California Golden Bears
Pac-12 (28-3, 17-1)
With losses to only Duke, Stanford and UCLA, California is an elite team heading into the 2013 NCAA Tournament. The Golden Bears tied atop the Pac-12 standings with the Cardinal and have everything they need to make a run to the Final Four and beyond. This is a program that spent 2010 and 2011 in the NIT and exited the 2012 NCAA Tournament after just one win, but things will be different this year.
Big Wins: 1/6 at Colorado (53-49), 1/13 at Stanford (67-55), 2/15 at UCLA (79-51)
Bad Losses: 12/2 at Duke (63-77), 1/8 Stanford (53-62), 3/9 vs UCLA (70-58)
Coach: Lindsay Gottlieb
Why They Can Surprise:
Coach Lindsay Gottlieb’s biggest advantage is on the glass. Gennifer Brandon, a 6-2 junior, is one of the best rebounders in the nation, averaging 11.2 per contest. Center Talia Caldwell is very strong on the glass as well, especially the offensive glass. Those two are imposing defensively, but they can score too. Both will spend most of their time on the blocks and they can wear down the opposing defenders in the paint. Reserve Reshanda Gray does not have as much experience as Brandon and Caldwell, but she can fill in when the starters need a break with very little, if any, drop in production. Many teams have forwards who can score, but California has three back-to-the-basket post players who have proven to be extremely efficient.
Why They Can Disappoint:
The backcourt does not lack in scoring threat. Layshia Clarendon and Brittany Boyd are more than capable of dropping 20 or more points on any given night. However, those two lack a consistent shot from beyond the arc. When the competition collapses to attempt to prevent the frontcourt from getting easy buckets, Clarendon and Boyd will get open looks from outside. They can turn those open looks into open lanes to the basket, but at some point they will need to knock down some three-pointers. Senior Afure Jemerigbe and Mikayla Lyles are more consistent shooters, but they only get so many looks. The other issue that arises from a team that lacks shooters is at the charity stripe. Only a handful of teams shoot worse than the Golden Bears from the free-throw line. It really has not been an issue so far this season, but every point is going to matter once California reaches the Sweet Sixteen and beyond.
Probable Starters:
Brittany Boyd, Sophomore, Guard, 12.4 ppg, 4.0 apg, 5.1 rpg, 2.6 spg
Layshia Clarendon, Senior, Guard, 15.6 ppg, 2.8 apg, 4.0 rpg
Afure Jemerigbe, Junior, Guard, 7.1 ppg, 1.5 apg
Gennifer Brandon, Junior, Forward, 12.3 ppg, 11.2 rpg
Talia Caldwell, Senior, Center, 9.2 ppg, 7.4 rpg
Key Roleplayers:
Reshanda Gray, Sophomore, Forward, 8.3 ppg, 4.9 rpg
Justine Hartman, Sophomore, Forward, 2.7 ppg, 1.5 rpg
Mikayla Lyles, Junior, Guard, 3.1 ppg, 1.2 rpg
Eliza Pierre, Senior, Guard, 2.9 ppg, 2.4 apg
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 70.8 (23rd in nation, 1st in conference)
Scoring Defense: 56.3 (62, 4)
Field-Goal Percentage: 42.9 (39, 2)
Field-Goal Defense: 37.4 (109, 7)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 4.3 (219, 7)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 30.9 (131, 3)
Free-Throw Percentage: 60.9 (332, 12)
Rebound Margin: 11.9 (3, 1)
Assists Per Game: 13.3 (130, 4)
Turnovers Per Game: 14.3 (41, 4)
Recent Postseason Appearances:
2012 NCAA Round of 64 win over Iowa
2012 NCAA Round of 32 loss to Notre Dame
2011 NIT Round of 64 win over Cal Poly
2011 NIT Round of 32 loss to Colorado
2010 NIT Round of 64 win UC-Davis
2010 NIT Round of 32 win over Utah
2010 NIT Regional Semifinal win over Oregon
2010 NIT Regional Final win over BYU
2010 NIT National Semifinal win over Illinois State
2010 NIT National Final win over Miami
2009 NCAA Round of 64 win over Fresno State
2009 NCAA Round of 32 win over Virginia
2009 NCAA Regional Semifinal loss to Connecticut
2008 NCAA Round of 64 win over San Diego
2008 NCAA Round of 32 loss to George Washington
*all team stats through 3/7
See All Women’s Basketball Postseason Capsules
