Cal (9-2) vs. No. 12 Virginia (9-1)
BERKELEY --Â A pair of the nation's top defenses will be on display and Cal's program-best 27-game home-winning streak will be put to the test when California men's basketball hosts No. 12 Virginia in its nonconference finale. The action tips off from Haas Pavilion on Wednesday at 7 p.m. and airs live on ESPN2.
The first 6,000 fans in attendance will receive free #WhiteOutHaas holiday-themed T-shirts, and fans are encouraged to blanket the arena in a singular color by wearing white.
The Cavaliers head to Haas as the nation's top-ranked scoring defense, allowing just 46.7 points per game, with a field goal percentage defense that's second in the country at 33.9 percent. The Golden Bears rank 13th in scoring defense (59.6 ppg allowed) and 10th in field goal percentage defense (36.4 percent). Cal aims to protect its program-record 27-game home win streak. The Bears are 24-2 in non-conference home games under head coach
Cuonzo Martin and 65-5 on Pete Newell Court vs. non-Pac-12 opponents since the start of the 2009-10 campaign.
HOW TO FOLLOW THE ACTION: Tickets for the game can be purchased in advance via CalBears.com or by calling (800) 462-3277. The game will be televised live on ESPN2 and online via WatchESPN.com and the WatchESPN app, with Sean Farnham and Dave Pasch on the call. The California Golden Bears Sports Network (KGO 810 AM) has the radio call from Todd McKim and
Jay John. Follow the Bears on social media for a behind-the-scenes look at all the action at Facebook.com/CalMensBball and on Twitter and Instagram @CalMensBball.
SCOUTING THE CAVALIERS
Last Meeting: The No. 5 Cavaliers defeated Cal, 63-62, in overtime in Charlottesville, Va.
Series Record: Virginia leads, 1-0
Virginia's 2016-17 Record: 9-1
Virginia's Last Game: Held Robert Morris to under 40 points in a 79-39 victory.
• The Cavaliers are among the top 5 in the nation for: scoring defense (1st, 46.7), scoring margin (2nd, 24.5), turnovers per game (2nd, 9.2), field goal percentage defense (2nd, 33.9), fewest turnovers (3rd, 92), and assist-turnover ratio (4th., 1.84)
• Virginia has used the same starters in all 10 of its games: London Perrantes, Darius Thompson, Isaiah Wilkins, Devon Hall and Jack Salt.
• Perrantes leads the offense with 9.6 points per game, followed by Marial Shayok (9.1).
• Wilkins owns a team-best 5.2 rebounding average.
• Guy is shooting 61.5 percent (16-26) from beyond the arc.
• Virginia's lone loss came against West Virginia on Dec. 3, 66-57
• The Cavaliers own a 51.0 percent field goal percentage, while holding opponents to 33.9 percent.
A LOOK AT THE ALL-TIME SERIES
2015-16: L - OT, 63-62 (A)
LAST TIME OUT
Cal set the school record for consecutive home wins in an 81-55 romp of Cal Poly
• Cal extended its home win streak to 27 consecutive games.
• The Bears shot 53.4 percent (31-58) for the game, going 18-30 (60 percent) in the second half.
•
Jabari Bird soared with a career-high 25 points alongside five rebounds, two assists and a block.
•
Ivan Rabb scored 18 points and added six rebounds, plus a season-high three blocks, before fouling out in a 28-minute effort.
•
Charlie Moore produced 12 points and five assists in the win.
•
Kingsley Okoroh logged 11 rebound, just one rebound shy of his career-high total of 12.
•
Grant Mullins dished out a season-high five assists nabbed three steals.
A CALIFORNIA WIN WOULD...
• Be Cal's first victory over an AP Top 25 opponent at home since Feb. 11, 2016 (83-63 win vs. No. 11 Oregon).
• Up Cal's program-record 27-game home win streak to 28 games.
• Give
Cuonzo Martin a 25-2 record in nonconference home games as Cal's head coach.
• Be Cal's best record in nonconference play under Martin at 10-2. Cal went 10-3 in 2014-15 and 2015-16.
• Be Cal's best finish in nonconference action since 2008-09, when the Bears went 11-2 under head coach
Mike Montgomery.
WELCOME TO MY HAAS
With Cal's most recent home win, the Bears extended their homecourt winning streak to 27 games when including a victory from the final contest of the 2014-15 campaign. The run is the longest in school history and is the fourth-longest current streak in the country. Cal set the record with an 81-55 rout of Cal Poly on Dec. 17.
