"East Coast Bias" - What West Coast teams and players will do damage in the Tournament?

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Darius Graham from Sac High runs the show for UC Davis

Darius Graham from Sac High runs the show for UC Davis

By Connor Buestad | connor@section925.com

As far as depth goes, this isn't the best year for west coast teams in the NCAA tournament bracket. But among the teams that made their way in, most of them could make major waves over the next couple weekends. Below, we preview some of the teams and players you should pay attention to while navigating through Bracketville, USA. 

1. UC Davis (16 seed, "First Four" play-in game)

The Aggies are in the Big Dance for the first time in school history after winning the Big West Conference. For the majority of their existence they have been D2, but head coach Jim Les now has them D1 and doing damage against more traditional hoop programs. The seeding committee was not exactly gracious to Davis in their first trip to Bracketville. Not only is Davis a 16-seed, but they will have to participate in Wednesday's play-in game at Dayton University vs. North Carolina Central (3:40 tip on TRU TV). Davis is led by a senior from Sacramento High named Darius Graham. Standing just 5 foot 10, Graham is known for his all-out hustle and all-around grit. If the Aggies can get through their first game, they'll earn a date with the Kansas Jayhawks. A team hungry after a Big-12 tourney loss to TCU. Thanks committee! 

#JockJams (photo by Ethan Miller)

#JockJams (photo by Ethan Miller)

2. Saint Mary's College (7-seed, West Region)

Randy Bennett's Gaels were relieved to hear the news on Selection Sunday that they did indeed receive an invite to the tourney, despite not winning the WCC. But anytime you have the #1 ranked team in America at the top of your league for the majority of the season, you get the benefit of the doubt. As usual, St. Mary's is extremely well coached and efficient on offense, while smart and tough on defense. Nobody describes the Gaels as overly athletic, but they are led by Jock Landale, who is as smooth as they come in the low post. Blessed with immaculate footwork, Landale has steadily improved his game over his three year career in Moraga. Once a plump freshman who lumbered down the court, Landale has thinned out and looks great in his 6'11" frame. Like Patty Mills and Matthew Dellavedova before him, Landale developed his ball skills down under in Australia. If he gets hot in Round 1 versus VCU, the Gaels should march on to face Arizona in the Round of 32 with nothing to lose.

Jordan Mathews was a star in Berkeley just last year. (photo by Ethan Miller)

Jordan Mathews was a star in Berkeley just last year. (photo by Ethan Miller)

3. Gonzaga (1-seed, West Region)

1999 was the year Gonzaga came out of absolute obscurity to make an Elite-8 run that put the Zags on the map. Matt Santangelo and Richie Frahm still are treated like royalty in Spokane, as they should be. Since that run in '99, Gonzaga has been to the tournament 18-straight times under current coach Mark Few. Of course, none of those 18 trips have resulted in a trip to the Final Four. Here in 2017, most pundits concede that this is Few's best collection of talent. From inside to outside, Gonzaga seemingly has no holes to speak of. A mixture of homegrown talent and transfers has resulted in talent all over the court. One such transfer, Jordan Mathews, came up to play for Few after leaving Cuonzo Martin's Cal program last spring. The loss of Mathews threw a wrench in Martin's best laid plans, and the Bears ending up as a 1-seed in the NIT (Not In Tournament). Meanwhile, Mathews figures to be a difference maker for the Zags throughout the month of March. 

Arizona Freshman Lauri Markkanen of Arizona is a 7-footer who is also a threat from deep. (photo by Gary Vasquez)

Arizona Freshman Lauri Markkanen of Arizona is a 7-footer who is also a threat from deep. (photo by Gary Vasquez)

4. Arizona (2-seed, West Region)

Somehow, the Arizona Wildcats may just be flying under the radar this year. Rest assured, they are very, very good. They won 30 games this year, including a 16-2 record in the Pac-12 and a conference tournament championship. As a 2-seed in the West, they could very easily meet Gonzaga in the regional final with a trip to Phoenix on the line. The squad is deep, with weapons scattered throughout the floor. And they are battle tested too, including a close loss to Gonzaga in pre-conference play. 

Dillon Brooks' last second three handed Cal a crushing loss toward the end of the Pac-12 season.

Dillon Brooks' last second three handed Cal a crushing loss toward the end of the Pac-12 season.

