Cal Bears report: Cal hires Ken Moses as fourth assistant coach

The Cal Bears welcome newly hired head coach Ken Moses who joins head coach Mark Madsen. Both Moses and Madsen worked together last season coaching the Utah Valley Wolverines. (image from @CalMBBall)

By Michael Duca

BERKELEY–Cal Bears head coach Mark Madsen was proud to bring on newly hired assistant coach Ken Moses. Moses is the fourth assistant coach hired at Cal by Madsen. Like Madsen, Moses is a recent hire from Utah Valley. Moses and Madsen had worked together for just one season last season as Madsen and Moses were on a staff that helped the Wolverines win 28 games and helped the Wolves get into the NITs.

The Wolverines had an impressive regular season going 28-9, 15-3 conference, the Wolves also had an impressive home record losing only one game at 14-1 and were one of the best road teams at 12-5. The Wolverines during the 2022-23 season had an 11 game win streak and a five game win streak.

Coach Madsen upon coming to Cal is confident that he could get the recruits needed and in place for the 2023-24 season and get the Cal program turned around as opposed to this past season where the Bears had won only three games all season long under former Cal head coach Mark Fox.

Moses also was an assistant coach at Montana State under head coach Danny Sprinkle. Moses with Sprinkle coached the Bobcats into a tournament. Moses attended Colorado State University Pueblo in 2006 through 2010. Moses will be a huge factor in finding talent for this upcoming men’s season as he has experience as development and operations when he was at Southern Illinois.

NCAA Championship podcast with Michael Roberson: UConn fans and students celebration gets out of hand after championship watch party

There were many property casualties at the University of Connecticut in Storrs CT following the UConn Huskies win over the San Diego State Aztecs in the NCAA Championship game on Mon Apr 3, 2023 here fans rally on the campus (AP News photo)

On the NCAA Championship podcast with Michael:

#1 Michael after the UConn Huskies (31-8) defeated the San Diego State Aztecs (32-7) students and fans at the University of Connecticut rioted tearing down street signs, light poles, smashed windows, flipping cars over, setting fire to dumpsters and destroyed property following the NCAA Championship game.

#2 Michael, 15 people were arrested and 16 people were taken to the hospital in Storrs. A UConn spokeswoman Stephani Reitz said that a majority celebrating at the campus were mostly well behaved but that small group was big enough to do destructive property damage to the university which overshadowed Monday’s victory.

#3 Gampel Pavilion the Huskies home arena at UConn held a watch party that had 10,000 students in attendance who took to the campus and streets after the win and the campus was trashed. Work crews and contractors came in to clean up and patch up the damage. It was miraculous that no one was killed in this wild and out of control post game celebration.

#4 To the game talk about the Huskies high scorers who kept any chance of victory away from the Aztecs, Tristen Newton 19 points, Adama Sanogo 17 points, and and Jordan Hawkins 16 points.

#5 First lady Jill Biden suggested that the Iowa Hawkeyes should be invited to the White House too even though they lost to NCAA women’s champs the LSU Tigers. LSU’s Angel Reese tweeted with the link of the story writing “A JOKE” and three laughing on the floor emojis. Dr. Biden walked back here idea saying she didn’t mean any disrespect to LSU players regarding the idea of inviting Iowa to the White House.

Michael Roberson is a Stanford Cardinal beat writer and covered the Final Four and the Championship game for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NCAA Championship podcast with Michael Roberson: LSU’s Carson leads with 22 pts defeat Iowa 102-85

LSU’s Jasmine Carson reacts to her three pointer during the first half of the NCAA Women’s Final Four championship basketball game against Iowa Sunday, April 2, 2023, at the American Airlines Arena in Dallas (AP News photo)

NCAA Women’s Championship podcast with Michael Roberson:

DALLAS–LSU Tigers (34-2) Jasmine Carson will remember this NCAA Championship for quite sometime as she led with 22 points and was almost perfect from the field scoring 21 of those 22 points in the Tigers 102-85 victory over the Iowa Hawkeyes (31-7).

LSU demonstrated what a strong offensive team they are becoming the highest scoring team with their 102 points in NCAA Championship history. With LSU and Iowa combining for a total 187 point make this game the highest scoring game in NCAA Championship history.

