Comments on: Basketball: Oregon State game thread

By: rollonubears

rollonubears — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 22:16:08 +0000

We’re 12th in SOS and have a 57 RPI. There’s no reason why we can’t make the NCAA Tourney if we keep playing well and win a game or two in the Pac10 tournament. Everyone thinks the Pac10 will only get 2 or 3 teams. I think we can be one of them, but I think 4 are going to go this year. We’ll see.

By: milo

milo — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 21:13:09 +0000

Really like how the kids are progressing and the team is gelling. I don’t think it’s a coincidence it happened after Franklin left. Franklin was taking the most shots per game and got major minutes. His departure simply opened the door for the other kids and they stepped up.

Can’t say enough about Monty. At the beginning of the season things looked slow and funky but like all his teams, steady progress was made without backsliding and then boom…things are clicking.

Given Cal’s performance against UCLA and UA on the road, Cal is in this. I think they can take both at home if they continue playing this way.

Go Bears!

By: rollonubears

rollonubears — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 20:42:15 +0000

monty gets his teams to play d like braun never could. that makes a huge difference. i totally agree about the extra pass as well. he’s also a brilliant strategist. he studies the opponent, he makes halftime adjustments, he gets better results out of lesser talent. i don’t understand why the best athletes don’t flock toward him. i can see the thing about cal being a tough school, and us missing out on a few guys, but monty said himself, cal opens up the recruiting door a little bit, as the standards aren’t at tough as the ‘furd. we really need a big man who wants a degree.

By: BlakeStreetBear

BlakeStreetBear — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 20:24:32 +0000

I expect the same results (to a degree) against oregon and asu. ua will be a stiffer challenge. What I don’t expect is any letup in intensity and desire from this team, not a bit.

GF musta really been a squeaky wheel cuz ever since he left, WOW! This team could easily be 6-1 and battling for the title again. I am hoping for (at least) 3rd place this year and a good NIT seed, but who woulda thunk it last month?

Also, for anyone that has read Bill Simmons’ “The Book of Basketball” you’ll know what I mean: this team, and all of Monty’s teams really, they understand the “secret”. The unselfish extra pass leading to the easy layup is a thing of beauty. Jorge was channeling Kidd last night!

By: H8sRed

H8sRed — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 19:42:09 +0000

Two important signs for the future from last night’s game: Solomon working hard underneath and then stepping out to nail a 3; and the Bears running the floor well, converting several fast break opportunities.

By: BlakeStreetBear

BlakeStreetBear — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 19:11:06 +0000

@Wisdom Cow: yes, Solomon definitely reminds me of a young Channing Frye. I think if Crabbe and him can stay together for at least 3 years (I see Crabbe leaving early, but how early?) and if they keep learning a ton from Monty then the sky is the limit. I also like what I see out of Murray in a limited role. He is a helluva athlete who will definitely improve under Monty. Great win, nice to see the end of the bench play, I didn’t know we had an end of the bench.

By: The Wisdom Cow

The Wisdom Cow — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 16:27:11 +0000

Solomon!

I have been upset that I have not seen many of the games this season, but got to view last night’s in HD. Solomon looked like the real deal, reminding me of the bigs I always envied AZ over (Frey, Woods, etc). His frame is nothing like I suspected from the reviews I had read from his signing. This is someone I’m going to enjoy watching grow into his game.

By: K1W

K1W — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 08:52:01 +0000

Wow… That was a “routine” win. Considering how tough Oregon State has been for the Bears recently, I was surprised. The Bears are playing great defense. Nice to see Jorge back to his “old self”; he was on fire, along with Harper.

BTW (off topic), the women’s Stanford @ Oregon game was on the channel, just before the Cal game got underway. I absolutely hate Oregon’s new court. It’s about the most distracting thing, ever! It’s worse than Boise State’s blue turf.

By: milo

milo — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 05:32:39 +0000

Wow, Furd lost to Oregon.

Nice game so far, Go Bears!

By: Stapes

Stapes — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 05:09:00 +0000

Montgomery had them ready for the 1-3-1 and forced OSU out of it. Good first half.