Tag: California Golden Bears

Cal Bears podcast with Michael Duca: da Silva unleased scores 24 for Cardinal in romp of Golden Bears 70-55

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The Stanford Cardinal forward Lukas Kisunas (32) leaps and holds onto the ball  against the Cal Bears on Thu Feb 4, 2021 at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley (photo take by the San Francisco Chronicle)

On the Cal Bears podcast with Michael Duca:

#1 The Stanford Cardinal Oscar da Silva who scored only nine points in his last game against USC on Tuesday night had a different offensive outcome on Thursday night with a 24 point night against the Cal Bears and was key in the 70-55 take down in Berkeley.

#2 da Silva also added 11 rebounds and four assists in the lopsided victory as the Cardinal poured it on if the first half with a 42-29 lead at the half.

#3 The Cardinal with the they way they commanded the offense played with the confidence that they had and with the game in hand and somewhat but not to accuse that the mercy rule was in effect take a slighter 28-26 second half lead and the win.

#4 For head coach Mark Fox he was hoping that Cal could come back but with Stanford reaching a comfortable lead and the Cal offense probably thought any chance of winning was not possible.

#5 Cal gets another chance to try to even the two game home at home series at Stanford  this Sunday. The Bears take a four game losing streak into Maples Pavilion and though the odds might say otherwise Cal is hoping to get in the win column in this one.

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

Cal Bears podcast with Michael Duca Fri Feb 5, 2021 by Sports Radio Service | Free Listening on SoundCloud

Stanford makes themselves at home in Berkeley, stops Cal, 70-55

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By Morris Phillips

BERKELEY, CA–In a season of postponements, personnel changes and COVID, Stanford’s the national leader in making uncomfortable comfortable.

They just played their first home game–after 16 away from Maples Pavilion–on Tuesday. They showed up at Cal Thursday weary from rescheduled games that made this their fourth game in eight days. And once again, for the fifth straight game the Cardinal didn’t have Daejon Davis, Bryce Wills or Ziaire Williams, their NBA-aspiring freshman.

Never mind and no problem, said coach Jerod Haase.

“We don’t know who’s going to be out there, but we do know we’re gonna compete,” Haase promised in his press conference earlier this week.

In short, Stanford minimized its problems which made Cal’s issues loom larger coming in to Thursday’s Big Game on the hardwood at Haas Pavilion.

And the Bears–mired in a five-game losing streak–couldn’t get untracked offensively in a 70-55 loss in which they shot just 36 percent from the floor and watched the Cardinal’s Oscar da Silva take over with 24 points, 11 rebounds and four assists.

“We had no answer for him. He was just too big, too quick, too long,” coach Mark Fox said of da Silva, the Pac-12’s leading scorer.

With da Silva, and without their next three best players in Wills, Davis and Williams, Stanford’s become bigger and more stubborn. Against Cal, they took the ball to the rim persistently and effectively, shooting 63 percent in the game’s first 17 minutes to lead 36-29.

Freshman Noah Taitz finished off a near perfect half for Stanford with three straight baskets, the second a breakaway dunk after Cal’s Ryan Betley was stripped by Spencer Jones.

Cal rallied briefly in the second half, getting within 46-43 at one point, only to fade. For stretches, Stanford went with four freshman and da Silva, and experienced no drop-off. That Stanford was able to gather 40 of their 70 points in the paint said everything regarding the talent disparity between the rival programs.

“Even though we’re better in some areas than we were last year, we still have a talent deficiency,” Fox admitted, “and we have to accept that and play a certain way.”

Stanford hounded Cal with on-ball pressure on the perimeter, then doubled any Bears with the ball on the block. That left Cal with few options. They missed mid-range shots, and played carelessly with the ball, contributing to eight Stanford steals and two blocks. The 3-point line wasn’t kind either, Cal missed 16 of 22 attempts there.

Had Stanford not squandered 10 of their 24 free throw opportunities, things could have gotten worse.

