Former men's swimming star Anthony Ervin was the only man under 22 seconds (21.83) in the prelims of the 50 freestyle at the Olympic Trials this morning. He has posted the fastest time by an American in the 50 this year.

You can read Swimming World's recap of the performance and watch the video of his news conference below.

Bay Area News Group: Nathan Adrian swims to 100 free title and London bid

San Francisco Chronicle: Natalie Coughlin keeps Olympic hopes alive

San Francisco Chronicle: David Torrence moves into finals of Olympic Trials

Seattle Times: Bremerton's Adrian wins 100 freestyle, headed to London

Los Angeles Times: Natalie Coughlin, 29, still alive in her quest to make the Olympic team

ESPN Pac-12 Blog: Pac-12: A look at year one

Nathan Adrian, who swam for Cal from 2007-11, owns the nation's top seed entering the United States Olympic Trials in both the 50 (21.55) and 100-meter (long course) freestyle (48.05). Adrian is the No. 1 seed in the 100 free ahead of the legendary Michael Phelps (48.08).

Adrian concluded his collegiate career by propelling the Bears to the 2011 NCAA team title, capturing five NCAA crowns - the 50-yard freestyle, 100 free, 200 medley relay, 400 medley relay and 400 free relay. He also won a gold medal at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 as a member of the United States' 400 free relay, and ended up garnering five individual national crowns and was part of six NCAA championship relays during his years at Cal.

As you get ready to watch Adrian during tonight's Olympic Trials, check out these great videos featuring the former Golden Bear standout.

Bay Area News Group: Keenan Allen healthy and eager

Bay Area News Group: Leverenz wins 200 IM for second London bid; Cal runners fall short in 5,000 final

San Francisco Chronicle: Cal's Caitlin Leverenz becomes a first-time Olympian

San Francisco Chronicle: David Torrence advances in 1,500 heat

Associated Press: Olympics: Cal's Caitlin Leverenz lands second spot in London Games

SwimSwam.com: Caitlin Leverenz nominated for an ESPY

ESPN Pac-12 Blog: Preseason position reviews: Tight end

ESPN Pac-12 Blog: Pac-12 ultimate road trip: Week 8

Junior All-American wide receiver Keenan Allen spent some time in Cal's new broadcast studio filming segments that will air on the brand new scoreboard atop the new California Memorial Stadium this fall. Here are some photos from our video session with Keenan today.

Bay Area News Group: London Olympics is a Cal doctor's cup of tea

Bay Area News Group: Bears finish 11th in Directors Cup standings

Bay Area News Group: Wednesday's Olympic swimming trials recap

ESPN Pac-12 Blog: ESPN, Rose Bowl extend agreement

ESPN Pac-12 Blog: Preseason position reviews: Receiver

ESPN Pac-12 Blog: Preseason position reviews: Running back

ESPN Pac-12 Blog: Vote for the 2012 ESPYS!

ESPN Pac-12 Blog: What does a playoff mean for Pac-12?

Former Cal track star David Torrence, who graduated Cal in 2008, is competing for a spot in the Olympics in the 1,500 meters at the U.S. Olympic track and field trials at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore. Contributing writer P.J. Brown recently caught up with the former Golden Bear to share his story.

Follow P.J.'s Blog Roaming the Sidelines

It was one simple moment that changed the trajectory of his sports career. He thought he was going to be an NFL player. No way did he want to try track ... it was boring.

However, to everyone around him, it became apparent that he should try track because at the end of games when everyone else was tired, he was still hustling. He was fast and had good endurance.

Finally, during the summer between eighth grade and high school, he tried. In his first race, at an all-comers track meet, he finished third in a 40-meter race.

"It was exhilarating," said David Torrence. "My competitive nature was spoken to. In team sports, you are not in control ... the way a tennis ball bounces, the conditions, etc. In track and field, you are in control, win or lose. I love that about track.

"It wasn't until I won my first race," he continued, "that it completely hooked me. That moment, when I went across the finish line ... I thought, that's a special thing and I want to do this."

