Christian Mccaffrey finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting. (Photo Michael Macor)
Insider J Torchio and repeat pod offender Chris Hawkins break down the Armed Forces and Rose Bowl and toast Josh from the 209 in this final college football pod of the season.
Insider J Torchio and repeat pod offender Chris Hawkins break down the Armed Forces and Rose Bowl and toast Josh from the 209 in this final college football pod of the season.
Redshirt Senior Malcolm Brogdon and head coach Tony Bennett have the Cavaliers ranked 5th in the nation through ten games. (photo by Mitch Stringer)
By Connor Buestad | Connor@Section925.com
For anyone who has been around Cuonzo Martin, heard him talk in a press conference, or even just watched him patrol the sidelines on television, he certainly has never come across as a man who is risk adverse or afraid of a challenge. The East St. Louis native and cancer survivor seems to radiate confidence and a killer instinct whenever he sets foot in the gym. On Tuesday night in Virginia, Coach Martin will have himself one of the biggest challenges he could expect to find in regular season major college basketball. And he couldn’t be happier to accept it.
Surely, when Coach Martin circled December 22nd on his calendar, he expected his Bears would be flying out to Virginia as a ranked team. Unfortunately, CAL’s nationally hyped, high-flying attack has weathered some turbulence through the first third of the season. Largely due to an inability to break down zone defenses with dependable outside shooting options, the Bears find themselves south of the top-25, without a victory against a ranked opponent.
Tuesday night in front of a nationally televised audience (ESPN2, 6pm) will be just the kind of resume building opportunity coach Martin is searching for at this point in the year. It will come against a top-5 team in Virginia. A team many are expecting to win the stacked ACC and have a good shot at reaching the Final Four in Houston. Vegas experts are expecting the home Cavaliers to win by a comfortable 12-point margin.
It should be interesting to see CAL play the role of underdog for the first time this season. At least on paper, the Bears have one of the most talented teams in the country and were granted a top 15 ranking to begin the year. But with losses to San Diego State and Richmond, as well as close calls against Wyoming, St. Mary’s and even the University of the Incarnate Word, CAL has been humbled early. Now with less than 12 weeks until Selection Sunday, it’s about time the Bears put the engine into high gear if they expect to do any sort of damage come March.
As mentioned, CAL’s woes have largely stemmed from a lack of shooting touch. For starters, freshman phenom Jaylen Brown has only managed to knock down nine 3-pointers during the first 11 games. Senior Tyrone Wallace leads the team in scoring with 16ppg, but has only made 60% of his free throws. As a whole, against a soft schedule, CAL has only shot 33% from three point land. By now, teams are consistently sitting back in zone defenses, forcing the Bears to slow down and prove their ability to knock down shots from distance.
On the bright side, Coach Martin’s team has proven they can get stops on defense and their offense has been spread out among many weapons, with all five starters routinely finishing in double figures. On top of that, CAL’s overall speed and athleticism has been spectacular to watch at times. The Bears will need to tap into this raw talent when they take the floor on Tuesday night.
Cuonzo Martin is in his second season in Berkeley after finding success at both Missouri State and the University of Tennessee. (photo by Ezra Shaw)
In a somewhat quiet, methodical way, University of Virginia head coach Tony Bennett has turned the Cavaliers into a basketball power. Traditionally an also-ran in the ACC, Bennett has lead UVA to back-to-back 30-win seasons in Charlottesville. This is an eye-popping accomplishment when you consider Bennett’s league schedule consists of Duke, North Carolina, Syracuse, and Louisville. Somehow, Bennett was able to guide his squad to a 16-2 record in the ACC last year, all without one McDonald’s All-American on his roster (CAL currently sports three).
Before moving east, Tony Bennett took over for his dad Dick Bennett at Washington State. Challenged with the task of recruiting and winning in Pullman, Bennett was still able to find success and was eventually courted by an ACC school. Fast forward seven years and Bennett is one of the hottest young coaches in basketball, making more than $2 million a year and challenging the likes of Krzyzewski, Boeheim, Pitino, and Williams year in and year out.
Bennett’s 2015-16 Cavaliers are extremely skilled and experienced, led primarily by senior guard Malcolm Brogdon and senior forward Anthony Gill. Brogdon, who goes by the nickname “Humble Moses” leads the team in scoring with 17-a-game while shooting above 40% from 3-point land.
Athletic, skilled and well coached, the Cavaliers will pose the toughest challenge for Coach Martin’s Bears so far this season, if not all year. Will this road test expose CAL as an over-hyped team who doesn’t quite know how to utilize its widespread talent? Or, perhaps the Bears will use the opportunity to show the Andy Katz’s and Joe Lundardi’s of the world that Berkeley hoops is deserving of some hype after all. One has to believe Coach Martin will have his team ready for the bright lights and the big challenge that awaits in ACC country.
Jabari Bird and the rest of the CAL Bears must connect from distance if they expect to beat fifth ranked UVA. (photo by Ezra Shaw)
This new Mission Bay arena next to UCSF medical center would potentially open for the Warriors' 2018-19 season. (Photo via MANICA Architecture)
By Julian O’Donnell (Sec925 High School Correspondent)
When I first heard about the Golden State Warriors’ plan to build a new state-of-the-art arena in downtown San Francisco, I was ecstatic. They were finally going to be moving back under the bright lights of San Francisco, inside a brand new building that could help attract the best free agents in the NBA.
