California makes the cross-country trip for tonight’s contest. The Commodores have very struggled from beyond the arc, 18.6% on the season, but have been efficient inside the arc, 64.1%. Vanderbilt has been very good on the glass to begin the season, but the Golden Bears have the size down low to match their rebounding abilities. Jovan Blackshear Jr., graduate student from Grand Canyon, should be able to take control of this game to keep the Golden Bears within the number. …

If you're a portal fan, you'll love this one! Mark Madsen's merry band of transfers at Cal have been able to familiarize themselves with one another in rather short order; of those additions, making the biggest immediate impacts are G Jovan Blacksher, Jr (17.5 ppg, via Grand Canyon) and wing Andrej Stojakovic (15.5 ppg, via nearby Stanford). The Bears are thus scoring at an 89 ppg clip, recording wins over improved Bakersfield and Cal Poly sides. Meanwhile, Vandy has only faced limited opposition (UMES and SE Mizzou) so the jury remains very much out on new HC Mark Byington and his own collection of portal adds led by ex-BC PF Devin McGlockton (19 ppg). Is there really much separating these sides? Play Cal