California Bears – #5 Pac 12 college basketball power rankings

California

Coach: Mike Montgomery (4 seasons at California 88-47) Overall 635-291, 30 years

2011-12: Record 24-10 overall, 13-5 in Pac 12(2nd)

Starters Returning (3) Justin Cobbs, Allen Crabbe, David Kravish

Preseason Tournament: Anaheim Classic

Top Non-Conference Games: at Wisconsin, vs. UNLV, vs. Creighton

Transfer Out: Alex Rossi (Valparaiso), Emerson Murray (Seattle)

Sat Out: Ricky Kreklow (Missouri)

California was the only Pac 12 team to earn at large bid to the NCAA tournament last season. This season head coach Mike Montgomery losses 2 of his top 4 scores from last season but he returns 3 starters and all of his key reverses. Montgomery had a scare with bladder cancer but he is now cancer free and signed a two year extension in the summer.

Leading the Bears will be small forward or wing Allen Crabbe (15.2 ppg). He is the second returning leader scorer in the Pac 12. Crabbe is a deadly three pointer, last season he made 83 threes while shooting 40 %. Providing depth behind Crabbe will be Jeff Powers (1.3 ppg) and freshman Kahil Johnson. Leading the way at the point guard position will be former Minnesota transfer Justin Cobbs (12.6 ppg). Cobbs is the 2nd returning leading assist man in the Pac 12. On offense is he a versatile scorer. Joining Cobbs in the backcourt is Brandon Smith (2.8 ppg). Smith a reverse last season can also run some point guard. Depth will be a problem here for the Bears with numbers and experience. Trying to provide that depth will be Missouri transfer Ricky Kreklow and highly rated freshman Tyrone Wallace.

Starting at center will be David Kravish (6.9 ppg). Kravish a lowly two star recruit last season, started 24 games last season as a freshman. With more playing time he could average a double double this season. Likely joining Kravish in the frontcourt is power forward Richard Solomon (6 ppg). Solomon was ineligible the last 10 weeks of the season. He should be highly motivated this season. Cal has plenty of depth here. Providing depth for the Bears will be Bak Bak (1.8 ppg), Christian Behrens (1.1 ppg), Robert Thurman (3. 7ppg) and two freshman Geoffrey Frid and Kaileb Rodriguez.

Follow me on twitter @ScottBasketball  http://twitter.com/#!/ScottBasketball

Also like the Roundballchat site on facebook. http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/roundballchatcom/191263564258333