California Golden Bears
Pac-12 (24-9, 13-5)
The Golden Bears are one of the select few teams in the Pac-12 that put together a nice season. California already had 20 wins after 26 games. Mike Montgomery’s team was the preseason favorite to take the conference crown this season. The Bears are ranked in the top three in the conference in most categories and they have one of the more talented rosters in the Pac-12. Most of the teams on the West Coast are young, and California is no exception. The leadership of upperclassmen like Jorge Gutierrez and Harper Kamp goes a long way during a long season.
Big Wins: 1/8 at Oregon (77-60), 1/12 Colorado (57-50), 1/19 at Washington (69-66)
Bad Losses: 1/5 at Oregon State (85-92), 1/21 at Washington State (75-77), 3/4 at Stanford (70-75)
Coach: Mike Montgomery (4 seasons at California)
Why They Can Surprise:
The Golden Bears are a solid, well-rounded team. They shoot 47.9 percent from the field and score nearly 72 points per game. They tend to hold their opponents under 60 points per game, which adds up to victories. Also, when they get to the line they make the other team pay as they are in the top 25 in the country in free throw percentage. They also don’t turn the ball over very much. Gutierrez is vital on this front. With him running things on offense, he sets up his teammates more than his opponents. Sophomore Allen Crabbe, the team’s leading scorer and best player, is the lifeblood of the Bears’ offense. His performance will determine how far they go in the tournament.
Why They Can Disappoint:
Defensively, the Golden Bears are not the most sound group. While they are solid at holding teams to a low point total, 3-point shooting teams are the biggest threat to bouncing this team early. Though they protect their own possessions fairly well, they do not generate turnovers either. They are among the worst in the country in steals per game (4.9), and they only block three shots per game on average. The Bears are not a particularly tall team so they have a hard time pressuring the ball underneath. It could come back to bite them in the postseason.
Probable Starters:
Jorge Gutierrez, Senior, Guard, 13.1 ppg, 4.1 apg, 5.3 rpg
Justin Cobbs, Sophomore, Guard, 12.9 ppg, 5.0 apg
Allen Crabbe, Sophomore, Guard, 15.3 ppg, 2.2 apg, 5.7 rpg
Harper Kamp, Senior, Forward, 11.3 ppg, 5.1 rpg
David Kravish, Freshman, Forward, 7.0 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 1.2 bpg
Key Roleplayers:
Robert Thurman, Junior, Forward, 3.8 ppg, 1.9 rpg
Brandon Smith, Junior, Guard, 2.9 ppg, 2.2 apg
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 71.9 (83rd in nation, 4th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 61.2 (38, 2)
Field-Goal Percentage: 47.9 (22, 1)
Field-Goal Defense: 41.0 (74, 3)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 4.6 (307, 11)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: na
Free-Throw Percentage: 75.1 (24, 1)
Rebound Margin: 4.3 (50, 3)
Assists Per Game: 16.1 (11, 1)
Turnovers Per Game: 11.9 (48, 2)
Last Five Postseason Appearances:
California 2011 NIT First Round win over Mississippi
California 2011 NIT Second Round loss to Colorado
California 2010 NCAA Round of 64 win over Louisville
California 2010 NCAA Round of 32 loss to Duke
California 2009 NCAA Round of 64 loss to Maryland
California 2008 NIT First Round win over New Mexico
California 2008 NIT Second Round loss to Ohio State
California 2006 NCAA Round of 64 loss to North Carolina State
*all team stats through 3/4
See All Men’s Basketball Postseason Capsules