Carson didn’t miss a shot in the first half converting all seven, hitting all four of her 3 pointers, LSU was unstoppable in the first half scoring 59 points in first 20 minutes of the game. It was pretty evident that LSU was in command and Iowa just couldn’t get a defensive game to stop the Tigers from their lopsided offense.

Michael Roberson is in Dallas covering the NCAA Final Four and the NCAA Championship for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Final Four podcast with Michael Roberson: LSU brings great offense as Iowa can grind it out under the basket

LSU’s Angel Reese and LaDazhia Williams react during the second half of an NCAA Women’s Final Four semifinals basketball game against Virginia TechFriday, March 31, 2023, in Dallas. (AP News photo)

On the Final Four podcast with Michael Roberson:

#1 Michael how much work was it for the LSU Tigers (33-2) to come back from behind to win their first title 79-72 over the Virginia Tech Hokies (31-5) on Friday?

#2 Talk about the offensive shooting of LSU’s Alexis Morris who scored 27 points and Angel Reese with 24 points.

#3 The South Carolina Gamecocks (36-1) had an incredible roll going but got stopped in their tracks by the Iowa Hawkeyes (31-6) 77-73. How shocked are you after 36 straight wins that it all ended Friday night for South Carolina?

#4 Michael talk about Iowa head coach Lisa Bluder saying rebounding against the Gamecocks is like going to bar fight. Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley said,  “We’re not bar fighters. We’re not thugs. We’re not monkeys. We’re not street fighters.”

#5 It all boils down to Iowa and LSU know what you’ve seen from both team what outcome do you see on Sunday in the NCAA women’s championship.

Michael Roberson covers the NCAA for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Cal Bears report: Mark Madsen named Golden Bears head coach; Leaves Utah Valley after three seasons

 Utah Valley head coach Mark Madsen directs his team during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Kentucky in Lexington, Ky., Monday, Nov. 18, 2019. Madsen becomes the new Cal Bears head coach for the 2023-24 season. (AP file photo)

By Michael Duca and Morris Phillips

Mark Madsen knew the job was his but he had to complete coaching at Utah Valley in the NIT semifinals against the UAB Blazers on Tuesday night. Had the Wolverines won and advanced Madsen would have held off on his official announcement that he would take the job at UC Berkeley in the Cal Bears men’s basketball program.

Utah Valley lost by two points 88-86 in overtime and that was the last and final game that Madsen would be coaching at Utah Valley as he makes his way to the Pac 12 to coach the Golden Bears. Madsen who was a Stanford Cardinal standout and a NBA veteran, finished coaching Utah Valley to a WAC Championship and led the Wolves to a 28-9 record this season.

Over his three seasons at Utah Valley he put together an impressive record at 34-15. Madsen before joining Utah Valley was an assistant coach at the Los Angeles Lakers. Madsen was an assistant coach in the G league and at Stanford. As a college player Madsen was an accomplished player achieving the two time all conference.

Madsen is best remembered for his performance in the Final Four in 1998 and making it as a first round pick in 2000 and helped the Lakers win two championships. Madsen left the Lakers and played six years for the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Madsen’s name came up as a possible replacement for Stanford head coach Jerod Haase but Stanford decided at the end of the Pac 12 Tournament to keep Haase as head coach. Cal was considering St Mary’s head coach Randy Bennett, Bennett said he wanted to stay at St Mary’s and so the Bears focused their attention in going after Madsen.

Cal fired head coach Mark Fox at the conclusion of the Pac 12 Tournament after Cal was eliminated in the first game of the tournament. Fox guided the Bears to a 3-29 season in 2022-23. Cal hadn’t been to the big dance tournament since 2016. Cal had gone through three head coaches since their last tournament, Cuonzo Martin 2014-2017 (62-39), Wyking Jones 2017-2019 (16-47), and Mark Fox 2019-2023 ( 38-87).