That's how he started, and now Torrence is one of the elite runners in the world, with his specialty being the 1500-meter race. He also runs the 800m and 5000m.

The Olympics weren't even in his sights until the end of his freshman year at Cal.

"I went to Loyola High School in Southern California, which has a very competitive and strong program," said Torrence. "After four years of hard work, I finished third in state - the pinnacle of my career at that point. I was proud of it. But all that work for just third in California? The Olympic level was so far out of reach. I was happy to just run and get a scholarship - my way of giving back to my parents. I would be the first in my family to go to college."

He enjoyed immediate success at Cal under track & field head coach Tony Sandoval, advancing to the 2004 IAAF World Junior Championships where he set a Cal freshman record and the U.S. World Junior Championship meet record time of 3:43.62 to place eighth overall.

"In my first meeting with Tony Sandoval, I said I wanted to be a team player and do my best," Torrence said. "But I blossomed under the program. I was fitter and faster. I made the World Junior Championship team and was one of the best juniors. I thought maybe there is something to this. Maybe I can compete with these guys on this level. That's when I started thinking about the Olympics."

As a junior in 2007, David broke Don Bowen's 50-year school record in the mile with a time of 3:58.62.

And he has just kept moving forward since. Coming into this Olympic year, Torrence seems to be peaking at the right time. At the Occidental High Performance Meet in Los Angeles, he ran the 1500 meters in 3:35.41 to achieve the Olympic "A" standard.

His training has remained steady with nothing new introduced.

"I haven't changed anything," Torrence said. "Three years ago, I started with a new coach, John Cook, who is a Pro Nike Coach. I got a lot better. We're doing the same things this year. I've seen people who think they need to do something new to get ready and that's when they get hurt - do too much or too little. I've seen it happen. So, I'm doing what's been working. I have trust in my coach, my training and his experience. Trying to change something in an Olympic year can often lead to failure. I'm working hard to give myself the best chance possible."

Torrence explained his workout with Cook and how it helps him prepare for the Olympic trials.

"We focus on general fitness and do varied training and switch it up," Torrence said. "As a 1500-meter, runner I'm in the middle [of the 800m and 5000m races], so it's easy to go up and down without too much specific work. We get more specific for a certain race or a series."

The strategy of running a 1500-meter race is quite different from running the 100-meter dash or a marathon.

"In a 100-meter dash, you are just pushing and in a marathon, what an athlete pictures is more methodical, more about the pack in front of you," Torrence said. "1500 meters is the sweet spot. It's like a chess match. Drafting plays a huge role. I think about splits - how fast we are going - and I notice the people around me, who is anxious and who is relaxed."

And at the end of the race, runners must not only be in position for a big kick, but also have the energy to exert the extra effort.

"I analyze more, but allow my instincts to take over," Torrence said. "I have to feel the move. This gives me the best chance to win the race. In the end, I think about a lot of things. But listening to my gut will allow me to make the team and represent the United States."

When not focusing on his training, Torrence spends his time working with the Bay Area Track Club, a group he co-founded in 2009 with other current and former elite athletes from the Bay Area. The co-founders include Magdalena Lewy-Boulet (Cal alum and 2008 Olympian in the marathon), Shannon Rowbury (2008 Olympian, and Bolota Asmerom (Cal alum and 2000 Olympian in the 5000m).

They banded together to help and support each other and give back to the community.

"We had all these elite athletes in the Bay Area and no structure, no group," Torrence said. "Now people in the Bay Area have a track club to root for and we can reach a wider audience through after-school programs, high school track clinics ... with speed and explosiveness drills, and clinics for adults for marathon training, etc. We work with each other to give back to the community. We hope to be a permanent fixture in the running community in the Bay Area and nationally to compete against other track clubs and hopefully be a powerhouse in turning out elite athletes."

One of the programs they run for youth is BATC Kids to get children outside and active after school. They are inspiring kids to keep healthy by helping improve speed, agility, coordination, strength and flexibility. Currently, they are working with Yick Wo Elementary School in San Francisco and Chabot Elementary School in Oakland.

