Newell already has a pretty good back court in Junior Phil Chenier and Sophomore Kevin Johnson.  They complement each other well as Johnson is one of the best penetrators on the west coast.  This Sacramento kid showed great quickness going to the hoop and can really kick it to open teammates.  Chenier is usually the guy he is kicking it to on the perimeter.  This hometown kid is by far the best perimeter shooter on the team as Newell knows he has got to get better utilizing the three-point line.  That is not his forte but you got to keep up with the changes and he is bringing in some kids just to do that including the biggest recruit in program history who just happens to be another point guard.  This should be interesting in Berkeley as Johnson is not going to give up his job without a tussle no matter how good this kid from Oakland is. 

The Golden bears scored a little more with Johnson running the show and thus gave up a few more points than Newell would have liked last year.  The team became more of a fast break guard oriented team which is foreign to Newell’s philosophies.  The Bears are not going to challenge the Runnin’ Rebels for fast break supremacy but if you are going to recruit better athletes who want to play at the next level, these kids are going to want to show their goods.  This is becoming a complete team who could beat you in a variance of ways and were not afraid to play anybody anywhere!  Far from the days of the defensive juggernaut they have been that worked for a minute before the Bruins took over the Pac-10 with their dominant big men.  But this team is going to do whatever it takes to get back to the top and if that means traveling cross country to play some of the elite programs in the country the so be it.  Newell has traveled some himself with his camps and a past history of coaching some other programs so these guys were easier to schedule then most programs get.  After all who doesn’t want to take a shot at the nerdy kids from Berkeley who might someday be your boss.  

Newell’s best project was and is big man Darrall Imhoff.  The senior has learned all the skills and philosophies the great guru can teach.  He has become one of the best defensive big men in the country.  His ability to guard other big men keeps him on the court as he is not a great offensive presence.  He relies on putbacks and a nice little drop step (courtesy of Mr. Newell) but he is not the most agile big man.  If Newell can teach this big guy to play and flourish imagine what he could do with a Ewing or Olojowon?  He may not get the accolades and highlight reels as some of those other big men but he was just as important to the success of his team if not more so.  He may not have the offensive game to flourish at the next level but he will play and he will produce wherever he goes.  One thing Newell cannot teach is size and Imhoff has it at 6’10 220.  The rest of this molded clay was made by the Master.  Funny thing is that it almost didn’t happen. Imhoff was enrolling to Berkeley as a freshman and his Aunt just happened to call over to the sports department to see if they had a big enough bed for her nephew.  Well, Newell answered and was trying to redirect the lady when he asked how tall he was?  When she said 6’10 Newell asked if he could come by for a visit.  The rest is Golden Bear history.  Sometimes you just get lucky and having someone that has worked as hard as Imhoff made Newell’s reputation.  Big kids are now running to play for him as he has 4 guys on his returning roster over 6’8 and five kids coming in that are either seven footers or dang near seven foot.  Now, none of these kids are polished post players like an Alcindor or Walton down south but he will undoubtedly make them better.  That is what he does. 

Newell’s first pupil was none other than senior Bob McKeen.  McKeen came from up the road in Piedmont and has been the primary low post option since he arrived.  He is nowhere near as big as some of his teammates at 6’7 and 200 pounds but he has been able to take what Newell has taught him and put it to use better than anyone including Imhoff.  He is not the defensive presence as the kid from San Gabriel but he is a stud on the blocks.  He got to play a year before Imhoff due to some archaic eligibility rules and has taken his sidekick under his wing, mentoring the bigger player.  These two will begin the year starting next to each other but if some of the new kids step up then they might not end that way.  The best thing about both of them is they live the blue and gold code and if these more athletic kids can make the team better then so be it.  And they are going to help them accomplish this every step of the way. 

The Golden Bears were in the enviable situation of having some great guards besides just the two starters and incoming potential superstar.  Senior Russ Critchfield was the starter most of last year until Johnson took over at the end. This 5’10 firecracker from Salinas can flat get to the hoop and can score.  He can also pass but is just not big enough to play full time anymore.  Newell plays three guards together as much as possible though he does understand that you got to match up with as much size as you can especially in the Pac 10.   Junior Charles Johnson is another scoring point guard that plays an awful lot of two behind Chenier.  A square up perimeter shooter who can nail jump shots all day, Johnson is the guys who sets up outside and waits for Johnson or Critchfield to deliver him the ball when the defense drops off on him.  He then delivers.  And he may have the prettiest jump shot this side of Reggie Miller.  Johnson can also score on his own but is better in this role.  There is no better quartet of guards playing together in the country and they drive defenses nuts. But none of them are big enough to guard true wings.  Enter the kid from Oakland who goes a solid 6’4 and can board like a big man. 

