Devils in Detail
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ASU Basketball: 2019 Pac-12 Week 4 Power Rankings

By Trevor Booth

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 21: Head coach Bobby Hurley of the Arizona State Sun Devils looks on during the second half of the championship game against the Utah State Aggies in the MGM Resorts Main Event basketball tournament at T-Mobile Arena on November 21, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Arizona State won 87-82. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 21: Head coach Bobby Hurley of the Arizona State Sun Devils looks on during the second half of the championship game against the Utah State Aggies in the MGM Resorts Main Event basketball tournament at T-Mobile Arena on November 21, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Arizona State won 87-82. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images) /
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LAHAINA, HI – NOVEMBER 20: Darius McNeill #1 of the California Golden Bears dribbles the ball up court ahead of ashard Kelly #0 of the Wichita State Shockers during the second half of their game at Lahaina Civic Center on November 20, 2017 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)
LAHAINA, HI – NOVEMBER 20: Darius McNeill #1 of the California Golden Bears dribbles the ball up court ahead of ashard Kelly #0 of the Wichita State Shockers during the second half of their game at Lahaina Civic Center on November 20, 2017 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images) /

12. California Golden Bears

We’re just under a month into the season and California still does not appear to have a solidified identity.

Will the Golden Bears be a pest for experienced teams? Can coach Wyking Jones record wins over programs his team shouldn’t beat? Cal had opportunities to answer both questions in the past week and provided mixed answers, to a point where one can only scratch his or her head as a result.

Opening the week in Brooklyn against St. John’s for a ‘neutral-site’ showdown (Queens is 15 miles from the Barclays Center), the trio of sophomores Darius McNeill and Justice Sueing along with junior transfer Paris Austin combined for 57 points in a three-point loss to the Red Storm. Junior guard Shamorie Ponds continued a white-hot start to the year with a game-high 32 points.

Up next were the Temple Owls. Led by coach Fran Dunphy, Temple is 5-1 and looking to get back into the NCAA Tournament after missing out in four of the past five seasons. Against the Owls, the Bears defense looked porous, giving up 54 percent shooting from the floor (including almost 68 percent in the second half) en route to a 76-59 loss.

But the Golden Bears shored up their efforts defensively against Santa Clara for a 78-66 win. Before heading to Moraga to face Saint Mary’s, Jones needs to find a way to managed the rebound margins better and mold Austin into the team’s full-time go-to option offensively.

– Zach Pekale 

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