5. Oregon (3-seed, Midwest Region)

The Ducks finished at the top of the Pac-12 Conference alongside Arizona, with an identical 16-2 league record. Unfortunately, they lost inside presence Chris Boucher to an ACL tear last week, so Oregon will be limping into the tournament. Injuries aside, the Ducks will never be out of a game with Dillon Brooks on the floor, who proved himself as a buzzer-beating savant this season, saving multiple games for his team in crucial moments. If Oregon expects to make it to Phoenix, they'll likely have to navigate through Louisville and Kansas to do so. 

What will Lonzo do under the bright lights of the Tournament? (photo by Joe Robbins)

What will Lonzo do under the bright lights of the Tournament? (photo by Joe Robbins)

6. UCLA (3-seed, South Region)

Lonzo Ball's hype train has just reached maximum capacity. There's not much more that the media can say about him or his overzealous dad LaVar who claims his son is better than Steph, or his youngest brother LaMelo, who is an high school basketball internet phenomenon. Fortunately we will quickly find out what Lonzo can produce on amateur basketball's biggest stage. If the brackets play out as planned, Ball will face-off with Kentucky in the Sweet 16. If he passes that test, he'll likely get a shot at North Carolina. Here's to hoping it plays out that way, as God knows how much drama that will create. Who knows what the Ball family is capable for the remainder of March, but it will certainly be fun to watch.  

Opinion: Let Steve Kerr do his job

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The Warriors' three-game skid has left pundits questioning Steve Kerr's tactics. (photo by Rob Carr)

The Warriors' three-game skid has left pundits questioning Steve Kerr's tactics. (photo by Rob Carr)

By Connor Buestad | connor@section925.com

At some point, we as Warriors fans need to ask ourselves a simple question: What do we want from Steve Kerr? Because at this point, he's damned if he does and damned if he doesn't. 

After infamously losing hold of a 3-1 lead to Cleveland in last year's Finals, Kerr was chastised for running his team ragged over the course of the 82-game schedule. Talking heads declared it a fool's errand for Kerr to be so concerned with chasing history and eclipsing Michael Jordan's mark of 72-10, only to run out of gas come June. 

"If only he had gotten his guys some rest! The regular season doesn't mean a thing. Just have the boys ready for a deep playoff run," they grumbled. 

But of course here in 2017, the public is singing a different tune in regards to Kerr's management style. Things boiled over on Saturday night after the Warriors lost their third game in a row to fall to 52-14 on the year. Kerr made the executive decision to sit his starters for the entirety of the evening, leading to a 22-point drubbing at the hands of the second place Spurs. Sob stories poured in about fans who had paid "high-prices" for tickets only to see Steph and company recline court-side. Naysayers bickered endlessly about the fact that NBA players are making millions. And how it shouldn't be too much to ask to play 48 minutes of basketball following a charted flight.

Some of these are halfway valid points, depending on who you ask, but that doesn't change the fact that Steve Kerr is in charge of this show. He needs to make tough decisions in the blink of an eye. It is too much to ask him to balance the best interests of the NBA television contracts, the marketability of his stars, or the opinion of basketball fans at-large. Steve Kerr was hired to win championships, and he's doing his best to successfully complete that task.

If the NBA is going to send the Warriors zig-zaging across the lower 48 in search of the optimal ad revenue from their sponsors, it is Steve Kerr's duty to step in and do what is best for his team. The man has been around the league forever, as a championship player, a member of the front office, a broadcaster, and now as a championship coach. He knows what he's doing and that really shouldn't be disputed. If the league puts him between a rock and a hard place, Kerr is inevitably going to need to make some tough calls. He's going to need to play a hunch here and there, even if it means resting the lifeblood of his team at the end of a road swing in March.

Let Steve Kerr do his job and stay out of the way. 

Cal heads to Vegas for the Pac-12 Tournament with more questions than answers

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Grant Mullins and the rest of the Cal shooters will need to catch fire in Vegas to have a chance at an automatic tournament bid. (photo by Steve Dykes)

Grant Mullins and the rest of the Cal shooters will need to catch fire in Vegas to have a chance at an automatic tournament bid. (photo by Steve Dykes)

By Nate Rosenbloom | @hibernature

The 2016-17 season was supposed to be transitional one for the Cal Men’s Basketball team.

Following a disappointing upset defeat in the first round of the NCAA tournament last year, conventional wisdom held that freshman stars Jaylen Brown and Ivan Rabb would both declare for the NBA draft. Their early exits, coupled with the departure of 4-year starter Tyrone Wallace and the graduate transfer of Jordan Matthews to Gonzaga, set the stage for a rebuilding year.