Cal's Longest Homecourt Win Streaks
1. 27 -- March 1, 2015-currentÂ
2. 26 -- Dec. 27, 1958 to Dec. 16, 1960
3. 17 -- Feb. 20, 2011 to Jan. 29, 2012 and Feb. 2, 2002 to Feb. 15, 2003
Nation's Longest Active Homecourt Win Streaks
1. 49 -- Kansas
2. 34 -- South Dakota State
3. 32 -- Oregon
4. 27 -- Cal
5. 24 -- IndianaÂ
6. 23 -- Akron
DEFENDING THE HOME COURT
Cal's defense has been particularly stingy inside Haas Pavilion this year, with the Bears surrendering just 58.5 ppg and 36.1 percent shooting from the floor. Cal owns a +8.4 rebounding margin and is averaging 5.1 blocks per game. The Bears are averaging 76.6 points at home, including four 80-point games. Individually, three Cal players are contributing double-figure point totals:
Charlie Moore (18.0 points per game),
Ivan Rabb (17.3),
Jabari Bird (14.7),
Grant Mullins (10.8)
BEARS BUILD ON DEFENSIVE PROWESS
With defense as a staple of head coach
Cuonzo Martin's program, California is once again emerging as a force on the floor, where the Bears rank among the nation's elite in five different categories. Cal is eighth in defensive rebounds per game (30.64), 10th for field goal percentage defense (36.4 percent), 13th for scoring defense (59.6 ppg), 14th for total rebounds per game (41.73) and 15th for rebound margin (+9.1).
BIG BIRD
Jabari Bird, who missed six games with a back injury this season, paved the way for Cal's record-breaking win over Cal Poly with a career-high 25 points. Since his return against Princeton on Dec. 6, Bird is averaging a team-leading 16.3 points per game, plus six rebounds per game. He has scored in double figures in three of four appearances since his return, including two 20-point outings against Seton Hall and Cal Poly. Bird was also one point shy of his first career double-double with his 22 point, nine rebound performance vs. the Pirates.Â
KING'S COURT
Kingsley Okoroh's paint presence ranks among the best in the country, where he is top 25 in two categories. Okoroh is averaging 2.55 blocked shots per game, a total that ranks 23rd in the nation and fourth in the Pac-12, and his 28 total blocks this season are 24th in NCAA action.
In a four-game stretch from Nov. 21 to Nov. 30, the Derby, England set career-highs in each game. He started the string off by setting a personal-best rebound total of 9 against San Diego State, and followed the performance with a career-high 5 blocks against Wyoming. He capped off the week by matching both his career-best point (10) and rebound (9) totals and setting a new personal-best mark for assists with 3 against Southeastern Louisiana. Against Louisiana Tech, Okoroh set new career-high boards (12) and assist (4) totals on top of matching his career-high blocks (5).
RABBID PLAY
AP Preseason All-American
Ivan Rabb is living up to his billing this season, averaging 15.2 points and 8.9 rebounds. In back-to-back games, Rabb scored a then career-best 25 points in Cal's OT win over Louisiana Tech, then followed it up with a 26-point game against Alcorn State. He scored the 26 points on a 10-12 outing from the floor and 6-7 clip at the charity stripe in just 29 minutes.
Rabb made his return to the Cal lineup for the first time this season against San Diego State, where he came off the bench and logged a team-high 30 minutes of action. Though Rabb had just three points in the first half on a 3-5 performance at the charity stripe, he finished the game only two points shy of his career-high total with 19 points. After returning from injury, Rabb posted a career-long four-game double-double streak.
PARTY LIKE A BLOCK STAR
Kingsley Okoroh is climbing up the Cal career record charts for his prowess in protecting the rim. Okoroh currently ranks eighth all-time with 89 career blocked shots.
1. David Kravish (2012-15) -- 226
2. Michael Stewart (1994-97) -- 207
3. DeVon Hardin (2005-08) -- 132
...
7. Brian Hendrick (1990-93) -- 98
8. Kingsley Okoroh (2014-present) -- 89
NEXT UP
The Golden Bears open Pac-12 play against Arizona at home in Berkeley on Friday, Dec. 30. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. from Pete Newell Court, and the game will be televised live on ESPN2.