"It's a challenge to run this [Bay Area Track Club]," he continued. "It is run primarily by the founders. It's tough to help the club and our own athletic careers. We have to time manage and make sacrifices to keep it going. What we give up in time and our emotional energy and other energy, we get back way more in the existence of the club and the team atmosphere. As an individual athlete, when you are out there together all suffering with common goals, it makes the hard work that much easier."

He shares this passion with his teammates who have each devoted their time to help the Bay Area Track Club be as successful as it is today.

"Athletes like Bolota, Shannon and me are all chasing the dream to represent the United States and compete against the best. It's a dream worth pursuing and the club helps us do it. It provides support so we can chase that dream. We want to share this powerful opportunity."

On the eve of Thursday's NBA Draft Newark, N.J., we take a look at Cal's Jorge Gutierrez as he talks about his workout with the Golden State Warriors in this interview with Golden State broadcast manager and radio producer R.C. Davis.

Cal's new Assistant Athletic Director for Basketball Development, Jay John, served as an assistant coach during Gutierrez's career in Berkeley and discusses what the guard brings to the court.

San Francisco Chronicle: Cal alum Alysia Montano wins at Olympic trials

Bay Area News Group: Ex-Cal star Montano on Olympic team

Bay Area News Group: Swimming: Bears shine at Olympic trials

Bay Area News Group: John Mann qualifies for Olympics in water polo

Arizona Republic: Tucson's Caitlin Leverenz makes Olympic team

FoxSports.com: Coughlin deserves Phelps-like praise

USA Today: Vollmer sets sights on butterfly record at Olympic trials

New York Times: Vollmer's Fast Early Swim Has Her Thinking Higher

Swimming World Magazine: Dana Vollmer Charges to American Record in 100 Fly Semis

ESPN Pac-12 Blog: Preseason position reviews: Quarterback

San Francisco Chronicle: Cal's Teri McKeever set to coach U.S. Olympic team

Bay Area News Group: Bay Area swim stars jump right in Monday when the U.S. Olympic trials begin

Bay Area News Group: Cal basketball assistant Jay John takes new job as as an assistant AD

ESPN Pac-12 Blog: Q&A: Cal wide receiver Keenan Allen

ESPN Pac-12 Blog: Cal at USC is week four marquee game of the week

BearInsider.com: Jay John Named Assistant Director of Athletics for Basketball Development

Daily Californian: Array of Cal swimmers heads to London for Olympic Trials

Redlands Daily Facts: Brown proudly representing Cal at Olympic trials

SwimSwam.com: Mathias Gydesen Earns Spot on Danish Olympic Team

Daily Californian: Leader of the Pac

The list of current and former Golden Bears qualified for the summer Olympic Games in London is up to 19. U.S. Rowing named Erin Cafaro to the women's eight, Kara Kohler to the women's quad sculls and Elliot Hovey to the men's quad sculls today.

The U.S. women's eight boat of coxswain Mary Whipple and rowers Caryn Davies, Caroline Lind, Eleanor Logan, Susan Francia, Meghan Musnicki, Taylor Ritzel ,Esther Lofgren and Cafaro will all be bidding for their second straight gold medal. The crew heads to London defending a six-year unbeaten record and will be favored for the gold medal.

Cafaro had previously qualified in the women's pair along with Logan, but each individual surrendered her seat in the boat to race in the eight.

Kohler will making her first trip to the Olympics. She finished eighth in the quad sculls at the 2012 Samsung World Rowing Cup II and fourth in the quadruple sculls at the 2012 Samsung World Rowing Cup I. Kohler won gold in the four at the 2011 World Rowing Championships and gold in the eight at the 2011 Rowing World Cup.

Hovey will be making his second appearance in the Olympics, after finishing 13th in double sculls in Beijing.

You can see the list of Cal Olympic qualifiers to this point here.

Former California men's swimming standout Will Copeland underwent a surgery on his chest prior to his senior year at Cal which left him bed ridden for two months. Fully recovered several months later, Copeland captured multiple Pac-10 titles and garnered All-American honors in 2008. All his times improved post surgery and now he is ready to earn a spot in the Olympics at the trials in Omaha next week.