Given Stanford’s success at both ends, Fox said the Bears will play with a more deliberate pace in Sunday’s rematch at Stanford as they try to avoid a sixth straight loss.

“This team can be maybe a little prettier (than last season’s group) but it’s still going to have to be really ugly for this group to win,” Fox said.

Matt Bradley led Cal (2-11, 7-13) with 24 points. Andre Kelly added 15, while the trio of Grant Anticevich, Makale Foreman and Betley saw their struggles extend from Saturday’s loss at Arizona with 4 of 23 combined shooting.

Jaden Delaire added 14 and Taitz 10 for Stanford (11-7, 7-5).

In another Pac-12 scheduling head scratcher, Sunday’s rematch will tip at 7pm, right when Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes duel down the stretch in the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl.

Talk about not giving these two teams a chance to draw a television audience.

Stanford Cardinal game wrap: Big night from da Silva sparks Cardinal to victory over the Bears 70-55

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Stanford Cardinal Oscar da Silva (13) takes it to the hoop against the Cal Bears defense at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley on Thu Feb 4, 2021 (photo from San Francisco Chronicle)

By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Tuesday, February 2, 2021

Oscar da Silva’s all-around effort sparked Stanford to a 70-55 Pac-12 men’s basketball victory over archrival California Thursday night at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley.

Da Silva led the Cardinal with 24 points (8 of 17 field goals, 8 of 8 free throws), 11 rebounds, four assists, a blocked shot and two steals.

Jaiden Delaire was next for the Cardinal with 14 points, hitting 5 of 7 from the field, including a pair of 3-pointers. Noah Taitz scored 10 points off the bench.

Stanford (11-7 overall, 7-5 Pac-12) outscored the Golden Bears 40-22 in the paint, and held a 30-28 rebounding edge.

Spencer Jones and Michael O’Connell each had four assists, and Lukas Kisunas pulled down seven rebounds. Jones also had three steals, as the Cardinal scored 19 points off of Cal’s 16 turnovers.

Matt Bradley paced the Golden Bears (7-13, 2-11) with 24 points, followed by Andre Kelly with 15 points and seven rebounds. Both players fouled out.

Bradley sank his fifth 3-pointer, was fouled, and converted the four-point play as Cal cut the Cardinal’s lead to 46-43 with a six-minute 14-4 run to open the second half. Taitz and da Silva hit back-to-back baskets to stop the run and Stanford went on to re-establish its double-digit lead within the next three minutes.

Stanford played without starters Ziaire Williams, Bryce Wills and Daejon Davis for the second straight game, all of them out due to COVID-19 protocol.

Stanford will host the Golden Bears at Maples Pavilion on Sunday, with a 7 p.m. tipoff.

Stanford Cardinal podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Stanford gets ready for Big Game tonight at Cal

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Stanford Cardinal forward Jaiden Delaire takes a shot against the USC Trojans on Tue Feb 2, 2021 at Maples Pavilion in Palo Alto (gostanford.com image)

Stanford podcast with Jerry F:

#1 The Stanford Cardinal (10-6) were coming off three win in Tuesday night’s make up game in Santa Cruz and were trying for a third but the USC Trojans (13-3) who have been taking no prisoners all season dominated the Cardinal 72-66 to the Cardinal winning streak.

#2 It seemed like every time the Cardinal turned around on defense the Trojan’s Evan Mobley had the basketball and the Cardinal had a hard time stopping him with Mobley scoring as leading scorer with 23.

#3 The Cardinal had those past games where there were some very close games namely the win over UCLA something had to tell Cardinal head coach Jerod Haase that the Trojans were studying film because they led in both the first and second halves against the Cardinal.

#4 There is no doubt the Cardinal had enough talent to win the game against the Trojans they had both Jaiden Delaire with 22 points and Michael O’Connell 20 points finishing in double figures but the Cardinal are also missing some players to injuries and Oscar da Silva scored only nine points.

