This past offseason, for the first time since he arrived at Cal, Omondi Amoke was able to devote time to becoming a better basketball player. The previous two summers, he simply tried to get healthy.

"It felt encouraging, to say the least," said Amoke, who redshirted as a freshman in 2007-08 after undergoing surgery on his calf, then suffered a bad ankle sprain in the spring of 2008 that hindered him all summer before last season.

"The whole rehab kind of kills your progress," Amoke said. "You're rehabbing to get where you were, so you're not getting any better."

Everyone sees a difference this fall in the 6-foot-7 sophomore forward.

Assistant coach Jay John called Amoke the team's most improved player since the end of last season. "His whole awareness level, his focus level, he's a part of every play," John said. "You notice him throughout practice. He could float in and out a year ago."

"This is the first full summer he's had where he's been able to work on his game, and he's done that," coach Mike Montgomery added. "He could be a guy that could make a difference."

The 13th-ranked Bears, who beat Chico State 84-42 on Thursday night in an exhibition game at Haas Pavilion, hope that Amoke contributes to a deeper roster this season. He had nine points and six rebounds against Chico.

Amoke played in spurts a year ago, averaging 2.6 points and 2.1 rebounds per game. Now, after a busy summer in the gym and weight room,

"I feel like everything is a little bit better," he said.

Recruited to Cal by former coach Ben Braun as a small forward, Amoke often has played as an undersized power forward out of necessity. The health status of junior Harper Kamp, who is battling ongoing knee issues, will determine where Amoke spends his time.

"I'm not too concerned about a position," Amoke said. "I just want to be a basketball player and be on the court."

Notes: Patrick Christopher led Cal with 16 points, 14 of them in the first half. ... Cal led by as many as 45 points. ... Kamp (knee) did not play. ... The Bears open their season Monday at home against Murray State in the Coaches vs. Cancer tournament.