BearTalk

Here’s some of what we could find out about the Golden Bears this week at Madison Square Garden:

– What does Cal’s No. 13 national ranking mean?

If the Bears truly belongs to be ranked in the top-15 neighborhood, they should be at least competitive with anyone they might face in New York. This doesn’t mean they have to sweep two games to call the trip a success. Conceivably, the Bears could lose twice and still emerge looking like a good club. The point is, they need to play well against good teams to demonstate they are for real. A split certainly wouldn’t hurt their rep one bit.

– Can the Bears’ three senior perimeter players deliver in a high-octane setting?

The threesome of Jerome Randle, Patrick Christopher and Theo Robertson has combined to average 53.5 points through Cal’s first two games. Now they get the chance to do it in the Garden, not in familiar Haas Pavilion, and against superior athletes than they’ve seen so far. The Bears need their complementary guys to deliver, too, but Mike Montgomery makes no bones about it: If the Bears are going to play at a high level, their three best players are going to have to lead the way.

– Can new center Markhuri Sanders-Frison, at just a shade more than 6-foot-7, give Cal a viable man in the middle against the taller post players he will see this week?

The Bears are counting on MSF overcoming his vertical disadvantage with strength, attitude and smarts. He looks like a player with skills, but he must avoid foul trouble — he had eight fouls in 35 minutes in last week’s two wins — or a smallish Cal team will have to play even smaller.

– Montgomery is hoping one way the Bears are improved over a year ago is through better depth. But is that perceived depth real?

We know guard Jorge Gutierrez gives the Bears something different off the bench as a defensive game-changer. But forward Harper Kamp (knee) hasn’t yet played (and won’t this week), and no one else off the bench has had the chance to deliver against elite-level teams. At the very least, the Bears need forward Omondi Amoke and freshman point guard Brandon Smith to provide evidence they will be dependable in the big games.

SYRACUSE SCOUT: Known for their aggressive 2-3 zone defense, the Orange are averaging 87.5 ppg through two games. All five starters are averaging double-digit scoring and seven players are scoring at an 8.0 ppg clip or better . . . The team’s most recent trek into Madison Square Garden was for last season’s Big East tournament, where it won a memorable 127-117 six-overtime classic against Connecticut in the tournament quarterfinals. Andy Rautins, a returning guard, scored 20 points in the game . . .  Through two games, Syracuse has allowed opponents to shoot just 31.6 percent, including 21.6 percent from 3-point range. The Orange has forced 60 turnovers and blocked 20 shots . . .  One of Syracuse’s freshmen is 7-footer DaShonte Riley of Detroit, whom Cal recruited last year. Riley is averaging 2.5 ppg and 4.0 rpg off the the bench.

BOEHEIM SPEAKS: Here’s a sampling of what Boehim had to say on a Coaches vs. Cancer media teleconference this week.

– On what he knows about Cal: “I’ve seen Cal play a few times. I stay up late at night and watch West Coacst games. They’re a very, very impressive team, a veteran team. They have tremendous ballhandling, they’re a tremendous defensive team and a great offensive team.

– On whether Cal’s 3-point shooting ability poses a problem or plays into the hands of a team that uses an aggressive zone defense:  ”Any team that shoots well gives you trouble. It never plays into your hands. They’re a very good offensive team. They’ve got veteran guys that have been able to score, that have proven they can play offense.”

– His impressions of PG Jerome Randle: “He’s a tremendous player He can score, he can penetrate, he’s as good as anybody in the country. Their perimeter guys are tremendous — they can really shoot the ball and they can get by you.”

– On starting freshman Brandon Riche at point guard: “It’s a matter of feeling comfortable. Physically,  he’s certainly strong enough to play as a freshman. Having veteran guys around you really helps you, which Brandon does have.”

– On whether Madison Square Garden is almost a second home for his club: “We enjoy playing in New York. We’ve had some good games there, and have players that have had some success there. I dont’ know how much that helps us. Hopefully, we’ll be fairly comfortable coming down there to play.”

ETCETERA: This is the first meeting between Cal and Syracuse . . . Likewise, coaches Mike Montgomery and Jim Boeheim never have faced one another . . . Hall of Famer Boeheim is beginning his 34th season as head coach and has spent 40 years on the coaching staff of his alma mater . . . Cal is 4-2 all-time at Madison Square Garden . . . The Bears have a history against both North Carolina and Ohio State, who are playing in the later semifinal Thursday. Cal is 1-4 all-time vs. the Tar Heels and hold a 9-8 series lead over the Buckeyes . . . Jerome Randle is shooting 22-for-23 from the FT line so far this season . . . Wednesday was sophomore center Max Zhang’s 22nd birthday.

IN QUOTES: “He’s a little unorthodox. He has the ability to make shots at odd times, in odd situations, and he has tremendous range. Just when you don’t expect it, he jumps up and hits a long three. He has a lot of confidence.  He likes that responsibility and he’s made some big shots for us.” – Montgomery on Randle.

TIPOFF: 4 p.m. PST, Thursday at Madison Square Garden, New York.

TV: ESPN2.

RADIO: 1550-AM.

PROBABLE LINEUPS

CAL (2-0)
Starters                                 Ht   Yr   Pts   Rebs
PF Jamal Boykin                        6-8  Sr.   7.0  7.5
C  Markhuri Sanders-Frison       6-8  Jr.    6.0  6.5
SF Theo Robertson                   6-5  Sr.  18.0  4.0
SG Patrick Chrstopher              6-5  Sr.  15.5  3.5
PG Jerome Randle                  5-10  Sr.  20.0  3.5*

Key reserves
SG Jorge Gutierrez                  6-2  So.   5.5  2.5
F  Omondi Amoke                   6-7  So.   4.5  4.0
PG Brandon Smith                  5-11  Fr.   1.0  0.5*

SYRCUSE (2-0)
Starters                             Ht   Yr   Pts   Rebs
PF Rick Jackson                    6-9  Jr.   10.0   5.0
C  Arinze Onuaku                 6-9  Sr.  14.0   4.5
SF Wes Johnson                    6-7  Jr.   13.5  5.5
SG Andy Rautins                  6-4  Sr.   11.0  3.0
PG Brandon Riche                 6-4  Fr.  10.0  5.0*

Key reserves
PG Scoop Jardin                  6-2  So.    9.0  6.5*
SF Kris Joseph                     6-7  So.    8.0  4.5
SF Mookie Jones                   6-6  Fr.    5.5  3.5

* – Assists