Star forward Leon Powe is out indefinitely following left knee surgery and there is no senior leadership to be found, yet Cal's men's basketball team is hopeful that talent, balance and youthful exuberance add up to a marked improvement this season.
A sneak preview will be provided tonight when the Golden Bears host UC Riverside in the second half of a Coaches for Cancer regional doubleheader. The winner will advance against Saint Mary's or Belmont at Haas Pavilion on Friday night.
With the 6-foot-8 Powe, the Pacific-10 Conference Freshman of the Year, probably out for the season because of knee surgery, and No. 2 scorer Amit Tamir graduated, the Bears need to replace half their scoring and rebounding from a disappointing 13-15 season.
But coach Ben Braun, 153-94 in eight seasons in Berkeley, doesn't envision that as an impediment. He cites added maturity of a talented sophomore class that played in Powe's shadow during its freshman season.
They include 6-5 swingman Marquise Kately, 6-3 point guard Ayinde Ubaka and 6-8 forward Dominic McGuire.
They'll be augmented by 6-2 shooting guard Richard Midgley and 6-10 center Rod Benson, two experienced juniors.
"We've got sophomores coming back with a lot of game experience," Braun said. "They'll be more familiar with their roles, the competition and the league.
"That's going to be a factor, especially early."
With Midgley and Ubaka forming a solid backcourt, backed by junior walk-on Martin Smith and Kately on the wing, the Bears' perimeter game is in good hands.
The biggest early-season question will be compensating for Powe.
The former Oakland Tech prep All-American, despite a pesky knee that diminished his explosiveness, became the first freshman to lead the Pac-10 in rebounds at 9.5 per game. He also was Cal's leading scorer, averaging 15.1 points.
"Nobody can replace a player like Leon Powe," Braun said. "He's a one-of-a-kind player. No one can be him. We can't replace him with one or two guys. He's very committed to coming back and having an opportunity to play on a healthy knee."
Until that happens, Cal will spread the wealth inside, hopeful the athletic McGuire will improve with increased playing time. After leading the team in blocks and averaging 3.4 rebounds and 15.7 minutes last season, he had 16 rebounds in an exhibition with Chico State last week.
Benson, who added 12 rebounds in the exhibition, pulled an average of 1.7 rebounds in 8.5 minutes last season and was named the Bears' most improved player. They'll be backed by 6-8 junior David Paris and three freshmen who are 6-7 or taller.
"Benson and McGuire are our most experienced inside players," Braun said. "With Leon out, I think all the players know that everybody's going to have to step up. Without our leading scorer and rebounder, the challenges are going to be there for us."
Midgley, a native of Great Britain who played at Modesto Christian High School with Paris, is the best long-range threat after averaging 10.6 points last season.
Kately, proficient inside and out, scored at a 10.5 clip and made 53.5 percent of his shots.
They may have to carry the scoring load early while teammates become more accustomed to added minutes. Kately, regarded as the Bears' best defender, has the talent and ability for a huge breakthrough as a sophomore.
In a conference brimming with outstanding point guards, Ubaka often was overlooked last season, yet he showed gradual improvement and should increase his scoring (6.4) and assists (3.9) significantly. Cal was 6-0 when he scored at least 10 points.
The three freshmen who will be vying for minutes up front could benefit from Powe's absence. They are 6-10 DeVon Hardin of Newark, and all-state performers 6-7 Eric Vierneisel (Algonquin, Ill.) and 6-7 Kevin Langford (Fort Worth, Texas).
Hardin averaged 12.9 points, 11.4 rebounds and 4.4 blocks as a senior at Memorial High, and is regarded as the most athletic post player among the recruits. Among the frontcourt freshmen, he likely will get the most playing time early.
Vierneisel averaged 18.7 points as a senior. Langford led his team with 17.6 points and 11.9 rebounds last season.
Freshman Sam Rayburn, a 7-footer out of Portland, Ore., is doubtful following knee surgery.
The youngsters will gain collegiate experience during a reasonable nonconference schedule that includes home games against Southern (Nov. 23), UNLV (Dec. 1) and Colorado (Dec. 7). The Pac-10 schedule opens at title contender Washington on New Year's Eve.
Wednesday, Cal announced that Jordan Wilkes, a 6-10 center out of Loyola High in Los Angeles, has signed a letter of intent to play next season. He is the younger brother of Cal sophomore guard Omar Wilkes, who transferred from Kansas and will sit out the year.