#5. The Cardinal take on the Cal Bears (7-12) at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley tonight. Cal has lost two straight games and are in last place in the Pac 12. They did however beat USC 76-68 before going on the two game skid. Can you see the Bears giving the Cardinal some game tonight at the Pavilion?

Join Jerry F for Stanford Cardinal basketball podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Stanford Cardinal podcast with Jerry Feitelberg Thu Jan 4, 2021 by Sports Radio Service | Free Listening on SoundCloud

 

 

Cal Bears podcast with Morris Phillips: Taking a look at Cal’s worst beating of the season

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The Cal Bears forward Andre Kelly (22) and the Arizona Wildcats forward Christian Koloko (35) go for the ball at tip off on Sat Jan 30, 2021 in Tucson at the University of Arizona (calbears.com photo)

On the Cal Bears podcast with Morris:

#1 Cal (7-12) did have their worst offensive showing for 2021 in their 71-50 loss to the Arizona Wildcats (13-4). The Golden Bears simply could not get any offense going from start to finish.

#2 Morris talk about Oakland native James Okinjo who led the Wildcats with 20 points it had to be special for him to get top billing and play against a team he probably followed during his high school days.

#3 The Bears certainly couldn’t keep up in the second half of the game trailing by 29 points the light was dimming for Cal for any chance to get back in this one.

#4 Arizona had that healthy 12-3 record going into their last game against the Stanford Cardinal (10-6) last Thursday but lost to them by nine 73-64 and there was little doubt that the Wildcats were pent up after that loss and that they would take it out on Cal on Saturday.

#5 Next up for Cal they face their cross bay rival the Stanford Cardinal. The Cardinal have been going well of late they edged a very tough UCLA Bruin (13-3) team on the road and that big win against Arizona Thursday. They lost to ASU on Saturday 79-75. How do you see Cal matched up against Stanford Thursday at Hass Pavilion?

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

Cal Bears podcast with Morris Phillips Mon Feb 1, 2021 by Sports Radio Service | Free Listening on SoundCloud

 

Desert Downer: Cal suffers worst offensive showing of the season at Arizona, loses 71-50

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By Morris Phillips

Slow starts and frustrated opponents seeking redemption–those are your Golden Bears’ themes for the now completed, annual trip to the Arizona desert.

Warning: these themes aren’t filled with positivity.

Oakland native James Akinjo had 20 points, eight assists and no turnovers to lead Arizona to a wire-to-wire 71-50 win over Cal on Saturday. Once again, the Bears were lethargic offensively at the start, falling behind 10-2 and 19-7, then trailing by as many as 29 in the second half. The lack of execution was reflected in the numbers as Cal shot 38 percent from the floor with a paltry eight assists and 16 turnovers.

“I thought Arizona was the aggressor from the jump ball,” coach Mark Fox admitted. “I thought they dominated the paint. I felt like we were playing uphill all day, which we really were.”

Being the least-affected team by COVID protocols in the Pac-12 hasn’t benefitted Cal much. They’ve played a league-high 19 games with just one postponement in league play, but Saturday’s loss keeps the Bears in the conference basement at 2-10 and 7-12 overall.

Also, Cal’s 50 points against Arizona (13-4, 7-4) marked their lowest offensive output of the season.

The host Wildcats didn’t figure to be in a giving mood after losing on Thursday to Stanford, who was without three of their four best players. In that one, UA’s defense slumped, and they couldn’t get anything easy in the paint against the Cardinal’s size and double teams. Coach Sean Miller sensed something was amiss.

“We weren’t the together, hard-playing, unselfish group that this team has been throughout the year,” said Miller. “We let our guard down. Not sure how or why it happened but we were just not good in those areas.”

Those issues never surfaced against Cal.

