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California already nearing win total from a season ago facing Duke

By Kevin Connelly

TUCSON, AZ - MARCH 03: Juhwan Harris-Dyson #2 of the California Golden Bears reacts during the second half of the college basketball game against the Arizona Wildcats at McKale Center on March 3, 2018 in Tucson, Arizona. The Wildcats defeated the Golden Bears 66-54 to win the PAC-12 Championship. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
TUCSON, AZ - MARCH 03: Juhwan Harris-Dyson #2 of the California Golden Bears reacts during the second half of the college basketball game against the Arizona Wildcats at McKale Center on March 3, 2018 in Tucson, Arizona. The Wildcats defeated the Golden Bears 66-54 to win the PAC-12 Championship. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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The California Golden Bears are already nearing its win total from last season as the team heads to Madison Square Garden to face the Duke Basketball team.

Through four games of the 2019-20 season, the California Golden Bears already have half of its win total from a season ago.

California is 4-0 on the year and coming off of a 8-23 season, the Golden Bears have nothing to lose facing the No. 1 Duke Blue Devils on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden.

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Last season Cal only won one game in its non-conference schedule but by defeating Pepperdine, UNLV, California Baptist, and Prairie View A&M, the Golden Bears will be confident entering the World’s Most Famous Arena.

The Golden Bears are led by sophomore guard Matt Bradley who is averaging 20.0 points per game, elevating his game after averaging 10.8 points per game in his freshman season.

Bradley is shooting a scorching 56.1% from the field and 52.4% from 3-point range while impressing from the free throw line at 88.5% from the free throw line.

The 6-foot-4 sophomore is also averaging 4.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.

Bradley has been paired with senior Kareem South in the California backcourt as he is averaging 11.3 points per game in addition to 2.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.

South has struggled shooting from 3-point range at 26.7%, but is still shooting 43.9% from the floor.

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Junior forward Grant Anticevich leads the Cal Golden Bears in rebounds with 7.3 per game in addition to his 11.0 points per game.

Standing at 6-foot-8 has shows the ability to stretch the floor, shooting 58.6% from the field and 53.8% from 3-point range as the big man also averages 2.0 assists per game.

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California head coach Mark Fox has shown this year that he will go deep into his bench with nine players averaging at least 15.0 minutes per game and that depth will be tested against the Blue Devils.

The Golden Bears will shoot the ball from 3-point range often on Thursday night, making 45.5% of its shots from beyond the arc, averaging 75.5 points per game.

California will have to be clicking on all cylinders to pull the upset of the No. 1 Duke Blue Devils and time will tell if the stage is too big for the Golden Bears.

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