'A lot of people will be shocked' by bears

The second year of the Mark Madsen coaching era begins Monday night when the Cal men’s basketball team opens its season against Cal State Bakersfield at Haas Pavilion.

With 16 new players, this will be a different team than fans saw a year ago.

“I feel like a lot of people are going to be shocked when they see us play,” said junior forward Joshua Ola-Joseph, one of nine Division I transfers on the roster.

The Bears went 13-19 in Madsen’s debut season and improved as the year progressed. They were 9-11 in the Pac-12 despite losing their last three regular-season conference games.

Cal produced a first-round NBA draft pick in guard Jaylon Tyson (19.6 points per game) and had a co-leader in big man Fardaws Aimaq, who ranked sixth nationally with 19 double-doubles.

This team might not have anyone like these two.

Depth and balance will be the hallmarks of this team.

Madsen, who had not yet decided on a starting lineup when he met reporters this week, sees strength in numbers. Depending on the opponent and how things unfold in a given game, he said he can imagine 10 or 11 players.

“I think we have several guys who can step into a senior role night in and night out,” he said. “I look at that as a strength because when you have one or two big guys, the defense can really play on those guys. They won’t target one person because we have so many different threats.

“There will be better floor spacing. There will be guys who can come off the bench and have really strong bursts on the defensive and offensive ends. So that helps our team.”

Along with these qualities, Madsen says his team is selfless and fiery.

Oakland native Jovan Blacksher Jr., a graduate transfer from Grand Canyon University, was asked how minutes would be shared on a team with so many capable players.

“The technical staff is doing well. They are going to do what they have to do to make sure we play the right way,” he said. “We have a team where everyone can do everything, a lot of depth.”

What will the bears look like beyond the depths?

“You’re going to see a lot of energy, a lot of physicality. A hungry team, new and ready to play basketball,” Blacksher said, adding that the team is not yet a finished product. “I feel like our potential is still there; we are still growing. Ten, eleven new guys, I think we can only go up.”

Ola-Joseph said the Bears showed progress in two closed scrimmages.

“The team is really in good shape. We’re all crying right now,” he said. “Obviously none of us have played together, so we’re building chemistry with the two scrimmages we had. I am very excited for the future.”

And what will it look like on Monday evening at 8:30 PM?

“We should see a lot of highlights, a lot of athletes,” Ola-Joseph said. “There are a lot of people flying around – a defense-oriented team. The coach has matched and prepared us well, so I feel like we will show up on Monday and play really well.”