Morris Phillips and Michael Duca are Cal Bears beat writers for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Final Four podcast with Michael Roberson: South Carolina off the chain defeat Maryland 86-75; Virginia Tech advances defeats Ohio State 84-74

South Carolina’s Aliyah Boston (4) holds up her piece of the net defeating Maryland in an Elite 8 college basketball game of the NCAA Tournament in Greenville, S.C., Monday, March 27, 2023. (AP News photo)

On the Final Four podcast with Michael R:

#1 Ayliah Boston of the South Carolina Gamecocks (36-0) led with 22 points and ten rebounds and Zia Cooke scored 18 points as the Gamecocks in the second quarter left the Maryland Terrapins (28-7) in the dust to advance to the Final Four with a 86-75 win on Monday night.

#2 South Carolina won for their 36th consecutive game in a row and once again head coach Dawn Staley’s game plan to have Boston and Cooke lead the way proved effective and Terrapins really didn’t have a chance at any offensive comeback.

#3 Michael, most schools who face who go in and face the Gamecocks know that they’re going to have their hands full in the case of the Terrapins did they just plain get beat or did they just lose focus on shutting South Carolina’s game down.

#4 The Virginia Tech Hokies (31-4) also advances to the Final Four with a ten point win over the Ohio State Buckeyes (28-8) in a ten point win Elizabeth Kitley led with 25 points followed up with Georgia Amoore who had 24 points.

#5 Michael let’s get your take on the Final Four and who you like South Carolina and Iowa and in the other match up LSU and Virginia Tech.

Michael Roberson will be attending the Women’s Final Four in Dallas on Fri Mar 31 at the American Airlines Center and podcasts the NCAA on http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Cal Bears waiting for Madsen to accept head coaching job

Current Utah Valley Wolverines head coach Mark Madsen draws up plans for his players is coaching tonight Tue Mar 28, 2023 NIT game against UAB. Most likely when Utah Valley is eliminated Madsen will make his announcement that he will be joining the Cal Bears as head coach. (photo by 1160 KSL Salt Lake City)

By Michael Duca and Morris Phillips

The vacancy at the Cal Bears men’s basketball program is all but almost filled as Utah Valley head coach Mark Madsen who also played for the Stanford Cardinal is close to being the next head coach at Cal. The Bears are waiting for Madsen to make a decision but sources say it’s very likely he will accept the position.

According to news reports the only thing that stands in the way of Madsen not coming to Cal is some unforeseen circumstance but all indications point that he will accept the head coaching job. Cal women’s basketball coach Charmin Smith is a former Stanford player and is familiar with Madsen.

CBS Sports said that Madsen is the leading candidate and that Cal has offered him the job as head coach. Earlier today it was reported that Madsen had accepted the job. One of the reasons why Madsen might not be making any official announcement is because his current team Utah Valley is in the NIT and about ready to face UAB later tonight. If Utah Valley were to lose to UAB tonight Madsen could announce his accepting the Cal job during the post game press conference.

Michael Duca and Morris Phillips cover Cal Bears basketball for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Rebels’ stingy defense ends Cardinal tournament run 54-49

Stanford forward Cameron Brink (22) drives to the basket against Mississippi forward Madison Scott, right during the second half of a second-round at Maples Pavilion in Palo Alto on Sat Mar 19, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Daniel Dullum
Friday, March 17, 2023

A highly successful women’s basketball season came to an end for Stanford Sunday, as the No. 1-seeded Cardinal fell to No. 8-seed Mississippi 54-49 in the second round of the Seattle 4 Region tournament in a game played at Maples Pavilion.

Stanford finished its season 29-6, while the Rebels improved to 25-8 as they advance to the Sweet 16. The loss snapped the Cardinal’s streak of 14 consecutive years reaching the regional round.

“I thought our team really battled in the second half,” Cardinal coach Tara VanDerveer said in the postgame media session. “We kind of dug ourselves a hole, but you know, we battled back. We tied it up and we had an opportunity to win the game.

“I think Mississippi is a very experienced and very determined team. They made plays down the stretch that we didn’t make.”

Cameron Brink missed the Cardinal’s NCAA tournament opener against Sacred Heart with what was described as “a non-COVID-19 illness.” She played 34 minutes, scoring a team-high 20 points along with 13 rebounds, seven blocks and two steals. Brink also hit 10-of-10 free throws.

“I think I just – I felt sick,” Brink said. “I think I’m still getting back to my normal self but I definitely got a little winded throughout the game, but I tried my best.”

