This is a potential letdown game. Can we play 2 inspired games in a row? Last year, Mathews put up 32 on Oregon. If my memory is correct, he scored ZERO the next game. I would settle for about 15 today. Wallace should have more success without Upshaw inside. Martin should put up a banner in the locker room: CSUB 55....CAL 52. We made their season. Let's don't make WSU's. A key is to contain Lacy. He is the one really dangerous player on this team. Last year he went off on Cal. Either Wallace or Moute needs to guard him. I doubt Singer could handle him.

Along with Caleb Swanigan, Jordan's little bro -- 4-star 2016 SG Jonah -- will be at tomorrow's Wazzu game as well.
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Stuart was cooler than the other side of the pillow. He was my favorite ESPN sportscaster by far.

This post was edited on 1/4 10:30 AM by orindabear74

Pushed back his decision date, now has a top 5 of Oklahoma, Oklahoma st, Ohio st, Tennessee, and UCLA. No mention of Cal.

Grant, I thought you said all PAC12 teams were no longer recruiting him? (due to bad attitude I think) Not sure who you're source is but they were way off on this one considering he had UCLA in his final 5 as well.

Assuming Wallace goes pro after this year, as I have heard much speculation on this forum. Who is going to play the point? Singer looks like a backup PG to me. If Cal is fortunate enough to Dorsey and or Sampson....neither of those guys are point guards. If don't recall seeing any PGs that Cal is in the mix for in 2015.

If Wallace decides to stay for his senior year, then Cal could be awesome in 2015 if we can land Rabb and Dorsey or Sampson.

Is at Haas tonight for the UW game.

Wow the huskies suck on O. Our D was truly putrid to give up what ?24 to their O?
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Everything you need for tonight's Pac-12 opener including TV, radio, a Ty Wallace exclusive and more...

Gameday Central

In the FWIW dept, I have a recollection which may shed a small light into the current discussion regarding Singers' unwillingness to shoot. USC used to have a guard( in those days, they were simply called guards ) by the name of Tony Psaltis. Tony, a S.F. lad was almost 6/4. He was thick, a good athlete, and, although never a great shooter, he was a better shooter than Singer. Tony was first string as a soph and also as a junior. Halfway through his senior season, Tony totally lost confidence in his shooting. He rarely shot, and, his coach, Forrest Twogood, finally benched him for the following reason- " I had to take him out of the lineup-- he simply wouldn't shoot!" I forget whether Twogood had an adequate replacement for Psaltis. CM's options at this point are severely limited. After the spring signing period, CM will have more options at his disposal ( wishful thinking?) Just thought I'd share that memory. PS-- Tony was hardly a walk-on--he was first string all-city three years in a row for Mission High School.

Dominant in Day 3 of Semper Fi Bowl practice after being in and out of the lineup the first two days with a sore heel. Blair Angulo with more here...

Powell dominant on Day 3

It only took one year of the playoff to demonstrate how lousy the BCS was at determining a champion of college football.

In the old system, Alabama would have played Florida State for the "National Championship." Alabama clearly would have won, and they would have added another such title to their trophy case. Instead, neither team is even in the championship game. Makes one wonder how many of those SEC national titles in a row were really emblematic of the best team.

It also only took one year of the playoff to demonstrate how silly it is to only have four teams. TCU was the most dominant team to play in the "New Year's Six Bowls" and is arguably the best team, yet they aren't even in the playoff. So in the first year of the playoff, the best team in the country might not be wearing the crown. Nice.

He took the advice given out here by some to give Moute more minutes at Singer's expense. That proved to work well last night as both had good games. Moute's defense was a key and he had a couple of nice finishes at the rim. Singer had 4 assists, 2 blocks and only one turnover but again was reluctant to shoot.

Kudos to bobjohnson and others who were advocating this approach, at least in the matchup with UW, it was effective.

We held up well against the Huskies big front line. They get way to many easy looks on offense but we didn't get dominated on the glass and were able to score on our own in the paint.

Kravish had a great bounce back game and Mathews destroyed a porous UW perimeter defense. The Huskies are a quick guard away from being very good but right now they need a wing option to balance out Upshaw and Goss.

Pac 12 about to go 4-0 in bowl games as Stanford is leading Maryland 28-7 at halftime. Hogan playing really well like he did in the last game.

Set shooting today sans boot.

Video

Lindsay goes 1-on-1 with Cal's leading everything-er, Tyrone Wallace, who talks about playing pickup ball with CSU Bakersfield, rebounding in conference play, and much much more in a story/video combo piece. Check it out...

Ready to rebound

Wow....just not looking good at all. And to think they were in the conversation for a hot minute
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And Happy College Football playoff day. Here's to a happy and healthy (and bowl-y) 2015.
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Has given up as many points as Cal's did and there's still almost 10 minutes to play.
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I know they devalue RBs in the NFL but...that guy looks beyond legit
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Rockwall, TX OL who we had on our Big Board two weeks ago offered by the Bears today. Looks like Zach Yenser isn't done just yet. Cal joins SMU and BYU as late offerers for the 6'4", 260-pounder.
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Pretty simple:

2015: We got out and win 8+ games and better than .500 in the Pac12 with at least one signature win
2016 Class: We take a BIG step up in talent, landing 3-4 elite athletes (4 star or better) on both sides of the ball
2016: We keep the momentum with a 7-5 season at least
2017 Class: Another top 25 class with 6-8 more elite athletes
2017: 9+ wins
2018: 10+ wins
2019: Dynasty

Dykes either steps up in 2015 or he's out. Very simple.

He then has to capitalize in recruiting in a big way.

Look at 2016 w/o projecting contributions of incoming frosh in '15 and '16:

QB: Rubenzer, Bowers or Forrest (We're solid here)
RB: Watson, Powell, Muhammed, Enwere, Porchivina (Need someone to emerge here but feels plausible)
OL: Moore, Borrayo and M Cochran are foundations. Ooms, A Cochran look like contributors; Hearing good noises about Johnson and Trani as well. (Feels solid)
WR: Lawler, Brown, Hudson, Austin, Rockett (Definitely need some of the newcomers to contribute here)

DL: Westerfield, Kennedy, Wilson, Looney, Manley, Mekari, Palmer (yikes - need the '15 frosh to make a big impact in their 2nd year)
LB: Downs, Barton, Kearney, Nickerson, Powell, Espitia, Tongilava, Anoi'a (Might be the strongest positional unit on the team)
DB: Allensworth, Walker, Coleman, Drew, Albert, Brown, Dozier, Cheek, Piatt, Tartabull (Strange to say it, but perhaps another strength)

I think the offense will be decent but would love to find more playmakers. Defense back 7 looks fine but front 4 is a huge question mark and our best playmakers are likely all LBs. Even if we get 4-5 2nd year and true frosh players to contribute, this is not a great team on paper. It's questionable whether they can get to 7 wins.

Bottom line is that Dykes has to win 8 + in 2015 AND he has to land a top 25 class (average stars 3.3+) in 2016 otherwise we are headed to the land of perpetual mediocrity. A program with its eyes on a BCS bowl cannot handle another recruiting class in line with our last three.

Grant, does him leaving for Michigan affect usc's offensive line recruiting, and how many of those recruits consider cal now that he's gone?

Going to join his boy Bileima again...

Cuonzo speaking on the Pac-12 Coaches Teleconference today said Jabari went to the doctor yesterday, they should know more today.