Swimming World TV's Morning Swim Show profiled swimming standout Cindy Tran this morning as host Tiffany Elias held a Skype interview with Tran for part of the morning program.

Check out these photos of California Memorial Stadium with the new field club seats now installed. They are in the middle of the installation process as the facility continues to receive new enhancements.

Speaking the other day at the Gridiron Classic golf tournament in Danville, head football coach Jeff Tedford said, "It's a phenomenal time here at Cal. I can't wait to get back home to Memorial Stadium this fall."

We will continue to update you as the exciting new pieces to Memorial Stadium being installation this summer.

San Francisco Chronicle: Tyson Ross will pitch against Giants on Saturday

Bay Area News Group: Alysia Montano returns to U.S. Olympic track trials as the favorite at 800 meters

ESPN Pac-12 Blog: Who are the Pac-12's Heisman contenders?

Track & Field News: Travis Nutter makes a comeback

California Magazine: Anthony Ervin back in his element

I got the week started off right at the annual Gridiron Classic golf tournament over at Blackhawk Country Club in Danville. It was a fun-filled day of golf followed by a great evening with many Cal alums and former Golden Bears now in the NFL. Here are a couple photos from the evening's banquet.

Former Cal stars and current New Orleans Saints teammates Cameron Jordan and Brian de la Puente took some time out of their day at the Gridiron Classic golf tournament at the Blackhawk Country Club in Danville on Monday to chat with us about anything and everything.

We discussed putting, who is the better golfer, their Cal experience, the brand new football facilities on campus, their new alumni locker room, and how they plan to spend the rest of their off-season before reporting to camp in Louisiana.

Jordan and de la Puente will report to camp at the end of July as the Saints will face the Arizona Cardinals in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio on Sunday, Aug. 5.

Many former Cal stars were back in the Bay Area yesterday at the Gridiron Golf Classic at the Blackhawk Country Club in Danville. We caught up with several former Golden Bears as they finished their round of golf on the course and began the evening's banquet program.

New England Patriots running back Shane Vereen, who starred at Cal from 2007-10, was one of the many Golden Bears who took in the event. The Valencia native talked about coming back to the Bay Area for a couple days and his impressions of the new Simpson Center for Student-Athlete High Performance.

We all know what a great player Nnamdi Asomugha is on the football field, but not enough people know how exceptional of a person the former Golden Bear is outside of the gridiron.

The NFL certainly knows as Asomugha was the recipient of the Byron "Whizzer" White Award in April of 2010 and when he was nominated for The Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award"> after the 2010 season.

Asomugha was named one of three finalists for the 2012 Bart Starr Award and became the ambassador for United Way of the Bay Area. He received the Jefferson Award for Public Service in 2010. The former Golden Bear has been an invited guest and participated in the Clinton Global Initiative every year since 2009. He is currently the National Ambassador of the NFL and United Way.

The Pro Bowl cornerback was recognized again for his tremendous service to the community when he accapted the Henry P. Iba Citizen Athlete Award in Oklahoma on Monday.

The Henry P. Iba Citizen Athlete Awards recognize the positive contributions to humanity by influential and successful athletes who present the proper image and who are positive role models. Because they participate in sports at the highest level, these athletes influence and shape the lives of many others, especially children.

The award is named in memory of the former Oklahoma State basketball coach who was head coach of the U.S. Olympic team in 1964, 1968 and 1972.

Asomugha and his family formed the Asomugha Foundation to have a positive impact on disadvantaged youth in the United States and underprivileged orphans and widows in Africa. The foundation is comprised of two primary programs:
- Asomugha College Tour for Scholars (ACTS) - an annual college tour and mentoring program that provides high-achieving high school students of color an opportunity to visit college campuses across the country.

- Orphans and Widows in Need (OWIN) - it provides aid to a growing population of widows and orphans in Africa and positions them for economic success and independence through education, spiritual guidance and vocational training.

He also distributes backpacks to the incoming freshmen each year at Narbonne High School, where he attended, and outfits the football and basketball teams with shoes.

