On Sunday, Cal will take on USC at 2:00 PM PST on Pac-12 Networks in Southern California. Cal is 1-6 in Pac-12 play while USC is 2-5. Here is my list of 5 things to look for going into this game.
#1. Can Cal play with any sort of life? Cal is coming off the rails right now. They are 1-6 in Pac-12 play and practically waved the white flag against UCLA. Even with so few players available, Cal has to play with some pride and put up a better fight. The spirit/soul of this team will be shown in the early moments of this game. If Cal gets off to another sluggish start, that will mean their soul has been crushed and that they have in fact given up on the season.
#2. With Gabby Green out, Penina Davidson has to step up: Hoopfeed.com tweeted out that Gabby Green should be back with the team next week, but that she didn't travel with the team this weekend. With Green out, Penina Davidson has to play like her "sixth starter" nickname and give Cal really good production. She needs to score at least 10 points and grab 5 or 6 rebounds.
#3. Cal has to dominate inside: USC averages 38.5 rebounds per game while opponents give up 33.9 rebounds per game. As for Cal, they grab 40.6 rebounds per game and give up 37.1 rebounds per game. Cal should have an edge on the glass in this game, but given their poor perimeter play, they'll really have to get a lot of production from Kristine Anigwe. Especially on the glass.
#4. Will Thomas, Range, or Cowling get going at all? Asha Thomas, Courtney Range, and Mikayla Cowling haven't been able to find a rhythm and it has really hurt this Cal team. If they can't find a rhythm against a 2-5 USC team, I'm not sure if they ever will.
#5. Coach Gottlieb has to trust her bench: With Gabby Green unavailable in this game, Lindsay Gottlieb has to give K.C. Waters and MaAne Mosley more minutes in this game. If she doesn't, one has to ask why they are even on the team. With such a limited bench, Gottlieb has to give all of her players quality minutes. She really has no choice and her commitment to not doing so has really hurt her team.
Prediction: Until this Cal team wakes up, I can't pick them to win a game. USC doesn't have as much "talent", but they appear to be in better shape mentally than Cal (Not that that says much). Plus, USC holds their opponents to 56.1 points per game and 38.6% shooting from the field. Cal has struggled to score against good defensive teams and USC is another good defensive team. I expect Cal to struggle to put up points and once again fall short. USC wins this game 67-54.
#1. Can Cal play with any sort of life? Cal is coming off the rails right now. They are 1-6 in Pac-12 play and practically waved the white flag against UCLA. Even with so few players available, Cal has to play with some pride and put up a better fight. The spirit/soul of this team will be shown in the early moments of this game. If Cal gets off to another sluggish start, that will mean their soul has been crushed and that they have in fact given up on the season.
#2. With Gabby Green out, Penina Davidson has to step up: Hoopfeed.com tweeted out that Gabby Green should be back with the team next week, but that she didn't travel with the team this weekend. With Green out, Penina Davidson has to play like her "sixth starter" nickname and give Cal really good production. She needs to score at least 10 points and grab 5 or 6 rebounds.
#3. Cal has to dominate inside: USC averages 38.5 rebounds per game while opponents give up 33.9 rebounds per game. As for Cal, they grab 40.6 rebounds per game and give up 37.1 rebounds per game. Cal should have an edge on the glass in this game, but given their poor perimeter play, they'll really have to get a lot of production from Kristine Anigwe. Especially on the glass.
#4. Will Thomas, Range, or Cowling get going at all? Asha Thomas, Courtney Range, and Mikayla Cowling haven't been able to find a rhythm and it has really hurt this Cal team. If they can't find a rhythm against a 2-5 USC team, I'm not sure if they ever will.
#5. Coach Gottlieb has to trust her bench: With Gabby Green unavailable in this game, Lindsay Gottlieb has to give K.C. Waters and MaAne Mosley more minutes in this game. If she doesn't, one has to ask why they are even on the team. With such a limited bench, Gottlieb has to give all of her players quality minutes. She really has no choice and her commitment to not doing so has really hurt her team.
Prediction: Until this Cal team wakes up, I can't pick them to win a game. USC doesn't have as much "talent", but they appear to be in better shape mentally than Cal (Not that that says much). Plus, USC holds their opponents to 56.1 points per game and 38.6% shooting from the field. Cal has struggled to score against good defensive teams and USC is another good defensive team. I expect Cal to struggle to put up points and once again fall short. USC wins this game 67-54.
