Cal Bears

A team that does not get enough recognition on here is the Cal Bears. They do not play a creampuff schedule so they lose a good amount but that's because we play the very best in the nation. Cal has already played 3 of the top 4 teams in the nation. We do not load up with the UC Irvine or the Saint Mary or the Nevada like other teams do just to appear better. No Cal wants to get better! Dangerous team for the rest of the season.

What are your guys thoughts on the Bears?
 
Not as good as previous years. Still top 16 talent, but a lot of 3 to 6 slot players on the team. Need someone like Pedro zerbini to round out that talent.
 
We do need a more powerful #1 player. I think we have a deep team. Over the last few years I have been disappointed with our inability to recruit a top Californian talent. USC and UCLA get all of them. Why can't we get a Giron or a Sarmiento?
 
They may have gotten more wins last week if they had riki mclachlan ready to play. Could potentially have moved up to top 10 in the new rankings.
 

tennishmang

New User
We do need a more powerful #1 player. I think we have a deep team. Over the last few years I have been disappointed with our inability to recruit a top Californian talent. USC and UCLA get all of them. Why can't we get a Giron or a Sarmiento?

Because the best california players want to go somewhere they can win a championship. That usually being either USC or UCLA or Stanford. Not to mention Cal's facilities and stadium are absolutely abysmal and Peter Wright isn't exactly the most lively of recruiters.

Cal should be much more lucrative once the stadium and facilities are upgraded. I know they're raising money now and hopefully will have a new facility in a few years.
 
Because the best california players want to go somewhere they can win a championship. That usually being either USC or UCLA or Stanford. Not to mention Cal's facilities and stadium are absolutely abysmal and Peter Wright isn't exactly the most lively of recruiters.

Cal should be much more lucrative once the stadium and facilities are upgraded. I know they're raising money now and hopefully will have a new facility in a few years.

If a Giron or Sarmiento came here then we would win championships. We are not that far away. The facilities aren't bad and it hasn't slowed down the women's team. The program has been attractive to players of northern Europe as well.
 
Cal has a very good team this year, I hate to say it but I think Stanford will lose this weekend to the Bears. To your other concerns about Cal getting the top California kids I think that goes to their recruiting philosophy. Everyone knows Peter doesn't hit the recruiting hard and takes his recruiting overseas. I have heard he will offer walkon spots to California kids but does not like to give out the scholarship money to them. Plus, in past years I think the Cal team has been labeled as soft. I would think after this year Stanford should regain control of the Bay Area. I would like to see the Cardinal beef up the schedule next year. Nevada, Furman, SMC, and others is just not going to cut it. Should be a fun match this weekend
 

andfor

Legend
If a Giron or Sarmiento came here then we would win championships. We are not that far away. The facilities aren't bad and it hasn't slowed down the women's team. The program has been attractive to players of northern Europe as well.

Pepperdine and a few other schools could make the same argument.

Congrats on the win today.
 

SoCal10s

Hall of Fame
I saw Cal Bears just lost to San Diego State ... what gives..

it looks like the coach messed up not playing the best players against a solid SDSU team..
 
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I saw Cal Bears just lost to San Diego State ... what gives..

it looks like the coach messed up not playing the best players against a solid SDSU team..

The sad thing is they played their full lineup, Riki is out due to injury. This is now Cal's full lineup. Mads is the new freshmen that is not as strong as they hoped.
 

Major

New User
Stanford girls played well today. Outplayed Cal top to (almost) bottom.

I wonder how many seasons the mens' team can disappoint before changes are made.
 

andfor

Legend
they did good today .. so how can they beat #4 Duke and lose to San Diego State ?

Duke is over rated and SDSU is under rated. Home court advantage may play a small part in an upset sometimes. But overall a true upset in college tennis (unless s person is a hardcore believer in the rankings) is rare. Yea, they happen every now and then. The rankings are still not accurate and will continue to settle out over the next few weeks.
 
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mikej

Hall of Fame
Duke is over rated

really? who behind them in the rankings is better?

my answer might be OSU, but there are arguments against every team behind them

UK is one spot lower - they've lost 6-1 and 4-0 last couple days

OU is two spots lower - Duke beat them already without too much trouble

UGA is three spots lower - they're continuing to struggle with the Ole Miss loss, their 4th of the season

the real answer is -
other than UVA, and maybe USC and UCLA, nobody is that dominant this year that they can't be taken down by a good team ranked 10-20 spots lower playing an inspired match

your point about the rankings continuing to work themselves out is true, but don't expect Duke to be ranked much differently by the end of the season - they'll still be top 5-8 in the end, and they'll have a good shot at NCAA semis if they get the right (meaning UVA-free) draw
 
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andfor

Legend
really? who behind them in the rankings is better?

my answer might be OSU, but there are arguments against every team behind them

UK is one spot lower - they've lost 6-1 and 4-0 last couple days

OU is two spots lower - Duke beat them already without too much trouble

UGA is three spots lower - they're continuing to struggle with the Ole Miss loss, their 4th of the season

the real answer is -
other than UVA, and maybe USC and UCLA, nobody is that dominant this year that they can't be taken down by a good team ranked 10-20 spots lower playing an inspired match

your point about the rankings continuing to work themselves out is true, but don't expect Duke to be ranked much differently by the end of the season - they'll still be top 5-8 in the end, and they'll have a good shot at NCAA semis if they get the right (meaning UVA-free) draw

I should have said either Duke is over rated or SDSU is under rated. You make a lot of good points. When going over Duke's current season they look solid and their ranking placement seems fair at this time. This Duke loss could be chalked up to a slight home court advantage Cal. Taking nothing away from Cal they were the better team yesterday. These types of potential tough regular season match ups are played just for this purpose, to acclimate teams to adverse condtions.

I will add one other factor to upsets in college tennis, injury. Although it's my least favorite and I veiw it more as an excuse, an injured player on the court in the line-up is a little harder to pick out. If a injured player is on the court in the line-up, the coach decided he is still better than his possible replacement. Regrardless, that's why teams have more than 6 players. Injuries, team depth and who can adjust best when they happen are part of the game.
 
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tacoben

Semi-Pro
I was at that match....exciting end! "G-Man" came through again like he did against Stanford :). Looking forward to Pepperdine this weekend.
 

Automator

Semi-Pro
To the Virginia post, on the men's side it is PAC 8.

Well, the conference is the Pac-12 regardless of how many schools field teams. Maybe a more accurate statement would be that when it comes to Pac-12 men's tennis this season, it's USC, UCLA and the 6 dwarfs.
 
Well, the conference is the Pac-12 regardless of how many schools field teams. Maybe a more accurate statement would be that when it comes to Pac-12 men's tennis this season, it's USC, UCLA and the 6 dwarfs.

I don't know about dwarfs. Cal did just beat Duke. It's more about UCLA and USC being so good rather than the others being that bad.
 
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