BearTalk

FYI,

We’re having some computer connectivity issues at Memorial Stadium, so Jonathan Okanes hasn’t been able to post his halftime update yet. He hopes to get this resolved quickly.

Thanks for your patience.

The Bay Area sends basketball talent across the country. By our count, 41 local players (with roots in the East Bay or San Mateo County) have ventured outside the Bay Area to play at Division I programs in 14 states plus Washington D.C.

We think we found ‘em all. But if we missed someone, we apologize and urge you to let us know so we can keep tabs on him:

   JAMES ALBRIGHT, Cal State Bakersfield: A 6-6 redshirt freshman forward from Fremont-Oakland, Albright averaged 17.4 points and 10 rebounds as a senior in 2007-08.

   BRIAN BARBOUR, Harvard: A 6-1 freshman, Barbour was an all-NorCal pick a year ago when he averaged 19.7 points and 6.0 assists for Monte Vista HS.

   CHRIS BREW, UC Santa Barbara: The Bay Shore Athletic League MVP last year after averaging 26.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, 8.6 assists and 7.3 steals, the 6-3 freshman guard figures to get playing time from the start this season.

   WILL BREW, UC Santa Barbara: A year older than brother Chris, Will started 23 of the final 24 games last season as a freshman for the Gauchos. He had a season-high 18 points against UC Irvine and averaged 4.8 points and 3.2 rebounds.

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Come chat live with Cal men’s basketball coach Mike Montgomery here today at 2 p.m, and find out all you need to know about the Bears’ program from the man in charge.

***UPDATED TO FIX JOE ROTH LINK***

–Jeff Tedford moves on from Oregon by focusing on USC.

–Cal’s weekly game notes

–USC’s weekly game notes

–USC running back Stafon Johnson is in critical but stable condition. It appears his season is over.

–USC coach Pete Carroll is puzzled by Cal’s big loss to Oregon.

–Remembering Joe Roth.

The Kansas Jayhawks are virtually the unanimous No. 1 pick in pre-season basketball rankings and will host Cal on Dec. 22 at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence.

So it makes us wonder what in the world happened there Tuesday night, when Tyshawn Taylor, a sophomore guard on the basketball team, apparently was injured in a skirmish with members of the KU football team.

Taylor dislocated his thumb and reportedly is out for four weeks, meaning he will be ready to go in time for the start of the season. But according to published reports in Kansas, this was not an isolated incident.

A couple questions are worth asking:

1) Why can’t the Jayhawks’ football and basketball teams get along?

2) What makes a basketball player think it’s a smart idea to take on a football player?

Here’s the story that appeared in Wednesday morning’s edition of the Lawrence Journal-World, and another from the Kansas City Star.

Just a guess, but I’m thinking we haven’t heard the last on this story.

–Saturday marks the beginning of a four-game stretch that could define Cal’s season.

–ESPN.com’s Ted Miller weighs in on Cal this week.

–I answered some questions for Minnesota’s website.

–Nate Triplett has emerged as a top linebacker for Minnesota.

–More on Minnesota’s linebackers.

Join Jonathan Okanes for our weekly Cal Bears football live chat on Thursday, Sept. 17 at 1 p.m. PDT.

The Bears held their usual Sunday conditioning workout this evening under a light drizzle. Cal actually is doing more on Sundays than they have in the past. It used to be a chance simply to get the players to strech out, do a little running and meet as a team. But so far this season, they also are walking through some of the upcoming opponent’s plays, getting a head start on game planning for the week.

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Total yards: EWU 193, Cal 192

First downs: EWU 10, Cal 10

Rushing: Williams 2-5, Best 12-98.

Passing: Nichols 22-30-0, 187 yards, 1 TD. Riley 7-11-0, 78 yards, 1 TD.

Receiving: Davis 7-63, Overbay 6-56, Holley 2-32, Best 2-19, Jones 2-18.

Tackles: Sherritt 6, Borden 6, Kendricks 8, Holt 6, Young 5, Thompson 4.

UPDATE: Chat will be at 1 p.m.

Chat with our Cal football beat writer Jonathan Okanes about the 10th-ranked Bears during our live chat Thursday at 1 p.m. PDT.