No. 25 Cal hopes to parlay February success into March title
During his quarter century patrolling Purdue’s sideline, Gene Keady was known as much for his intimidating on-court demeanor as his infamous comb-over.
A Google Images search produces numerous pictures of the coach kneeling courtside with his trademark scowl.
Perhaps retirement has softened Keady.
Because after Cal wins, Cuonzo Martin’s iPhone lights up with congratulatory texts from his 79-year-old mentor.
“He even sent one with shades on it, the smiley face with shades,” Martin said this week, his inbox open to a recent Keady text.
Four weeks removed from a 4-5 conference record, the Bears boast a seven-game winning streak.
A victory Thursday at No. 18 Arizona would mark Cal’s longest conference unbeaten stretch since taking 11 consecutive games in 1959-60.
Six of those seven wins came by double digits.
“It’s sometimes harder to coach talent than it is to coach no talent because you’ve got to get the egos all on the same page,” said Keady, who guided the Boilermakers to two Elite Eights.
The Bears need two developments — a sweep of the Arizona schools, and at least one loss by No. 9 Oregon in Los Angeles — to claim at least a share of their second Pac-12 title in 56 years.
Barring a championship in the Pac-12 or NCAA tournaments, Arizona will lose its most games since 2011-12.
The coach of those teams, Keady, hopes to congratulate him on a Pac-12 regular season crown next week at the conference tournament in Las Vegas.