This arena, which will seat 18,000 fans, will be built a few blocks south of AT&T Park in the Mission Bay district, a rapidly developing area of San Francisco. On paper, it looks like an illustrious plan and seems like the right move for an organization that deserves to put arguably the best team in the NBA into a potentially top-of-the-line arena.
Yet, as the plan gained more traction, critics began to condemn the proposed plan. Although I originally looked at these protests as attempts to prevent my favorite team from moving to San Francisco, I soon came to consider these questions as actual problems that would arise in building this new arena.
The most important issue that stands in the way of this project is the concern of traffic, and the added congestion it will bring to San Francisco. I drive into San Francisco often, and the traffic is suffocating, especially on the freeways you merge into one once you hit downtown. One of the many reasons for this sudden influx of people in the city is because of new businesses, mainly tech companies that are moving their offices into the downtown district of San Francisco.
On one hand, the rush of workers into the city is beneficial as it generates economic and structural development. Yet, when you are bringing a business, such as the Golden State Warriors, into San Francisco, you are adding more people to the second most densely populated city in America behind New York City. It has a capacity limit that it is drawing closer every year.
Another problematic reason for building this arena is the loss of loyal fans from the East Bay who have supported the team through thick and thin. The congestion that a new arena brings to a city repels fans from the East Bay who are trying to get into a city that is gridlocked. Two hours to get into San Francisco? Not many fans would be willing to do that.
Will the Warriors be able to duplicate the energy inside "Roaracle" if and when they move to SF? (photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant)
With a loss of fans who have become synonymous with the Warriors brand, the team might play differently with a new fan base. So why change an arrangement that has worked out so well in recent years? The answer lies in economic growth.
Despite the negatives of building this arena, it will promote even more growth for an economy that changes everyday with the influx of businesses. The monetary benefits will trickle down and benefit many, just as it did with the Giants and AT&T Park up the street.
Before the Giants moved into their present ballpark, that area was lifeless. It was used as a dump, and served no purpose in the city. Building the ballpark in this “dead area” let businesses grow in the surrounding plots of land, which were deemed desolate as well.
Now looking at that area, you would never guess it was once a ignored corner of the city. With restaurants, housing, and places of business, the area surrounding AT&T Park is booming and that is what the owners of the Warriors want to happen, a stadium that will grow the area surrounding it.
So where does that leave us?
The Golden State Warriors have just bought the piece of land that will be used to build the arena. We can all assume construction will begin shortly. Now, a countdown to the end of Oracle Arena will have to begin.
I think it is worthy to note that the initial drawings of the new arena, although very modern and sleek, remind me very much of a toilet. Could this be a sign of things to come for this project? Maybe.
In spite of all my critiques of the new arena, I have to welcome the project with an open mind. The best team in the NBA will be moving into the one of the smallest cities in America. For the sake of everybody, I hope this turns out all right.
Julian O'Donnell is a staff writer for The Acalanes Blueprint in Lafayette, California. Find more of his work here.
Section925's Tripper Ortman caught up with members of the Campolindo Cougars at their 2015 State Championship Media Day. Campo is headed back to the title game looking to repeat as champs versus a favored La Mirada team from outside of Los Angeles.
OT Sterling Strother, assistant coach Matt Keeperman, RB/LB Jack Cassidy, head coach Kevin Macy, and DB Devin Regan all appear on the show. Campo vs. La Mirada will take place on Saturday night at 6pm at a southern California stadium to be determined.
Brett Thomas welcomes in Saint Mary's radio broadcaster Alex Jensen for the first edition of "The Battery." Brett and Alex discuss the Dubs' streak, then delve into Saturday's SMC-CAL game and more.
Former CAL basketball player and coach Jon Wheeler returns to the show to offer his hoop insight. Wheeler shares stories about his days on the court with Sean Elliott, Reggie Miller and Steve Kerr. JW also previews Saturday's St. Mary's at California game in Berkeley.
First time host Jason Chiang dials up Dubs season ticket holder Brendan Wright to discuss Golden State's historic start.
Evan Raskin re-joins Connor for a Small Batch Podcast on the College Football Playoffs. Raskin gives us his snap take on the four teams involved and shares how he sees the New Year's Eve bowl games shaking out:
Steph Curry poured in 40 points in the Warriors' 20th consecutive win on Wednesday night in Charlotte. (photo by Nell Redmond)
Former CAL basketball player and coach and current Section925 Insider Jon Wheeler comes inside the Hoop Cave to talk Dubs, Bears and Saint Mary's Gaels early season roundball.
Antioch junior Najee Harris will play his college ball at Alabama, but first he'd like a shot at De La Salle in the NCS Championship. (Doug Duran)
By Connor Buestad | Connor@Section925.com
Thanksgiving has arrived and with it comes copious amounts of food and football to consume over the next few days. Starting with your backyard game with Uncle Larry, to the Cam Newton Show in Dallas, to rivalry week in the college ranks, this long weekend is about as close as one gets to a pigskin paradise.
Fortunately for Bay Area football junkies, there will be more to talk about over your Turkey Day spread than the Raiders three game losing streak or CAL’s disappointing second half of the season in Berkeley. Instead, feel free to read below and get up to speed on the high school football scene. The North Coast Section playoffs are in full swing, with teams all over the area providing enticing final four matchups both tomorrow and Saturday at a field near you.
