Tag: Coach Wyking Jones

Cal basketball parts ways with coach Wyking Jones after two seasons

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latimes.com file photo: Former Cal Bears head coach Wyking Jones who coached the team for two season was dismissed on Sunday Mar 24th by Cal

By Morris Phillips

BERKELEY — Cal has fired coach Wyking Jones following two, historically subpar seasons that landed the Bears in the Pac-12 basement twice.

Jones was 8-24 last season, and 8-23 this season, the two worst, consecutive seasons in the program’s history. Reports surfaced over the weekend that the athletic department had decided to retain Jones for a third season, but athletic director Jim Knowlton opted for the dismissal supposedly after meeting with the team’s players over the weekend.

“This was a difficult decision to make and comes after a deliberate and holistic review of our men’s basketball program. As always, we were guided by the best interests of our student-athletes, as well as the values and objectives of Cal Athletics and our University. As we quickly turn toward our search for a new head coach for our men’s basketball program, I am certain that we will attract a strong, talented and highly qualified pool of candidates. I am confident that we will find someone who will help lead us on a path to being exceptional.”

A pool of potential successors has emerged, including 2019 NCAA tournament coaches Russell Turner of UC Irvine and Eric Musselman of Nevada. Cal legend Jason Kidd is also a candidate despite his well-known interest in resuming his NBA coaching career.

Jones was fired after completing just two of the five years on his contract, and will receive $3 million to satisfy that deal.

Cal Bears podcast with Morris Phillips: Cal can’t hold first half lead, still winless in the Pac-12

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Photo credit: @CalMBBall

On the Cal Bears podcast with Morris:

#1 The Arizona State University Sun Devils (19-8) Luguentz Dort led with 22 points and the Cal Bears (5-22) lost by ten points 69-59 on Sunday to remain winless in conference play.

#2 Matt Bradley for Cal led with 23 points and ten rebounds. No matter what the score was or who won, Bradley put it all out there, offensively.

#3 The Bears held a first half lead 34-28 and there was some hope they very well would have a shot at winning this one, but in the second half, ASU scored big 41-25.

#4 Once again, in the postgame press conference, head coach Wyking Jones can’t put a finger on how to get this team turned around.

#5 Cal comes home to host the Washington Huskies (22-5) Thursday, Feb. 28th. The Huskies are a team on fire. Morris talks about Cal’s chances to try and get a win in conference play against UW.

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

Cal Bears podcast with Morris Phillips and Michael Duca: 18-point rally not enough to catch red-hot Redhawks in Cal’s latest loss

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calbears.com photo: The Cal Bears guard Paris Austin (3) takes a drive against the Seattle Redhawks guard Terrell Brown (23) at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley on Saturday night

On the Cal podcast with Morris and Michael:

The Bears (5-7) fell behind by as many as 18 points in the first half, only to rally, but ultimately lose to Seattle, 82-73 at Haas Pavilion. The loss concluded Cal’s non-conference schedule without providing much belief that they can right the ship with Pac-12 play next up beginning Thursday at UCLA.

Coach Wyking Jones surely didn’t get any assurances from his team that they’ll be engaged come Thursday, not after they led 2-0 Saturday, only to fall behind 21-4 with 12:11 remaining before halftime. The Redhawks with the win notched their win loss record to 12-3.

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