The season outlook changed drastically when Oakland native Rabb surprised everyone and decided to stick around for his sophomore season. Then Coach Cuonzo Martin landed a recruiting windfall when Illinois’ Mr. Basketball, pint-sized point guard Charlie Moore, decommitted from Memphis and decided to come to Berkeley.

All of a sudden, the team had a National Player of the Year Candidate in Rabb to dominate the post, Moore to run the offense, while the talented Jabari Bird had an opportunity to play Robin to Raab’s Batman. There was still hope in Berkeley.

After a 9-2 start to this season, Cal hosted #12 Virginia with a chance to claim a statement win. The Bears ended up losing a close game to the Wahoos, but proved to the nation (and themselves) that they could compete with the big boys.

The schedule makers decided to test that confidence immediately. Following Virginia, the Bears began Pac-12 Conference play and faced four top-25 ranked teams in the first seven conference games.

The results of those seven games are as follows:

  • 4-3 record including an important win at #25 USC

  • Losses to Arizona (barely), UCLA (by 10 but could have been much more if not for a strong second half performance) and Oregon (bad)

Following that tough stretch, Cal fans were still convincing themselves that this team had potential and that they could find themselves dancing come March. The team apparently thought so too as they proceeded to win five in a row including a 2-OT thriller over Utah, complete with a Charlie Moore to Jabari Bird game-winning alley-oop.

Even after a second 5 point loss to Arizona ended the winning streak and was followed by a surprising loss to Stanford on the farm, hope sprung eternal for the Bears with #6 Oregon coming to Berkeley. A win over a top 10 team was exactly what the Cal team’s tournament resume needed. Throughout the first half, it looked like they were on track to claim that signature win, holding the Ducks to just 16 first half points. The second half told a different story, however, as the Ducks clawed all the way back, capped by Dillon Brooks hitting his 2nd game winning 3-pointer of the season.

(Bear fans may want to look away):

That shot may very well have sucked the remaining fight out of the Bears, as they closed the season with ugly losses to Utah and Colorado that dropped them into a tie for 5th in the conference (meaning they do not get a bye in the first round of the Pac-12 Tournament). With only a single win over a ranked opponent to their name (USC) and a weak strength of schedule (71st in the nation), the Bears now appear to be on the outside of the tournament looking in.

They’ll need to find their mojo in Vegas, and quick. Winning the Pac-12 Tournament earns an automatic bid to the NCAAs, but winning the tournament may not be required for the Bears to earn an at-large bid. If they make the Final, which would require beating Oregon State and Utah to set up a semi-final match-up with who would likely be Oregon. A win over the Ducks would make the Bears hard to ignore for the selection committee as they would then have a 22-11 record and a signature win against a top-10 team.

Anything less than an appearance in the championship game and Cal is looking at the NIT and a season of missed opportunity. It’s hard to imagine Rabb coming back for a third season considering he is likely to be a top-10 pick in next year’s NBA draft - although a boy can dream about him coming back, right?!?

The other storyline to watch as the season draws to a close is the future of head coach Cuonzo Martin. Martin and Cal agreed to an extension in October 2016 to keep the coach in Berkeley through the 2021 season. It’s uncommon for a coach that just signed an extension to be mentioned as a candidate for other jobs, and yet for Cal fans this makes perfect sense. Just when it felt like the program was headed in the right direction, the rug looks ready to be pulled right out from under them.

In his three years in charge, Martin has proven himself a top-notch recruiter and has given Cal fans nothing but hope about the future of the program. While there is nothing more important to Cal fans than hope, they are also prone to serial cynicism. The cynics out there are currently convincing themselves that the Cal job is a stepping stone for Martin. He is a self-proclaimed “midwest guy” and there are some interesting jobs opening up in that part of the country.

Personally, I would prefer to be paid a million and a half a year to coach and live in the Bay Area over Champaign, Illinois or Bloomington, Indiana. But then again, I’m not a "midwest guy." Cal fans have to be hoping that Martin agrees with me and decides to stick around at least a couple of more years to see the fruits of his labor. If Martin leaves, where does that leave the program? A program in serious need of an identity, and its third coach in four seasons.

As for a prediction: Cal goes on a run, beats Oregon and then loses to UCLA in the Pac-12 Tournament final. Cal then makes the tournament as an 11-seed playing in the “First 4” in Dayton, OH. What can I say? I’m an eternal optimist. Survive and advance. 