Depending on your perspective, Arizona’s size harassed Cal into numerous bad shots, or their quickness kept Cal from dribble penetration while forcing numerous explosive turnovers. In either case, Cal couldn’t run their offense–a reoccurring theme–from botched inbounds plays to errant entry passes. The perimeter-leaning trio of Grant Anticevich, Ryan Betley and Makale Foreman suffered the most, combining to miss 14 of 18 shots from the floor.

Matt Bradley was back to being his hard-charging self, leading Cal with 21 points, including 5 of 6 from three. But Bradley wasn’t perfect: he had six turnovers, two of those in the first seven minutes, a period in which Cal scored just one basket and buried themselves from the start.

Meanwhile, Akinjo was the latest Pac-12 lead guard to give Cal the business in what Miller said was his best game yet in an Arizona uniform. A year ago, Akinjo was dismissed from the Georgetown team as coach Patrick Ewing issued a brief statement without elaborating. Big East journalists cited the smallish guard’s below average defense as a major reason the Hoyas struggled.

But this season, Akinjo’s been fantastic, while leading the Pac-12 in assists in conference play. He’s been the leader of an inexperienced team, he’s beefier from time spent in the weight room, and Miller–a point guard in his playing days–has coached Akinjo on all the finer points.

A talented playmaker from Oakland that went to high school in Richmond?

Cal could really use him.

The Bears host Stanford on Thursday at 6pm with the return engagement on Sunday at 7pm at Maples Pavilion, the second true home game for the nomadic Cardinal this season with the first on Tuesday against USC.

NOTES: The Bears had no steals or blocks in the first half on Saturday. Arizona shot 55 percent in the period and enjoyed an 18-4 advantage in points in the paint.

The Wildcats improved to 116-15 in the last 131 home games at the McKale Center, a mere 101 games above .500.

The Bears dropped Thursday’s contest to Arizona State, which snapped ASU’s six-game losing skid.

The Bears have lost eight straight to Arizona State, and nine consecutive to Arizona. The last Cal coach to beat either school? Cuonzo Martin in 2016. Mark Fox and his predecessor Wyking Jones are both 0-4 against the Arizona schools at Cal.

“

Sloppy Sun Devils clean up in time to nip Cal, 72-68 in Tempe

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By Morris Phillips

Simply put, the Cal Bears don’t need to see Remy Martin ever again, and Arizona State anytime soon. Just the possibility of another meeting in March at the Pac-12 Tournament is frightening news.

Martin covered for his inconsistent teammates in the game’s final 10 minutes, lifting the Sun Devils to a 72-68 win that ended their six-game losing streak. ASU’s senior point guard scored nine of his team-best 19 points after Cal held its final lead of the evening, 54-52 with 9:10 remaining.

Martin has been perfect against Cal, going 8-0 in his career dating back to his freshman year when he was a spunky reserve known more for his lengthy, wild hair and Filipino heritage than his considerable skills on the court.

On Thursday, Martin made the mundane plays like drawing fouls in the paint against Cal’s over-anxious defenders as well as the spectacular ones like his circus shot while falling on his back to put ASU up 60-56 with 7:02 left.

Meanwhile Cal missed makeable shots in falling behind 9-3 and then 15-5 only to rally and lead 30-29 at halftime. Eventually Cal’s 39 percent shooting–including 17 missed 3-point shots–and their 15 turnovers leading to 20 points for ASU was too much to overcome.

“We didn’t play stable enough throughout the game,” Cal coach Mark Fox said. “Good teams will make you pay.”

ASU wasn’t completely stabile either as they surged to sizeable leads in both halves only to allow Cal to recover. The Sun Devils’ questionable shot selection was the biggest culprit, something they fell prey to in the six-game slide that included back-to-back, narrow losses to Arizona and an overtime loss to USC.

Still ASU prevailed, shooting 57 percent in the second half to create some distance between themselves and Cal (7-11, 2-9).

