California's Lack of Hustle and Pathetic Play Ends The Season on a Sour Note

The California Golden Bears had plenty of opporutnities to not only comeback in the first half against the Maryland Terrapins but also build a lead, but it never happened. Partly due to the lack of hustle by the Bears.

While the Terrapins were more aggressive in getting loose balls, California was passive just like the team had been in their latest losses to USC and Arizona State. Futhermore from the way the Bears had been playing as of late there was no chance they were going to win this game.

There are plenty of examples from lack of effort rebounding the ball, not being aggressive for loose balls, poor passing, not attacking the rim after they got fouls on Maryland in the second half, and most of all once Maryland made a shot instead of inbounding the ball right away either Jamal Boykin or Harper Kamp would refuse to inbound the ball and give it to a guard letting Maryland set their defense.

Another problem was that Jerome Randle became too much of a distributor and held the ball far too long and that let time off the clock. The Bears weren't in any kind of hurry on offense today and most of them played with no heart.

The bears even though seeded higher were playing like the lower seeded team and Mike Montgomery should be ashamed of himself and his teams effort.

For one it seemed like over the little break from last time the Bears played against the Trojans and the Sun Devils were fixed. The Bears couldn't grab a rebound in the second half to save their lives and in turn all the hustle plays were going to Maryland.

There was one play in particular which was after Maryland got the lead up to 10 and Randle made a long three pointer and the Bears could have cut the lead to five, but instead of grabbing a rebound a Maryland player got it threw the ball up because he was falling down to a wide open Greivis Vasquez for a layup and a touch foul by Randle increasing the lead right back up to 10.

Another play soon after that is Jamal Boykin helped out on defense and changed the shot of a Maryland player, but there was no weakside rebounder and Maryland got an easy dunk.

There is absolutely no excuse and no reason for the way the Bears played especially in the second half. Part of the blame does fall on the Bears player, but it also goes towards coach Mike Montgomary. He did not have the Bears ready to play and it showed.

While Montgomery is a respected coach it just didn't seem even when the Bears were able to gain a lead shortly in the second half that Montgomery had the Bears ready to play.

Offensively at times Patrick Christopher looked lost, in the opening minutes of the game the Bears had Jamal Boykin taking 15-18 foot jumpers and the shots were all bricks and one was a missed layup after he made a great fake to get rid of three Maryland defenders and that layup would have given the Bears a lead.

There was a time in the game where the Terrapins had just turned the ball over on a travel.

The Bears got up the ball up in a hurry beating the press and Christopher had a wide open three and yes his shot was off today, but he had a wide open shot he passed up and instead tried driving the ball to the hoop the only problem is that he walked and turned the ball back over to Maryland.

If Christopher had made the shot it would have given the Bears a two point lead.

There were Bears in an article that came out stating that this maybe the only time the Bears make the tournament because there'e no guarantee what will happen next year. Well the Bears now know what the team needs for next year.

First off the Bears need a big body that can rebound and gives the Bears a low post weapon to free up there outside shooters.

The second need for the Bears is hustle players who are willing to go after the ball aggressively and who will fight for the long rebounds something Cal refused to do against Maryland.

As for a first season, 22-11 isn't bad considering the Bears hadn't been to the tournament in a while, but still rather disappointing because the Bears should have been able to beat Maryland.  

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