AP Poll: Cal Bears to #25

The new AP basketball poll came out this morning and Oregon is slotted at No. 9, which sounds about right to my learned basketball brain.

The PAC has four in the top-25: Arizona, Utah, and Cal join the Ducks in the poll.  Those teams are shoos-in for the Madness, while several others rest on the so-called "tournament bubble."  Among them, Colorado might have the best shot at breaking in, but OSU is close as well.  I think six will go.

Cal is ranked 25th, which is low for the talent on that team.  Cal is a team you simply do not want to play at this stage, as its crew of mega-talented freshmen has moved comfortably into the D-1 scene after a predictably slow start.

Cal has won 8 in a row, and like Oregon finished unbeaten at home--18-0.  One of those wins came against Oregon in the Ducks' worst loss of the year, an 83-63 rout that was over at tipoff.

That game signaled a warning for everyone else.  Do not hibernate on the Bears.

In fact, I predict Cal will go farthest of the six PAC teams likely to be picked for the Madness.  As much as I like Oregon and Arizona, both with more experienced players, I don't think either has Cal's pedigree overall.

I'm gonna call my bookie this evening.


TS