Oakland Section Playoffs -- Silver Bowl Championship No. 1 McClymonds (11-0) vs. No. 2 Fremont (6-5) 3pm Friday at Laney College
Well let’s call an audible from the jump here and discuss a game that is neither a final four tilt, nor an NCS game. Instead, it’s the Silver Bowl, which crowns the champion of the Oakland Athletic League. These OAL teams don’t participate in the traditional NCS bracket, but the winner will likely earn a spot in the state championship bracket that culminates at Sacramento State this year.
As one can imagine, the Silver Bowl has quite the rich history. A game that traditionally was played at the Oakland Coliseum saw the likes of Marshawn Lynch enjoy coming out parties in front of East Bay faithful. Today, some argue that OAL football has lost a step, and the Silver Bowl now is played in more humble digs at Laney College, north of the Coliseum.
Mack comes into this game riding an impressive five game Silver Bowl winning streak, so the safe money is certainly on the Warriors in this one. That said, Mack only beat Fremont 7-0 earlier this season, so an upset isn't out of the question.
McClymonds has been no stranger to controversy over the last two seasons. Last year, Danville native Kevin Davidson decided to commute to West Oakland to play for Mack, where he put up staggering numbers and earned a scholarship to UC Davis. It wasn’t long, however, that he was ruled ineligible due to zoning issues and had to return to San Ramon Valley for his senior season.
This year, Mack assistant coach De’Carlos Anderson was filmed on a team bus getting into a heated altercation with a player. Even still, head coach Michael Peters has guided his team to a perfect record in 2015 and they seem poised for their sixth Silver Bowl victory.
NCS Playoffs Division 1 Semifinal: No. 4 Pittsburgh (10-2) at No. 1 De La Salle (10-1) 7pm Friday in Concord
So now to the North Coast Section and who better to start with than De La Salle? The Spartans began the year ranked number 1 in the entire nation, only to lose their first game. Granted, it was on the road in Texas versus powerhouse Trinity, but De La certainly doesn’t accept any kind of losing. Young coach Justin Alumbaugh quickly circled the wagons and the Spartans easily reeled off 10 impressive wins in a row, including a 52-6 drubbing of Long Beach Poly, a team dripping with D1 and even NFL prospects.
On the other side of the ball is Pittsburg, a team all too accustomed to the top-to-bottom strength of De La Salle. This would be a monumental upset for Pitt to pull off, especially considering their losses to Monte Viste and Antioch already this year. If Pittsburgh expects to have a chance, running back Montaz Thompson and wideout Jordan Parker must have career days in Concord.
NCS Playoffs Division 1 Semifinal: No. 3 Foothill (11-0) at No. 2 Antioch (11-0) 7pm Saturday at Antioch HS
On the other side of the Division 1 bracket, we have a very enticing matchup of two 11-0 teams in Foothill and Antioch.
The player to watch in this one is Antioch’s junior running back Najee Harris, owner of 33 touchdowns already this year. Just like current Alabama Crimson Tide star Derrick Henry, the gifted Antioch running back also wears number 2 and lets dreads flow out the back of his helmet. At 6’2” – 222lbs, Harris is a can’t-miss back that seamlessly mixes speed and power. Surely, it would be a treat to see him face off with De La Salle’s heralded defense in the D1 NCS final.
NCS Playoffs Division 2 Semifinal: No. 3 Concord (8-4) at No. 2 Miramonte (11-1) 7pm Saturday in Orinda
Jack Schram’s Miramonte Matadors have put together an impressive 11-1 season, their only blemish coming to defending state champion Campolindo. Traditionally speaking, the Mats wouldn’t think twice about beating Concord, but this is not your father’s Minutemen. Concord has been red-hot as of late, with Harold Tidwell leading the way from the running back position. In three of their last four games, the Minutemen have managed to put up 50 points or more. It will be up to Miramonte’s Tim Tague (QB) and Clayton Stehr (RB) to keep the Concord offense off the field.
NCS Playoffs Division 2 Semifinal: No. 4 Granada (6-6) at No. 1 Clayton Valley Charter (10-1) 7pm Friday at Clayton Valley
The Clayton Valley Ugly Eagles lost in the State Championship game last year at the StubHub Center and are eager to get back. Their offense has been bit by the injury bug, but a strong defense should propel them past a six loss Granada team.
NCS Playoffs Division 3 Semifinal: No. 4 Bishop O’ Dowd (7-5) at No. 1 Campolindo (11-1) 7pm Friday in Moraga
Campolindo’s dramatic, come-from-behind victory in last year’s State Title game over El Capitan will go down as one of the best amateur football games in Bay Area history. Just ask 49ers veteran beat writer Matt Maiocco, who watched the heroics from the bowels of Levi’s Stadium.
Kevin Macy has a hungry team back for another championship run in 2015, their only loss coming on the road at Napa 21-14. Their next test will be the Dragons of O’ Dowd, the private school in Oakland more known for their basketball program as of late. Jacob Westphal leads the Campo offense under center, flanked by junior running backs Matt Ringquist and Nikki Moore. The Cougar defense is anchored by Jack Cassiday and Devin Regan. The winner of this one will meet either Analy (Sebastapol) or Rancho Cotate (Rohnert Park) in the NCS D3 final.
NCS Playoffs Division 4 Semifinal: No. 4 Moreau Catholic (11-1) at No. 1 Marin Catholic (10-1) 1pm Saturday in Kentfield
Even with the success of NFL prospect Jared Goff, the Wildcats of Marin Catholic are still keeping it old school and playing afternoon playoff games in Kentfield. Even without Friday night lights, Marin Catholic continues to churn out great quarterbacks. Their current QB is Darius Peterson, who unlike Goff, is just as comfortable running the ball as he is sitting in the pocket. Just like O’ Dowd, Moreau is more known for their basketball prowess, but running back Jullen Ison’s six TD’s in last weekend’s playoff game has the Mariners thinking ‘Ship. The winner of this one will face Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa) or Fortuna in the D4 Final.
