The Braun era ends

As the Bears limp into the Pac 10 tournament this week sporting an impressive # 9 seed, it's become clear to anyone watching that these will be Ben Braun's final days on the sidelines coaching Cal's basketball team. While some have posited that Cal cannot afford his buyout, the reality is they cannot afford not to pay his buyout. The lost revenue from the increasing number of empty seats at Haas Pavilion and more importantly the loss of any donation interest on behalf of the basketball program more than offset the $1M + payout Ben will receive if he is fired. Equally as important is the loss of face for the athletic department at a sensitive time. Influential alumni are not happy with the delays surrounding the new training and office facility near Memorial Stadium and the knock on effect those delays have for the stadium retrofit. While the athletic department cannot be held completely accountable for the delays, the will be for the negative fallout. Further delays could impact Jeff Tedford's decision to stay in Berkeley long term and in conjunction with Ben Braun's challenges would leave the school with both revenue generating sports in disarray. Expect an announcement from Sandy Barbour in the next seven days detailing Braun's departure.

Ben Braun will not be the only unplanned departure from the basketball program this Spring. Sophomore Ryan Anderson is a virtual certainty to declare for the NBA draft. Anderson has a combination of size and skills that are valued at a premium in the NBA and he will likely be a mid 1st round draft choice in June.

With the likely departure of Braun and Anderson, what type of a team will the next head men's basketball coach inherit? Further departures from the existing roster will be limited as only four non seniors under scholarship have not already taken a redshirt year. Having used the NCAA allowed one year to sit out, it's unlikely a player will forfeit another year sitting out per the NCAAs transfer rules. While there's risk that Patrick Christopher, Harper Kamp and/or Jerome Randle could leave in the wake of Braun's departure, it doesn't seem likely that any of the three would choose to do so. Randle and Christopher are both starters and should be the focal points of next years team with the loss of Devon Hardin and Ryan Anderson. Kamp saw significant minutes as a true freshman this year and figures to be in the mix for a starting spot next season. The bigger risks in my opinion are incoming freshman guards, Garrett Sim and DJ Seeley. Both are combination guards with good size and the ability to score. Seeley is a top 50 national player who will likely be the Bears first wing off the bench next year while Sim will challenge Knezevic for the backup PG role. The NCAA allows incoming freshman to get out of their letters of intent if there is a head coaching change and it will be a priority for the new head coach to re recruit them to Berkeley