3-2-1: Cal MBB at Pac-12 Media Day

For the fifth consecutive year, Cal has been picked to finish in the bottom three of the Pac-12, as the Bears were picked last in the Pac-12 for the 2021-22 season. It's unsurprising, after the Bears finished 9-20 and 3-17 in conference play, which put them at the bottom of the conference a year ago. Cal also lost top scorer Matt Bradley to the transfer portal, and will look to pull themselves out of the bottom of the conference with a relatively veteran group.

In this edition of the 3-2-1, we're looking at some of the takeaways from Mark Fox and company at Pac-12 Media Day.

1. An Actual Offseason

One of the most striking pieces from today's media availability was the admission that the team hadn't eaten a meal together all of last year. It's something that brings into focus just how abnormal of a season the Bears had a year ago, without the same number of practices, or time even in Haas Pavilion, the weight room, the film room, or otherwise.

Now Cal has had the opportunity to be around each other for a full offseason and everything that entails, for a physically bigger team. Fox noted that it's the first full offseason he's had with his team, something that's a necessity carrying into what they hope is a more successful 2021-22 season.

2. Depth to Play Fast

One thing Fox repeatedly hit on during his press availability and during his Pac-12 Network interview was the depth of his team, as Cal has 'six or seven' wings to use that can matchup length-wise with other teams in the conference. This is a dimension Cal hasn't had for a while, and one of the bigger things for Fox during the media availability was their ability to match up defensively, without having to hide smaller players on defense as often against taller counterparts.

In addition, Cal now has 15 scholarship players, thanks to the extra year allowed by the NCAA. That depth, along with Cal potentially having a few more guys who can get minutes from the start (namely the freshman trio of Sam Alajiki, Marsalis Roberson, and Obinna Anyanwu) translates in the potential to play faster. Fox noted that they could play with a little more tempo, something a little surprising considering Fox's general offense as a coach, and the fact that Cal was 322nd out of 357 D1 teams in adjusted tempo a year ago, per KenPom.

3. Older Roster Stands Out

Cal's roster now includes ten players in their junior year or higher on the roster, one of the more experienced rosters a Cal team has had in a long time, with it being the oldest roster that Fox has had at Berkeley. In particular, the likes of Grant Anticevich and Andre Kelly, Cal's representatives at Pac-12 Media Day, give the Bears more experience in the post than Cal has had in a while.

Cal's program under Mark Fox has aimed to be a developmental one, as Fox mentioned that some programs can bring in more transfers and one and done types. This program, for better or for worse, is aiming toward a similar profile as Villanova, based off experience and development.

1. Where does the scoring come from?

Without Bradley, Kelly is the leading returning scorer from a year ago with 10.3 points a game. Grad transfer Jordan Shepherd averaged over 13 points a game at Charlotte last year, but Fox noted that the Bears are going to have to get their scoring from more than one source and that he feels that the Bears have the players who can do that.

Anticevich, prior to his emergency appendectomy and in a handful of games after, showed scoring ability as an inside-out threat. Kelly had a handful of double digit scoring games, and both Makale Foreman and Jalen Celestine showed the ability to heat up from the outside. Cal will need more from their true freshmen, Joel Brown, Kuany Kuany, and some of the other bigs to help replace the scoring of Bradley.

2. How big is the rotation?

With 15 scholarship players, not everyone is going to be able to rotate in. There just aren't enough minutes, and Fox noted last week that he thought there could be a place for a couple redshirts. It'll depend on who's getting the minutes early and needs as the season goes along, as with the transfer portal, there will have to be a balance in order to keep everyone happy.

Cal will not finish last in the Pac-12

A real bold prediction, but the Bears have more experience than they have over the first two years under Mark Fox. Older teams generally tend to do well in college basketball and this Cal team is one of the older ones in the country.

In one of the paradoxical pieces of Mark Fox's coaching career, his teams have been more successful without a top freshman recruit. His most successful Nevada team had a developed roster with Nick Fazekas and Ramon Sessions. His best years at Georgia came before and after having top recruit Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. It's something to watch with this Cal team.