(Make sure to follow @Section925 on twitter, instagram, facebook and snapchat for updates on big moments in Bay Area sports)
With their 111-77 rout of the Los Angeles Lakers, the Warriors became the first NBA team in history to begin a season 16-0. Relive the special night at Oracle with this photo essay. Photographers include Thearon W. Henderson, Doug Duran and Ray Chavez.
Jabari Bird is one of five Golden Bears averaging double figures (photo by Tony Avelar)
By Connor Buestad | Connor@Section925.com
In keeping with preseason hype and expectations, the 2015-2016 Golden Bears basketball team has not disappointed through the first four games. They’ve played a cupcake schedule thus far no doubt, but reassuringly, the Bears have yet to show any chinks in their armor en route to a flawless start in Berkeley.
Still yet to play on the road, Cuonzo Martin’s collection of youthful talent has breezed through the likes of Rice, Santa Barbara, East Carolina and Sam Houston State, none of which ever seemed to pose much of a threat. Martin’s starting five of Tyrone Wallace, Jordan Mathews, Jabari Bird, Ivan Rabb and Jaylen Brown have shared the ball beautifully thus far with each of the starters averaging double figures.
Wallace has led the Bears in scoring with 20-a-game, followed by future first rounder Brown. Wallace has racked up the assists as well, mostly due to the fact that weapons constantly seem to be open for the senior guard to pick and chose from.
Now with time under their belts to take off the training wheels, the ultra-competitive Martin is chomping at the bit to put his team up against some formidable competition. He’ll get to do so on Thanksgiving night at the Orleans Casino-Arena in Las Vegas versus San Diego State.
Thursday night’s Turkey Day special will air on Fox Sports 1, and pit upstart Coach Martin against 70-year-old Steve Fisher. Fisher has been at San Diego State for well over a decade now, but still is best known for his Fab-5 teams during his days in Ann Arbor. The Aztecs were picked to win the Mountain West a few weeks ago, but losses at Utah and at home to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR) have some wondering if Fisher is finally losing his edge. Regardless, Martin insists he’s seen SDSU play (see interview below) and expects them to be “physical, athletic, and long,” especially on defense. Malik Pope and his signature flat-top seems to be a sure-fire first round pick. Expect more than a few dunks in this one to accompany your pumpkin pie.
Assuming the Bears win on Thursday, CAL will match up with Bob “Huggy Bear” Huggins a day later in the two day tourney’s championship game (assuming WVU beats Richmond). A member of the very tough Big-12, the Mountaineers have nobody on their roster over 6’9." It’s safe to expect a run-and-gun affair in this one against the Bears’ equally small lineup, so take the over if you’re in Sin City giving thanks over the weekend.
“Press Virginia” as people like to call Huggy’s squad made it to the Sweet 16 last year, before bowing out to Kentucky. Devin Williams in an inside-outside threat, Jevon Carter is a pest on defense and Esa Ahmad was Ohio’s High School Player of the Year. Perhaps most importantly, Huggins will feel right at home screaming his head off on a Las Vegas sideline.
Expect the Bears to return to the East Bay with a 6-0 record, along with a Las Vegas trophy to add to the case. Enjoy Thanksgiving, but save some room for the Bears.
(Photo by Stephen Dunn)
Long time listener, first-time caller Evan Raskin makes his first appearance on the Bianca's Fresh Take Hotline to talk hoops with Connor. Raskin briefly discusses his days on Tobacco Road, hypes the 12-0 Warriors, bashes Doc Rivers and tells us what to look for around the NBA.
J Torchio (#11) beat John Elway in the 1980 Big Game.John Tuggle (#31) was the subject of ESPN's 30for30 "The Irrelevant Giant." (photo courtesy of Steve Oldenbourg)
Big Game Pod! Former Cal QB J Torchio and Stanford LB Chris Hawkins join @Tripperino inside the Podcenter for a point-counterpoint on the 2015 Big Game and reflections on their favorite Big Game memories.
No. 14 CAL's season opener is Friday night vs. the Rice Owls. (Photo by John Polzer of calbears.com)
By Connor Buestad | Connor@Section925.com
Let’s start with some perspective: In the modern era of college basketball, we’ll say after 1960, CAL basketball has appeared in the Sweet 16 just twice. Not once have they marched their way into the Elite Eight. 55 years later, the CAL basketball program is being described around the nation as a shoo-in to make the Round of 16, with realistic expectations of a Final Four run. Loaded with a starting lineup consisting of three potential NBA first rounders, a coach with a proven thirst for winning, and a fan base overdue for success, the vibe has never been better along Bancroft Way.
In his first year at the helm in Berkeley, head coach Cuonzo Martin led a relatively young group of Bears to a 7-11 mark in PAC-12 play. With the return of Jordan Mathews and Jabari Bird, Coach Martin figured to have a solid core to work around for the 2015-16 campaign. Get one year bigger and stronger, sprinkle in some talented freshmen and go at it in year two. That’s the narrative most Old Blues expected to unfold. What happened next, no one could have predicted.
