Responses Health Issues Q: Do you know if Ubaka is playing tonight with his sprained ankle? I also heard Omar Wilkes may be out for two weeks with a foot problem? Oh, how I hope everyone gets healthy soon. I would appreciate any info. - Bonnie Lee Landen, Renton, WA A: Ubaka is expected to play Thursday night vs. Stanford. He practiced this week, and said he would play. Wilkes apparently sprained an ankle in practice Tuesday. Cal did not announce the injury, and they are not saying what his status is for Thursday. -- Jeff Faraudo, ANG Newspapers Cal-USC Q: Any word on what time the Cal-USC basketball game is going to start on March 4th? - Steve Peterson, Union City A: That will not be announced until Feb. 20. -- Jeff Faraudo, ANG Newspapers Why'd you leave? Q: Why do so many Cal basketball players transfer? What is it about Ben Braun that makes kids want to leave? Is he just recruiting the wrong type of kids? And why don't we see progress in the players that stay? - Mark Reidson, Los Angeles A: Cal certainly has had its share of players transfer, but all programs experience this. Each situation is different. In most cases, players leave because of playing-time issues. The two players who transferred out of the program after last season did so, frankly, with the blessing of the coaching staff. Marquise Kately, who announced last week he was transferring, had been suspended from the team last summer, then announced in the fall he was leaving school to handle a personal issue. After re-enrolling last month I think he simply decided a change of scenery made sense for him. To answer the bigger question, I believe Ben Braun is making a greater effort now to recruit the type of kids who will remain with the program. But getting inside the head of an 18-year-old recruit is not an exact science. -- Jeff Faraudo, ANG Newspapers Cal Hoops Q: A few weeks ago I saw Marquise Kately on the bench ... but now I don't. What is his status? If Rod Benson is out for the season, any chance we could get him back for another year of eligibility? Finally, will David Paris ever be back? - Richard Williams, Beaverton, OR A: Marquise Kately will not be back this season. He has enrolled in classes for the spring semester, and it's possible he could begin practicing with the team before season's end. He left school in the fall to handle personal issues, and coach Ben Braun will determine at some point down the line whether Kately is asked to return to the team next season. Rod Benson played in 10 games this season, and it's unlikely he would be granted a medical red-shirt for another season. I don't know if Cal has even thought about whether it would apply for that. David Paris will not be back. -- Jeff Faraudo, ANG Newspapers Frank Summers Q: Will Frank Summers be coming back to Cal? - Josh Siclair, Redding A: Frank won't be returning to Cal. He fell short academically. -- Dave Newhouse, ANG Newspapers Big Ben Q: Can you tell me the status of Ben Braun? I'm a big fan of his and hope he can and will stay! - Steve Peterson, Union City A: Cal's athletic director, Sandy Barbour, says she's a big fan of Ben's. That always helps. But you're judged in sports on how you're doing currently. If Cal wipes the egg off its face after the OSU beating and does well in the Pac-10, Ben should be OK. If Cal adds more egg, all bets are off. But Ben was going to fast break this year, finally, and it hasn't happened. Stay turned. -- Dave Newhouse, ANG Newspapers Who's On Tap Q: Dave, who are the prime candidates to fill the open spot (Sep 16) on the Bear Football schedule? - Thomas A. Barrett, Yorktown, VA A: Thomas: Don't know just yet, but will sometime this month. However, it won't be Sept. 16. It will be mid-October. After opening with Tennessee (away) and Minnesota (home), Cal will take its bye week the next week. Happy New Year. -- Dave Newhouse, ANG Newspapers No Lavelle Q: Dave, what happened to Lavelle Hawkins? - Matthew Shoemaker, Oakland A: Lavelle has trouble running precise pass routes. Jordan and Jackson don't have that problem. Maybe next year for Lavelle. -- Dave Newhouse, ANG Newspapers Inevitable Expansion Q: I would like to comment on the PAC 10 expanding to a 16 team conference. By adding Fresno State, Boise State, Utah, BYU, Colorado, either Nevada or Hawaii, and call it the Super PAC 10 Conference. It would rival the East Coast Bias and would strengthen West Coast football. I would like your opinion on the subject. Also, having two 8 team divisions could end with a conference championship game in the Rose Bowl in early December. - Lee Dockett, Oakland A: Lee: Down the road, some expansion is inevitable with the wide-spread consolidation of college football. But does that include basketball as well? The Pac-10 is just getting to, with 12-game schedules, everybody playing everybody else within the conference. I will be in a rest home, likely, when the Pac-10 goes to 16 teams. Hope you'll be young enough to enjoy it. -- Dave Newhouse, ANG Newspapers Get Up The Court Q: I grew up in the Bay Area playing ball at Hayward High and always a big Cal fan. I love Ben Braun...but sometimes the players on offense seem to be just standing around. It seems that all they run is a simple motion offense which they rarely deviate from. I feel they definatley had the personel to beat Kansas but they let the opportunity slip through their hands. I guess