Cal Basketball: Bears Putting Disastrous Recent History Behind Them

The Cal basketball team, which opens its season next Monday night against St. Thomas of Minnesota, is spending very little energy looking back at last year.

That’s probably for the best, considering the Bears suffered a 3-29 campaign, worst in program history. Cal has endured six straight losing seasons, accumulating at least 20 defeats in five of them.

The Bears were picked 11th in this year’s Pac-12 media poll, based mostly on what they were a year ago.

Now, under new coach Mark Madsen, it’s full speed ahead.

“Last year was last year. We’re moving on to this year and we’re excited,” said senior guard Devin Askew, one of just five scholarship returnees from a year ago.

“It feels good — we’ve got a really good team. Really excited. Coaches, players, everyone’s bought in.”

Madsen rebuilt his roster with a transfer class of four players ranked seventh nationally, according to On3. The Bears also welcome three scholarship freshmen.

Askew is a Sacramento area native who spent one season each at Kentucky and Texas before returning to play at Cal last year. Limited by injuries to 13 games in his debut season, he still the team in scoring at 15.5 points per game.

With the arrival of forwards Fardaws Aimaq and Jaylon Tyson from Texas Tech and guards Jalen Cone from Northern Arizona and Keonte Kennedy from Memphis, the Bears’ depth and talent level are clearly improved. Tyson is awaiting word on an appeal after the NCAA denied his eligibility as a second-time transfer.

Askew likes what he sees with the new Bears

“I’ll never bash anyone. We had some good players last year and we have some really good players this year,” Askew said. “We’ve got some really talented guys that came in. We’re going to be a really good team.”

Aimaq played three seasons for Madsen at Utah Valley, earning WAC Player of the Year honors in 2020-21 and WAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2021-22 before transferring last year to Texas Tech.

He was eager to reunite with his old coach but wondered about the roster he was joining.

“That was the one thing I was obviously worried about coming here. But they have been great,” he said, referring to Askew and fellow returnees Jalen Celestine, Grant Newell, ND Okafor and Monty Bowser.

Aimaq, a 6-foot-11 native of British Columbia, said he has seen no scar tissue among the Cal veterans.

“We have that winning culture. It starts with our coaches. Coach (Madsen) comes from winning, wherever he’s been at, whether as a player or a coach,” he said. “I think that rubs off on us and shows every day in practice. Right now it’s just about trying to put the pieces together and make everything work.”

Askew echoed that Madsen, the former Stanford star and NBA journeyman, sets the tone with his positive approach.

“He’s a guy with experience and people like him with experience are easy to follow. Because what we want to accomplish is what he’s already accomplished,” Askew said.

Askew said he’s willing to play whatever role the coaching staff needs. With Cone likely to be the primary point guard, Askew may play off the ball some. Even so, he still views himself primarily as a facilitator.

Madsen called Askew a versatile player who makes those around him better.

“He can play multiple positions,” said Madsen, confirming that Askew is completely healthy. “His attitude has been outstanding. His play on the court has been outstanding. We’re expecting great things from Devin Askew this year.

“(He) probably has one of the best basketball IQs that I’ve been around in my career.”

Askew said he’s been most encouraged by the way the returning players, transfers and incoming freshmen all have meshed and bonded.

“They brought over a culture that’s fun and it brings out that togetherness,” he said. “We always talk in the locker room . . . we’ll be here ’til 8 p.m., just talking. We talk about real stuff, whether it’s funny topics, what’s going on in the world, how practices are going.

“It’s an open conversation. Everyone just speaks from their heart and it’s all love.”

Photo of Cal guard Devin Askew by Darren Yamashita, USA Today

Follow Jeff Faraudo of Cal Sports Report on Twitter: @jefffaraudo

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