Team Profile: UC-Berkeley Golden Bears

Berkeley fans - what happened?

Fans of Cal had to think that 2006-2007 would be their year. Leon Powe was coming back for his senior year, he had just gone nuts in the loss to NC State scoring 14 points, and grabbing 12 boards. This was after his 41 point game, and 20 rebound outbursts in the Pac-10 tournament against Southern Cal and Oregon. With returnees DeVon Hardin (power forward/center), and Ayinde Ubaka (point guard), Cal was geared to take on the Pac-10, and be favorites to win the Pac-10 for the first time since 1960. But, as Biggie said, "It was all a dream."

Next thing you know, Leon Powe declares for the NBA Draft, and Cal is left to ponder what might have been. All I have to say is, Suck it Cal. Suck it for destroying the bottom half of my Atlanta Region bracket, for your sleeper status was going to win me some serious money. By the way, Powe’s last game for Boston, DNP coaches decision. Good move there Powe, should be an amazing professional career for you! But honestly, as Pat pointed out, how much more would Powe develop at Berkeley?

But, Cal fans, the followers of perennial runner-ups and incomplete dreams, your team is be no means starting over from scratch. There is still some dough left over in the fridge to make some pretty tasty cookies. Your recruiting class is decent, and will all contend for playing time. Or is that a bad thing? I haven’t made up my mind yet.

Keys for Cal:
DeVon Hardin must mature at a rapid pace, and contribute more than he did last year. He showed glimpses last year but he was wildly inconsistent. If he can replace Powe in the middle of that offense, Cal will be fine. The question you have to ask yourself, were his points the result of the focus from other teams on Leon Powe? That will be answered early this year.

Prediction: 4th in the Pac-10 behind Arizona, UCLA, and UW. If Powe had returned, it would be hard to think this team wouldn’t be the favorite to win the Pac-10 title. But since he left, suck it Cal