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		Cal opens hoop season with win over Northridge By Morris Phillips November 16, 2010

	For Mike Montgomery, the ultimate in-the-moment coach, turning the page was easy. For Montgomery’s freshman and sophomore laden team, maybe not as easy. In fact, against a talent-challenged Cal State Northridge squad that got off to a hot shooting start, it took the entire first half for the Bears to settle in and just play. In the end, Cal’s season opener following its first Pac 10 championship, and without its four cornerstone seniors, played to form. The Bears began the second half on a big run, and shot past the Matadors, 80-63. Now instead of looking to Randle, Robertson, Boykin and Christopher, the Bears will look to Jorge Gutierrez and Harper Kamp, the junior who missed the entire championship season with injuries. “We were able to come in at halftime and talk about some things we needed to do against the zone,” Kamp said of the adjustments that were needed to overcome Northridge. “I think guys were able to take a breath and relax and realize that they needed to be a little more aggressive instead of just taking one dribble and holding the ball. And we stepped our defense as well.” The Bears started the second half with a 24-7 run which completely wiped out the Matadors 37-36 lead at half. Hot shooter Rashaun McLemore (11 points on 4 for 4 shooting at halftime) saw the stellar defense of Gutierrez to begin the second half, instead of the capable, but green, long arms of freshman Allen Crabbe. The Bears forced Northridge into several turnovers with increased pressure above the free throw line, and on offense their passing became far more precise. With the Bears pressing the issue in the paint, the Northridge foul totals soared. Cal attempted 50 free throws on the evening, but in only making 31 of those, they allowed the Matadors moment in the sun to last five or ten minutes of game time longer than necessary. But while the Bears missed shots, they made up with the power of youthful exuberance and talent. The first real group of Montgomery-recruited Bears is nothing if not talented. Freshman guard Gary Franklin is a Southern California high school legend, well known for leading powerhouse Mater Dei for three years. Crabbe, the lengthy off guard was named California High School player of the year in a breakout senior season that got the attention of recruiters nationwide. Both players started on Tuesday and while their shooting wasn’t great (6 of 13 combined), the talent was obvious. Along with 6’10” post Richard Solomon, Crabbe’s high school teammate, and Canadian Emerson Murray, the quartet figures to see plenty of playing time. But, of course, playing for Montgomery, who has seen the last 13 of his seasons coaching collegiately end in the NCAA tournament, means young talent has to learn fast. That’s where his returners, Gutierrez, Kamp and undersized post Markhuri Sanders-Frison will play the biggest role as mentors to the freshmen. “Probably going to need to have those guys on the floor, maybe two out of three of them at any given time and rotate around. At the same time, we’re not going to any better, if we can’t have these young guys learn what it’s like,” Montgomery said of his returners and newcomers. On this night, the rotation played perfectly. The youngsters, including sophomores Brandon Smith and Bak Bak, had their moments, while the leaders led, especially when the game turned into a rout early in the second half. Gutierrez led the Bears with 18 points, while Sanders-Frison and Kamp kicked in 15 and 12 points respectively. For the Matadors, who were picked to finish eighth in the nine-team Big West, McLemore led with 24 points followed by Michael Lizarraga, the only deaf player in Division I, with 15 points. Returning scoring leader Lenny Daniel was shut down by the Bears, finishing 0 for 8 and just one point. Cal returns to the hardwood on Saturday night, as the unofficial nightcap to the Big Game, against New Mexico, another NCAA qualifier with a completely different look. Game time is 7pm.