ASU Basketball: 2019 Pac-12 Week 13 Power Rankings
By Trevor Booth
12. California Golden Bears (5-15, 0-8 Pac-12) Last Week: 12
To say California’s 2018-19 season has been rocky would be an understatement. And that hasn’t changed recently.
The Golden Bears, still winless in Pac-12 play, dropped both games this weekend at home to Colorado and Utah.
In the first of the back-to-back defeats, Cal was the most competitive it has been in some time. Despite trailing the Buffaloes by 11 at the break, the Golden Bears stormed back and led 54-53 with 7:04.
Minutes later, Colorado found its footing.
The Buffaloes went on a 7-0 run, which gave them the lead. Colorado ultimately won 68-59, handing the Golden Bears their seventh conference loss.
California was out-shot and out-rebounded in the loss, but the Golden Bears did play a polished game. Opposed to Colorado – which committed 17 turnovers – the Golden Bears had just four turnovers in the game’s entirety.
After that loss, Cal shifted its focus to Utah. But that game actually went worse for the Golden Bears.
In the game’s first 20 minutes, things were neck and neck. Utah held a 46-42 lead at the break, and the Golden Bears were still in the game.
The game broke open soon after. A 10-0 run and two Sedrick Barefield threes extended the margin to 14 points, and the Utes cruised to a 82-64 victory.
Utah’s scorers proved too much for the Golden Bears to handle. Barefield led the way with 21 points, and Both Gach and Timmy Allen followed behind with 18 and 17, respectively.
Luckily for Cal, things can’t get any worse. And because of conference tournament rules, the Golden Bears hold on to a slim possibility of reaching the Big Dance.
But don’t count on it.