Matt Bradley led Cal with 26 points–just off his career-high–but he needed 20 shots from the floor and 11 free throw attempts to get there. Clearly favoring his two injured ankles, the junior guard wasn’t at his explosive best, but he battled in the absence of any other scoring sources outside Andre Kelly (16 points, 13 rebounds).

“I thought he played super-hard,” Fox said of Bradley. “A lot of those things he’s always finished didn’t quite go in tonight. He’s a little bit out of rhythm and still got to get some conditioning back.”

Grant Anticevich and Makale Foreman each made just one basket finishing a combined 2 for 12 from the floor. With Cal trailing 72-66 with 18 seconds left Anticevich was stripped by Martin as ASU’s defensive quickness gave Cal fits throughout the game.

“We’ve been knocking on the door in several games over the last couple of weeks,” ASU coach Bobby Hurley said. “Glad we were able to break through.”

The Bears finish their trip in Tucson on Saturday where they will face Arizona, which lost to Stanford on Thursday.

Cal Bears podcast with Morris Phillips: Cal can’t contain USC’s Mobley in second half loss

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The USC Trojans Evan Mobley (4) seen here throwing down against the Washington Huskies on Thu Jan 14, 2021 finished with 25 points against the Cal Bears being the key offensive person to help the Trojans in the victory on Sat Jan 23, 2021 at Cal (AP News photo)

Cal Bears podcast with Morris Phillips:

#1 The USC Trojans (12-3) Evan Mobley had himself quite a second half against the Cal Bears (7-10) on Saturday night at Haas Pavilion scoring 17 of his 25 points in the second half effective to help defeat the Bears 76-68.

#2 Cal saw those walls closing in in that second half and even with Matt Bradley back in the line up that still didn’t help get the Bears enough offense to win.

#3 Morris I just wanted to ask you about Ryan Betley whose been in a slump of late, he scored seven points and got two assists in Saturday’s game against USC.

#4 The Cal Bears Makale Foreman had a rough game against USC no assists and five points. Foreman had some good games earlier has trailed off some?

#5 The Bears hit the road their next game is on Thu Jan 28 which will be at Arizona State (4-7). ASU has struggled losing six out of their last seven games. The Bears are coming off a win at Utah(6-6), a close loss to UCLA (12-3) and the disappointing loss to USC Morris how do you see Cal and ASU matching up on Thursday?

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

 

Cal finds themselves looking up to visiting USC in 76-68 loss

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By Morris Phillips

BERKELEY, CA–USC’s length and persistence in the paint found its match in Cal’s grit and grind for stretches on Saturday at Haas Pavilion. In the end however the Trojans’ size never relented in their 76-68 win over the Bears.

Evan Mobley had 17 of his game-best 25 points in the second half allowing USC to seize control of a close ballgame in the final minutes as Cal couldn’t capitalize on leading scorer Matt Bradley’s return to action.

The 7’1″ Mobley, currently the third highest ranked NBA prospect in the 2021 draft, consistently challenged the Bears on the block resulting in dunks, offensive rebounds or fouls. Andre Kelly and D.J. Thorpe both fouled out inside five minutes remaining as the freshman knocked down 12 of 15 from the line along with five offensive boards and one don’t blink-fast putback dunk.

“I try to catch it mid-post, drive hard if the lane’s open. If not jab step, shot, create the help, kick out, just make plays for my teammates,” Mobley said in a brief description of his expansive game.

“I think you saw an improved Evan Mobley today than he was early in the week” USC coach Andy Enfield said. “He’s getting better and we demanded that of him this week and he responded in a huge way.”

Cal’s deliberate pace which made UCLA antzy and turnover-prone on Thursday played perfectly for the Trojans who wanted Mobley, his 6’10” brother Isaiah and three other regulars–all 6’8″ or taller–on the floor as much as possible. Evan Mobley seemingly never sat, playing 35 minutes and 19 of 20 after halftime.

