Bear Sleuth: The Top Five Reasons Cal Can Challenge For The Pac-12 Title

The California Golden Bears won their first Pac-10 Title last year for the first time since 1960. Unfortunately after a thrilling triple overtime loss to Arizona on February 5th Cal will never win another Pac-10 title. Don't fret, they will be a strong contender for the first ever Pac-12 championship next season.

Here's the five reasons they will contend next year and for years to come.

5. Youth

Cal's current roster includes only one senior, Markuri Sanders-Frison. Sanders-Frison is a talented senior who's 10.8 points, 7.6 rebounds and 60% shooting will be missed. However, the Bears have sophomore Bak Bak as well as 6-10 freshman Richard Solomon ready to step into the role.

The remainder of the starting five will remain intact into next season. Harper Kamp and Jorge Gutierrez are both juniors and Allen Crabbe and Brandon Smith are both freshman.  Despite losing a pair of top recruits over the past six months the Golden Bears have time on their side.

4. Mike Montgomery

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LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 12: Head coach of the California Golden Bears, Mike Montgomery signals to his team during their game against the USC Trojans in the Pacific Life Pac-10 Men's Basketball Tournament at the Staples Center on March 12, 2009 in Los Ang

Head coach Mike Montgomery knows how to win plain and simple. Okay, except at the Golden State Warriors, but that's another story. Since he began his career at Montana he has a record of 593-266 coming into the 2010-2011 season, not to mention fifteen NCAA tournament appearances under his belt. In two years at Cal he's already delivered a conference title and two tourneys including last years victory over Louisville.

He's not a bad recruiter either with a five man class from last year with two top 100 ESPNU recruits.

Including....

3. Allen Crabbe

Rated the 19th best shooting guard out of basketball academy Price in Southern California, Crabbe has started all every games at small forward this year. Through twenty three games he's averaged 12.4 points and 5.7 rebounds per game while shooting better than 38% from downtown and 80% from the charity stripe.

After an initial slow start he has really started to come alive in conference play averaging 16.6 points per game. Against Washington State Crabbe tallied 30 points on 10 of 15 shooting, and 27 in a triple overtime lost to Arizona.

Though he clearly has some area's to work on his maturity has grown throughout the year should be considered a strong contender for the Pac-10 freshman of the year. Look for him to improve his defense and spot up shooting next year.

2. Harper Kamp

This young man knows how to play. Obviously, but he can also shoot and rebound. His post game is improving and can regularly knock down the outside jumper. He netted 33 against Arizona and is the team's leading scorer with 15.1 points per game.

More than his numbers, he plays a lot bigger than he is. Listed at 6-8 and 245 pounds, he consistently finds a way to scrap for rebounds and post up on bigger players. Next year he'll have to become the primary rebounder with Sander-Frison's departure but considering how he has bounced back this year after a missed season to injury last year, its clear he will be up to the task. 

1. Jorge Gutierrez

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LAWRENCE, KS - DECEMBER 22: Jorge Gutierrez #2 of the California Golden Bears drives the ball downcourt against Sherron Collins #4 of the Kansas Jayhawks on December 22, 2009 at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

The unquestioned team leader has found another gear this year. After logging backup duties the previous two years the junior from Mexico has stepped right into the starting role leading the team in assists and second in points. He is the barometer of the team and the term "wearing one's heart on one's sleeve" is the only way to properly describe his basketball mentality.

His passing has improved this year, tallying a career eleven assists in a game against Oregon State. A streak shooting by definition he has an uncanny ability to knife to the basket in spite of larger defenders. One more year of eligibility will have Gutierrez thirsting for another title which seems within his grasp given the supporting cast provided.

The bears are losing only a single player from their very competent squad this year and with a few marquee recruits they seem ready to take on the rest of the Pac-12. The only question is, will they be ready for the Bears?