Senior Haley Jones had 16 points, eight rebounds and three steals in her final game for Stanford.

“I think Ole Miss is a great defensive team,” Jones said. “And we heard them say that they prided themselves on their defense. They packed it in their suitcase, and they were going to come in and execute that plan. I think they did a great job.

“They (Mississippi) were contesting shots in a great way. But we missed a lot of shots that we usually make, which is disappointing.”

Angel Baker was the top scorer for Ole Miss with 13 points, followed by Marquesha Davis with 12 and Madison Scott with 11. Davis had four of the Rebels’ nine steals, and Rita Igbokwe grabbed eight rebounds in 17 minutes.

The Rebels, who led 29-20 at halftime, never trailed and scored 24 points off 21 Stanford turnovers. After Mississippi built a 49-41 lead with 5:47 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Cardinal used an 8-0 run, capped by two Brink free throws, to tie the game at 49-49 with 1:15 left.

Scott sank a pair of free throws with 18 seconds remaining to put the Rebels back in front at 51-49. Three seconds later, after Jones turned the b ball over, Davis hit two free throws to increase the Ole Miss lead to 53-49. Myah Taylor stole the ball from Jones with 15 seconds remaining and sank 1 of 2 foul shots.

Mississippi will face 4-seed Texas or 5-seed Louisville in the regional in Seattle on Friday. The Longhorns and Cardinals play on Monday.

NCAA Tournament/Stanford Cardinal podcast with Michael Robeson: VanDerveer ready to lead Cardinal in round 2 vs. Ole Miss Sunday

Stanford Cardinal head coach Tara VanDerveer as seen coaching against the Sacred Heart Pioneers on Fri Mar 17, 2023 at Maple Pavilion is set for the next challenge against the Ole Miss Rebels Sun Mar 19, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the Stanford Cardinal podcast with Michael Roberson:

#1 Michael, the Stanford Cardinal (29-5) handled the Sacred Heart Pioneers (19-14) rather handedly 92-49 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament and they did it without high scorer Cameron Brink.

#2 Haley Jones picked up where Brink left off leading with 17 points Haley’s been a go to all season long.

#3 On defense the Cardinal held the Pioneers to 18 points in the first quarter, 8 points in the second quarter, 11 points in the third quarter, and 12 points in the fourth quarter.

#4 Michael, how important of a win is this for Stanford considering they opened the tournament without Brink and had to create plays and win that opening game.

#5 Michael, Stanford will carry on for their next opponent and their opponent will be well aware of the kind of season Stanford is having.

Join Michael Roberson for the Stanford Cardinal podcast at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Cardinal cruise past Sacred Heart 92-49; Stanford moves to second round Sunday vs. Ole Miss

Stanford forward Francesca Belibi (5) shoots against Sacred Heart center Kelsey Wood (34) during the first half at Maple Pavilion in Palo Alto on Fri Mar 17, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Daniel Dullum
Friday, March 17, 2023

Even without the services of star center Cameron Brink, No. 1-seed Stanford had little trouble rolling over No. 16-seed Sacred Heart 92-49 in Friday’s opening round of the Seattle 4 Region women’s basketball tournament.

Brink missed NCAA tournament opener with what was described as
“a non-COVID=19 illness.” Specifics about Brink’s illness have yet to be disclosed and there’s no timetable for how long she will be out of the Cardinal lineup.

Brink confirmed on an Instagram post that she has been experiencing a stomach virus that has been going around the team over the last few days, adding that “I’ll be back asap.”

Haley Jones stepped up and led the Cardinal (29-5) with 17 points while grabbing six rebounds and shooting 7-of-12 from the field. Francesca Belibi added12 points and ten rebounds for Stanford, which shot 49.3 percent (37 of 75) and outrebounded Sacred Heart 57-28.

Hannah Jump also had 12 points for Stanford, Indya Niyar had 11 and Lauren Betts added 10. Talana Lepolo contributed seven assists and three steals.

Ny’Ceara Pryor was the top scorer for the Pioneers (15-14) with 12 points.

The Cardinal faces Mississippi in the second round on Sunday 6:30pm tip off.