California 2009-2010 Basketball Betting Prediction, Odds, Lines,

With the College Basketball 2009-2010 Season just around the corner, we are providing season previews & predictions for all NCAA basketball teams to give you the betting edge this year. Follow the best College Basketball Handicappers as they analyze their teams in this 2009-2010 basketball season preview. Be sure to bookmark SportsbookBuzz.com your source for Sportsbook Reviews. Use our comprehensive and insider info to bet successfully on the College Basketball in our recommend online sportsbooks.View the rest of our 2009 NCAA Basketball Season Previews here.

California 2008-2009 Record: 22-11, 11-7

California 2008-2009 Post Season: NCAA

California Coach: Mike Montgomery (22-11 at California, 569-255 overall)

California Projected Starters:

• Jerome Randle, Senior, Guard, 18.3 points per game
• Patrick Christopher, Senior, Guard, 14.5 points per game
• Theo Robertson, Senior, Forward, 13.1 points per game
• Jamal Boykin, Senior, Forward, 9.6 points per game
• Harper Kamp, Junior, Forward, 3.8 points per game

California Player to Watch: Jerome Randle

California Key Losses: C Jordan Wilkes

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2009-2010 California Season Preview

The transition wasn’t seamless, but it couldn’t have been much smoother for Mike Montgomery and the Cal program. Projected to finish seventh after landing two slots below that in Ben Braun’s final season in Berkeley, the Golden Bears proved better than that … considerably so.

They flirted with first place before tying for third in the Pac-10 and earning an NCAA Tournament bid despite dropping four of their final five games against conference competition. Montgomery’s second season should turn out even better – considerably so – for the program that had appeared so stagnant just a season ago.

With the bulk of a squad – including all-conference selections Jerome Randle and Patrick Christopher – that won 17 of its first 23 games returning to campus.

And the Golden Bears also will be expected to extend their NCAA Tourney stay into the second week after being bounced (84-71) by Maryland in the first round last March.

The expectations are fine by Montgomery, who took his final 10 Stanford squads to the NCAA Tournament (including the 1998 Final Four in San Antonio) before departing in 2004 for what proved to be a two-year stint as the Golden State Warriors’ coach. Back in the college game, Montgomery quickly reminded people why he was considered one of America’s best coaches when he left, and he figures to remind them further this season.

California Backcourt

There’s not much nit-picking that can be done in this department.

They don’t come much slicker or quicker than Randle, whose combination of shooting percentages – he was .501 from the field, .463 behind the arc and .863 from the free throw line – was nothing short of staggering.

And one of his biggest challengers for conference Player of the Year honors resides in the same backcourt. Christopher is explosive, and his body looks like it came off an assembly line cranking out NBA two-guard candidates.

He cans deep jumpers and posts up defenders in the low post with equal aplomb. Montgomery can insert an all-sophomore backcourt on the floor in Jorge Gutierrez and D.J. Seeley to spell Randle and Christopher.

If they’re both around a year from now, they’ll make up one of the best sets of guards in the country. Freshman Brandon Smith will understudy Randle at the point.

California Frontcourt

Montgomery doesn’t figure to start anyone listed taller than 6-8 in his frontcourt, but don’t mistake a lack of inches for a lack of quality. Theo Robertson, with a power forward’s physique and backcourt skills in a 6-6 package, is so good that he belongs smack dab in the middle of any debate about Montgomery’s most important player.

Jamal Boykin doesn’t score much but maximizes his talent as well as anyone in the conference. He is a productive rebounder through effort, strength and positioning – which, of course, are the main ingredients of that particular art form, anyway.

Harper Kamp gets first dibs on replacing center Jordan Wilkes, who decided to call it a college hoops career with a season of eligibility remaining after picking up his degree.

But the Golden Bears would have a 7-3 presence on the floor – and all that goes with it – if Max Zhang has improved enough to merit more than the 67 minutes of playing time he got over 15 games last season.

2009-2010 California Predictions

If the jump shots keep falling and the defense – as can reasonably be anticipated – is a few degrees stouter, the championship expectations that have flourished in Berkeley in the offseason will evolve into reality come March.

And that would certainly make for one nifty little two-season transition, eh? California Finish in the PAC-10: 1st
California Projected Post-season Tournament: NCAA

California Betting Odds

California Odds to Win 2010 Mens NCAA Basketball Tournament: +3000
California Odds to Win the PAC-10: +300

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