Cal Cruises Past Morgan State, But the Real Story Is Who Didn’t Suit Up
Let’s be honest-this one wasn’t supposed to be close, and it wasn’t. Cal came into Friday night’s matchup against Morgan State missing three key rotation players, but that didn’t stop the Bears from putting on a shooting clinic and steamrolling their way to a 97-50 win in Berkeley.
Morgan State entered the game with just one win against Division I competition, and their national rankings-360th on KenPom, 362nd on Torvik out of 365 teams-painted a pretty clear picture. Even without Justin Pippen, DJ Campbell, and Rytis Petraitis, this was always going to be Cal’s game to lose.
The only real suspense? Just how wide the final margin would be.
Lights-Out Shooting Turns a Blowout Into a Statement
Cal didn’t waste any time answering that question. The Bears shot a blistering 11-of-20 from beyond the arc, while Morgan State couldn’t buy a bucket from deep, finishing 1-of-17.
That kind of shooting disparity doesn’t just tilt a game-it blows it wide open. By the time the dust settled, Cal had nearly doubled up their opponents on the scoreboard.
Chris Bell led the charge with a scorching 28 points on just 11 shots-a masterclass in efficiency. But this wasn’t a one-man show. John Camden knocked down five of his seven threes, Lee Dort was a force inside, and Semetri Carr quietly put together the kind of all-around performance that could have long-term implications: 17 points, 9 assists, and a steady hand at the point in place of the injured Pippen.
Carr Steps Up in a Big Way
If you’re looking for a silver lining beyond the lopsided score, Carr’s performance is the headline. With Pippen sidelined, the sophomore guard stepped into the lead role and looked comfortable running the offense. His court vision, tempo control, and ability to get teammates involved made the offense hum.
Yes, the level of competition matters-and Morgan State didn’t offer much resistance-but Carr’s poise and production are still worth noting. If Cal is going to weather the storm of injuries and compete in the ACC, they’ll need more nights like this from him.
Injuries Loom Large as Conference Play Approaches
And that’s the bigger story coming out of this one: availability. DJ Campbell missed the game with an injury-his second absence this season after missing the first six games.
Justin Pippen has now missed two straight after going down against Dominican. And Rytis Petraitis?
He’s been out for a month with no clear timetable for return.
So far, Cal’s been able to navigate those absences without taking a hit in the standings. But let’s be real: the schedule has done them some favors.
By several metrics, Cal has played one of the softest slates in the country among major conference programs. That cushion is about to disappear.
Sunday’s matchup with Columbia is no gimme. And if Cal is still down three rotation players, things get tricky. Head coach Mark Madsen rolled with a seven-man rotation against Morgan State-something that’s not sustainable once ACC play begins.
The Road Ahead Gets Real, Real Fast
After Sunday, the non-conference warmup is over. What’s next?
Just five Quad 1 games in a three-week span to kick off ACC play, plus home games against three programs that have cut down nets in the last 15 years. Yeah, it’s about to get serious.
So while Friday night was a chance to knock off some rust and let the bench stretch their legs, the real test is coming. Cal fans should be watching closely on Sunday-not just to see how the team performs, but to see who’s back in uniform. Because the margin for error shrinks fast once conference play begins.
For now, Cal took care of business. But the health of this roster could end up defining how far this team can go.