Katie Ryan is the founder of the Line of Scrimmage blog.

As Cal Poly football winds down spring practice, Katie Ryan from the Line of Scrimmage made her second appearance on the podcast this week to discuss the team, the quarterback battle, and what it’s like to be at practice at six AM.

Freshman Reese Morgan could be a key cog in a Cal Poly matchup against Southern in March. By Owen Main

This is all getting a little weird, and oh so real. Right when I was beginning to think just an upset over UCLA in November was enough for me, Callero and the gritty Mustangs continue to outdo themselves.

Tonight, in ESPN’s second installment of Bracketology (view bracket here), college basketball guru Joe Lunardi listed the Cal Poly men as one of the play-in teams pitted against the Michigan Wolverines.

According to Lunardi, if the madness began today, Callero’s crew would play Southern University, a 10-6 team in the Southern Athletic Conference led by combo guard/forward, Malcolm Miller, who seems a lot like Cal Poly’s Chris Eversley — a slashing, above the rim player.

How much does young coach Roman Banks echo Joe Callero’s consistent praise of his team’s, passion, demeanor, character and poise?

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=-810GKUpG_c

The two seem similar in that regard philosophically, both exalting tough matchups early-on against larger, more formidable schools, as a chance to ready themselves for conference play.

While Lunardi simply slots-in the top team in the standings for single-bid conferences like the Big West, Cal Poly and Southern have a lot in common. Currently Southern is 4-0 in the SAC. Their biggest win came against Texas A&M on December 22nd and they, like the Mustangs, also suffered a hard fought loss early in the season to Texas Christian.

The winner would face the Big Ten’s Michigan Wolverines in the next round as immediate underdog. But, before such an affair, I’m certain from San Luis Obispo to Cambria, all the way to Oceano, the Central Coast would party like its 1999.

The last time they were 3-0 to start conference play (1996-97), they reeled off six straight conference losses en-route to a losing conference season. Cal Poly has never started 4-0 in the Big West. In order to do so, Callero’s bunch must prepare for a road weekend at UC Davis (4-9, 0-2) on Thursday and in Stockton versus a tough Pacific (7-7, 1-1) team on Saturday.

Cal Poly battled back from an early seven-point defecit, built a 10-point lead, and held-off a furious Long Beach State second-half comeback to beat the 49ers 79-73 on Thursday night in their Big West Conference Home Opener.

The Mustangs pushed the tempo, shot 3-pointers at-will, and played smart enough in the end to become one of just two 2-0 teams in the conference. But the real story was Reese Morgan.

Is Reese Morgan htiting 3’s with his eyes closed now?. By Owen Main

Morgan, a freshman who was forced to sit-out all of last season with an injury, ended up having multiple surgeries on an injured knee. Though he was back on the court early in the season, he hasn’t looked fully comfortable on the court until recently. In his Big West Conference debut, the 6′ 2” redshirt freshman scored 9 points and led the team with 8 rebounds.

Morgan continued his physical play on Thursday, getting to the free throw line 10 times en-route to 16 points to go along with 4 rebounds and a number of key tips that kept offensive rebounds alive for teammates to corral.

“I don’t mind getting under people’s skin a little bit,” said Morgan. “I like to play physical. I don’t mind getting in with the big boys and being a little feisty… . I enjoy a little bit of a fist fight.”

Morgan started the season ice cold, never looking comfortable with his shot. Over his first four games, he was just 1-10 from behind the 3-point line. Over his last 8 games, Morgan is 9-18 (50 percent) from long-range and has found other ways to get himself involved, including physical defense and rebounding. A reserve averaging 14 minutes per game this season, Morgan has fouled out of three of the past eight games, coinciding with his uptick in scoring and rebounding productivity.

“As a freshman, I saw things when we recruited him, he played like an older guy,” said Cal Poly head coach Joe Callero. “He plays with a spirit, he plays with a joy, he loves the game. It’s what he wants to do. He’s overcome so many injuries and finally, for the first time, central coast fans have really got to see what we got when we signed the kid two years ago. You see him go through that and say, ‘is Reese Morgan ever going to  [come back and play well]. Well, the Reese Morgan kid’s pretty good, and we’ve got him for four more years.”

