College Hoops Countdown | #14 California

Leading up to the 2009 NIT Season Tip Off on November 16th, Pickin’ Splinters will be counting down the top 25 of the college hardwood nation.

‘08 – ’09 Results: 22 – 11 (11 – 7 Pac 10) Lost in the first round of the NCAA tournament to Maryland, 84 – 71.

Coach Mike Montgomery: 22 -11 (1 year at Cal) 569 – 255 overall (27 seasons)

Key Returners:

Jamal Boykin – 9.6ppg, 6.4rpg

Harper Kamp – 3.8ppg, 3.2rpg

Theo Robertson – 13.1ppg, 3.9rpg

Patrick Christopher – 14.5ppg, 3.8rpg

Jerome Randle – 18.3ppg, 3.0rpg, 5.0apg

Notable Non-Conference Tilts: 11/19 vs. Syracuse, 11/20 vs. North Carolina or Ohio State, 11/29 vs. Princeton, 12/5 vs. Iowa State, 12/22 at Kansas

Stat of Identity: 42.7% three-point field goal percentage – #1 in the country.

By Paul Gotham

The list of teams from major conferences starting four seniors and a junior is short. Add to that a coach who has taken a team to a Final Four, and the list gets even shorter. Yet that is the situation with the Golden Bears.

Tow years ago Cal finished 16-17 and watched the post-season action. Veteran coach, Mike Montgomery was signed, and the Golden Bears reversed their fortunes qualifying for last year’s NCAA tournament. With the pieces in place, California has a chance to make it through the first weekend of play in this year’s tournament.

Pre-season Naismith candidates, Patrick Christopher and Jerome Randle lead a California squad which four starters and their top five scorers.

Those expecting the Golden Bears to play like Montgomery’s Stanford teams are in for a surprise. Under Montgomery, the Cardinal annually finished near the top of the rebounding margin stat. The Golden Bears light it up from the outside. Christopher connected on 36% (48-134), Randle hit 46% (82-177), and Theo Robertson dropped 49% (56-115).

After those three, the numbers drop off from long range, but Jamal Boykin, Jorge Gutierrez, and Harper Kamp are capable of finishing when needed.

The Pac 10 could be in for a transformation with California and Washington battling it out for the top spot.