CSU Northridge @ California preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 16, 2010 ) CSU Northridge 63, California 80

After going winless during a dismal trip to Hawaii, California looks to regroup starting Tuesday against visiting Cal State Northridge. The rebuilding Bears lost three games in three days at the Maui Jim Maui Invitational, including a stunning 96-72 loss to Division II Chaminade in the seventh-place game last Wednesday.

Junior guard Don Coleman averaged 22.3 points during the trip in losses to Wichita State, VCU and Chaminade, but he was one of the few bright spots. First-year coach Wyking Jones was understandably frustrated after the Bears were dominated from start to finish against Chaminade. “For me, in all the years that I’ve been coaching, I’ve never been so embarrassed in my life from the lack of effort from our guys,” Jones told reporters. “So, for me, it’s about going back to the drawing board, myself and my staff, and figuring out what changes we need to make because there definitely needs to be some changes.” The Bears are beginning a three-game homestand with Tuesday's matchup against CSUN, which has lost four in a row and was picked to finish seventh in the Big West Conference.


TV: 11 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network

ABOUT CSUN (1-4): Senior forward Tavrion Dawson averages 15.4 points and 5.0 rebounds to lead the Matadors, who are coming off a 70-65 loss to Binghamton at the Cancun Challenge in Mexico. Coach Reggie Theus has three other players averaging double figures, including guards Micheal Warren (13.4), Lyrik Shreiner (12.2) and Terrell Gomez (10.8). The team’s thin frontcourt is led by 6-foot-8 forward Zeno Lake, who averages 7.4 rebounds and had 10 in the loss to Binghamton.

ABOUT CAL (2-4): Coleman, who scored a career-high 35 points in last Monday’s 92-82 loss to Wichita State, began the week ranked 11th in the nation in total points. The Bears have been overmatched near the basket with seniors Marcus Lee and Kingsley Okoroh frequently battling foul trouble, but 6-foot-8 freshman Grant Anticevich provided a spark off the bench in Hawaii. Jones has also been encouraged by the play of freshman guard Darius McNeill, who is averaging 15.3 points in his last four outings, including a career-high 18 in the loss to Chaminade.

TIP-INS

1. Cal leads the all-time series 6-0, including an 80-63 victory in the last meeting on Nov. 16, 2010.

2. CSUN's lone victory came in its season opener against NAIA Life Pacific.

3. Lee is eighth in the nation in offensive rebounds, averaging 4.33 through six contests.

PREDICTION: Cal 70, CSUN 64