Cardinal close out regular season with 65-56 loss to ASU

The Arizona State Sun Devils jump for joy after nailing down a victory against the visiting Stanford Cardinal at Desert Financial Arena in Tempe on Sat Mar 5, 2022 (photo by Arizona State Sun Devils Athletics)

By Daniel Dullum
Saturday, March 5, 2022

For the second straight game, Stanford took a halftime lead but couldn’t sustain it, as the Cardinal fell to Arizona State 65-56 Saturday at Tempe, Ariz., in the Pac-12 men’s basketball regular season finale for both schools.

Senior Marreon Jackson netted 18 points in his final home game, as the Sun Devils (14-16 overall, 10-10 Pac-12) finished their conference schedule with four straight victories and seven wins in their final eight games.

Stanford closed out the Pac-12 slate with five consecutive losses, dropping seven of its last eight games.

Jackson was eight of 15 from the field, along with six assists, six steals and six rebounds. Jalen Graham was next for ASU with 16 points on five of six field goals, and DJ Horne added 12 points and four assists.

Spencer Jones and Brandon Angel each scored 14 points to lead the Cardinal. Jones connected on three of five behind the arc, and Angel made four three-pointers. Harrison Ingram grabbed nine of the Cardinal’s 36 rebounds to go with four assists and three steals.

Stanford (15-15 overall, 8-12 Pac-12) led 32-30 at the intermission. Alonzo Gaffney hit a jumper to tie the game to open the second half, and followed with a 3-pointer at 16:41, putting the Sun Devils up 35-32.

Jaiden Delaire responded with a 3-pointer for the Cardinal, but Graham converted a three-point play, Horne and Jackson hit baskets, and ASU had a 43-37 lead.

Brandon Angel sank a three–pointer with 6:13 to play, putting the Cardinal up 52-51, but the Sun Devils responded with a 10-0 run and didn’t look back.

Stanford and ASU will meet in the opening round of the Pac-12 tournament on Wednesday in Las Vegas.

Run Ragged: Sun Devils race past Cal in 71-44 romp in Tempe

By Morris Phillips

How do you characterize the two-game series between Cal and Arizona State this season?

Well, that’s easy. Both teams put forth their best effort, that is if they didn’t fall on their collective faces.

On January 2, the Bears growled menacingly from the start, leading by 18 at the half and winning by 24 as they shot 51 percent from the floor and passed the ball expertly leading to 17 assists.

On Thursday in the rematch in the desert, ASU was off and running, building a brief, double-digit lead in the first half, then burying Cal with a running and shooting barrage after halftime, resulting in an, easy 27-point win.

The common thread in both games was that while each team looked pretty darn good in their wins, they’ll likely beat themselves up remembering how out of character they were in getting blown out.

“As well as we played last Saturday, we played the opposite defensively today,” coach Mark Fox said. “We really collapsed on the defensive end in the second half.”

The Bears survived a rough first half in part by getting a pair of big baskets from Grant Anticevich before halftime to climb within six points of the Sun Devils. But all that effort to get back in the game disappeared after halftime. The Bears allowed ASU to make 18 of their 28 shot attempts, and couldn’t stop run outs or 3-point attempts.

“When you don’t score and they can fast break on every possession, you’re going to have a hard time getting your defense set,” Fox said.

Previously against Stanford in their 53-39 win, and on February 12 at Oregon in Cal’s last road game, a 78-64 win, the Bears played at a methodical pace, made shots when the game was in doubt, and defended as if they were constructing a fortress in front of the hoop.

Against ASU those same Cal Bears put up little resistance and showed hardly any resolve. With all the attention around the program this week and speculation regarding Fox and his now likely return for a fourth year at the helm, the effort and result looked completely out of place.

Furthermore, the Bears (12-18, 5-14) may not get another opportunity to better present themselves. Saturday’s regular season finale at No. 2 Arizona could be a particularly turbulent experience, and a conference tournament opener currently sees them matched up with either Washington or Washington State. Cal dropped both meetings with those two schools.

