California Basketball Preview 2021

PreviewsNCAAMPac-12 BasketballCalifornia Golden Bears

Nov 3

Our California basketball preview 2021 - 22 finds that as they have in the recent past, the Golden Bears will struggle to crawl out from the Pac-12 cellar. Last season, the California Golden Bears (9-20 Overall. 3-17 Pac-12) missed both the Big Dance and NIT, finishing 12th in the conference. The last time this team played in either tournament was 2017 when they went to the NIT. That season, under coach Cuonzo Martin, they were 21-13 overall and 10-8 in the conference, tying for fifth place. After that season, Martin left. Since then their best record and finish was 14-18/7-11 and tied for eighth. The other three seasons, the Golden Bears were 12th in the league. Head coach Mike Fox (23-38 California/2 years, 309-214 Overall/16 years) slow rebuild process enters its third year.

Golden Bears Frontcourt

For this team to make progress a lot hinges on forward Andre Kelly and his ability to have a breakthrough season. Kelly, a senior, is the Golden Bears’ top returning scorer and rebounder. Last season, he averaged 10.3 PPG and 6.4 RPG while completing 58.7 percent of his field goals. Our California basketball preview 2021 - 22 notes that in the offseason, Kelly dropped 12 pounds. He’s moving with more fluidity and revealing greater explosiveness. Senior Grant Anticevich (8.9 PPG, 4.5 RPG) returns for a fifth season. It’s hoped that seven-foot, junior center Lars Thiemann can transform the improvement he’s shown in practice to games. There’s depth behind these three.

California Basketball Preview – Backcourt

All-Pac-12 guard Matt Bradley transferred to San Diego State taking his 8.5 PPG, 4.6 RPG, and 36.4 percent three-point success rate with him. Plus, Bradley offered fine D chops. Transfer Jordan Shepherd (Charlotte), who started 51 games at Charlotte, is a go-to scorer and fine playmaker. Returning junior guard is a reliable and consistent player. Last season, he shot 47.0 percent from the field and 38.7 percent from downtown. It’s hoped that senior Makale Foreman and junior Jarred Hyder, who showed decent shooting chops last season, can increase their point totals which were 7.2 and 5.4 PPG respectively.