Section925 Podcast Ep. 157 - Hoops Insider Jon Wheeler

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Tripper brings the Mobile Podcenter into the Hoop Cave to join Insider Jon Wheeler to talk about the Dubs run to the playoffs and how the Boogie trade may impact the Dubs, the possible departure of Cuonzo Martin from Cal and why the Bears may never be a perennial athletic power, and how St. Mary's tourney hopes are looking as we approach March.

The North Coast Section playoff brackets are set as first round games begin on Tuesday

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Kyree Walker of Moreau Catholic in Hayward is arguably the best freshman in the country. (photo by Ray Chavez)

By Section925 Staff

With league seasons wrapping up over the weekend, the time has come for Bay Area high school hoopers to battle it out for an NCS crown. A total of 96 teams will take to the hardwood starting on Tuesday with hopes of chasing down an elusive championship. From Division 1 down to Division 6, each field of 16 teams is full of talented players and teams that are sure to entertain, especially in the later rounds. Check out our preview below and get out to some games around The Bay to support your local team. We promise it will cost you less than a Warriors game. 

De La Salle's Justin Pratt splits Dublin defenders Tim Falls (#1) and Connor Jackson in one of their two matchups this season. (photo by Ray Chavez)

Division 1

Thanks to their overtime triumph over De La Salle in the East Bay Athletic League title game on Saturday, the upstart Dublin Gaels will hold the poll position in the Division 1 NCS bracket this season. The Gaels are led by electrifying guards Tim Falls and Connor Jackson, who have helped solidify the Gaels as an East Bay force who has the ability to score seemingly at will. 

Heritage High will be the no. 2 seed in the D1 bracket, while DLS will start as a 3-seed. De La Salle, led by first year head coach Justin Argenal, will open up their playoff campaign against Berkeley High, a team that wound up winning the NorCal Championship at Sleep Train Arena last season. 

If De La Salle wants a re-match with Dublin in the NCS finals, they'll have to get past Heritage on their side of the bracket, not to mention 6-seeded San Leandro, who has given DLS trouble in playoffs' past. Dublin, on the other hand, will have to get past teams like 4-seed James Logan and 5-seed Freedom, both athletic teams that could make a deep NCS run. 

Naseem Gaskin of Bishop O' Dowd

Division 2

In the Division 2 bracket, all eyes are on top seed Bishop O' Dowd and 4-seed Moreau Catholic. The two ultra-talented teams look to be on a collision course, meeting in a potential March 1st semifinal dream matchup. The O'Dowd Dragons are led by senior guard BJ Shaw (Brian's son) as well as backcourt mates Elijah Hardy (junior) and Naseem Gaskin (junior). Down low, the Dragons feature Raymond Hawkins, a 6'8" sophomore who has college coaches salivating.

Moreau Catholic is led by all-everything guard Damari Milstead (headed to Grand Canyon University) to go along with Kyree Walker, a 6'5", 200 pound freshman who many regard as the best 9th grader in America. Needless to say, to see Moreau and O' Dowd lock horns on March 1st would be a real treat.  

Derrick Langford (#5) and the rest of the Salesian Pride

Division 3

The class of the NCS D3 bracket is clearly Salesian of Richmond, who began the season celebrated as the best team in the Bay Area. The Pride haven't disappointed, proving their worth night in and night out. Jabari Bird's alma mater is led this year by junior guard Derrick Langford, one of the best in all of California.

On the bottom half of the Division 3 bracket, you'll find 2-seed Campolindo, 3-seed Analy, and 6-seed Miramonte. If the Matadors can earn a road win at Analy, it could set up an enticing showdown with Campo in the semifinals.

Jade' Smith (#5) helps hoist the State Championship Trophy in 2016. (photo by Keith Birmingham)

Division 4

The D4 bracket is led by St. Joseph of Alameda who currently stands at 27-1 on the year. Despite being a small school, the Pilots feature one of the most dynamic players in the state in Jade' Smith, who is headed to Pepperdine in the fall. He has a different game than ex-pilot Jason Kidd, but he can takeover in a similar fashion when his team needs him most. 

St. Patrick-St. Vincent is a dangerous 2-seed in D4, not to mention sharp shooting Marin Catholic at the 3-spot. St. Joes could very well run into some trouble by the time they reach the finals. 

Division 5

Cloverdale is your one seed in D5 this year, followed by Branson of Marin in the two spot. Look for 11-seed Oakland Military Institute as a potential sleeper pick. They are coached by Darrell Hiroshima Jr., son of the late Darrell Senior. 

Division 6

If you fancy yourself as a basketball junkie, look no further, the D6 bracket is there for you. Rio Lindo Adventist is your top seed, while California School for the Deaf comes in as a 2-seed. 