D.J. Horne was one of five Sun Devils (13-16, 9-10) to score at least 10 points and led the hosts with 13 points. Marreon Jackson and Jay Heath combined to miss 20 shots in the first meeting between the clubs, this time they contributed 11 and 12 points respectively. Arizona State has won 6 of their last 7 after losing 9 of 11.

“We knew what their game plan was going to be, they ranked last in pace of play,” ASU’s Kimani Lawrence said. “We got bigs and guys on the wings at different positions that can run, putting pressure on defense and getting on the fastbreak benefits our offense.”

Jalen Celestine led Cal with 11 points, and the sophomore was the only Bear to score more than 10 points.

Cal Bears basketball podcast with Michael Duca: Cal battles undefeated USC tonight at Haas; Trojans have not played in 19 days

Cal Bears leading scorer from Sun Jan 2, 2022 game against the ASU Sun Devils Jordan Shepherd who scored 16 points leading the Bears to victory at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley (Cal Bears Athletics Dept photo)

Cal Bears basketball podcast with Michael Duca:

#1 Michael you had a chance to see the Cal Bears (9-5) pick up their fifth straight win at Haas Pavilion on Sunday night defeating the Arizona State Sun Devils (5-8) in rather handed fashion 74-50 the Bears had all their shots falling for them in this one.

#2 The Bears dominated even with their inside game and got tremendous help from Jordan Shepherd (16 pts), Andre Kelly (13 points) and Grant Anticevich (10 pits) the three top scorers.

#3 You talked about Cal head coach Mark Fox challenging the defense in keeping the Sun Devils under 50 points and game’s end the defense did just do that hold the Sun Devils only to 50 points in the 24 point win.

#4 The suddenly ascendant Bears put together their best 40 minutes of basketball this season, and throttled ASU, 74-50, bringing an end to the Sun Devils’ seven-game win streak in the series between the schools.

#5 Michael, the tune kind of changes as the USC Trojans (13-0) come calling on Thu Jan 6th at Haas Pavilion. The Trojans won their last game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (5-6) 67-53 at the Galen Center in the Southland on Dec 18th. The Trojans have not played a game since Dec 18th and have gone 19 days without playing a game. Will they come out rusty or rested against Cal tonight?

Catch Michael on the Cal Bears podcasts Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Cal Bears basketball podcast with Morris Phillips: Cal offense shreds ASU in 24 point win Sunday night; Undefeated USC comes calling on Thursday night at Haas

The Arizona Sun Devils Enoch Boakye (14) goes for a finger roll shot over the Cal Bears Grant Anticevich (15) at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley on Sun Jan 2, 2022 (photo by Arizona State University Athletic Dept)

On the Cal Bears podcast with Morris:

#1 Morris it wasn’t even a contest last night at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley as the Cal Bears (9-5) leveled the ASU Sun Devils (5-8) 74-50 Sunday night. Nothing but offense for the Bears as the Sun Devils couldn’t do anything to get into this contest in the 24 point landslide.

#2 Morris talk a little about the handy work of forward Lars Thiemann 12 minutes, four rebounds and seven points.

#3 The Bears Jordan Shepherd led in scoring with 16 points followed by Andre Kelly 13 points, and Grant Anticevich with ten points. The Bears distributed the ball well and had a great inside game where head coach Mark Fox was happy with the work done inside the paint.

#4 Taking a look at that first half it just simply wasn’t even a contest as Cal just dominated the Sun Devils 41-23. The Bears had their way on both sides of the ball stopping ASU on any chance to come close and defending the shot. On offense the ball was distributed well and Cal had no problem getting their shots to fall.

#5 Up next for the Bears the USC Trojans (13-0) on Thu Jan 6th. The Trojans who have not lost a game all season just had their way in their last game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (5-6) in both halves of their game in a 67-53 win. The Bears got a big offensive win Sunday night against ASU but USC could be a whole different matter at Haas on Thursday night.

