BearTalk

When Portland blasted UCLA by 27 points last weekend at the 76 Classic in Anaheim, the reaction was shock.

Not to Cal coach Mike Montgomery. He says the experience of teams such as Portland is something even a more ”talented” but younger team cannot duplicate.

“There’s no question about that,” he said this week. “If you hav a good, solid mid-major program and can keep those kids for four years, and you’re coaching and teaching those kids, and they’re excited about it, they’re going to be really tough. A lot of these other people have freshmen, sophomores, and maybe they’re better in the long run. But in the short term, those teams that have kids for four years, they’re tough to beat. I’ve seen a lot more of that.”

Asked about the Pac-10′s spotty start, Montgomery acknowledged, “Some of the losses the league has had are surprising a little bit.”

But UCLA, he said, is held to an almost impossible standard. “That is a mantle they must bear. They’re not allowed to slip,” he said of the Bruins, who lost three times in Anaheim. “But they’ve had a lot of things go on with first-round draft picks leaving.”

No one has left Portland early for the NBA draft, and coach Eric Reveno — a Montgomery protege — is the beneficiary.

“I watched them play against Minnesota, gosh, they looked really good,” Monty said of the Pilots, who beat the Golden Gophers before losing to West Virginia in the 76 Classic title game. “You can see the influence Eric has had coaching those teams. It was just identical to the teams I used to have. He’s made adjustments, don’t get me wrong.

“But guys lining up to take charges, all that stuff . . . I was really proud of him. It was fun to watch them play. They’re excited and tough and you could see he’s definitely had an influence.”