Watching Berkeley Play...

[TucsonDon]

They're at Eastern Michigan, Braun's old stomping grounds, and playing without Powe and Kately, they're down by a point at the half. To be honest, I think they're lucky to be that close, and I'm a bit surprised. Jordan Wilkes, the freshman from LA has looked very good with 11 at the break, and a different freshman, one nobody has talked about named Theo Robertson from De La Salle is their leading scorer, showing a nice floor game. Ubaka looks terrible and as usual, Midgley isn't nearly as aggressive as he should be. You just hope for their sake that Powe can get through this year without any more health issues, because this team is sewn together by very thin threads. As proof, Eastern Michigan, which is picked towards the bottom of the MAC, has a slow-footed, lumbering big man who has 15 and 11 in the first half.

As for this game, I would imagine it would come down to the wire, and with the way Cal has played in the past without the big guy, they'll probably lose it.

Incidentally, Midgley's wearing a headband :) and looks about 20 pounds lighter, which I didn't think was possible.

[ZONACAT]

How does Omar Wilkes look?

[TucsonDon]

Tentative....Basically like all of Cal's guards have looked the last five years.

[TucsonDon]

Update...Cal loses 67-65. Ubaka had a great look on the last possession, and Hardin had a point blank tip in which he missed. Again, no Powe, no Benson, no Martin Smith and no Kately.

Long way to go to lose a game that's gonna hurt you when the RPI talk begins...and they'll be on the bubble, they'll need a strong number in that area.

[Auercat]

Same old Cal. Their guards stink and their postmen are inconsistent at best. Braun is now officially on the clock after losing again to a middle of the road mid-major team. Hasn't this happened at the start of the last 3 or 4 seasons for the Bears? :confused: :lol: :angry:

Bearing Down on The Same Old Story in Berekely

Auercat

PS TD, after watching this debacle I don't expect Cal to be anywhere near an NCAA team. I look for the Bears to finish 7th in the Pac Ten and along with Oregon St and USC be vying to remain over .500 and receive an NIT bid. If that's the case, look for Braun to be dismissed.

PPS I hate what games like this do for the Pac Ten's RPI. :fur:

[TucsonDon]

I think a lot will have to go just right for them to go where they want to go. Its unfair to judge the team on a game like this when they're missing their three best players, but it is very disappointing that after at least three years in the program, neither Midgley nor Ubaka can lead this team on their own. I do love the combination of Benson and Powe when they come back, and the second-tier frontline duo on that team, Wilkes and Hardin, will be very effective before they're done up there as well. That team just really needs Ubaka to become more aggressive, or find another leader because his lack of production, his disappointing play is the main reason they have underachieved the past few seasons. Sucks to pin that on one college kid, but it really is the truth.