rebounders, graduated; and Rabb
will need to fill these shoes to keep
the defense tough. Where this
team has room to grow is on the
offensive end, where they ranked
186th in offensive efficiency. The
hope is that some of the pressure
can be taken off Wallace, so he can
spread some of the shots around
and take higher percentage shots
when he looks for his own.
The non-conference schedule
isn’t stellar for Cal leading up to
Pac-12 play, but there are a handful
of games that will prepare them
for conference season. They should
get two quality opponents out of
the Las Vegas Invitational, opening
against San Diego State before
facing either Richmond or West
Virginia.
Their best test in the regular
season is a December 22 matchup
in Charlottesville against Virginia.
This will be an excellent litmus
test for the Golden Bears early on
as they begin to mesh together as
teammates.
One of the big questions for
Martin to figure out is whether
Bird or Brown can play a position
up at the power forward spot. Both
are natural small forwards, but to
have their best five out there, one
will have to fill a frontcourt spot
alongside Rabb.
Duke did this to perfection last
season with Justise Winslow and it’s
worth experimenting early in the
season. Standing 6-foot-7 with an
impressive seven-foot wingspan,
Brown seems to be the more ideal
player of the duo, and if it works,
will give Cal some coveted lineup
versatility.
Defense has rarely been a
problem for Martin’s squads. He has
emphasized defensive rebounding,
where the Bears finished eighths last
season. David Kravish, their main
rim protector, and one of the best
Cal last won the Pac-12 regular
season title in 2010 and has high
hopes of being the top team in the
conference yet again. Despite not
having much, man