Kabir Rao

After an abbreviated and disappointing 2020 season, the Bears appear to have a chip on their shoulders.

The Daily Cal unpacks the tarnished legacies, most impressive plays, potential rematches and other career defining moments of the Bucks-Suns finals.

From dream matchups to boldest predictions, four of the Daily Californian’s very own sportswriters share their hopes for the NBA postseason.

It’s that blind optimism at the start of each fall that this is the year Cal football will reach its first Rose Bowl since 1958. It’s also looking for where it all went wrong and harboring thoughts of “maybe next year.”

With an offensive force such as Matt Bradley added to its arsenal, San Diego State is poised to make a deep postseason run next season.

Bradley sits at No. 21 on Cal’s all-time scoring list and has provided a sense of optimism for fans who haven’t seen the Bears sport a winning record since the 2016-17 season.

Despite the game missing some of the league’s biggest stars – due to COVID-19 and injuries – the players put on a great show in Atlanta, Georgia.

What is a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience and a privilege can be quickly overshadowed by feelings of guilt and melancholy.

After going 3-17 in conference play this season, the Bears enter the Pac-12 tournament as the last seed. Their road to a Cinderella run will begin Wednesday when they take on sixth-seeded Stanford.

As Figueroa yelled in Bradley’s face, there was nothing the guard could do but smirk and inbound the ball. It was a perfect metaphor for the ballgame.