Cal Poly, 2-0 in conference play, hosts UC Irvine on Saturday night at Mott Gym. The Anteaters lost their Thursday night game at UCSB.

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OK, so I\’ve never made a Highlander joke about UC Riverside. Until now. Sorry. UC Riverside has struggled this preseason, losing notably 39-30 to Fresno State and 70-26 at USC.

The Highlanders did beat Northern Colorado, another common opponent with Cal Poly, but that was the only thing that resembles a quality win for Jim Woolridge\’s team.

If Cal Poly is to really compete for a top-4 seed in the Big West Tournament, winning games like this, against a team that was picked to finish last in the conference in the preseason coaches poll, is imperative.

An upset loss is not outside the realm of possibility for Cal Poly, though. Three weeks after beating Cal State Northridge 100-54 at Mott Gym last season, the Mustangs went to the San Fernando Valley and lost to the Matadors 94-81.

The UC Riverside game is made more important by a pair of TOUGH games next weekend at Mott Gym vs. UC Irvine (6-7, picked 3rd in the preseason coaches poll) and Long Beach State (4-7, picked 1st in the preseason coaches poll)

I caught-up with Chris O\’Brien and Chris Eversley before the Mustangs boarded their bus to Riverside on Thursday afternoon. They talked about what the team has learned over the first 10 games, what they did on Christmas vacation, and O\’Brien changed course to give us a movie review of The Hobbit.

Cal Poly @ UC Riverside

Saturday, December 29

1:00 PM, The SRC Arena

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTYVfOodh50

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=GomcyPdnBqc

Cal Poly split their two games leading up to Christmas. By Owen Main

Cal Poly women’s basketball hosted the University of San Francisco Dons on Monday night. After USF lost recently by over 40 points to Cal State Fullerton, Cal Poly got behind early and could not come back, losing 71-67.

On Thursday night, the Mustangs beat Loyola Marymount at Mott Gym 84-71, completing the per-conference portion of their schedule with a 6-5 record.

With a pair of fast, small point guards leading the way, Cal Poly is much more successful at a fast pace. Games in the high 70’s and 80’s are what coach Faith Mimnaugh wants. Now that Jonae Ervin is rounding back into form, she and Ariana Elegado are playing a lot together, pushing the already-torrid pace that the Mustangs prefer.

Two things I’ll watch for as the conference season begins are whether Cal Poly can continue to play fast-paced enough to score 75-plus points per game and how center Molly Schlemer fits-in to the fast-paced offense Mimnaugh so-clearly wants to maintain. In the loss to San Francisco, Schlemer played just 17 minutes, but still managed to score 13 points on 6-6 from the field.

In the win vs. LMU, Schlemer was back in the starting lineup, netting a double-double (14 points and 11 rebounds) and the Mustangs were able to score 84 points in the win.

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Joe Callero’s Cal Poly Mustangs are going to have to play a lot better than this to be competitive in the Big West Conference. On Friday night, Cal Poly wrapped up their 2012 home schedule, beating visiting Eastern New Mexico 60-57 in front of just over 1,000 winter-break fans at Mott Gym. Both teams led by 5 at some point in the game, but neither team led by more than that margin during the game.

Dylan Royer scored 9 points on 3-10 from 3-point range on Friday night. By Owen Main

While any win is a good win, the Mustangs are still trying to find their identity. Quick 3-pointers in transition and the inability to impose their collective will on their Division II opponent allowed Eastern New Mexico to lead for most of the first half. The Greyhounds’ biggest lead was by 5 points with 4:28 remaining in the first half. Eastern New Mexico led 29-28 going into halftime

It looked as though Cal Poly might begin to pull away in the second half. Cal Poly remained behind through much of the second half. Kyle Odister’s 3-pointer with 12:51 left in the game put Cal Poly ahead for good. While the Greyhounds stayed close, Cal Poly held on in the end when Rodney Blackmon’s desperation 3-pointer at the buzzer didn’t fall.

