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Basketball: Syracuse game thread
By Jeff Faraudo
Thursday, November 19th, 2009 at 4:04 pm in Basketball, Gameday.
FINAL SCORE: Syracuse 95, Cal 73. Yes, we had more wireless problems here at the Garden, then I had to sprint off to do post-game interviews and write my story for the print edition. So again, sorry if it seemed like I suddenly dropped off the face of the earth.
A few post-game notes of importance:
– Mike Montgomery said there is no definitive diagnosis of Theo Robertson’s right foot injury, and that he expected on Wednesday that Theo would play. Then the pain became worse, even after Robertson did not practice Wednesday, so they pulled the plug. He wore a protective boot and will not play in Friday’s third-place game.
– Jerome Randle scored 25 points and was 5-for-9 from 3-point range. The rest of the team was 1-for-11 from beyond the arc, including 0-for-7 by Patrick Christopher, whom Monty defended, saying the Bears didn’t allow him to find any offensive rhythm. Christopher wound up with 12 points, six of them in the final 5 minutes, long afer the outcome was settled.
– Monty acknowledged that the two things he worried about most — Syracuse’s zone defense and its size — were the biggest factors in the game. But he was unhappy that 15 turnovers leading to 19 Syracuse points also contributed to the loss, and noted that the Bears became disorganized defensively at times.
– A couple other stats: Syracuse blocked nine shots, discouraging the Bears inside and forcing them to rely on perimeter shooting. The Orange bench outscored Cal’s reserves 41-12. Syracuse won easily despite missing nine free throws in the first half.
– Randle and Jamal Boykin, who had 14 points and eight rebounds, both said the Bears are happy they have a game Friday, so they can leave this one behind.
12:30 2nd H: Cal has scored seven straight, including a 3-pointer by Randle, but Syracuse stil leads 64-48. Even so, Jim Boeheim called a timeout to settle his team. Randle has 21 points. Sanders-Frison is on the bench with four fouls, the third straight game he’s picked up four.
15:53 2nd H: We’re having some technical difficulties here at the Garden, so my apologies. Cal got within 44-35 early in the second half when Zhang blocked a shot, leading to a fastbreak layup by Randle. But Syracuse has opened things up and leads 59-41. Randle has 18 points for the Bears; not many other bright spots.
HALFTIME: Syracuse leads 44-33, despite missing nine free throws. So, clearly, it could have been much worse. Cal had 10 turnovers and Syracuse blocked six shots. Points in the paint: 20-10 for Syracuse. Randle had 14 points at halftime and shot 4-for-8. The rest of the team had 19 points and shot 9-for-28. Zhang started the second half.
0:31 1st H: The Bears called timeout and will try to take the last shot, trailing 44-33. A 3-pointer by Randle got them within 41-33, but Scoop Jardin just hit one for the Orange, who lead 44-33. Zhang has contributed in recent minutes, tipping in a miss by Randle and feeding Boykin for a layup.
3:55 1st H: Randle has 11 points, but no one else is providing the Bears any consistent offense, and Cal cannot stop the Orange. It’s 37-26, and Sanders-Frison is on the bench with three fouls. Boykin and Gutierrez each have two. Monty has few options at this point.
7:52 1st H: This is becoming a rout. Syracuse leads 30-16. The Orange is bigger, quicker, more aggressive and has Cal on its heels. Randle and Christopher came out of the game for the first time with 8 1/2 minutes left, and the Bears have turned the ball over on both possessions since. The Bears are relying on 3-point shots, not because the Syracuse defense is allowing them, but because Cal is getting its inside shots swatted. Randle and Christopher are back. And so is Boykin, even with two fouls.
11:42 1st H: The Orange leads 21-14. Syracuse’s size is giving Cal fits, but the Orange also is shooting it well from the perimeter. Max Zhang and D.J. Seeley are in the game. Seeley hit a 3-pointer to get the Bears within 18-14, but Brandon Triche answered with one of his own for the Orange.
15:59 1ST H: Syracuse leads 9-7 and the Bears already are in foul trouble. Jamal Boykin went to the bench after his second with 17:58 left.
STARTING LINEUPS: As expected, Cal will go with sophomore Jorge Gutierrez as its replacement for Theo Robertson (foot) in the starting five. The rest is the regular group: Markhuri Sanders-Frison, Jamal Boykin, Patrick Christopher and Jerome Randle. Syracuse will start Arinze Onuaku, Rick Jackson, Wes Johnson, Andy Rautins and Brandon Triche.
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November 19th, 2009 at 4:08 pm
Stupid espn2! Who cares about this Indiana game??? It’s over. Hope they delay the start or at least do a split screen.
November 19th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
Ok. Delayed tip. Not bad. Go bears!!
November 19th, 2009 at 4:22 pm
Shell shocked. This syracse team is a joke. Flopping all over. A team with discipline wins this one east. Way too many mistakes.
November 19th, 2009 at 4:31 pm
Every call going against us. That last charge was a block. Tralee joke. Just walk off the court bears I wish a coach would have the balls to do it. This game is tough enough. These officials are not going to let cal have a chance. Bob knight is a horses patoot.
November 19th, 2009 at 4:39 pm
This is a joke. We are way overrated. Syracuse isn’t playing that well. Seely and amoke and xang are complete disasters. We will be lucky to make the tournament. This is a women’s team. Randle is his usual spaz firing up 40 footers. Monty should be ashamed. This is garbage.
