You can only play with one basketball. That’s why it’s clear that “Bird and co.” will take some shots away from Crabbe and, as a result, his average will probably go down. But, as I pointed out in a prior comment, Crabbe will only need about 10 points a game next year to set the total points record.

Two ways in which Crabbe could still be convinced to stay even if his scoring average is likely to go down next year:

1. Crabbe needs to talk to people in the know about what pro scouts are looking for. One category is how they play defense, which was discussed by a pro scout about Wallace’s play last night, mentioned in my prior comment.

2. It is critical for Monty to have a long discussion with Crabbe after this season is over, and maybe Crabbe’s advisers (if he has any) about how he will expect, and enforce, his team to play next year, and that he will not tolerate anyone playing much if they don’t play good team basketball. He should make it clear that this style of play will apply to Bird and that Bird will need to gradually increase his playing time as the season progresses, just like Wallace did this year.

Monty also needs to talk to Crabbe about how he needs to improve his game and that, if he does, he may even a higher draft level after next season than this one, even with a lower scoring average, and promise to make sure he will help Crabbe achieve that goal. Perhaps he could offer to immediately start working with Crabbe on a plan to do that.

Cal could be very, very special next year if Crabbe returns, though again we need at least one big forward to step up and fill Thurman’s shoes. I think a combination of Behrens (who showed some promise before he got hurt, but would have to improve a lot over the summer), and seven footer Rooks (especially later in the season) could fill that need.

But lets live in the now…
THIS. TEAM. IS. ROLLING!!! GO BEARS! BEATDOWN THE TOEJAMS!

I didn’t listen to most of the post-game show, but at the tail end of it a caller said that he spoke to a pro scout who said Wallace’s defense was phenomenal. The scout apparently didn’t talk about anyone else except for UCLA’s Shabazz, who he thought wasn’t that good. I was not all all impressed by him. Kind of a quirky player and certainly not a team player. Not nearly as good as USC’s one and done guard from a few years ago, who I think is now doing well in the NBA.

You are correct about Bird. He’s 6’6″, same as Crabbe. I need to check his play on YouTube. I read he’s a greyhound with a good outside shot. The weave Cal runs could be perfect for him.

Next year Cal could be great if Crabbe comes back, but only if Monty convinces the team to share the ball and SITS GUYS DOWN WHO DON’T CONFORM TO THAT STYLE OF PLAY. We will have a lot of good guards next year, if Crabbe returns and Kreklow is healthy, so that Monty will have the luxury of benching guys who don’t play team ball.

I’ve never seen Bird play, I don’t know the dynamics of how that will all work, but apparently his position is the same as Crabbe’s, sort SG/SF hybrid. That very well may play into Crabbe’s decision to stay/go.

But hey, we are getting ahead of ourselves…I just want to enjoy that game from last night. I had to watch the first half twice!

I agree with you about Klay Thompson, who I thought was a pretty amazing player the time I saw him play Cal at Haas. I think he’s a better shooter, overall, than Crabbe.

Crabbe has really improved his drive to the basket. When he gets open on that it is fairly automatic he will make the shot. Examples of that were shown last night on the new “weave” Cal has put in, which led to easy baskets for Crabbe when he drove to the basket.

Crabbe is also much stronger than last year and is a good rebounder. But I think he is a streak shooter and needs to be more consistent. My biggest concern about Crabbe is that he doesn’t seem to be a very good one-on-one player right now, which is more important in the NBA than in college. Right now he needs to be in position to shoot, or make a very simple move to get open (except when he drives to the basket), to get his shot. BTW, I wouldn’t want him to play one-on-one at Cal, as I believe in playing more team basketball, which he is now doing.

Hope he stays at Cal next year. He could easily shatter the school total scoring record, which probably would not be broken, if ever, for many years. Plus, he could play on a REALLY GOOD TEAM, especially if we get at least one new guy to play well up front. Playing on a really strong team in college means a lot to many players, though I don’t know if Crabbe is one of them. Haas could be really rockin’ next year if Crabbe comes back (except when they start the game at 6 p.m., which will postpone the rockin’ till the second half — see my comments about this above). If Cal starts off the year well, the place will likely sell out for all league games.

I think Crabbe may be on the verge to be a lottery pick, but I must admit that I don’t know how he stacks up against players in the rest of the country, as I really only watch Cal games and am getting addicted to them. He is playing very well now, but there were many games in which he wasn’t.

It’s too bad I’m committed to go to Hawaii to match my son play his college matches, as I might have flown to Las Vegas to watch the Bears there. Las Vegas is a great location because it will be very easy to get good seats to the games the day of the event (you never know when your team will be eliminated) and it is a fun location. I think the Pac-12 should have their tourney there every year for those reasons.

Re: that weave passing…is that going to continue? Other teams have to be seeing that on tape now, so are they going to mix it up? Also, I’m thinking we might see that zone against SC’s big men, they don’t have enough great outside shooters to overcome it. I’d vote for using at least part of the game.

This team plays so much better with an early lead than coming from behind.

The big men were incredibly active. Solomon and Kravish are both very skilled and athletic and when they play to their potential this team is special.

So many unselfish plays – 21 assists on 32 fgs in pretty good…

Looking fwd to the battle with $c on Sunday night…GO BEARS!!!

and yeah, it’s great to see him ballin’ out and finally acting like a team leader.

where do you think shabazz goes?

For awhile there it seemed like you and I – and coupla others – were the only one’s sticking up for this year’s team and Monty.

Agree about solo and kravish – something clicked for both of them. The beauty of college ball is watching young players figure “It” out, improve and mature.

Smitty, too. His 12 to 15 minutes of controlled pg play is critical. If he can’t keep giving crabbe, cobbs and wallace 5 minute rests, this team could/will burnout like last year’s team did in the home stretch.