To take a look at all six 2017 NCS brackets, click here. 

The sudden resurgence of San Jose State Basketball

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Terrell Brown is a freshman guard out of Moreau Catholic High in Hayward

By Travis Rowney

Thanks in large part to the success of the Golden State Warriors, the Bay Area is a hot spot for basketball. More and more fans are getting involved in more than just the Warriors. Today, college basketball, and even high school basketball is also getting more recognition. Saint Mary’s is having their best season in years, remaining in the top 20 polls for the whole season. Cal has also been on the rise. With preseason All-American Ivan Rabb, the Bears are remaining in the top half of the tough Pac 12 conference. They are on the bubble watch, but gaining momentum as the season winds down. It’s a good time to be a Bay Area basketball fan.

However, there is one story that is quietly going under the radar. San Jose State basketball is secretly having their best season in years. They currently sit in the middle of the Mountain West Conference. They have a chance to record only their third winning season in the last 30 years.    

Traditionally, San Jose State Basketball has been a subpar program. The Spartans have not made it to the NCAA tournament since 1996. Since that time, they have had only one winning season. The last couple years have been some of the worst in the program. The facts back it up. Since joining the Mountain West Conference in 2013, the Spartans have won a total of 18 games in three seasons. They have finished dead last all three years. In 2014-2015 the Spartans had 2 wins the whole season. Those 2 wins came against non-division 1 opponents. Head Coach Dave Wojchik has been at the helm those three seasons, taking the job in 2013. Coach Wojchik and that freshmen class of 2013 have endured a lot of tough times.

I would know. I am a recent alum of SJSU, graduating in May 2016. I have followed the recent history of the basketball team there. I went to some games while I had a free time. It wasn’t quite the home court advantage I had anticipated. The team was lucky to get around 100 or 200 fans, not including the students who got in for free. Even then, the student body wasn’t very passionate about basketball. It was something of an afterthought around San Jose State. Many people are probably unware that the school has a team.  

I can recall one game a couple years ago. I don’t remember the team they were playing, but I feel they had more fans than we did. Also, our team was severely under talented. They only had eight players suited up. For a division 1 basketball team, it was hard to fathom. I later found out during the game that they had to borrow two players from the football team! It was a small team that was outmatched by every opponent that year. Apparently we had a full roster, but injuries and suspensions stripped the roster. Wojchik made the tough choice of suspending some of his top players for disciplinary reasons. He basically sacrificed the season in order to lay the foundation for a team of hard working, high character student athletes. Would all be for nothing though? For a while, I feared that they were going to shut down the program. It was that bad.

The 2015-2016 season showed progress. They managed to get a couple league wins under their belt and be competitive in the Mountain West. Despite finishing last place in the conference for three straight years, they had some momentum going into next season. With some good recruiting, there was hope for a talented young team on the rise.

And did it ever show up. The Spartans are posting some impressive wins this season, some of the best in program history. The first win came against Washington State of the Pac 12 conference. The Spartans traveled up to Pullman, WA, and got an improbable victory against a bigger Cougars team. Another nonconference stunner came when they knocked off their Silicon Valley rivals Santa Clara Broncos, snapping a 6 game losing streak. It was their first home win against Santa Clara in 20 years. With a couple more wins to their nonconference schedule, the Spartans looked poised to make their program relevant again.

However, adversity builds character. The Spartans hit some road bumps in the conference season, starting 2-6. However, this young team, along with some mentally tough seniors, are rebranding Spartans basketball. They rallied and went on an impressive run. They won 4 games in a row to launched the team into 5th place in the Mountain West.  

They first beat UNLV at home, rallying back from a 13-point deficit. They defeated UNLV again in Las Vegas two weeks later to complete the 4 game winning streak. After the first meeting against UNLV, the Spartans were on the road at University of New Mexico. In what is known as “the Pit,” it is traditionally one of the toughest places to play in the country. The Spartans believed in themselves and defeated the Lobos for the first time in 13 tries, coming from behind once again.

Another win during the 4 game streak was against SoCal rivals San Diego State; a game I was fortunate enough to attend. First off, I was surprised to not find parking until the top floor of the university garage. Aside of class time, I never found any trouble parking at night.

As we go to our seats close to the Spartans bench, a look around the Event Center imparted a whole different feel to the games I attended as student. More and more people packed the event center; the free student section completely sold out. A couple of Frats sat in the first two rows, dressed in silly costumes and made the loudest noises possible. They sure gave San Diego State a hard time during the game. They place wasn’t quite sold out, but it was a drastic change from my experience a few years back. Instead of 300 fans, it was 3,000 fans. It was a loud and fun atmosphere.