Asomugha talks in depth about his latest honor in this one-on-one interview with Eagles insider Dave Spadaro.

Former Cal standout golfer Charlie Wi talked to the local media following third-round play of the US Open over the weekend and shared his memories from his days as a Golden Bear and playing against Stanford's Tiger Woods.

Wi finished the four-round major championship tied for 29th place with a nine-over-par in the event held at San Francisco's Olympic Club.

Head football coach Jeff Tedford took questions from the fans and answered them in the following video. Among the many topics covered is the Golden Bears' first practice in the new California Memorial Stadium. He provides a lot of insight on the 2012 squad overall.

Enjoy!

Last week, seven Golden Bears were selected in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. Two of them have already signed with the organization that drafted them and will begin professional ball in the next couple of days.

The highest of the Golden Bear contingent to be selected on draft day was second baseman Tony Renda. He was taken in the second round by the Washington Nationals and has signed with the club. Renda will soon begin his professional baseball career with the Auburn Doubledays out of the New York Penn League. The Doubledays open their Class A short season this coming Monday, June 18 at the Batavia Muckdogs.

Right-handed pitcher Joey Donofrio, who was drafted in the 31st round by the St. Louis Cardinals, has signed with the club. The Cardinals have not yet announced which affiliate Donofrio will report to this season.

San Francisco Chronicle: Cal, Stanford football games on Pac-12 Networks

Bay Area News Group: Cal, Stanford football teams get plenty of early air time on Pac-12 Networks

BearTerritory.net: TV times announced for early network games

ESPN Pac-12 Blog: Pac-12 early broadcast schedule announced

ESPN Pac-12 Blog: Strongest position group: California

ESPN Pac-12 Blog: Ranking Pac-12 football facilities

With the announcement of the game times and broadcast schedule for the first couple of games of the football season, we begin our series of analyzing Cal's 12-game regular-season football schedule.

First up is the University of Nevada. We know this will be the first game in the NEW California Memorial Stadium and the season opener for the 2012 version of the Golden Bears. As of today, we also know that this game will kickoff at noon (PT) and be aired on the brand new Pac-12 Networks.

The Wolf Pack, out of the Mountain West Conference, will make the 208-mile trip from Reno, Nev. to Berkeley to open the 2012 campaign.

The season opener will be the first meeting between the Bears and Wolf Pack since Sept. 17, 2010, when Nevada defeated Cal, 52-31, at Mackay Stadium in Reno. The win for Nevada snapped a 19-game winning streak for Cal in a series between the two schools that dates all the way back to 1899. The Golden Bears own a 22-2-1 all-time record against Nevada.

In their last meeting, now-San Francisco 49ers reserve quarterback Colin Kaepernick ran for 148 yards and three touchdowns and passed for 181 yards and two more scores in the win. Cal running back Shane Vereen ran for 198 yards and three touchdowns. Wide receiver Marvin Jones finished with 161 yards receiving on 12 catches in the contest. Golden Bear quarterback Kevin Riley passed for 277 yards on 23-of-37 passing, but was hurt by three interceptions to just one touchdown pass in the game. D.J. Holt led the defensive effort for the Bears with 16 tackles in the game.

That was the 2010 contest, and a lot has happened since. Let's take a look at Nevada's 2012 squad. The Wolf Pack are entering the first season in the Mountain West Conference after moving over from the Western Athletic Conference in the off-season. They finished 7-6 overall last season, ending the year with a 24-17 loss to Southern Mississippi in the Sheraton Hawai`i Bowl. Cal and Nevada had two common opponents on the 2011 slate with both schools defeating Fresno State (Cal 36-12; Nev. 45-38) and losing at Oregon (Cal 15-43; Nev. 20-69).

Nevada returns 14 starters overall, including six on offense in its "Pistol" formation and seven on defense in its "4-3" alignment. Senior place kicker Allen Hardison is Nevada's lone returning starter on special teams.

