The University of San Francisco men's basketball team looks to get back into the win column on Wednesday when they travel across the Bay Bridge to take on the California Golden Bears at 8:00 p.m. at Haas Pavilion.  Wednesday's game will be televised on Pac-12 Network with Barry Tompkins and Dan Belluomini with the play-by-play.  Fans can also tune into the official home of USF Dons Basketball 1550-AM The GAME to hear Pat Olson and Jim Brovelli call the action live.  

GAME INFORMATION
Date/Time: Dec. 5, 2018 – 8:00 p.m. PST
Opponent: California Golden Bears (2-4, 0-0 Pac-12)
Site: Haas Pavilion (Berkeley, Calif.)
Streaming: Pac-12 Network
TV: Pac-12 Network
Talent: Barry Tompkins (play-by-play) and Dan Belluomini (analyst)
Radio:  1550-AM The GAME
Talent: Pat Olson (play-by-play) and Jim Brovelli (analyst)
Live Stats: USFDons.com
Game Notes: USF vs. Cal
 
USF AT A GLANCE

• The Dons fell to 7-1 following an 85-81 loss in the championship game of the Belfast classic to No. 21 Buffalo last Saturday. The 7-1 start is tied for the best start under third year head coach Kyle Smith who began the 2016-17 season 7-1 as well.
• The game against Cal is the 77th in the history of the series, Cal owns a 46-30 advantage in the series that has been dormant for a decade. The Dons are 11-9 at home all-time against the Bears.
• Four players are averaging 10 or more points and are led by sophomore Charles Minlend who is averaging 14.1 points per game, all-time the Dons are 18-5 when Minlend scores 10 or more.
• Jordan Ratinho moved into sole possession of fourth place all-time for made 3-point field goals with 163 - he trails No. 3 by 22.
• The Dons still rank eighth in the nation in scoring margin at +22.5.  The Dons boast six wins of 18 or more including four of 32 or more.
• Senior guard Frankie Ferrari who was recently named to the Senior CLASS Award watch list earned Belfast Classic All-Tournament Team honors.  For the weekend he finished with 33 points, 15 assists and five steals.  Against No. 21 Buffalo he scored 19 points and dished out six assists with four steals.
• Senior Matt McCarthy ranks seventh in the nation in field goal percentage, shooting 70.8 percent from the field.  The Dons rank fifth in the nation in two-point field goal percentage at 60.4.
• Head coach Kyle Smith picked up his 150th win against Stephen F. Austin last Friday.  On Wednesday he looks to earn his 50th as the head coach at USF. In two-plus seasons on the Hilltop he is 49-31.

 
THE SERIES
Wednesday's game against the Golden Bears will be the 77th matchup in a series that unofficially for USF dates back to the 1913-14 season.  The first official game between the Dons and Golden Bears took place in the 1924-25 season when Cal defeated The Grey Fog 21-11.  All-time the Dons are 46-30 against the Bears. Their largest win against Cal took place on Dec. 3, 1976 when No. 10 USF defeated Cal 93-70 (+23).  The worst loss took place on the road when the Bears defeated the Dons 93-59 (-34) on Dec. 5, 1994.
 
ABOUT THE GOLDEN BEARS
The Golden Bears come to the Hilltop for the first time since Dec. 2, 1992 with a 2-4 overall record.  The Bears are coming off an 84-71 loss at the hands of Saint Mary's on Dec. 1 in Moraga.  Cal's two wins this year came over Hampton 80-66 (Nov. 13) and vs. Santa Clara 78-66 (Nov. 26).  Away from Haas, Cal is 0-4 this season.  All five starters are averaging in double figures for Cal who is led by Paris Austin's 15.0 points per game.  The Golden Bears were picked to finish 11th in the preseason vote by media who regularly cover the conference.
 
LAST GAME AGAINST CAL
The last time these two teams faced was on Nov. 18, 2008 at Haas Pavilion with the Golden Bears coming away with the 87-74 win.  Under first year head coach Rex Walters, the Dons fell to 2-1 with the loss.  Manny Quezada led USF with 27 points going 10-for-12 from the floor and a red-hot 5-for-5 from 3-point range.  Dior Lowhorn finished with 20.
 
UP NEXT
The Dons will be off for a week for finals week, they will return to action on Thursday, Dec. 13 when they take on Eastern Washington at 7:00 p.m. at War Memorial at the Sobrato Center.  That game will be streamed on TheW.tv.  Tickets for that game can be purchased at Dons Ticket Central.