I looked down the line at the Spartans bench and yes, a full team. Five starters and 6 to 7 guys warmed up on the bench. It was great to see.

As the game started, both teams started out shooting poorly. However, San Diego had the advantage on the boards. They were a much taller and bigger team down low, out muscling the Spartans. However, the Spartans rallied as they had done all year and took a halftime time lead.        

Sophomore forward Brandon Clarke is averaging 18 point per game, along with 8 rebounds per game. He was the star of the game, often finishing down low with aggressive rebounding and a terrific inside game. Listed at 6’8’’, he is not big for a power forward. But he can maneuver and score. He’s a great symbol for the team; he plays with intelligence and determination, no matter how big the opponent. While the Aztecs made some runs, the Spartans never looked back and made some key defensive stops. And with quality shooting and clutch free throws, the Spartans won 76-71.

The student section stormed the court in appreciation. It was the first time since 1999 that San Jose State beat San Diego State. We had reason to celebrate.

Clarke finished with 22 points. The Spartans also shot 23-26 from the free throw line and caused 15 Aztec turnovers.

This was a different San Jose State team, and with a determined attitude. Coach Wojchik has turned this program around from a laughing stock, to a contender in his 4th season. With the season winding down, the Spartans have strong momentum. Come conference tournament play, they could be a dark horse for an improbable postseason run. Senior Isaac Thornton and juniors Jalen James and Brandon Mitchell have been through a lot of adversity the past couple years. You really have to appreciate their commitment and determination. It is great to see them flourish this season, having more fun than ever before. Along with senior Gary Williams Jr., these are the only upper classman of this young team.

The future looks bright for San Jose State Basketball. This season didn’t seem possible in the past. Now, it’s turning into quite a story for Bay Area basketball. Wojchik looks to have the right process in place, taking a gradual, piece by piece approach to get the Spartans winning again. Hopefully they can break the 20-year drought of an NCAA tournament appearance in the coming years. It makes you proud to be an alum and I will keep cheering on my Alma Mater. #spartanup

What drives Kristine Anigwe?

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Already written into Cal’s record books, when will the sophomore center be satisfied? 

Anigwe has reached 1,000 points faster than any Cal player in history (photo courtesy of pac-12.com)

By Connor Buestad | Connor@Section925.com

Seated next to her coach in the bowels of Key Arena, Kristine Anigwe couldn’t take it anymore. Like a winter downpour in Seattle, the tears were inevitable at this point, it was only a matter of how long they would last. All anyone could do was pass her a towel.

The 10th seeded Bears had just bowed out in the semifinals of the 2016 PAC-12 tournament, a six point loss at the hands of 3rd seeded UCLA. Anigwe had an outstanding game in defeat, 26 points and 15 rebounds to be exact, both numbers eclipsing her already gaudy season averages of 20 and 9. Numbers unheard of for a freshman. Especially one who didn’t pick up the game of basketball until the 8th grade.

Tasked with the near impossible chore of summing up a season in one post game press conference, fifth year head coach Lindsay Gottlieb chose to sing the praises of her freshman center and the otherworldly year she had. 43-points in a game, national freshman of the year, averaging almost double digit rebounds, scoring more than any frosh in Cal basketball history, the list of accomplishments goes on seemingly forever. But if you learn anything about Kristine Anigwe, all those accomplishments are thrown to the side after a loss. And maybe even forgotten. “Failing is very hard for me,” she says simply on a recent evening in Berkeley. “I dread it. I hate losing. I hate not doing something that I know I could do.”

Losing is something the Cal women did a lot of last season. A fact Anigwe willing shoulders the blame for. Despite her record year, Anigwe is haunted by the fact that it was her beloved coach’s first losing campaign in her Berkeley career. In Gottlieb’s first season as Cal’s coach, she took an NIT team to the NCAA’s. The next year, Gottlieb had the Bears in the Final Four. Now, Gottlieb was at the podium following her first sub .500 season that included a dismal 4-14 mark in the PAC-12. Even so, all the protective coach could do was praise her team’s effort, particularly an emotional Anigwe, who proved incapable of talking. The pain of falling short on Gottlieb’s expectations was too much to bear.

Anigwe fights her emotions following the end of the PAC-12 Tournament in Seattle in 2016 (photo courtesy of Pac-12.com)

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Sitting down with Anigwe behind the scorers table at Haas Pavilion, two things quickly become noticeable. One is that Anigwe isn’t particularly comfortable talking about herself. Another is that she requires some extra room for her legs that power her 6’4” frame up and down the court and even to the rim for dunks (we’ll get to that later.)