Blackmon, a small, quick point guard, lit up the Cal Poly defense for 22 points, including 3-7 from 3-point range.

Chris Eversley led the Mustangs with 14 points and 12 rebounds, his third double-double of the season. Despite a decided advantage in size, Cal Poly only outscored the Greyhounds 28-26 in the paint. The Mustangs had zero fast-break points in the game.

Callero’s post-game comments are interesting (below). With only two games to go, it seems like he’s still trying to find a rotation that will allow Cal Poly to find its identity defensively and play the kind of tempo he wants to play.

One thing remains clear: to beat, or even compete with Santa Clara (7-2) and Washington (5-4, 2011-12 Pac-12 Champions), Cal Poly has some work ahead of them.

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//www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSRJL5CM08c

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfxsrHdtrDE

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With winter sports in full swing, Cal Poly’s Assistant Media Relations Director, Chris Giovannetti, stopped by for a chat. It’s Chris’ job to know about Cal Poly sports, so that’s what we talked about.

Fun fact: Before “G-Vo” held his position at Cal Poly, he worked at NAIA Menlo College, who the Cal Poly men’s basketball team takes on tonight at 7pm in Mott Gym.

As always, you can find our podcast in the iTunes podcast store. Follow us on Twitter @fansmanship, and like us on Facebook.

This week’s edition of the Fansmanship.com podcast might be our longest, but perhaps the most timely as well.

Cal Poly’s Chris Eversley and the rest of the Mustangs fought back from an 18-point second-half deficit at Pauley Pavilion on Sunday night. By Will Parris

We have two guests on this episode. First, I talked to Tim Jeske from Katfans.com, a Sam Houston State fan forum. Jeske and I discussed the upcoming FCS playoff game bewteen Cal Poly and Sam Houston State, where each team has the advantage, and what the atmosphere is Huntsville, TX is like.

The second guest on the podcast was Tribune college beat writer J.D. Scroggin. J.D. and I talked about Joe Callero’s Cal Poly basketball team’s improbable upset of #11 UCLA at Pauley Pavilion on Sunday night. We also discussed Saturday’s FCS playoff game, this time from a SLO perspective.

Pretty much this podcast is a Cal Poly extravaganza. If you are a Cal Poly football and basketball fan, you REALLY need to listen to this podcast.

Also, follow us on twitter, like us on Facebook, and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.

Thanks and enjoy!

O

As I sometimes like to do, here’s a “what we learned” about the Cal Poly men’s basketball team after their 70-68 win over UCLA.

Freshman Brian Bennett has impressed in his first four college games. By Will Parris

The Mustangs are resilient.

We already knew about this team’s maturity, but it’s becoming more and more clear how mentally resilient this team is. In his fourth season, Cal Poly head coach Joe Callero has a team filled with almost all of his own recruits, and it manifests itself in lots of ways.

One small example came at the beginning of Cal Poly’s methodical destruction of the 18-point deficit. UCLA coach Ben Howland called a time out with 7:14 left in the game and UCLA up by 11 at 59-48.

Chris Eversley can play with anyone. 

In contrast to UCLA’s star players, Chris Eversley played inspired, scrappy basketball. Cal Poly’s leading scorer on the season shook off a 2-11 first half to score 15 points and grab 10 rebounds. His stat line mirrored UCLA’s top player, Shabazz Muhammad, who also notched 15 and 10 in the game.

Brian Bennett can be a huge factor right away.

One of the most fun things about college basketball is the necessary turnover of players. Each year, teams have a number of players who are either brand new to the program or who have to work their way into new roles. This year’s Cal Poly team has several players who fall into some version of this. Bennett is just the most exciting. At 6’9″, Bennett pushed around UCLA’s big men all night en route to an efficient 7-10 shooting night.

Kyle Odister has his swagger back.

If you read anything I write about football, you might know that I think swagger is important. During his freshman year, by necessity, Kyle Odister played point guard and shot the ball from all over the court. Odister’s lack of a conscience and fearless play helped him earn Big West All Freshman Team honors that season.

Odister at the point might give Cal Poly its most dynamic offensive lineup.