Meanwhile, Cal started slowly (trailed 15-4 after five minutes) then bought Bradley off the bench in his first action after missing five games with an ankle injury. His appearance acted as a stabilizer as he along with Grant Anticevich and Joel Brown started to find some gaps in USC’s defense. At the break–and after the horrific start–the Bears trailed just 35-34.

But one early, second half sequence typified Cal’s inability to sustain any momentum as they followed Jarred Hyder’s four-point play with an airball, then a shot clock violation on the next two possessions.

In the final minutes, Ryan Betley’s three brought Cal within 68-66 with 3:02 remaining. But the Bears would score just once more–Betley’s layup–with 28 seconds left.

Anticevich and Brown led Cal with 15 points each, and Bradley added 11, but showed his rust with 1 of 6 shooting from distance. Both teams were 24 of 58 from the floor (41 percent) with the deciding factors the free throw line and the glass where Cal was outscored 21-13 at the foul line and outrebounded 41-32.

The Bears resume their schedule Thursday in Tempe with the rematch against Arizona State.

Cal’s upset bid fails in the final minutes of a 61-57 loss to No. 24 UCLA

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By Morris Phillips

The strategy in the final minutes of a close contest for the trailing team is universal: foul, stop the clock, put your opponent on the foul line, hope for misses and lengthen the game.

But what if the referees are swallowing their whistles and letting both teams play? And your opponent is No. 24 UCLA who routinely defends without fouling?

Well, that strategy won’t work as Cal found out Thursday night at Haas Pavilion when their upset bid fell short in a 61-57 loss to the Bruins.

Jules Bernard’s 3-pointer with 2:08 remaining proved to be the pivotal basket, and gave UCLA a 59-55 lead in a game that was back and forth throughout the second half. Misses by Jarred Hyder on Cal’s ensuing two possessions brought Cal no closer. Finally, Hyder scored with 13 seconds remaining, but the Bears had to foul three times to regain possession. With just eight seconds remaining–and Cal again trailing by four after Johnny Juzang made two free throws–UCLA used one of their fouls to give to prevent a Cal 3-point attempt.

A pair of meaningless shots in the final seconds fell short for Cal, quietly ending their bid to upset the Bruins, who are now 8-0 and alone in first place in the Pac-12.

“We got the lead there late, tried to get our best defensive lineup in, and we kept them off the foul line,” UCLA coach Mick Cronin said. “It was an advantage down the stretch. We knew we had fouls to give with the way we were trying to play defense, so that helped us.”

“We just couldn’t get to the foul line in the second half,” said Cal coach Mark Fox, who saw his team limited to 21 points after halftime after leading 36-32 at the break.

UCLA has now committed fewer fouls than all 14 of their opponents. They committed just 11 fouls in the game and only 20 were whistled prior to the furious final seconds. While Cal slowed the pace, the referees sped the game along. In a game that was completed in well under two hours, the undermanned Bears got few chances to catch their breath.

Grant Anticevich led Cal (7-9, 2-7) with 21 points and perfect 5 for 5 shooting from distance. While UCLA stopped the Bears near the basket, they allowed Cal 10 made threes, seven of those in the first half. That alone kept the Bears in a game in which they were outrebounded 38-23 and wilted as the game progressed.

Cal’s defensive effort against the ranked Bruins was commendable, but even Fox admitted his team controlled tempo better than they defended, and leaving Bernard open for his late three was their biggest mistake.

“To beat a high-level opponent, you have to play a little more mistake-free than we did today,” Fox admitted.

Matt Bradley tested his injured ankle in pre-game warm-ups but was ruled out, missing his fifth straight game. That again left Cal scrambling for offense from other sources that couldn’t deliver. Fox pointed out that Bradley’s absence has affected guard Ryan Betley, who missed his first seven shots and finished 1 for 8 in 33 minutes of floor time.

“Were asking too much of Ryan, and I think he’s worn down,” Fox said.

The Bears are scheduled to host USC on Saturday but COVID issues within the Trojans program has put the game in question. The USC-Stanford game on Thursday was canceled.