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2007 Pac 10 Basketball Predictions
2007 California Basketball Preview & Predictions
Jimmy Boyd’s 2007 Cal Bears
predictions and season preview highlights their
chances at making the big dance this season. We won’t
beat around the bush, Cal will be on the outside looking
in when March comes. Devon Hardin is the best big man in
the powerful Pac-10. His injury likely cost the Bears a
shot at the big dance last season as Cal went just 8-14
without him. Now, with Cal losing point guard Ayinde
Ubaka, the Bears will not likely have enough fire power
to make a run. Ubaka was a 1000-point scorer, and the
Bears also lost 10ppg with the departure of guard Omar
Wilkes. These two guards led the Bears to an upset over
UCLA in last season’s Pac-10 tourney, and without them,
we don’t see Cal being able to play at this level.
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Ryan Anderson will combine with Hardin in the post to
give Cal a nice 1-2 punch. Anderson is Cal’s top returning scorer at
16.3ppg, but will likely take a back seat to Hardin this season.
Anderson also has the ability to play on the perimeter at 6’10’’ which
makes him a tough cover for any big. Theo Robertson, who was forced to
slide inside in Hardin’s absence, will get to float back out to the
small forward spot, where he should be more comfortable. Robertson
contributed 8.8ppg last season and is capable of putting up double
figures this year. He will be expected to provide the scoring on the
perimeter. Cal will also anxiously be awaiting Jamal Boykin’s
eligibility. He is a transfer from Duke, who will be eligible after the
first semester. He will be able to fill in at the 3 and the 4.
Jerome Randle and Nikola Knezevic will not be able to fill the shoes of
their predecessors in the backcourt and that will cost Cal in a very
tough league. Without having a floor leader, we expect Cal to struggle
in close games and will likely lose more than a few close ones in Pac-10
play.
We feel the Bears will be competitive with nearly every team they face,
but an inexperienced backcourt will be their biggest downfall. Cal isn’t
going to be a team to back on a game after game basis. We will look to
pick our spots when the value presents itself.
Check out all of Jimmy’s
NCAA basketball predictions to get the best sense of the competition
in the conference this season.
December 3rd, 2007
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