Both Wilkeses are the sons of former NBA All-Star Jamaal Wilkes.
A sneak preview will be provided tonight when the Golden Bears host UC Riverside in the second half of a Coaches for Cancer regional doubleheader. The winner will advance against Saint Mary's or Belmont at Haas Pavilion on Friday night.
With the 6-foot-8 Powe, the Pacific-10 Conference Freshman of the Year, probably out for the season because of knee surgery, and No. 2 scorer Amit Tamir graduated, the Bears need to replace half their scoring and rebounding from a disappointing 13-15 season.
But coach Ben Braun, 153-94 in eight seasons in Berkeley, doesn't envision that as an impediment. He cites added maturity of a talented sophomore class that played in Powe's shadow during its freshman season.
They include 6-5 swingman Marquise Kately, 6-3 point guard Ayinde Ubaka and 6-8 forward Dominic McGuire.
They'll be augmented by 6-2 shooting guard Richard Midgley and 6-10 center Rod Benson, two experienced juniors.
"We've got sophomores coming back with a lot of game experience," Braun said. "They'll be more familiar with their roles, the competition and the league.
"That's going to be a factor, especially early."
With Midgley and Ubaka forming a solid backcourt, backed by junior walk-on Martin Smith and Kately on the wing, the Bears' perimeter game is in good hands.
The biggest early-season question will be compensating for Powe.
The former Oakland Tech prep All-American, despite a pesky knee that diminished his explosiveness, became the first freshman to lead the Pac-10 in rebounds at 9.5 per game. He also was Cal's leading scorer, averaging 15.1 points.
"Nobody can replace a player like Leon Powe," Braun said. "He's a one-of-a-kind player. No one can be him. We can't replace him with one or two guys. He's very committed to coming back and having an opportunity to play on a healthy knee."
Until that happens, Cal will spread the wealth inside, hopeful the athletic McGuire will improve with increased playing time. After leading the team in blocks and averaging 3.4 rebounds and 15.7 minutes last season, he had 16 rebounds in an exhibition with Chico State last week.
Benson, who added 12 rebounds in the exhibition, pulled an average of 1.7 rebounds in 8.5 minutes last season and was named the Bears' most improved player. They'll be backed by 6-8 junior David Paris and three freshmen who are 6-7 or taller.
"Benson and McGuire are our most experienced inside players," Braun said. "With Leon out, I think all the players know that everybody's going to have to step up. Without our leading scorer and rebounder, the challenges are going to be there for us."
Midgley, a native of Great Britain who played at Modesto Christian High School with Paris, is the best long-range threat after averaging 10.6 points last season.
Kately, proficient inside and out, scored at a 10.5 clip and made 53.5 percent of his shots.
They may have to carry the scoring load early while teammates become more accustomed to added minutes. Kately, regarded as the Bears' best defender, has the talent and ability for a huge breakthrough as a sophomore.
In a conference brimming with outstanding point guards, Ubaka often was overlooked last season, yet he showed gradual improvement and should increase his scoring (6.4) and assists (3.9) significantly. Cal was 6-0 when he scored at least 10 points.
The three freshmen who will be vying for minutes up front could benefit from Powe's absence. They are 6-10 DeVon Hardin of Newark, and all-state performers 6-7 Eric Vierneisel (Algonquin, Ill.) and 6-7 Kevin Langford (Fort Worth, Texas).
Hardin averaged 12.9 points, 11.4 rebounds and 4.4 blocks as a senior at Memorial High, and is regarded as the most athletic post player among the recruits. Among the frontcourt freshmen, he likely will get the most playing time early.
Vierneisel averaged 18.7 points as a senior. Langford led his team with 17.6 points and 11.9 rebounds last season.
Freshman Sam Rayburn, a 7-footer out of Portland, Ore., is doubtful following knee surgery.
The youngsters will gain collegiate experience during a reasonable nonconference schedule that includes home games against Southern (Nov. 23), UNLV (Dec. 1) and Colorado (Dec. 7). The Pac-10 schedule opens at title contender Washington on New Year's Eve.
Wednesday, Cal announced that Jordan Wilkes, a 6-10 center out of Loyola High in Los Angeles, has signed a letter of intent to play next season. He is the younger brother of Cal sophomore guard Omar Wilkes, who transferred from Kansas and will sit out the year.
Both Wilkeses are the sons of former NBA All-Star Jamaal Wilkes.
