In the fourth year of his tenure, Mike Montgomery is playing with a team of his design, and it shows. Almost every player on the court is playing with energy and a defense first mindset. I can't look at a single one of them and put them down for being selfish or lazy. In the three games they've played so far, they've crushed their opposition and allowed their bench players to get on the floor for invaluable early season experience. This is maybe the deepest team I've seen since following Cal basketball These guys deserve your attention. They are currently ranked #22 in the nation. These guys are going to make some noise, I highly suggest joining them.
Cal returns four starters from last year. Leading the team is the contender for Pac-12 player of the year, Jorge Gutierrez. We've known about Jorge for a long time. He's intense. He's the best defender on the team. Then he's not the best shooter, or the best driver, or the best rebounder, or the best ball handler, but he does everything with such drive and intensity that he becomes a force on the floor.
Fellow senior Harper Kamp is a stud on defense and on the post. He always seems to be in the right place at the right time, and is one of the most cerebral players out there on the floor. Completing the triple threat is Allen Crabbe. This sophomore wing might challenge Gutierrez for player of the year if he shoots as lights out as he's capable of. He had an off night yesterday, but he is a huge threat on the floor. If he can learn how to drive a bit better over the course of the season, Cal is going to be hard to stop.
Rounding out the starting five are junior point guard Brandon Smith and sophomore center Richard Solomon. Smith has proven to be very capable at running the offense and has developed into a very solid defender at the point. Last night, however, he chipped in 12 points of his own, so watch him to shoot as well. Solomon put on a little bit of weight over the off-season and looks to have a better feel on the court.
But it's not necessarily the starters that make this team special, it's the fact that it looks like there will be ten or eleven guys in the rotation. The starters are going to remain fresh. If one gets in foul trouble, we'll be ok. Leading the bench are newcomers freshman David Kravish and sophomore transfer Justin Cobbs. Kravish is seeing significant minutes already and seems to have a nose for the ball. He found a shot last night and had 12 points to go along with his outstanding blocking and rebounding abilities. Cobbs is a much more offensive guard than Smith, and should spell him when the team needs a little push. These two have come off the bench and made a significant impact already, and they'll continue to over the course of the season. Jeff Powers, Robert Thurman, Emerson Murray, and Bak Bak should also see time on the floor to give the others a break and shouldn't be a liability out there.
So, Cal fans: come out to basketball games. You're not going to want to miss this season.
Highlights from last night.
Some music for your day, because this Occupy business is getting catchy:
God I love Tracy Chapman. mmmmm.
ReplyDeleteHow can people not go to games!? Especially with the way the football season has gone, I would expect people to get excited about a nationally relevant Cal Basketball team. Wake up! They're actually showing games on TV! How is this not a big deal? For those of us who are relegated to living out of the TV market for Cal sports, I relish the opportunity to watch any and all Cal games on TV, especially since All-Access sucks so much. Last night's game was on ESPN2, broadcast nationally as the final game of the 24-hour tip-off marathon. We are ranked and getting the attention we deserve. Phew. Done ranting.
Jorge's mid-range shot looks really good. Like you said, Eric, not always the best scorer, but the impact he has on the floor is immeasurable. Kamp was great in transition last night, but I'd like to see him take more open mid-range shots rather than making the extra pass into traffic. Solomon (or Dick Solo as the fellows at CGB refer to him) looks stronger on defense but has had a couple of dropped passes in the last two games. Some minor miscommunication and butterfingers, but he's an athletic guy that will contribute in more ways than just scoring. Crabbe was indeed off last night, and luckily that didn't matter. He seems to prefer to avoid contact and instead pulls up or drops a floater rather than finishing strong and going to the line. He's a great free throw shooter and needs to create more opportunities there. Cobbs provides some nice change of pace, but Smith makes me more comfortable with his handles and passing. Not a bad tandem though when we've got other scoring threats. Kravish missed one shot last night. He's already playing beyond his years. He gets passes high, keeps the ball high and finishes. He also has a knack for finding the right place to be in on guard penetration which creates opportunities for some high percentage open looks.
I don't know about everyone else, but I'm pumped for this season. You never want to get overconfident or delusional after three OOC games against inferior opponents, but as others have pointed out, we're winning the games we should win. And with style. Same can't be said for fUCLA (0-2....HA!). It's us and Washington down the stretch.
Let's send Jorge and Kamp off in style. I will always remember Jorge's intensity during that ill-fated game against Maryland 3 years ago in KC. He left everything on the floor coming off the bench, and he was the most visibly emotional after that crushing defeat. As the announcers said on TV last night, he's the kind of player that starts on any team in the nation. Kamp has always been one of my favorites because he's such an awesome guy. I had the opportunity to mingle with some of the players a few years back at a kids sports expo on Maxwell and Harper was the only basketball player nice enough to throw the football around with me and Tim. We asked a few others and they kinda shrugged us off and did their own thing.
Sorry for the long comment. Bored at work, as usual. Go Bears!
Mike gave me a list of his top ten Springsteen songs. Three of them were Huey Lewis and the News, one was Tracy Chapman Fast Car.
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