First, Tyrone Wallace announced he would be returning for his senior year. How Cuonzo convinced Mr. Wallace to stay is anyone’s guess. The 6’5” point guard has been described by NBA scouts as someone ready for the League. He averaged over 17 points last year in a tough PAC-12. Most expected him to move on to greener pastures, but Cuonzo convinced him otherwise. The first domino had fallen.
With senior facilitator Wallace committed for one more year, Cuonzo set off into the deep dark waters of big time college basketball recruiting in search of the biggest fish he could find. His SEC roots led him first to Georgia, where he fell in love with All-Everything Jaylen Brown. A top-five blue chip recruit destined for the NBA. A player the likes of Coach K and Calipari and Izzo all salivate over. The type of player that doesn’t move to Berkeley to play amateur basketball for a year. Cuonzo still went after him.
Yet no matter how thick of a sales pitch Coach Martin had up his sleeve, he would need one more piece of bait to reel in a player of his stature. Namely a top-10 national recruit that could help clean the glass, distract the defense and catch lobs for 40 minutes a night. That’s where Ivan Rabb came in.
At 6’11” and skilled, Rabb too had options of his own. Virtually any school in the country was clamoring for his services, namely the Arizona Wildcats. Young Ivan was still undecided when he took the floor of the California State Championship Game vs. So-Cal power Mater Dei. Conveniently, the Saturday night game was played inside Haas Pavilion, in front of a loud, passionate crowd not only rooting for a Bishop O’ Dowd win, but to “Beat L.A.” Rabb clearly enjoyed the atmosphere, winning the game in the final seconds with a clutch free-throw and bringing his Oakland high school their first state title in 34 years. As students and fans rushed the floor to celebrate the triumph, you could almost see Ivan thinking, “Hey, I could really get used to this whole scene.”
Days later, Rabb signed on to be a Bear, spurning Arizona in the eleventh hour. Now with his first big fish in the ice chest, Cuonzo got greedy and went looking for more. If the best player in the nation in Ben Simmons signed with LSU, maybe Cuonzo could convince Jaylen Brown to come to CAL.
When Cuonzo Martin speaks, people listen. (Photo by John Polzer)
How Cuonzo really convinced Brown to pick CAL is tough to tell. Some point to the fact that Cuonzo had a relationship with him during his days at Tennessee. Others claim that Shareef Abdur-Rahim, a graduate of Brown's Georgia high school, played a major role. What we do know, is that Brown took an unexpected unofficial visit to Berkeley (Brown had to pay) and took a look around the Bay Area and sat down with Coach Martin. Kentucky, North Carolina and Michigan all bent over backward for the ultra-athletic swingman. But, out of nowhere, Jaylen Brown announced he would be taking his talents to Berkeley.
Suddenly, CAL boasted a starting five with three McDonald’s All-Americans (Brown, Rabb, and Bird), as well as two future pros (Wallace and Mathews). After the dust settled from Martin’s unprecedented recruiting haul, Martin said simply, “You work hard, do your job to the best of your ability and it goes back to building relationships over time. Then sometimes you’re blessed with a gift.”
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If looking at the history of CAL basketball tells us anything, it’s that talent matters a whole lot. Certainly, having phenomenal coaches like Lou Campanelli and Mike Montgomery is a blessing and a backbone for any basketball program. But, as most coaches will tell you, it’s the players on the floor that makes the most impact. When Todd Bozeman led the Bears past Duke into the Sweet 16 in 1993, he was only 29-years-old. Surely, Jason Kidd and Lamond Murray were running that show. In ‘97, the last time CAL made the Sweet 16, Ben Braun was in just his first year at CAL. Safe to say Ed Gray, Tony Gonzalez, Alfred Grigsby and Randy Duck were mainly responsible for that run. As these coaches logged more experience in Berkeley, they didn’t necessarily have more success. Talent was the not-so-secret sauce.
Cuonzo Martin seems to understand this trend, judging by the way he’s pursued the best talent in the country to set up his program for success. It also doesn’t hurt that CAL’s second year head coach was a star player himself at Purdue alongside Big Dog Glenn Robinson. Neither does it hurt that he learned to coach under Gene Keady, played in the NBA, beat cancer, and navigated the mean streets of East Saint Louis as a youth. As a head coach, Cuonzo has taken struggling programs in Missouri State and Tennessee and put them back on solid ground. He’s already done exactly that during his short stint in Berkeley.
The new-look Bears will officially take the floor for the first time together this Friday night at home versus Rice. Ranked 14th in the nation, most hoop pundits foresee a second place finish in the PAC-12 for the Bears behind mainstay Arizona. The main question marks surrounding CAL are whether they will be able to share the ball and defend consistently. Critics also wonder how accurate Jaylen Brown will shoot and how strong Ivan Rabb will be in the paint.
Most of these questions will be answered during CAL’s non-conference schedule starting this weekend. This Monday the Bears will host UC Santa Barbara of the Big West and over Thanksgiving they will square off with San Diego State former Fab-Five head coach Steve Fisher. Most likely, CAL will meet Bob Huggins and West Virginia on day two of their Las Vegas’ T-Day tourney. Other notable non-conference games include a mid-December home game vs. St. Mary’s of Moraga, an ESPN televised roadie at Virginia, and a post Christmas game against Steph Curry’s alma mater Davidson.
Barring a disaster, CAL will be firmly in the mix when Selection Sunday rolls around in March. If all goes according to plan, the Bears will own a favorable seed heading into the Big Dance, with plenty of late-night SportsCenter highlights already under their belt. As every CAL fan can attest, what will happen in postseason play is tough to tell. God knows Bears supporters have endured their share of heartbreaking seasons (the 2015 Bears Football recent four game skid comes to mind). But will the talent Cuonzo Martin has assembled in Berkeley (he even added Steve Kerr’s son for good measure), the sky really is the limit in Berkeley.