She is eating a post workout meal of soft tacos, in the kind of way you’d expect an Olympic Triathlete to eat, with the nutritional value being the most important aspect of the act. The gym is quiet now, except for the welcome squeaks, dribbles and swishes being made by Ivan Rabb. The future NBA first round pick is taking advantage of the vacant floor space, fine tuning his game in the middle of conference play.

The presence of NBA-bound Rabb, along with Anigwe’s upbringing in Phoenix inevitably brings up the topic of the Suns. Steve Nash? Amare Stoudemire? Was she a fan? “No,” she says matter-of-factly, “I grew up watching the Phoenix Mercury. I loved Diana Taurasi. She was a huge inspiration for me.”

Despite having the luxury of a WNBA team in her backyard to look up to and always being the tallest girl in her class, it wasn’t until just before high school that Anigwe found her way onto a basketball court. Fortunately, her area volleyball team was good enough to push her into her calling. “To be honest, back then I tried out for the volleyball team and I didn’t make it. So I went ahead and tried basketball. It’s worked out from there.”

Her two parents, Annette and Christopher, ran a strict household focused primarily on academics and the fruits that books could bear for their four children. Basketball was secondary to Anigwe, up until the time her talent was spotted and she was sent to Colorado Springs to try out for Team USA’s youth program. By the time Anigwe was selected to Team USA and began jett-setting to international tournaments, she started to realize basketball could really take her places. “Don’t get me wrong, I made the team, but the tryouts were really nerve wracking. It seemed like so many great players were getting cut everyday. But after I made that team, I really began to take my basketball career seriously.”  

By her junior year at Desert Vista High School, Anigwe was morphing into a star. In addition to her duties with Team USA’s program, Anigwe was competing on the women’s AAU circuit with the “Arizona Elite” and her trusted coach Kenny Drake. Not only was she playing for his team, but also dedicating herself to attending his private workouts on the side, even if she hated it. “Yes, I often really hated those workouts,” she explains. “Sometimes I would have to sit down in the corner of the gym and take off my shoes, but Kenny would refuse to let me leave the gym until we finished our workouts. He really made me so much better at basketball.”

By the spring of her junior year, Anigwe lead her high school team to an Arizona State Championship. Anigwe was the star that brought the school the glory of a state crown, but true to her personality, she has trouble recalling all the details of the triumph. “I can’t remember if we played in the Suns’ arena or not to be honest, now that you ask. I just remember it being a really fancy place.”

What Anigwe remembers most about her high school career is failing to win back-to-back titles, falling to Goodyear Millennium High in the the Division 1 semifinals. Anigwe took the loss hard, almost completely shutting her down. “It was tough. I remember I didn’t really talk to anyone for like a week. I spent a lot of time in my room just writing in my room. Sleeping, talking to my mom, writing some more. But eventually I realized I had to grow up and move on.”

Anigwe in her final high school game with the Desert Vista Thunder. A semifinal loss in the Arizona state championships. (photo by Nick Cote)

Moving on meant turning her sights to a bright future in the college ranks. By now, she had been named the Arizona Gatorade Player of the Year, to go along with her eye-popping stats with her AAU club team and gold medals on Team USA’s junior teams. No one could have blamed her if visions of UCONN, Tennessee, or Stanford began to pop into her head. After all, the late-bloomer was now a nationally recognized blue chip recruit. But even with her rising stock shooting through the roof, Anigwe never wavered on her verbal commitment to Berkeley and coach Gottlieb. “In the end, Cal showed interest in me when no one else did. I trusted them at an early age. For me to get super good and decommit is not a part of my character. At the end of the day, you know where your roots are, where your heart is and who has your back.”

With her commitment to Cal solidified, Anigwe overcame the anguish of her senior year defeat by attending the McDonald’s All-American game in Chicago, an event reserved for the best 48 men and women high school basketball has to offer. When ESPN personnel realized Anigwe could dunk, they pushed her on the idea of being the lone female in the annual dunk contest, one that has produced a long list of NBA superstars. Anigwe, shy by nature, took a leap of faith and gave it a shot. But with the cameras on and her legs jet-lagged, Anigwe came up empty in her turn to dunk. Naturally, the internet’s reaction was polarizing. From basement bloggers ripping her, to 13-year-old girls congratulating her for rising above the rim with the nation’s best male athletes. Florida State’s Dwayne Bacon ended up beating Anigwe and the rest of the field with a monster dunk, leaping over the head of a standing Jalen Rose.

