I agree with the idea that placing a ceiling on a team is dumb.
BUT, with every Cal team - even the pre-Noel injury NIT squad - it was easy to envision what a run would look like and what had to happen. With this squad, I mean, I don't know. I guess Maxey, Quick and a few others take a step up in their shooting and Cal goes more 3 guard lineup so we can get to the cup off the bounce?
We just don't get anything easy or have a go to scoring option and if you aren't going to take a ton of 3's and make them at a good clip you better have an efficient post or driving threat. Last year, we struck a nice balance between KJ and Herro's mid-range and PJ and Reid in the post. I don't care what the snark on this board has to say, that team could have won the title and the injuries really hurt our offensive rhythm in tournament time.
We needed EJ to take a leap, he has not. We needed Sestina to be a cold blooded killer from 3 and occasionally a go-to on the block, he hasn't yet (although I still hold out hope for him). Nick has taken a step forward and I am proud of him but if he is who you are counting on to get tough buckets then you are in trouble.
The saving grace is that this is the worst lot of talent I have seen in college basketball, maybe ever. Draft experts are scratching their heads. Maybe it's just "in the land of the blind a one-eyed man is king" type of thing.