ESPN.com - Cal, Stanford face off in back-to-back contests

ESPN.com: Men's College Basketball

Friday, January 4, 2002
Cal, Stanford face off in back-to-back contests

By Jay Bilas
Special to ESPN.com

California vs. No. 12 Stanford

GAME TIME:	Sunday, 10 p.m. ET (at California)
LAST MEETING:	Stanford 82, California 62 (Friday night)
SERIES:	California leads, 132-101


	Joe Shipp and the Golden Bears have two shots this weekend to end a five-year losing streak to Stanford.

Due to a bizarre scheduling quirk because of the return of the Pac-10 postseason tournament, Cal and Stanford will play twice within 48 hours. For fans of the cross-town rivalry, this could be too much to take in one weekend. Stanford has won the last nine games between the two schools, but Stanford should get a better test this weekend from an improved Cal team.

Cal is 9-1, with wins over New Mexico, Fresno State, St. Louis and Penn State. Although the Bears lost Pac-10 Player of the Year Sean Lampley to graduation, this Bear team could be better than last year's team before it's over.

The Bears are well-coached by Ben Braun, and defend very well. Cal is holding opponents to just 60 points per game, and only 39 percent shooting, including just 29 percent from 3-point range. While the Bears have not played the toughest schedule on the planet, Cal has a solid RPI of 37, and some experienced personnel.

Cal plays mostly straight man-to-man, but will designate double-teams from time to time, and will play some 2-3 and 1-3-1 zone with some trapping. On the offensive end, the Bears run some quick-hitting sets into motion offense, using stacks, high-low looks and a very good secondary break.

Junior Joe Shipp has emerged as the Bears' leading scorer, and is a very athletic and strong shooter who can launch the ball with ease from range and post smaller players. Shipp scored 31 points, hitting nine 3s, against Fresno State, and has scored in double figures in six straight. In years past, Stanford's size has bothered Cal, but no longer.

The Bears have four player that are 6-10 or better, including freshman Jamal Sampson, senior Solomon Hughes and freshman Amit Tamir. Sampson, a cousin of Ralph Sampson, is an excellent prospect with good instincts, very good hands, the ability to score around the goal, and to run the court. He averages 7 points and 8 rebounds, and is a good offensive rebounder. Tamir is a 22-year-old man who has served in the Israeli Army, and sat out the first eight games of the season because he committed the NCAA's current cardinal sin of playing with pros such as Haywoode Workman and Constantin Popa in his native Israel (what an amazing advantage over American kids, huh?! Glad the NCAA is protecting us against guys like Tamir, who only works his tail off and just wants to go to school and play ball!). Tamir is competitive, a good passer, and knows how to play. He scored 12 points and added 9 rebounds against Penn State in just his second college game.

Shantay Legans, a pass-first lefty point guard, and Dennis Gates, an excellent defender that can pass and blend, provide additional experience and ability.

Stanford is coming off of an impressive win over Michigan State, and is starting to put things together for another stellar Pac-10 season. Mike Montgomery is one of the very best coaches in the college game, and is guiding his team into being tougher defensively and on the glass without Jason and Jarron Collins patrolling the lane and making people shoot over them. The Cardinal still play containment man-to-man, guarding teams from the 3-point line and in, forcing foes to shoot over an outstretched arm, with no tricks and no switches, doubles or gambles, and Curtis Borchardt is becoming a force inside, blocking shots and rebounding.

Stanford still runs a plethora of multiple-option sets, many called via cue cards from the bench. Casey Jacobsen remains the main guy teams have to stop, and is averaging 21 points, but only shooting 40 percent from the field. Jacobsen is facing tougher defensive schemes designed to stop him first, and he has still put up points. Jacobsen is stronger this season, and is an improved rebounder and passer, averaging over 5 boards and 4 assists per game. Borchardt is one of the most improved players in the nation, and if not for a foot injury that cost him most of last season, would be even better. Borchardt is an outstanding shotblocker with great hands, timing and quick feet. He gets into the air quickly and has very good skills, both passing and scoring. Borchardt averages 16 points, 11 rebounds and 3 blocks, and shoots 63 percent from the floor.

A player to watch for Stanford is freshman Josh Childress, a smooth 6-7 scorer that has good range, a nice touch, and can get to the basket. It has been a while since Stanford has had an athlete like Childress, and when he gets some experience and confidence, this slender and slashing athlete will be one of the best players in the country. Childress and Sampson will be competing against each other after having been teammates and roommates since the sixth grade in AAU competition.

Key matchup: Curtis Borchardt vs. Solomon Hughes, Amit Tamir and Jamal Sampson.

Under Montgomery and Braun, Stanford has always had a clear advantage up front against Cal. Because of Cal's size and depth in the post, this may not be the case much longer. However, Borchardt is emerging as one of the nation's best true big men, and he is good enough to command a double team. Borchardt is a star in the making, and it will take a solid effort from Hughes, Tamir and Sampson to deal with him.

Key stats: Rebounding and 3-Point Shooting.

Stanford, although it ise without the Collins twins, can still rebound the ball very well. Stanford is outrebounding its opponents by over 12 boards per game, while Cal is even on the glass with its foes. Stanford is allowing its opponents to shoot over 38 percent from beyond the arc, and cannot allow Shipp and Legans to take 3s with time and their feet set.

What to watch For: Watch how Jacobsen uses screens to get open. Jacobsen is an outstanding scorer who is always looking to score. He moves without the ball well, works off of screens well, and catches the ball ready to shoot, then makes a read from there. Jacobsen may have gotten off to a slow start according to his standards, but this guy is a great college basketball player, and a joy to watch.