Cal Bears Basketball: Keys to Winning the Pac-12 Title in 2011-12

The 2011-12 college basketball season is shaping up much the way 2009-10 did.  

That's good news for the California Golden Bears.  

2009-10 marked Cal's first regular season conference championship in 50 years, and then, as now, traditional powers UCLA and Arizona were frustrating their fans with head-scratching performances and underachieving blue-chippers.  

For Cal and coach Mike Montgomery, capturing the inaugural Pac-12 crown would cement them as a rising program and make Berkeley a popular destination for recruits to land.  Come inside to see what it will take for the Bears to roar loudest. 

Allen Crabbe Must Emerge as Cal's Go-to Scorer

It's hard to imagine asking more from a player who shot 40 percent from three and led his team in scoring during conference play last season, but that's precisely what the Bears will need from sophomore sensation Allen Crabbe.  

The former Gatorade Player of the Year must do better than the 13-plus points and five rebounds a game he posted during his freshman campaign.  

Look for Coach Montgomery to lean on the sophomore when buckets are at a premium. 

Jorge Gutierrez Must Limit Turnovers and Opposing Teams' Scorers

Teams with senior point guards typically do well in March, a fact the Bears are counting on with Jorge Gutierrez running the point.  

The Chihuahua, Mexico native led last year's squad in scoring and assists, but is perhaps most feared by opposing coaches for his suffocating defense.  At 6'3", he's tall enough and quick enough to stick with anyone in the country, and his harassing defense frequently provokes opposing players into making poor decisions.  

If there's a knock on Gutierrez, it's his tendency to drive into trouble and force the issue, but if he can limit turnovers and play his typically staunch defense, he should find himself on the All-Conference team.    

Transfer Justin Cobbs Needs to Deliver Instant Offense

Though Allen Crabbe and Jorge Gutierrez compose the Bears' starting backcourt, expect redshirt sophomore Justin Cobbs to see considerable time.  The 6'2" transfer from the University of Minnesota played in all but one game as a true freshman, but changed schools to be closer to home.  After sitting out the NCAA-mandated year, he's anxious to make his mark on the newly minted Pac-12.  

For Montgomery, Cobbs' ability to create his own shot is a welcome addition to a team short on athleticism, and with more than a year to learn Cal's system, his transition should be a seamless one.  

Don't be surprised if Cobbs, Crabbe and Gutierrez share the floor against zone defenses.   

Cal's Home Dominance Must Continue

The Golden Bears have won more than 80 percent of their home games the past three years, a trend they'll need to continue if they want to win the conference title.  

Cal lost just one home game during their 2009-10 conference championship season, and opposing coaches dread playing at raucous Haas Pavilion.  Cal's aptly-named student section, The Bench, runs the length of the floor and prides itself on its "colorful" heckling.  

In a conference with so much parity, holding court will be a necessity, and opening conference games against USC and UCLA will provide immediate opportunity for Cal fans to get involved.

Offensively Challenged Bench a Real Concern

If you ask Cal coach Mike Montgomery what he likes most about his bench, he'll probably cite its work ethic and competitiveness.  And though both are noteworthy qualities, they mask a concern for anemic offensive output.  

Sudanese forward Bak Bak is a rebounding magnet and crowd favorite, but remains very much a work in progress.  Team spark plug and backup point guard Brandon Smith provides a tidy changeup to Gutierrez, but is primarily a distributor.  And with 6'10" sophomore Richard Solomon suspended indefinitely, Cal lacks a bench player that can score on the inside.  

In the interest of keeping scorers on the floor, Montgomery will need to substitute creatively and lean on timely transfer triggerman Justin Cobbs.  He'll also ask lanky true freshman David Kravish (6'9", 210 lbs) to contribute immediately.  

If Cal's starters can avoid foul trouble and hold up to the long minutes, their bench should be enough to go the distance.  But, if injuries mount and opposing teams enter the bonus early, Cal could be in trouble.

Harper Kamp's Health and Steady Play Will Determine How Far the Bears Can Go

Senior forward Harper Kamp is still stinging from the knee injury that kept him on the sideline during Cal's historic '09-'10 run.

And though teammates unanimously describe Kamp as the heart and soul of their team, the Bears will need more than just his leadership for him to share in their revelry this time around.  Given Cal's lack of scoring depth and inside presence, monitoring Kamp's minutes and keeping his 14 points/game and five-plus rebounds on the floor will be critical.