"For the love of elevation." Jaylen Brown will wear #0 in Berkeley.
Peter Vogt, Director of "The Play" movie and Steve Dunn, #3 on the field during The Play, come into the Section925 Podcenter to reminisce about The Play and the making of the film. Go to theplaymovie.com for tickets, to download a copy, or order a DVD.
(Special thanks to Executive Producer Dagmar Ortman for making the podcast possible.)
A legendary play that has become part of the lore of college football celebrates its 25th anniversary! Go Bears!!! Visit http://CalBears.com for tickets and information
"Air Iggy" (Photo by Ezra Shaw)
By Michael S. Rampa
The Warriors improved their record to 8-0 after defeating the Detroit Pistons 109-95 on Monday night at The Oracle. That makes it 23 straight regular season W's for the Warriors in Oakland dating back to last year. No other team in Golden State history has started a season this hot since they moved to the Bay Area in 1962. Michael Jordan's record season of 72-10 is still in play. Hell, 82-0 should still be considered a possibility so long as Steph Curry is in the lineup every night. The Warriors are stupid good.
Through the first eight games, this might be the most unselfish Warriors team I've ever watched. They lead the league in scoring, averaging just an eyelash under 115 points per game and their assists per game is sitting north of 26 per. They move the ball so beautifully and players routinely pass up a good look at the rim to get a teammate a better shot. It's truly the way basketball was meant to be played.
The Dubs are always laughing, slapping hands and the bench goes crazy when Curry hits a big three or Iguodala slams down a dunk with authority. These Warriors set picks and screens for each other. They are willing to step in the lane and take a hit from a 6’10" power forward barreling down on them to force a charge. Everywhere you look, up and down the lineup, every player seems to be fully invested. Winning is their bottom line and it’s all they seem to care about.
I realize team chemistry alone will not win you championships, not to mention back-to-back titles. You have to have the talent to go with it. Steph Curry, the reigning MVP and the team's clear alpha dog, is the fourth highest paid player on the team this year. The fourth! He could have walked into Joe Lacob’s office before training camp and demand he rip up his current contract.
Of course, he didn’t do that. Not Steph's style. He is a team first guy and realizes he needs good players around him to add to his championship résumé. Steph knows he will get his monster contract soon enough and we all are aware that he could score 50 points almost every night if he wanted to. But is that what’s best for the team? Not according to Curry. An assist is just as important to him and he loves getting his teammates the ball with a nifty pass to excite the Roaracle crowd.
Surely, the road through the Western Conference will be tougher than ever this year. The Clippers are better than last year, as is San Antonio, and Houston will be right there again down the stretch. Oklahoma City has Kevin Durant back, so that instantly makes them a force again as well in the West.
As it stands, the Warriors are clearly the best team in the NBA. They are firing on all cylinders through these first eight games and doing it without their head coach, Steve Kerr. Fortunately, Luke Walton has done a nice job running the team in his absence. Similar to when a CEO goes on a safari and someone under him or her is left in charge of the company. They simply need to read the “how to manual,” follow the CEO’s orders and don’t change anything while they are away. Walton has taken over the reigns beautifully, and there is no reason to believe he can't keep it up. Clearly, the players respond well to his style.
If the next 74 games are as entertaining as the first eight, then Dubs fans are in for a wild ride. Somehow, Steve Kerr's back injury has done nothing more than speed this team up, rather than slow them down. Tomorrow they'll walk into Memphis 8-0. The smart money says they'll fly out unblemished. Perhaps the haters should have held their tongue. The Dubs are rolling.
(Photo by Jeff Ragasa)
KTVU Weatherdude Bill Martin joins Baseball Insider Jon Zuber at Venture Quality Goods to talk Baseball, Beer, Barometric Pressure, and how El Niño will impact your 2015-16 ski season.
(Photo by Jeff Ragasa)
KTVU Weatherdude Bill Martin joins Baseball Insider Jon Zuber at Venture Quality Goods to talk Baseball, Beer, Barometric Pressure, and how El Niño will impact your 2015-16 ski season.
KTVU Weatherdude Bill Martin joins Baseball Insider Jon Zuber at Venture Quality Goods to talk Baseball, Beer, Barometric Pressure, and how El Niño will impact your 2015-16 ski season.
39 years young, Charles Woodson continues to be a force in the Raiders' secondary (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson)
By Merlin Edwards III I @Trey_Me
When the Oakland Raiders travel to Pittsburgh this weekend to face the Steelers, they no doubt have a tough task ahead of them. Playing on the road in the Steel City is never an easy task, regardless the year.
The upstart Raiders head into the game at 4-3, good enough for a Wild Card spot if the playoffs started today. This is the first time in quite a while when a Raiders-Steelers game has held any kind of significance in November. The Steelers are still hanging onto playoff hopes despite having key injuries to major players on their team. First Ben Roethlisberger went down, followed by Le'Veon Bell who was lost for the season. Unfortunately for the Raiders, however, they still have one of the best receivers on the planet in Antonio Brown. Not to mention the fact that Big Ben is back in the fold, showing signs of the high passing production he's known for.