Cal has some issues at the wings. The guys that will start the year just were not athletic enough to compete in the Pac 10 and maybe more importantly could not run with the speedy backcourt.  Junior Jackie Ridgle is the only one athletic enough to hang athletically at this level but has limited other skills.  Not a great shooter or ballhandler, Ridgle goes 6’4 and can fly but Newell preaches fundamentals.  Senior Andy Wolfe is the presumed starter but at 6’1 is not big enough to hang anymore but he can shoot.  

Newell also had at his disposal an effective bench but not all are happy being there. A street ball King named Gene Ransom heard the bells ringing once the Kid from Oakland signed his letter of intent and is looking to transfer with the new portal instead of riding the pine.  Ransom had some huge games (his shootout with Freddie Lewis against Arizona State comes to mind) when Chenier got hurt for two weeks but is wildly inconsistent and Newell does not like his defense or lack thereof but the fans love him.  Senior Denny Fitzpatrick has played well and Newell loves him but he is not athletic enough.  Junior Ricky Hawthorne might be after two years on the JV but he has to beat out the incoming freshmen now. The back court is in good shape as most of these cats will get wrap up minutes at best with the new kids in town.  Size was an issue on this team and that is why Imhoff is so important.  Senior Big Bill McClintock (not really he is only six four) subbed in for Imhoff early on and did okay but was nowhere near big enough for the Pac 10.   Junior Ansley Truitt and sophomore Leonard Taylor were much better.  Truitt goes 6’9 and is starting to figure out Newell’s teachings and might be the best low post option on the roster.  This Georgia kid via San Fran should pass up Mckeen on the depth chart this year but for now is the sixth man who brings offense to the Bears post play.  Taylor is a terrific physical specimen who goes 6’8 and a tight 220.  The Sophomore has the physique and can score but is inconsistent and is still learning to play the kind of defense Newell wants. Another sophomore, Michael Pitts, is the biggest of the bunch at 6’11 but is awful skinny (210 pounds) and barely got off the JV squad last year.  Speaking of JV, the leading scorer for that team is moving up this year.  6’7 225 pound John Coughran can score in the box but he really needs to improve his defense if he wants to play for Newell on the varsity.  Truitt will be first in line to replace Imhoff or McKeen off the bench but Taylor will also see some time and there a couple of projects Newell has waiting in the wings and is developing on the JV squad.  And he has even used the portal to steal a near seven footer from lowly San Jose.  Newell and company will beat the bushes to find big men.  Speaking of finding a diamond in the rough big Bob Presley transferred in from a JC last year and really showed some potential.  This 6’10 225 pound smooth operator was born in Birmingham Alabama but raised in Detroit.  He is part of the new railroad of players from the inner cities who are shuttled to programs for their athletic prowess.  Presley showed he can flat play in his limited minutes last year and might be the best rebounder on the team.  When you are in the Pac-10 you take as many big guys as you can get especially when you got to play those dang Bruins at least twice.  And when you got a guy teaching them like Newell then they might have a chance to actually hang with those monsters. 

The California Golden Bears are hoping to have the right combination once again in the PAC-10.  Start with a defensive minded Coach who is as good of teaching big men how to play as there is in the country.  Combine that with a great backcourt who is young, athletic and skilled and the Bears were ready to growl again.  Coach Pete Newell’s team wants to shake up the Pac 10 and made their presence felt once again after hibernating for the last few years.  They will be back if this freshman class is anywhere as good as they are advertised.  But for any of these kids to actually get on the court they must be able to play the disciplined style that Newell teaches and that includes tough in your face defense where no layups are allowed.  Sure, this program is looking to keep up with their fellow species and will score way more than they have in the past but Newell preaches one thing even more so then developing big men.  Teams win together and half of the game is played on the defensive end so no matter how much you score, you better be able to stop the other team if you want to get to the top of the mountain.