortunate thing is they got the brunt of it at home, in the first half, in the first 10 minutes of the game. The Bears simply struggled against this opponent.

Morris and Michael have much more on the Cal Bears Basketball Podcast and each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Stanford holds off Cal to keep Pac-12 title hopes alive 17-14

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November 18, 2017: Stanford Cardinal running back Cameron Scarlett (22) tries to escape Cal’s defense, during a NCAA Football game between the California Golden Bears and the Stanford Cardinal at the Stanford Stadium in Stanford, California. Valerie Shoaps/CSM (Cal Sport Media via AP Images)

By Jeremy Harness

PALO ALTO – The Big Game has almost become an afterthought, with the Stanford Cardinal establishing itself as the clear dominant force in this annual rivalry game against the California Golden Bears, but it sure didn’t play out like it on Saturday.

Although it remained close for much of the game, Stanford avoided becoming a victim of the notorious “Pac-12 After Dark” trend, which has consistently featured big upsets and high drama during conference games after the sun had gone down, and held on for a 17-14 win over Cal at Stanford Stadium.

With the win, the Cardinal kept themselves in the running for the Pac-12 North title and the right to face USC, which has already claimed the Pac-12 South, in the conference’s title game on December 1.

Stanford has done all it can do at this point, and now they have to play the waiting game. The Cardinal will need Washington State–which, like Stanford, has two conference losses and owns the tiebreaker over the Cardinal by virtue of its head-to-head victory–to lose to Washington in the annual Apple Cup next Saturday to earn that berth.

In the process, Stanford got a real scare from Cal. The Golden Bears kept it close in the first half by limiting Heisman Trophy candidate Bryce Love to 17 rushing yards in the first half. Stanford, however, held a 10-6 halftime lead, thanks to K.J Costello’s 17-yard touchdown hookup with tight end Kaden Smith midway through the second quarter.

Love has been bothered by an ankle injury, which he re-injured in the fourth quarter and eventually gave way to Cameron Scarlett, who had several key runs to keep drives alive and allow the Cardinal to bleed out the clock down the stretch, as well as Trevor Speights.

However, there was a strong feeling that it was just a matter of time before he broke at least one long run to leave his imprint on the game, which he did midway through the third quarter. With some solid blocking from the offensive line that sealed the left edge for him, Love broke off left tackle and sprinted down the sideline untouched for a 57-yard touchdown that extended Stanford’s lead to 17-6.

Love finished the game with 101 rushing yards on 14 carries.

As it appeared that Stanford was starting to pull away, Cal used the legs of junior running back Patrick Laird to march right back down the field. Laird put the Golden Bears on the doorstep with a 39-yard run, and one play later, he punched it in from a yard out.

Laird had a big hand in giving Cal a realistic chance to win on Saturday, carrying the ball 20 times for 153 yards.

After quarterback Ross Bowers found the end zone on the ensuing two-point attempt, the Cardinal’s lead was trimmed to three.

As the Cardinal ventured into the red zone, they took a huge step back when guard Nick Wilson drew a 15-yard unsportmanlike penalty. That proved to be crucial, as Jet Toner missed a 41-yard field-goal attempt.

Cal then drove the ball in to Stanford territory when Bowers decided to take a shot at the end zone. His deep ball was underthrown and had a lot of air under it, allowing safety Ben Edwards to close the gap and pick the ball off, thwarting the Cal drive and set the stage for Stanford to play keep-away for the rest of the game.

The Cardinal host the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Saturday, November 25 at 5 pm on ABC.

Head Coach Justin Wilcox debuts new era of Cal Football at the Spring Game

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By Morris Phillips

Defense ahead of the offense?  Second stringers challenging the projected starters? Coaching tenets and terminology outpacing player comprehension?  Chase Forrest or Ross Bowers?

Depends on who you ask. This is, after all, Spring 2017 California Football, sporting as clean a slate as anyone on the Division I football landscape.  And the occasion of the Spring Game on Saturday at Memorial Stadium didn’t make things any less murkier.

New head coach Justin Wilcox, the son of former 49er Dave Wilcox, was hired from Wisconsin, replacing the fired Sonny Dykes in January.  Wilcox’s arrival means defense is back in Berkeley, a necessity after the 2016 Bears surrendered more than 40 points per game.  But can a defense featuring holdovers James Looney, Devante Downs and linebacker Cameron Saffold take a jump to the top half of the Pac-12 statistically?