Join Morris Phillips for the Cal Bears podcasts each Monday morning at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Cal Bears podcast with Morris Phillips: Taking a look at Cal’s worst beating of the season

The Cal Bears forward Andre Kelly (22) and the Arizona Wildcats forward Christian Koloko (35) go for the ball at tip off on Sat Jan 30, 2021 in Tucson at the University of Arizona (calbears.com photo)

On the Cal Bears podcast with Morris:

#1 Cal (7-12) did have their worst offensive showing for 2021 in their 71-50 loss to the Arizona Wildcats (13-4). The Golden Bears simply could not get any offense going from start to finish.

#2 Morris talk about Oakland native James Okinjo who led the Wildcats with 20 points it had to be special for him to get top billing and play against a team he probably followed during his high school days.

#3 The Bears certainly couldn’t keep up in the second half of the game trailing by 29 points the light was dimming for Cal for any chance to get back in this one.

#4 Arizona had that healthy 12-3 record going into their last game against the Stanford Cardinal (10-6) last Thursday but lost to them by nine 73-64 and there was little doubt that the Wildcats were pent up after that loss and that they would take it out on Cal on Saturday.

#5 Next up for Cal they face their cross bay rival the Stanford Cardinal. The Cardinal have been going well of late they edged a very tough UCLA Bruin (13-3) team on the road and that big win against Arizona Thursday. They lost to ASU on Saturday 79-75. How do you see Cal matched up against Stanford Thursday at Hass Pavilion?

Morris does the Cal Bears podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Cal Bears podcast with Morris Phillips Mon Feb 1, 2021 by Sports Radio Service | Free Listening on SoundCloud

 

Cal Bears podcast with Michael Duca: ASU plays keep away gets 4 pt win over Cal Bears

The Cal Bears had a hard time keeping up with Arizona State University Sun Devils in the closing moments of Thu Jan 29, 2021 second half in Tucson (@CalMBBall)

On the Cal Bears basketball podcast with Michael:

#1 Michael final moments of the game on Thursday night the Arizona Sun Devils (5-8) pulled far enough away in the second half to grab a win 72-68 win away from the Cal Bears (7-11).

#2 After getting crushed Monday night by the Arizona Wildcats 80-67 the Sun Devils were out for some revenge and they had both offense and defense working against Cal in the second half after getting eclipsed by one point by Cal in the first half.

#3 One positive thing that came out of the game was that guard Matt Bradley has found his shot and led Cal with 26 points.

#4 The only other player for Cal who was in double figures was Andre Kelly who finished up with 16 points, how tough has it got to be for Cal head coach Mark Fox to get the rest of the offense to find the basket in a game like this?

#5 Cal’s task doesn’t get any easier they face the Arizona Wildcats (12-4) who just came off a Thursday night loss in Tucson to the Stanford Cardinal (10-5) 73-64 there is very little doubt that the Wildcats will be also taking their frustrations out on the Bears on Saturday afternoon.

Michael Duca does the Cal Bears podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Cal Bears podcast with Morris Phillips: Cal can’t contain USC’s Mobley in second half loss

The USC Trojans Evan Mobley (4) seen here throwing down against the Washington Huskies on Thu Jan 14, 2021 finished with 25 points against the Cal Bears being the key offensive person to help the Trojans in the victory on Sat Jan 23, 2021 at Cal (AP News photo)

Cal Bears podcast with Morris Phillips:

#1 The USC Trojans (12-3) Evan Mobley had himself quite a second half against the Cal Bears (7-10) on Saturday night at Haas Pavilion scoring 17 of his 25 points in the second half effective to help defeat the Bears 76-68.

#2 Cal saw those walls closing in in that second half and even with Matt Bradley back in the line up that still didn’t help get the Bears enough offense to win.

#3 Morris I just wanted to ask you about Ryan Betley whose been in a slump of late, he scored seven points and got two assists in Saturday’s game against USC.

#4 The Cal Bears Makale Foreman had a rough game against USC no assists and five points. Foreman had some good games earlier has trailed off some?

