BearTalk

Khalfani Muhammad, who will be a freshman running back for the Bears next fall, showed off the speed he will bring to Berkeley by winning four events Saturday at the CIF Southern Section championships.

Muhammad, who competes for Notre Dame HS in Sherman Oaks in Division 3, won the 100- and 200-meter dashes and anchored winning teams in the 4×100 and 4×400 relays.

Muhammad logged a wind-aided 100-meter time of 10.33 seconds. Although not eligible for record purposes, because of the 3.1-meters-per-second wind reading, the time was the fastest Muhammad has run under any circumstances.

It’s also faster than any California sprinter has clocked this season, according to the website www.dyestat.com.

Later, Muhammad won the 200 meters with a wind-legal time of 20.84, crossing six-tenths of a second ahead of the runnerup. That time is the third-fastest in the country this year.

Muhammad also anchored his team to victory in the 400 relay with a time of 41.27, and 1,600 relay to first place in 3:18.92.

Cal’s top-ranked men’s golf team completed its wire-to-wire victory at the NCAA Pullman Regional, winning a modern NCAA-record 11th tournament this season. Leading the way was junior Michael Weaver, who played the Masters earlier this spring and Saturday rallied to earn a share of medalist honors.

The Bears (265-276-280-821) finished 43 strokes under par and beat runnerup Texas Christian by 20 strokes at the Palouse Ridge Golf Club. Saint Mary’s was third, USC fourth.

Cal previously shared the NCAA record of 10 tournament titles with the 1985-86 Oklahoma State team.

“I’ve been doing this for 34 years and there’s never been a team that’s been close to this,” Cal coach Steve Desimone said about the record. “There are a lot of reasons for it but primarily it has happened because these guys have understood all along what was out there for us and they’ve worked so hard. They are the epitome of a team.”

As one of the top five finishing teams at the Regionals, Cal advances to the NCAA Championships, May 28 through June 2 at Alpharetta, Ga.

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Senior Jolene Henderson powered Cal to a 6-0 win over Valparaiso (35-27) on Saturday afternoon, keeping the Bears alive in the Ann Arbor Regional of the NCAA tournament.

Cal (38-18) plays Sunday against No. 7 Michigan (47-10), which beat the Bears 5-0 earlier in the day. The Bears must beat the Wolverines twice to win the Regional and advance to the Super Regional round next week.

Cal is 7-2 all-time vs. Michigan, but the Wolverines have won the past two meetings, including Saturday’s matchup.

Henderson struck out seven, walked no one and allowed just one baserunner (on an error) in her seven-inning gem. It was her fourth career no-hitter.

Victoria Jones drove in two runs for the Bears and Khala Taylor had three hits.

Cal lost 5-0 to host Michigan in a second-round winners-bracket game at the NCAA tournament Ann Arbor Regional on Saturday and will play at 2:30 p.m. PDT against either Central Michigan or Valparaiso.

The Bears (37-18) committed three errors and allowed the No. 7 Wolverines three unearned runs and now find themselves one defeat away from postseason elimination. Ashley Decker had two hits for Cal.

Lauren Sweet hit a pair of home runs for Michigan (47-10) and sophomore Sara Driesenga scattered five hits and struck out eight to win her 28th game of the season.

Ex-Cal guard Allen Crabbe, at the NBA pre-draft camp in Chicago this week, was measured at 6-foot-5 1/4 in bare feet, 197 pounds. His body fat was measured at just 4.7 percent and his wingspan is an impressive 6-11 1/4.

Compare that to Arizona combo forward Solomon Hill, who was measured at just 6-5 1/2 with a wing span of 6-9.  Crabbe’s wingspan even exceeded that of ex-Colorado forward Andre Roberson, who measured 6-6 1/4 with a 6-11 span.

Shabazz Muhammad, the reigning Pac-12 Freshman of the Year from UCLA, checked in at 6-4 3/4, 222 pounds, with a 6-11 wingspan and 9.0 percent body fat. Another Pac-12 freshman, power forward Grant Jarrett of Arizona, is listed as just 6-8 3/4, although he does boast a 7-2 wingspan. 