my question is...do you think that Cal could improve by upgrading the type of offense they run when on the court? - Michael Ambrosano, Seattle A: Michael: I'd love to see Cal run more. They have the big men to clear the boards and the guards who can run. Leon Powe can run, too. Happy Holidays. -- Dave Newhouse, ANG Newspapers Rodgers' Arm Q: I was wondering how Leon is progressing with his stress fracture. Has he practiced this week yet? Any chance of him returning this weekend at the Golden Bear Classic or is an SJSU comeback more realistic? And do you think this injury could hurt his chances of playing at 100 percent for a full season? - David Forster, Los Gatos A: I was away six days over the holiday, and I'm not directly involved with Cal basketball, but I guess you know by now that Leon supposedly will play tonight against San Jose State. The bigger question, which you alluded to at the bottom of your e-mail, is whether he can stay healthy. Stress fractures of the feet are iffy propositions. Remember Curtis Borchardt of Stanford, who washed out of the NBA because of his feet. Bill Walton had his career sabotaged by bad feet. Say a prayer for Leon. -- Dave Newhouse, ANG Newspapers Rodgers' Arm Q: Dave, enjoy reading your stuff. Who do you think will start at QB for Cal next year? - Bill Tarver, Ukiah A: Nate Longshore to begin with, if he doesn't accept a Mormon mission. Joe Ayoob and Steve Levy will be back, but keep an eye on redshirt freshman Kyle Reed. He has Aaron Rodgers' arm, and possibly a quicker release. Reed will start in the NFL one day. Happy Holidays. -- Dave Newhouse, ANG Newspapers Return Man Q: Why doesn't Cal use the speed they have? Since Ayoob is more of an athlete than passer, we should run some veer-option and use his feet. Also, double-reverses and crossing patterns should free our receivers up and also our RBs on fake reverses when they sweep to that side. - Jay Rhinehart, Fremont A: Cal is hesitant to run Joe because they are so short on quarterbacks. The starter, Nate Longshore, has a broken leg. Jeff Tedford doesn't want to chance injury on Ayoob more than the coach has to. Double reverses take time to develop, especially against fast, athletic defenses such as USC's. Tedford has used the passing routes you suggested, but what would really help the passing game would be more speed at tight end. Cameron Morrah, a redshirt freshman who sat out this season, is that kind of player, much like UCLA's Marcedes Lewis or Oregon's Tim Day. Wait 'til next year. -- Dave Newhouse, ANG Newspapers Cal Success Q: What is your view for measuring Cal's success (in light of Saturday's disappointing loss to Oregon) to closeout the season? I see no quit in the Bears, just some painful losses due to a young team and inexperince at QB. - Scott Hutchison, Honolulu, HI A: Scott: Cal is just good enough to lose, and I don't mean this in a negative sense. There have been just enough injuries, just enough inconsistency at the quarterback position, just enough of a glitch in Marshawn Lynch's unfulfilled season, just enough pass coverage weaknesses, just not enough pass rush, and just enough newness on the Bears to make this season 7-4 and Insight Bowl material (at best). The future is bright, because the recruiting has been solid, and if Cal can stay with USC for three quarters, who knows? Cal remains dangerous, but only if everything comes together Saturday and beyond. Hope this helps. -- Dave Newhouse, ANG Newspapers Return Man Q: I was wondering if Justin Forsett has ever been considered for punt return duties? He appears to be a very quick and even more elusive on his runs than Lynch. - Bonnie Landen, Renton, WA A: Bonnie: Forsett returned some kicks for Cal last year, but Jeff Tedford is sold on Tim Mixon's dependability as a punt returner. -- Dave Newhouse, ANG Newspapers Boo Who Q: Where was the 12th man (fans) at Saturday's loss to Oregon State? Growing up a UW Husky fan in the mid-70's and 80's, I don't remember a game at Husky stadium where the fans sat on their hands and actually booed the team. I witnessed this on Saturday at Memorial Stadium and could not believe my ears. - Kyle Butler, Santa Rosa A: Kyle: I was at the game, and I didn't hear any loud booing, just some frustration with Joe Ayoob. Cal fans have been louder this year than at any time in recent years, but I'll pay closer attention at Saturday night's Cal-Washington State game. -- Dave Newhouse, ANG Newspapers Where Is Sekeli Q: Whatever happened to Sekeli Faaeteete? - Daniel Yu, Burbank A: Sekeli didn't qualify academically at Cal, and was to transfer to Laney College or Chabot College to pick up units. I heard he's no longer at either place. He has family and financial considerations as well, and his career is at a roadblock. -- Dave Newhouse, ANG Newspapers A Second Scrimage Q: Newspapers and Cal's Web site reported on the first Scrimmage but what happened with the second one this past week? - P Arthur, San Diego A: Nothing eventful. Nate Longshore appeared further ahead than Joe Ayoob. Except for some low throws on out patterns, Ayoob has thrown the ball as accurately as Longshore in this reporter's eyes. Ayoob's athletic ability will gain him the No. 1 job by late September. Scrimmages, anyway, are like B baseball games in spring training. You learn more, much more, when the real action starts. -- Dave Newhouse, ANG Newspapers