#5 The Bears hit the road their next game is on Thu Jan 28 which will be at Arizona State (4-7). ASU has struggled losing six out of their last seven games. The Bears are coming off a win at Utah(6-6), a close loss to UCLA (12-3) and the disappointing loss to USC Morris how do you see Cal and ASU matching up on Thursday?

Join Morris for the Cal Bears podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Cal moved to play at UCLA Sunday morning; Cal-ASU football game cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns;

UCLA tight end Devin Asiasi, left, makes a touchdown catch as Arizona cornerback McKenzie Barnes watches on Oct 20, 2018 game at the Rose Bowl where the Cal Bears will be playing the Bruins Sunday morning Nov 15, 2020 (AP file photo)

By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Friday, November 13, 2020

For the second consecutive week, California had a game cancelled due to Coronavirus. The Golden Bears’ scheduled game against Arizona State on Saturday has been cancelled, the schools announced, due to COVID-19 concerns. Later on Friday afternoon the Pac 12 moved Cal to play at the Rose Bowl against UCLA for Sunday morning.

ASU athletic director Ray Anderson said in a statement that a number of positive cases of COVID-19 included “multiple student-athletes and coaching staff members, one of which is Head Coach Herm Edwards.”

Anderson added that the undisclosed number of positive tests put the Sun Devils below the Pac-12’s minimum threshold of 53 available scholarship players under the conference’s game cancellation policy.

Cal won’t have to wait another week as they were supposed to play at Oregon State next Saturday but now will get their first game in at the Rose Bowl. The Bears’ first game against Washington, slated for Nov. 7, was cancelled after Cal had a positive COVID-19 test.

Edwards, meanwhile, said he and his family are “fine,” and encourage people to “take the virus seriously, wear masks, employ social distancing measures and get tested whenever possible.”

Edwards is the second head coach to test positive for COVID-19 this week. Arkansas coach Sam Pittman will miss the Razorbacks’ game against Florida after testing positive.

 

Cal Bears Football podcast with Michael Duca: Covid cancels another game for Cal; Trip to ASU all for naught

Cal Bears and ASU Sun Devils kickoff on Sat Nov 14th at Frank Kush Field at Sun Devil Stadium (photo from calbears.com)

Cal Bears Football podcast with Michael Duca:

#1 Outbreaks have been the norm in college football Cal’s opener last week against Washington and this week at ASU was cancelled as in week one a player tested positive and his linemates were quarantined those same players are still in quarantined shortening the Bears defensive line forcing the game to be canceled.

#2 Midweek Cal head coach Justin Wilcox had to wonder if there would be a game at all. This week how hard is that on a coaching staff and the players when you have to stop and then prepare again.

#3 I know you’ve talked about the tight Covid-19 protocols from the Berkeley Public Health Department which has Cal’s entire defensive line under quarantine which expires Saturday night.

#4 The game for Saturday at ASU had been a question mark and the players have been working out and the defensive line have been allowed to do some individual supervised workouts.

#5 Wilcox said he’s complained regarding the way the Berkeley Public Health Department has handled deciding who sits on the Bears. Wilcox said they would like to know why that some of the players he has are in quarantine when they are negative.

Join Michael for the Cal Bears podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Stanley Cup Playoffs NHL podcast with Daniel Dullum: Taking a look at the postgame matches; CBJ’s win means Habs out again; Odds on Vegas as San Jose has home ice; plus more

m.chron.com photo: Columbus Blue Jackets swarm goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, left, of Russia, after making three saves during the shootout against the New York Rangers during an NHL hockey game Friday, April 5, 2019, in New York. The Blue Jackets won 3-2.

On the NHL podcast with Daniel:

1 Playoff pairings set

2 Blue Jackets edge Rangers, beat out Habs

3 Vegas might be worst possible first-round draw for Sharks

4 McDavid escapes broken leg after collision with post

5 ASU goalie is first Sun Devil to play in the NHL

Daniel Dullum does the NHL podcast each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com