In order for the Raiders to win this game, Oakland's defense must do a couple of different things to slow this Steelers offense down:
• The secondary cannot give up big plays to Antonio Brown or any of their other deep threats. They need to keep from being leaky in the pass game by playing man coverage with help over the top, by the safeties. Trust your front seven to get pressure on the QB and man up on 80% of plays, just like in the Chargers game. The Steelers have a deep receiving corps, but trust the DB's to hold their own as they have done in recent weeks. Short passes are okay here and there, but never the deep balls, because they will be attempted often by Big Ben.
• Stop the Tight End! One of the only things the Raiders defense has been really bad at this year is slowing down the TE. Almost every opposing team has had a touchdown or a big yardage day by their slot receiver or Tight End. Oakland needs to use that platoon system with the linebackers and find a way to stop Heath Miller.
• The Defensive line has to continue its dominance up front. With DeAngelo Williams starting for the injured Bell, the Raiders have to stay stout and keep the running game from getting going. In the few games that Williams started, he played very well, but that cannot continue. Without slowing the run game down, Big Ben will carve up this secondary and it will be on the offense to score a ton of points to keep up.
• Kahlil Mack and Aldon Smith need to each have a sack. If both guys can get to Big Ben at least once, that will mean the defensive line will have a good day as a whole. There are seemingly always a couple different guys who get pressure because of different blitz packages, so if Mack and Smith can get there as well, it bodes well for the front seven.
• Tackles need to be finished every time. If any of the playmakers on the Steelers get in the open field and start breaking tackles, it will not be good news. Not only would that give up huge plays to Brown who has incredible breakaway ability, but the Steelers only need two or three of those per game to eek out wins. Pittsburgh is a good team and little fundamental mistakes like missing tackles will be exploited.
It may seem like a tall task to ask the Raiders to be successful in every one of those aspects, but if they can get close to playing a complete game on defense, this can be another blowout in favor of Oakland. The Steelers have enough weapons to get first downs and chew the clock, but if the Raiders hold them to field goals and limit touchdowns, the offense may be able to outscore Pittsburgh's.
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Looking at the offensive side of the ball, Derek Carr is playing at an elite level, and the weapons at his disposal are close behind him. The steelers have been pretty good at generating turnovers this season, but with the way Carr is playing, they will be lucky to get one. Here are a couple keys for the raiders offense:
• The Offensive Line needs to keep Derek Carr clean. It was surprising when the Jets top 5 defensive line could not sack DC last week. The Pittsburgh D-Line is not as good, but Coach Mike Tomlin loves to run a lot of exotic blitzes. Unlike previous years, the Steelers secondary does not have a ton of sacks, but they blitz more than 3 or 4 a lot on passing downs. Center, Rodney Hudson, needs to keep up his Pro Bowl season and lead this line to another great day.
• The backfield as a whole needs to have another big game. This is not the big bad Pittsburgh Steel Curtain defense of yonder. They still have some nasty guys up front, but they have shown that they can be moved around a bit. Hopefully, Latavius Murray can have a good game, but if not, Taiwan Jones and Marcell Reece need to have a chance to get out of the backfield and get the ball in space. The lightning speed of Jones along with the size and quickness of Reece can really cause problems in the open field.
• Amari Cooper needs to have a huge game. This is one of the first times that he is not going to be facing a top 10 cover cornerback this season. Even the least talented teams that Oakland has played have had a really good DB. (Joe Haden on the Browns and Jimmy Smith on the Ravens). Antwon Blake and William Gay are decent players but Amari can absolutely torch both of them. Look for some deep routes in the first couple series from AC/DC.
• Whether the Raiders are up big, down big, or in a close game, they need to finish strong. The last two weeks they have been fortunate to be ahead by a couple scores and thus went into prevent-defense mode. It did not work either time, and the games were closer in the end than they should have been. The offense needs to put these games away in those situations. The Raiders must use their O-Line and get first downs by running the ball and throwing short completions to run the clock out. The only way opposing teams can get back in games is if they have the ability to get the ball back to their offense.
The offense has the potential to do all of those things, and there is a good chance they will win if they do. If they can play their game on offense, it might not matter how much the Steelers can score. Big Ben seems to still be feeling his injury a little bit, and the Raiders can exploit that as well. The defense needs to be able to hold its own but if it comes down to a shootout in the high 30's, Oakland can still win the game. There are more holes on the defensive side for the Raiders, but the offense may show that it is good enough to pull out a big win on the road.
Prediction: 24-21 Raiders. Oakland gets a win on a Janikowski field goal.
Jed being Jed.
By Devin Wright | @TheRealReno
It took eight weeks into the Niners' season for it to finally all come crumbling down. All the hard work, all the joy, all the excitement that the franchise built starting in 2011. It all just got flushed down the toilet.
On Monday, the Niners traded Vernon Davis, and somehow decided that Blaine Gabbert would be better than starting Colin Kaepernick. An unreal turn of events made real by the weak leadership of Jed York, and the poor work done by Trent Baalke (look at these draft classes starting in 2011.) Baalke is generally given credit for 2010, but that draft was laid out by Scot McCloughan... before he was released for hitting the bottle too hard.
So with that, I'd like to take a moment to unpack some of this. I'd like to take a look back to see where all this went so terribly wrong.
2014-15 Season - The Unraveling
The Niners had just come off a heartbreaking loss to Seattle in the NFC championship game. It was their third trip in three seasons under Jim Harbaugh, losing two and winning one before losing the Super Bowl to Baltimore. About a month before the season, a report came out that the the Niners actually tried to trade their head coach to Cleveland for some draft picks. That was then denied by the front office, but confirmed by Cleveland's (remember this as we go on). Then reports started coming out from Trent Dilfer, Dion Sanders, and Jay Glazer that Harbaugh has been losing the locker room. That the players were unhappy with him because he was grinding them too hard in practice.
