Briscoe becoming the target of in-game redass was a considerable upset imo. It is EARNED NOT GIVEN though.
Versatile bigs have been Cal's Kryptonite and here's why:
When you switch everything on D, you're putting pressure on your bigs to guard the ball. Well, if the other team has bigs that can step out and make shots, you can't help off of them. So, bigs get beat off the dribble, guard comes over to help, kick to big who can shoot. OR don't give help and watch Lonzo Ball take Humphries, Willis, or Bam to the rack.
Also, you get Briscoe blocking out Whateverabu on the glass. Not ideal.
Because we switch, it also allows players to be "soft" on contact from the other team. At some point you have to fight through one to get the matchup that best benefits you. I would say that's something this team will learn from, but Cal has always been content to keep the switching D like it is. It's how UCLA won last year's game.
TJ Leaf is what we all wish Willis would be.
That's pretty high praise.How good is Monk? Jesus Christ.
Not enough can be said about the huge let-down from Willis coming off a strong finish to last year. He looked like he was ready to jump to the next level against Stephen F. Austin....TJ Leaf is what we all wish Willis would be.
Willis playing scared...and you can't play scared. He gets yanked for doing anything remotely wrong on defense...to be fair he doesn't do a lot on defense. But he has to have a green light on open 3s. We won't realize our potential until he does.
He has the green light but scared to do anything wrong on defense...thus he plays scared. Cal just needs to live with the Defense and let him be.
Willis was apparently up all night puking his guts up. It was bad enough that Cal cancelled shoot around. In general, Willis has been a big disappointment this season, but if that is true, then he gets a pass today. A stomach bug, plus no sleep and I'd have been passed out in the locker room.
Cal said after the game he didn't realize Gabriel had 5 offensive boards until post game. He was just trying to get Willis going. Should've benched Briscoe and played them together.Maybe, but we just need someone to defend those athletic 4s and board. Hell Gabriel may be the guy.