(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Head Coach: Mike Montgomery; 22-11 in first year at California (569-255 overall)
Previous Season: 21-11; 11-7 Pac-10 (Tied third); Lost to Maryland in first round of NCAA Tournament
Departures: C Jordan Wilkes, C Taylor Harrison, G Eddie Miller, G Nican Robinson
Additions: C Markhuri Sanders-Frison, F Bak Bak, G Brandon Smith
Heading into last year, not much was expected of a California team coming of a 17-16 season. However, Mike Montgomery quickly reminded people that he was one of the best coaches in college basketball before he left for the NBA.
California got off to a fast start by winning 11 of its first 13 games. The Golden Bears stayed competitive in conference play throughout the season, but two disappointing losses to Oregon State and a close defeat to UCLA kept them from finishing higher in the standings or even winning the Pac-10 regular season title.
California returns four of five starters as Jordan Wilkes earned his degree and passed up on his one remaining year of eligibility. The main difference in this year's team will be at the end of the bench.
A left knee injury that wasn't getting better caused Taylor Harrison to file for medical retirement. Eddie Miller decided to transfer to UC Davis. With a surplus of point guards on campus, Nican Robinson was no longer needed by the program and turned down an offer to become an undergraduate assistant coach.
Projected Starting Lineup
PG Jerome Randle, 5'10", 160 lbs, Sr. (18.3 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 5.0 APG, 50 FG percent, 86 FT percent)
Coach Montgomery prefers a slow-down style of set plays and inside-outside offense. However, he recognized the type of players he had and switched to a perimeter-oriented offense that was free-flowing.
Randle was one of several players who flourished under Montgomery's system. Randle is one of the quickest point guards in the nation. What makes Randle special is his ability to compliment his penetration skills with high-percentage shooting from long range. Randle made 86 three-pointers while converting on 46 percent of his shots from that distance.
Randle can be volatile out on the court at times, and it will be interesting to see who keeps him calm during games now that his good friend Robinson is no longer on the team.
SG Patrick Christopher, 6'5", 215 lbs, Sr. (14.5 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 2.1 APG, 44 FG percent, 83 FT percent)
Along with Randle, Christopher earned all-conference honors last season. Christopher is an explosive player that has the perfect body for a shooting guard.
He can drive to the basket as well as post up defenders inside the paint. Christopher is always a threat to score because of his ability to heat up at a moment's notice. Better shot selection could enable Christopher to become the Pac-10 Player of the Year.
SF Theo Robertson, 6'6", 225 lbs, Sr. (13.1 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 2.5 APG, 49 FG percent, 79 FT percent)
Robertson has a power forward's body to go along with the ball skills of a typical guard. Robertson displayed his sweet touch from long range by converting on 56 of 115 three-point shots (49 percent).
Robertson's all-round ability makes him one of the most important players on the team although not all his contributions show up in a box score.
PF Jamal Boykin, 6'8", 230 lbs, Sr. (9.6 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 53 FG percent, 70 FT percent)
Boykin maximizes his talent like nobody else in the Pac-10. He is not a skilled scorer, but Boykin finds his points on put-backs off of offensive rebounds and hustling on fast breaks.
C Markhuri Sanders-Frison, 6'7", 275 lbs, Jr.
Sanders-Frison is the prime candidate to take over at the post for Wilkes although Harper Kamp may also start. Sanders-Frison averaged 9.0 points and 6.6 rebounds per game at South Plains Community College.
He is a left-hander with a soft touch that can extend his jumper to about 17 feet. Sanders-Frison brings a physical presence that the Golden Bears desperately need. Hopefully, two previous shoulder surgeries will take care of the injury problems he has had in the past.
Other Contributors
F Omondi Amoke, 6'7", 225 lbs. So. (2.6 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 48 FG percent, 57 FT percent)
The coaching staff believes that Amoke will develop into a consistent scorer despite only averaging 8.2 minutes a game last year. He is an athletic player that can be effective in transition.
To get more playing time, Amoke needs to work on his jumper.
2 Comments
Loading more comments...
This comment and all replies have been deleted This comment has been deleted Undo delete