Odister has experience playing point guard and brings a scoring element to the position that the Mustangs just don’t get with Jamal Johnson. Johnson does all the things Joe Callero asks of a point guard in a game that is grinding, but when you need to spread out longer, more athletic teams, playing Odister at the point over Johnson or Drake U’u seems to be the right fit. It will be interesting to see whether conference games against more athletic teams like Long Beach State force Callero to use the offensively capable lineup of Odister, Royer, O’Brien, Eversley, and Bennett.

Dylan Royer has proven that he can get open and get his shot off against even the longest and most athletic teams. By WIll Parris

You can’t leave Dylan Royer open.

A knock on Dylan Royer in the past has been his inability to get his own shot against longer, more athletic defenders. This seems to be something he has improved over the past year.

Against UCLA, Royer ran off screens, freeing himself for open jumpers throughout the second half. He even pulled a quick-release version for his final 3-pointer that tied the game on Sunday night. If Royer can be a player other teams have to not just be aware of, but game-plan for, Cal Poly’s offense could continue to open up for front-court players like Chris Eversley and Bennett.

Morgan continues to struggle.

Redshirt freshman Reese Morgan continues to struggle to find his shooting touch. In his first four games the fourth-team Parade high school All-American is 2-11 from the field including 1-10 from 3-point range. Anytime a shooter has a leg injury (Morgan has had two recent knee surgeries), it’s going to effect his shot, and Morgan is no exception. We saw it with Odister last season and my gut feeling is that, like Odister did last year, Morgan will take some time this season to get his sea legs under him.

That being said, Morgan remains fearless, continuing to take open shots when he has them. He just doesn’t look comfortable with his legs under him right now when he shoots. For a player who will eventually make his mark from the outside, Cal Poly fans should hope that, like Odister, Morgan’s confidence stays high until his body catches back up.

Callero’s plan continues to be validated.

Since Joe Callero took over (the past four years), Cal Poly has played at Wisconsin, Cal, USC (twice), UCLA (twice), DePaul, TCU, and San Diego State (when they were ranked 10th). The Mustangs still have games this season at St. Mary’s on Saturday and at Washington. Wins the past two seasons at the Galen Center and now at Pauley Pavilion validate Callero’s plan for the program. It also justifies the relentlessly positive attitude the coach has fostered in his players throughout the past few seasons.

Callero himself will tell you that real validation will come if/when Cal Poly makes the NCAA Tournament field. Continuing to play high major teams can only enhance their chances of winning three games in a row in the Big West Tournament. In the mean time, it will be interesting to see how close to the mark the Mustangs’ preseason ranking of 7th in the Big West ends up being.

Dylan Royer talked about the performance that earned him Big West Conference Player of the Week

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHNufu9LI60

The name Dylan always makes me think of this old Chapelle’s show bit. “Who are the 5 best rappers of all time? Think about it. Dylan, Dylan, Dylan, Dylan and Dylan. Because I spit hot fire.”

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9lg6HqJeY0

Brian Bennett talked about his team hanging together and scrapping their way back

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNQGDvoX_cU

Joe Callero had a smile from ear to ear.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFl5V_dHcQA

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Chris Eversley throws down two of his seven first-half points. By Owen Main

Cal Poly and Fresno State are squaring-off tonight at Mott Gym and it’s a battle of contrasting styles. Fresno State has pressed full-court for the entire game. They are the longer and decidedly more athletic squad and seem to be getting their hands on almost every 50/50 rebound. Fresno State guard Kevin Foster can’t seem to miss with 15 first-half points.

Cal Poly was led by (surprise) Chris Eversley, who scored seven points, but the real story is that Fresno State is playing their up-tempo style and leading Cal Poly 37-30.

Fansmanship Notes –

* Cal Poly implemented a 1-3-1 defense for the last 5 minutes of the second half to keep the Fresno State lead within single digits.

* Lots of Fresno State fans here. Bulldog nation is representing.

* Fresno State was 6-11 from 3-point range in the first half. Cal Poly shot 3-6. Cal Poly was outrebounded 16-11.

Photos by Owen Main

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