November 19th, 2009 at 4:50 pm
Yikes, Rollonubears,
Tough being you. Writing off the season already when we are playing without two starters, against a bigger team while in the third game.
November 19th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
Yes. Had to vent a bit. Once again we blow the last possession of the half. I talked about this before. Every time…we call. Time out. Set up a play. Blow it. And then give back the ball. Every time!! What the hell is wrong with these guys??? This is a joke. As is steve lavin and bob night. Proud of xang. He bounced back. Go bears.
November 19th, 2009 at 5:25 pm
This is a disaster.
November 19th, 2009 at 5:34 pm
Sorry folks. But if one player makes this big a difference for the bears, we are in deep trouble. Frison plays like a 7th grader. Waited all week for this crap. Disgusting.
November 19th, 2009 at 6:55 pm
Rollonubears you need to relax. First off Syracuse played a great game. That was the best most aggressive zone defense college hoops we’ll see all year. One player doesn’t make that much of a difference but it just brings a different flow to the team. Missing Kamp really hurts he is a guy that will do the dirty work. Cal had no zone offense. You shoot your way out of a zone. Cal didn’t knock down shots. If they knock down shots Cuse comes out of the zone and it might be a different looking game. Big dude Xang?? he is soft but will gain experience, remember he got no tick last year. They were obviously star struck by the lights of the garden but in no way shape or form do you write the year off. You don’t make the tournament, win your confrence, or reach your peak as a team in NOVEMBER. Calm down. Go Bears!!
November 19th, 2009 at 6:55 pm
I’m with Rollonubears, this is horrible to watch. Could they be any flatter?
If Bob Knight had just a hair less energy he’d be in a box. Mr Monotone
November 19th, 2009 at 7:31 pm
With a healthy Theo AND Harper Kamp this game would have been very competitive and I do think those two players make at least a twenty point or so difference for the Bears. Theo is the leader of the senior leaders and Harper is the smart interior player with GREAT passing skills needed to beat a good zone. How many Theo threes were off of Harper passes last year against zones? More than a few I bet. Cal with sorely miss these players each game they are on the sidelines. Get healthy Golden Bears!! Your fans are hungry for more of what we glimpsed last year: cohesive, coherent, exciting, winning basketball. Go Bears!! Beat stanfurd!!
November 19th, 2009 at 8:20 pm
I agree Blake. With both guys back we have a better chance. But being competitive against a team like Syracuse means we are maybe a top 25 team but the #12 thing is a joke. We have no business being ranked so high and I worry they the Kansas game is goin to scar these kids for the season. They’re just not that good. Last year was a
front end loaded fluke. Once teams saw a little tape we were shut down for good. There is no intensity. These guys mistake intensity for physical contact and that leads to foul trouble. Monty has a pretty big mess on his hands. I anybody can turn these guys around though he can. go bears. Beat the nuts tomorrow.
November 19th, 2009 at 8:54 pm
THIS team is the same as last year’s. How could they all of the sudden become a top 15 group? We are still weak inside both offensively and defensively and unless 2 of the three outside shooters are on fire, we have very little offense. Christopher is a hot cold player that usually is cold. I doubt Theo would have made much of a difference. My man Knezevic looked good when I saw him.
November 19th, 2009 at 10:27 pm
One step at a time, folks. Rough game against a bigger team. Let’s use this as a learning experience for the Pac-10 season and take care of business there. Rankings don’t matter as much in basketball, anyway.
November 19th, 2009 at 10:33 pm
Man that was tough to watch…but I agree without Theo, just not the same team. The Big 3 – 1 = the Top 2. You can’t lose 14 points, the downtown threat and the synergy of three.
Also definitely need Kamp. Kamp in the high post makes things at least competitive. MFS has potential but he needs seasoning to keep his fouls down.
One positive side was Monty had to use a lot of the bench and the experience in a big venue is invaluable.
November 19th, 2009 at 11:22 pm
What was up with PC? He played so tentative in the first half and had a nightmare of a game overall. Haven’t looked at the final line but, at one point, he was 4-18!! To break down a zone, you have to dribble penetrate but he was regularly to scared to take a chance at dribble penetration.
November 20th, 2009 at 3:09 am
The Bears ran the correct zone offenses. 1-3-1 when ‘Cuse is in the 2-3 zone and 2-1-2 set up when hey extended in the 3-2 zone. Harper would have been the middle guy roaming the paint. When he gets the ball, the D collapses, and he can pass the ball to the open player because he is a good decision maker. Two shooters can be defended. If Theo is in there, we have a third shooter, much more difficult to defend, and we stretch the zone getting open looks. Then Pat would have gotten into the flow of the game and wouldn’t have to force things. Too many inexperienced players played too many minutes. When we are healthy we are a good basketball team. We were out manned tonight. Ohio St won’t be any easier, but I have faith in this squad when healthy.
November 20th, 2009 at 6:32 am
I thought we had more depth than we do I guess. I totally agree with kamp and theo we’re solid, but the chances of having all players healthy at all times are slim. We need some of these other guys to step up. Great experience for them but disappointing results. Man S
zhang has potential! Go bears.
November 20th, 2009 at 7:48 am
Yikes. Monty already defending Christopher about disappearing in big games. Not a good sign for success this season.