As the season progressed, we slowly kept hearing negative things leaked about Harbaugh. That he let the players dress in different locker rooms, that he didn't care about the new stadium. That he and Baalke no longer were on speaking terms, that he pulled the players off of the Levi's field during practice to embarrass the owners. The list of stories just kept growing.
After an 8-8 season, Jed York and Trent Baalke told the media that they have had a mutual parting of ways with the winningest coach they have had under the York ownership. In the words of right guard Alex Boone, "He (Harbaugh) does a great job of giving you that spark, that initial boom," Boone said, via NBC Sports. "But after a while, you just want to kick his ass. He just keeps pushing you, and you're like, 'Dude, we got over the mountain. Stop. Let go.' He kind of wore out his welcome."
Falling short in the Super Bowl shouldn't equate to getting over the mountain. But Boone serves as a voice for the front office, so it makes sense that he would say something that reflects how the owners feel.
2015 Offseason - "A Mutual Parting"
In an interview with KNBR, York bumbled his way through questioning and stood by this "mutual parting of ways" narrative. He pounded his chest and said that the Niners needed to win Super Bowls, win with class, and that he could be held accountable for all of this.
My take on this is that Jed really thought they were a Super Bowl winning team and by saying "I should be held responsible," it meant that when the Niners eventually won the Super Bowl, he will be the one responsible for it. I don't think he realized the backlash that would come from it should the team falter. It's a perfect representation of someone who does not think ahead, or consider every scenario when thinking through a decision.
Once a symbol of San Francisco's bright future, Colin Kaepernick has now been benched in favor of Blaine Gabbert. (Photo by Michael B. Thomas)
They started a coaching search that was a mess from the get-go, with endless signs that they had no apparent plan in place to hire a quality replacement. They told Fangio he was out, let Roman go to Buffalo, the told Adam Gaase that if he was hired he needed to hire Jim Tomasula as his DC, to which Gaase polity said, "I don't even get to hire my own staff, who are you guys? I'll pass."
So the Niners ended up promoting Tomasula to HC, Eric Mangini to DC, and Geep Chryst to OC. Read that again and try not to laugh. For me, this was the proof of what I mentioned above. The leadership had, and continues to have, no vision or remote idea of what their plan was and is.
The veteran players like Justin Smith, Frank Gore, and Patrick Willis all took a look around and decided they would be better off elsewhere, or even retiring. Chris Borland and Anthony Davis decided taking a break from football/not getting paid, would be better than playing for this staff. Hell, Michael Crabtree was offered more money by the Niners and he still decided to move across The Bay to play second fiddle to Amari Cooper and catch passes from a 2nd year QB instead of playing for York, Baalke, and their lap dogs.
Rumor is, at an owner's meeting, Jed York began telling people that he thought this team would go 11-5. He even made a comparison to the firing of Warriors coach Mark Jackson, and the hiring of Steve Kerr. I guess when you build a stale stadium 60 miles south of the team’s city, you really get on the high horse.
This Season - The Nosedive
It only took three games into the season for the owners to realize how wrong they had it. The offense looked terrible in losses to Pittsburgh and Arizona. The defense was being thrown on like it was a passing league tournament at DVC, and Kap's regressing was so bad that the coaches even admitted they could not trust him to throw in 3rd and long situations.
(Side note: competent coaching would be not telling the whole league that you don't trust your QB in certain situations. It kinda makes it easy to game plan for.)
Fans, and writers began asking where York and Baalke were in all this. Did they have anything to say publicly? Of course they didn't. Instead, they pulled their finger off the dam, and started again with the leaks. First by telling Jay Glazer that Kap was too isolated and losing the locker room (sound familiar?) Reports of a locker room fight between Vernon Davis and Joe Staley soon came out. And who had to answer of all these stories? Poor Jim Tomasula, a guy who could barely utter a complete sentence at his first press conference. He compared the fight to being at an Italian dinner, and that in the end, everyone kisses and makes up. You just shake your head when the coach compares his team to a family squabbling over chicken parm.
Now eight weeks into a terrible season we all could see coming, the Niners have dealt the corpse of Vernon Davis to Denver, and finally decided that Kap's career in SF is done. On Sunday against the Falcons, the Niners will roll out Blaine Gabbert, who will hand the ball to Kendall Gaskins, throw to Vance McDonald, and be protected by Erik Pears, Marcus Martin, and Jordan Devey. Oh boy.
Fans have already started looking to the future. Talk about trading Joe Staley, drafting Jared Goff, and starting the rebuild process has quietly begun. But think about that future with what is currently in place. The coaching staff is inept, meaning good young players will not develop. And how could anyone trust Baalke with making good picks in the draft anyway?
Arguably the best pick he has made has just been benched for Blaine Gabbert. The best player he has drafted that currently is a starter might be a fullback. And with Jed York believing that leadership is collecting Levi Stadium cash, hiding in the shadows, and leaking unflattering stories about players and coaching staffs, I just don't see how anyone could have faith in the future.
The Niners are waiving the white flag. But this isn't waiving a white flag for the season, this is a white flag for the franchise under Jed York and Trent Baalke.
For Jim Tomsula, 2015 has been a season spent searching for answers. (Photo by Christian Petersen)