Nowadays, a google search of Anigwe will no longer lead you straight to her famed dunk attempts at the McDonald’s contest. Instead, you’ll be hit with stories of her 50-point night on December 8th, 2016 versus Sacramento State. Of course, Anigwe doesn’t like to talk about it, but it was a night that put the spotlight back on Cal women’s hoops for the first time in a while here in the Bay Area. In what was a incredible display of efficiency, Anigwe managed to score all 50 points in just 24 minutes of play. Moreover, her 19 buckets were converted on just 23 shots. Virtually every time Anigwe caught the ball, she finished with a basket. With her right hand or her left, midrange or under the basket, Anigwe’s deft touch and uncanny ability to finish around the basket was put on full display for the nation to see. No player, even in the higher scoring men’s game has reached the 50 point plateau. Ed Gray’s 48 against Washington State in 1997 is the closest any Cal player has come. That is until Anigwe did it, using only 24 minutes to do so.

Even with all the attention the 50-point night brought to the program, Anigwe does her best to avoid the topic. “I honestly don’t like talking about the 50 point game. I don’t want my legacy at Cal to be all about one 50 point game. I want it to be, ‘Kristine helped take a team to the Final Four.’ Don’t get me wrong, it was a fun game. But I want to help change the program and be a part of an incredible team at Cal.”

Despite being apprehensive to talk about her personal accomplishments, Anigwe is never at a loss for words when speaking about those around her. After all, the Media Studies major has visions of a career in broadcast journalism after she hangs up her sneakers. “Kristine’s Korner” is already a broadcast platform she has dabbled with in the past, and hopes to do more of.

If she had it her way, she’d do some features of some of her favorite people in Berkeley including her trusted coach Gottlieb, who Anigwe describes as “Incredibly caring. Caring about her players, caring about the program.” Anigwe also is quick to deflect praise on her trusted point guard Asha Thomas. A sophomore from Oakland’s Bishop O’ Dowd High School, Thomas is responsible for keeping the Bears calm and confident, even in the hairiest of situations. “Even when there is fire all around her, she always leads us in a calm way,” explains Anigwe. Thomas’ love for her home city of Oakland and its deep rooted culture is also something Anigwe enjoys being exposed to. “She just loves Oakland and repping the Bay Area. Always trying to teach me new Oakland lingo. She tries to keep me hip that way.”

Anigwe rises for a dunk attempt at the McDonald's All-American Dunk Contest in 2015. (Photo courtesy of bearinsider.com)

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Now over halfway through her sophomore campaign, with the dust settled from her 50-point barrage, Anigwe is focused on navigating her team back into the NCAA tournament, a place Coach Gottlieb is so used to being, but where Anigwe has yet to find. This season started as good as ever. Ignited by Anigwe’s nightly double-doubles, Cal started the year 13-0, the best start in program history by a wide margin. Unfortunately, this has given way to a 3-7 start in league play. A disappointing result that has eaten away at Anigwe thus far.

As a player and as a person, Anigwe is often times more driven by the fear of failure that the feeling of success. She admits this can be a gift and a curse. Her coach recently told the Mercury News, “Kristine is the most self-motivated player we’ve ever had here. It’s not close.” But this self-motivation has its costs, as it can put blinders on the ability to see and appreciate success as its unfolding in the moment. Explains Anigwe, “People think I’m just running through life without appreciating things or digesting accomplishments, and yes, it can be lonely. But to me it is scary to fail, so I’m always looking for ways to get better and avoid that failure.”

Even if Anigwe were to give her coach the gift of another Final Four trip at Cal, there is a good chance Anigwe will be wrapped up in her obsession to improve her game indefinitely. Beyond her Cal career looms the light of more basketball in the WNBA, not to mention the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, or her post playing career endeavors into the media business, or even a crusade to close the wage gap in women’s sports like basketball, soccer and the like.

Whether or not Kristine Anigwe will successfully overcome her dread of failure still remains to seen. But rest assured, she’ll leave a wake of her defeated opponents on the way to defining her own definition of success.   

Section925 Podcast Ep. 151 - World Series Champion Daniel Descalso

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Bay Area native Daniel Descalso sits down with Tripper Ortman at Venture Goods in Lafayette to talk baseball. Descalso discusses his upbringing as an A's fan, his days at St. Francis High School in Mountain View, coming up through the minors, winning a World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals and much more.