Former Arizona State forward Carrick Felix recorded the lowest body fat mark at 3.3 percent.

Figures provided by www.DraftExpress.com.

Sophomore Danielle Henderson hit two home runs and senior Jolene Henderson pitched a two-hitter, lifting the Bears (37-17) to an 8-1 win over Central Michigan in their NCAA Ann Arbor (Mich.) Regional opener.

Cal plays a winners-bracket game Saturday against No. 7 Michigan (46-10), which beat Valparaiso 5-0.

Victoria Jones and Lindsey Ziegenhirt also homered for Cal.

Jolene Henderson struck out eight and allowed one unearned run. She is expected to face Michigan sophomore Sara Driesenga, who pitched her own two-hitter and struck out six against Valparaiso.

The top-ranked Golden Bears own an 11-stroke lead after Friday’s second round in the NCAA Pullman Regional at the Palouse Ridge Golf Club.

Cal (265-276-541) sits 35 strokes under par after 36 holes, well ahead of runnerup USC (272-280-552).

The third and final round is Saturday and Cal will be trying to win its 11th tournament of the season, which would set a modern NCAA record. The top five finishing teams advance to the NCAA championships, May 28 to June 2 at Alpharetta, Ga. 

“It’s a little bit like a broken record, but we had another great round today,” Cal coach Steve Desimone said. “I could even make the case that we played better today than we did yesterday when we set a school-record for our lowest round. The separation that we put between ourselves and the rest of the field make that point. It was fun to watch.”

Cal’s Michael Weaver (65-67-132) is alone in second place, six strokes behind USC’s Sam Smith (62-64-126). Joel Stalter (65-68-133) is one stroke behind his teammate in third.

Michael Kim (69-69-137) is tied for sixth, Brandon Hagy (66-73-139) is 12th and Max Homa (70-73-144) is 34th.

The top-seeded Cal golf team set a course record to take a two-stroke lead after the first round of the NCAA Pullman (Wash.) Regional at the Palouse Ridge Golf Club.

The Bears shot a 23-under par score of 265 and lead Saint Mary’s, which checked in at 267. The top five finishers qualify for the NCAA championships, May 28 through June 2 at Alpharetta, Ga.

“Yes, we want to win this tournament,” Cal coach Steve Desimone said. “But let’s not forget what the real goal is here, and that real goal is to finish in the top five and get to the NCAA Championship in Atlanta.

“We’ve put ourselves in a good spot for that, and if we can continue to do what we’ve done I like our chances. If we win even better, but let’s get to Atlanta. That’s the rallying cry.”

Cal, which has won 10 tournaments this season, got seven-under par scores of 65 from Joel Stalter and Michael Weaver. They are tied for third place.

The first-round leader is USC’s Sam Smith, who broke the course record with a 10-under par 62. Mac McClung of Saint Mary’s is second at 63.

Brandon Hagy shot a 66 for the Bears, Michael Kim had a 69 and Max Homa a 70.

Courtesy of NBA.com, here’s former Cal star Allen Crabbe’s contribution to the “Draft Diaries.”

Crabbe talks about returning to campus for the team banquet, where he named MVP (a surprise, he claims), reflects on his three years in Berkeley and discusses his preparation for the Chicago pre-draft camp and the June 27 NBA draft.

To catch up with Crabbe, click on http://allball.blogs.nba.com/category/draft-diaries/

Damon Harrington was hired as Cal’s new football head strength and conditioning coach, and will work under Mike Blasquez, the athletic department’s director of strength and conditioning.

“We have restructured our strength and conditioning department to better serve the needs of our entire student-athlete population,” athletic director Sandy Barbour said. “The addition of Damon will add to an already excellent and experienced staff  that will take both our entire strength and conditioning program as well as our specific operation for football to new heights.”

“I think we got better as a program today,” head football coach Sonny Dykes said. “We added more expertise with both Mike’s move and Damon’s addition. We’re very excited about the future and both guys are excited to work with each other.”

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