2011 California Basketball Preview

Written by Jack Jones - Google +

2010-11 Results

Overall: 18-15
Conference: 10-8 (t-4th)

Roster

Seniors

Jorge Gutierrez
Harper Kamp

Juniors

Bak Bak
Brandon Smith
Robert Thurman

Sophomores

Allen Crabbe
Emerson Murray
Jeff Powers
Richard Solomon
Justin Cobbs
Ricky Kreklow

Freshmen

Alex Rossi
Christian Behrens
Raffi Chalian
Rob Filley
David Kravish

Head Coach

Mike Montgomery

Key Losses

Cal’s one departed starter, Sanders-Frison, was a blow to the shallowest area of the Bears’ lineup, the post. Sanders-Frison became the Bears’ leading rebounder (7.4) last season and he knew how to put his weight about.

Schedule

Date	Opponent / Event
10/30/2011	Blue and Gold Game (Exh.) ^
11/1/2011	vs. UC San Diego (Exh.) ^
11/11/2011	vs. UC Irvine
Progressive CBE Classic
11/13/2011	vs. George Washington
11/15/2011	vs. Austin Peay
11/21/2011	vs. Georgia
11/22/2011	Notre Dame / Missouri
Regular Season
11/26/2011	vs. Denver
11/28/2011	vs. Mcneese State
12/4/2011	at San Diego State
12/7/2011	vs. San Jose State
12/11/2011	vs. Jackson State
12/16/2011	vs. Weber State
12/19/2011	vs. UC Santa Barbara
12/23/2011	at UNLV
12/29/2011	vs. USC *
12/31/2011	vs. UCLA *
1/5/2012	at Oregon State *
1/8/2012	at Oregon *
1/12/2012	vs. Colorado *
1/14/2012	vs. Utah *
1/19/2012	at Washington *
1/21/2012	at Washington State *
1/29/2012	vs. Stanford *
2/2/2012	vs. Arizona *
2/4/2012	vs. Arizona State *
2/9/2012	at USC *
2/11/2012	at UCLA *
2/16/2012	vs. Oregon *
2/18/2012	vs. Oregon State *
2/23/2012	at Utah *
2/26/2012	at Colorado *
3/4/2012	at Stanford *
Pac-12 Tournament
3/7/2012	First Round
3/8/2012	Quarterfinals
3/9/2012	Semifinals
3/10/2012	Final
*Conference Game

2011-12 Preview

California return the Pac-10′s freshman of the year, guard Allen Crabbe; a first-team all-league pick, guard Jorge Gutierrez; and a second-team pick, forward Harper Kamp.

The Bears’ trio of standouts; Kamp, Crabbe and Gutierrez, must stay healthy this season if the team is to fulfil it’s potential. Crabbe is coming off a pair of troubling concussions within a six-month span, while Kamp has been struggling with a knee injury. The Bears have strength in depth with Justin Cobbs in the backcourt, at forward with Jeff Powers and inside with Bak Bak.
Then there are the walk-ons, who always seem to end up providing some help at Cal. The Bears could turn to Robert Thurman. a 6-10 junior, and 6-9 freshman David Kravish.

Provided Solomon at least holds his own inside and everybody stays fit, the Bears have the best starting five in the Pac-12. But they still won’t win the league without some depth. The Bears need solid complementary players who can get a rebound, hit a three or even give a foul. Four-time Pac-10 coach of the year Mike Montgomery, who enhanced his own reputation when the depleted Bears finished well above expectations last year, will know whether he has that depth and how best to develop it.

Brandon Smith (5-11, 185 lbs., JR, #12, 6.4 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 3.9 apg, 29.4 mpg) posted a 1.7 assist-to-turnover ratio, played some solid defense, and was also a more efficient scorer. He hit 20 three-pointers at a 41.7-percent clip and even dropped a career-high 18 points on 4-for-5 shooting at Oregon.

Jorge Gutierrez (6-3, 195 lbs., SR, #2, 14.6 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 4.5 apg, 33.5 mpg) has developed into one of the stars of the conference. He excelled when free to play to his reactive strengths at off guard, and his impact was no better illustrated than in Cal’s 76-72 overtime win over UCLA last February, scoring 34 points including nine in overtime. Last season, Gutierrez led the Bears in scoring 12 times and his 54 steals was the seventh-highest season total in Cal history.

Richard Solomon (6-10, 220 lbs., SO, #3, 5.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 0.8 bpg, 15.7 mpg) has good rebounding and shot-blocking potential and took advantage of Sanders-Frison’s absence in the postseason last spring by starting Cal’s two NIT games. He had a game-high 10 rebounds in the opener against Ole Miss and blocked two shots in the second game at Colorado.

Justin Cobbs (6-2, 195 lbs., SO, #1, 2.1 ppg, 1.3 apg) is a big, strong guard who will be expected to bring some athleticism and scoring to both backcourt spots.

Emerson Murray (6-3, 195 lbs., SO, #31, 1.0 ppg, 0.6 rpg, 7.4 mpg) could also help at shooting guard, once fully recovered from offseason surgery to remove a plate in his foot.

Jeff Powers (6-7, 190 lbs., SO, #21, 3.5 ppg, 0.8 rpg, 8.2 mpg) started at Washington State on Feb. 12 when the Bears were banged up, responding with 14 points and four rebounds while hitting 3-of-6 from the field. Two days earlier, he scored 13 points in just 11 minutes against Washington.

Allen Crabbe (6-6, 205 lbs., SO, #1, 13.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 2.0 apg, 33.8 mpg). became the league’s clear-cut top freshman as last season progressed. He seems to possess the complete range of attributes; shooting, slashing, rebounding, defense, shot blocking and the ability to deliver it all in the clutch.

Crabbe was hit by two concussions but did return during Cal’s trip to Scandinavia.

Harper Kamp (6-8, 245 lbs., SR, #22, 14.2 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.7 apg, 32.9 mpg.) is a smart, physical and athletic inside player who missed the 2009-10 season with a knee injury and was best last season with a manageable workload.

Bak Bak (6-9, 225 lbs., JR, #15, 2.6 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 9.4 mpg) missed most of last summer because he had visa issues in Sudan and, while he returned to Cal before the exhibition tour, Montgomery didn’t take him to Scandinavia for fear that he would have more trouble.

Robert Thurman (6-10, 250 lbs., JR, #34, 0.3 ppg, 0.9 rpg, 2.8 mpg) is only a walk-on, but he’s the heaviest player on the roster at 250 pounds. He produced 39 points over the final two games of the Bears’ exhibition tour to Scandinavia, including 14 points and seven rebounds in the final game.

Christian Behrens (6-8, 190 lbs., FR, #14, 22.4 ppg, 12.8 rpg.) is coming off ACL surgery in February 2010 and didn’t begin to play up to his full capabilities until the end of his senior season last winter..

David Kravish (6-9, 210 lbs., FR, #45, 13.2 ppg, 10.0 rpg.) is raw but still has the size, athleticism and skills for a big man that can earn him some minutes right away.

More Pac 12 Basketball Predictions

Washington Huskies	Oregon Ducks	California Golden Bears
Arizona Wildcats	Colorado Buffaloes	UCLA Bruins
Stanford Cardinal	Oregon State Beavers	Washington State Cougars
Arizona State Sun Devils	Utah Utes	USC Trojans

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