On Saturday, during the controlled scrimmage with pads and physicality, but without tackling, corner Camryn Bynum led the Bears with six tackles and a pass breakup, and Elijah Hicks had an interception, a pass breakup and three tackles. Bynum and Hicks are part of a deep Cal secondary that also features Marloshawn Franklin Jr. and Darius Allensworth.

Offensively, the Bears are attempting to retool without quarterback Davis Webb and receiver Chad Hansen, with both expected to be chosen in the upcoming NFL Draft. Webb and Hansen combined for 11 touchdown passes in 2016 meaning that those manning their spots this season will have big shoes to fill.  Forrest was Webb’s backup in 2016, but didn’t make any game appearances. In 2015, Forrest backed Jared Goff, and appeared in parts of three games, completing 10 of 17 passes, including one touchdown.

Bowers is a third-year sophomore and has very limited experience, taking a handful of snaps in the 2016 finale against UCLA.  On Saturday, both starter candidates played well with Bowers gaining the edge statistically.  Bowers finished 18 of 30 for 168 yards and four touchdowns, while Forrest was 15 of 30 for 168 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.

Demetris Robertson and Melquise Stovall lead Cal’s promising group of returning receivers although neither saw action on Saturday.  Robertson is a sprinter on Cal’s track and field team this spring, and Stovall is recovering from a foot injury. The pair combined for 92 catches and 10 touchdowns last fall. In the spring game, sophomore Kanawai Noa took advantage of the pair’s absence, catching eight balls for 112 yards.

The Bears figure to be plenty experienced in one area: coaching. New defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter joins the Bears after a five-year run as the head coach of Fresno State. Ironically, DeRuyter was replaced by former Cal coach Jeff Tedford at Fresno.  New offensive coordinator Beau Baldwin was the long time head coach of Eastern Washington, where his Eagles engineered some eye-popping results against Pac-12 competition, including last season’s 45-42 win over Washington State.

DeRuyter promises to install a 3-4 look to this season’s defense, although it remains to be seen if the Bears currently have enough talent and depth at linebacker to make it work.  Baldwin should keep the Cal offense in high octane mode, but the look will be different than under Dykes. Baldwin’s offense features fewer spread sets, and the Bears are expected to reintroduce tight ends into their scheme.

The Bears open the season on September 2 at North Carolina, with the home opener a week later against Weber State.

 

Cal comes up short in Pac-12 semis; NIT bid likely after loss to top-seeded Oregon

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By Morris Phillips

In the estimation of all the NCAA tournament prognosticators, Cal needed to win Friday night against top-seeded Oregon to gain one of the 68 coveted invitations to March Madness.

Now that the Bears have dropped three straight to the Pac-12 regular season champs, and beaten just one Top 50 opponent in eight tries, Coach Cuonzo Martin and his Bears were reduced to their belief that they still belong despite their 11th loss of the season on Friday night.

“I think we’re an NCAA tournament team. Now it’s for them to decide,” coach Cuonzo Martin said.

“For me, I really don’t care what they say. I’m not going to assume what they say. For me, it’s a whole season, so it’s a body of work.  If that’s not good enough, that’s not good enough. I didn’t go into this game thinking we had to win to get into the NCAA tournament.”

If the Bears find the committee to be kind, then Cal’s ability to compete with the highly-ranked Ducks despite losing leading scorer Jabari Bird in the game’s first minute will be cited. Bird left the court holding his head after a hard fall, and was thought to have suffered a concussion.

In Bird’s absence, senior Grant Mullins contributed 23 points, and Charlie Moore continued his strong tournament with 15 points, three assists in 35 minutes of action. The Bears so-so 43 percent shooting as a team held up as they didn’t turn the ball over or lose Ivan Rabb to fouls (Rabb played 36 minutes, and committed just two fouls).

Tyler Dorsey led four Oregon double-figure scorers with 23 points, and came up with the critical three-point play in the final minute after Cal trimmed the Ducks’ lead to two.  Dylan Ennis scored 16 points, converting all nine of his free throw attempts.

The Bears qualified for the conference semifinals for the second year in a row, but failed to make it to the finals for only the fourth time in school history.