Jane Kenny

Underdogs characteristically lurk in the shadows and bust brackets all the same. So, as madness is upon us, best beware of some sleeper selections to avoid a rude awakening.

A record-tying seven programs from the “Conference of Champions” are selected for the Big Dance, how will they fare? Women’s basketball beat writers Kenzo Fukuda and Jane Kenny make their predictions.

No. 8 Utah exhibited its nationally ranked prowess, handling the Bears forcefully from the get-go to the tune of a 101-76 thumping. Saturday afternoon in Boulder, the blue and gold capped off their regular season with a sour taste, falling 69-95 against the Buffs.

The conclusion of conference play will send the Bears on the road to the high-powered talents of Utah and Colorado — Cal’s final two stabs at disrupting a top-25 team.

After a treacherous season in which the Bears have routinely fallen short in Pac-12 upset bids, Cal finally seals the deal against No. 25 USC.

In one of the best conferences in women’s basketball, if the Bears can keep their opponents under 70 points, there is a fighting chance. If not, the odds no longer lie in their favor. This weekend, two Washington schools got the best of Cal.

A breakthrough in their sights, the Bears hit the road for a weekend in Southern California — only to revel in frustration by its conclusion.

About a fourth of the way through the NBA regular season, and we have a lot to be excited about!

In 2020, Sheahan had never played a competitive American football game. Now ranking third on Cal’s All-Time punting list, Sheahan has declared for the NFL draft.

In 11 months’ time, conference reconfigurations and the all-powerful transfer portal conceived USC a new main character this season. On Saturday, the Bears will assume the role of the underdog as they are set to tussle with the No. 9 Trojans at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.