There's No Place Like Berkeley

Periodically updated notes from the USC-Cal basketball game:

We observed plenty of those crafty hippies a couple of months ago, but tonight's USC basketball game in Berkeley started on a much more refined note with a violinist performing the national anthem.
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A short while later, Bear Coach Ben Braun was on the P.A. begging fans not to throw things on the court. He also asked people to point out any culprits to the ushers. A drummer in the Cal band immediately pointed to USC's Angelo Johnson and shouted, "It was number one!"
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Johnson was on a roll midway through the second half, but it wasn't a good one. He scored a finger roll on a fast break, but was fouled and rolled into a somersault, where he rolled his right wrist. He went off to the locker room, unable to shoot his free throw. Davon Jefferson committed an intentional technical foul on the play in retaliation (Coach Tim Floyd would later call it "a lack of poise"). The timing couldn't have been worse for the Trojans, as they were just gaining momentum and O.J. Mayo was getting hot.
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Johnson, and the Trojans' momentum, both returned after a couple of minutes.
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Haas Pavilion's most impressive feature is probably the stands, whose steep rise puts even the nose-bleed section on top of the action.
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After the game, Braun pointed out, "Teams aren't scoring a lot of points on USC. They're always stingy on defense." You wouldn't have known, with Cal winning, 92-82. When asked if Berkeley's experience helped, he chuckled, "Four sophomores ... that's a little more experienced than a couple of freshmen."
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Johnson limped out of the Trojans' locker room with ice on his wrist and suffering from back spasm. He said he should be OK, but he looked pretty beat up. Taj Gibson banged up his knee, and the entire team looked drained.
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Asked if anything was different from his expectations, freshman Davon Jefferson observed, "The only thing that's different is the crowd. It's the same basketball style -- up and down -- but the crowd ... sometimes you can't hear the plays. Sometimes they distract you, but you've got to keep your head in it and play hard."
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Jefferson added, "It's a very tough league."

Taj Gibson concurred, "This league is the best in the country."

O.J. Mayo maintained the party line. "I'm pretty sure this is the toughest conference in America from top to bottom."

"There are nine teams that can make something happen in the NCAA tournament," figured Coach Floyd.
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USC was picked 6th in the conference in the preseason media poll. Cal was picked 7th. The Bears were a three-point favorite at home after finishing undefeated prior to Pac-10 play.
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Key stats:

Cal had 22 points from their five bench players. USC had four from their two.
Cal nailed 11 of 25 three-pointers (USC was 5-of-20) while the Trojans scored more points in the paint, 40-30. The Bears hadn't made 10 threes in a game all season, but have now done it three games in a row.
Taj Gibson led the game with 11 rebounds, but fouled out.
USC shot 50% from the field, just ahead of Cal's 49.2%.
Cal led USC in points off of turnovers (20 to 13) and second chances (19 to 10).