Head coach Chris Ault returns for his 28th year guiding the Wolf Pack. He owns a 226-103-1 overall record during his tenure in Reno. Nevada will have first-year offensive (Nick Rolovich) and defensive (Mike Bradeson) coordinators when it comes to Berkeley this fall, which could lead to changes in some of the Wolf Pack's schemes on both sides of the ball. Rolovich comes to Nevada after four very successful seasons as the architect of Hawai'i's high-powered offense.

Sophomore Cody Fajardo, who garnered WAC Freshman of the Year honors in 2011, returns under center for the Wolf Pack. He threw for 1,707 yards and six touchdowns to go along with six interceptions last fall. Fajardo completed 68.8 percent of his passes in 2011, while splitting time with senior Tyler Lantrip.

Fajardo's top returning target from 2011 is sophomore wideout Aaron Bradley, who had 28 receptions for 336 yards and three touchdowns last fall. Junior tight end Kolby Arendse (26 receptions for 340 yards and two TDs) is another option for Fajardo.

There is a four-way battle for the starting running back job after the graduation of Mark Lampford, who rushed for 911 yards on 159 carries in 2011. Of the four players listed on the Wolf Pack's post-spring depth chart, Kendall Brock has the most production with 101 yards on just 13 carries all of last season.

Senior safety Duke Williams (83 tackles, one interception and six pass breakups in 2011) will lead the Wolf Pack's defensive unit this fall. Nevada will miss linebackers Brandon Marshall (103 tackles, 7.5 TFLs in 2011) and James-Michael Johnson (100 tackles, 6.5 TFLS in 2011), who were drafted by the Jaguars and Browns, respectively, earlier this spring.

Nevada expects a lot from one of its newest additions in junior college All-American defensive tackle Cortez Woods. He transferred to the Wolf Pack from American River College in Sacramento. The 6-3, 270-pound lineman is a welcome addition to a defensive line that graduated three seniors in 2011.

On special teams, Allen was 8-for-11 on field goal attempts with a long of 48 yards last season. He converted two of four attempts from beyond 40 yards.

Now that you have read up on Nevada, let's hear what your thoughts of Cal's season-opener against the Wolf Pack. We are 79 days away from kickoff and it is never too early to offer your prediction on the outcome.

The Pac-12 Networks just released its broadcast schedule for the first couple weeks of the football season which finds the Bears on the channel three times in the first four weeks of the year.

Cal will open the new California Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 1 against Nevada and play the following Saturday, Sept. 8, against Southern Utah, with both games airing on the conference's new networks at noon (PT). The Golden Bears' game at USC on Saturday, Sept. 22 will also be on the Pac-12 Networks with the time of the contest to be announced at a later date.

The Pac-12 Networks will launch August 15 with plans to broadcast 850 live events in the first year on the national network and the six regional networks. They have already signed agreements with Time Warner Cable, Comcast, Cox and Bright House Networks to carry their channels. The conference is negotiating with satellite companies as well as other distributors to carry the new Pac-12 Networks.

Cal fans, with three of the first four games on the Pac-12 Networks, you might want to click here to see if your current cable provider will carry the networks. If your distributor is not listed it gives you an option to reach out to your carrier to add the networks to their lineup.

Former Golden Bear and current United States Women's Soccer National Team forward Alex Morgan talked to the Bay Area News Group recently on her training for the upcoming Olympics. The video from the publication's website is below and the article on Morgan and the U.S. Olympic Team is here.

Former Golden Bear standout swimmer Anthony Ervin is is back swimming after a decade off and recently won the 50 free at the Santa Clara Grand Prix.

Ervin, who competed for Cal from 2000-03 and won an Olympic gold medal as a 19-year-old, is back as a 31-year-old and will be looking to earn a spot on the USA Olympic Team when he swims at the U.S. Olympic Trials, June 25-July 2 at the CenturyLink Center in Omaha, Neb.

You can see an interview with Ervin and SwimSwam's Garrett McCaffrey as he talks about the upcoming Olympic Trials here.

I was back up at California Memorial Stadium for a tour yesterday. I took a bunch of photos and have posted them below, but first a couple updates on the progress of the massive construction project.

Installation of the field's irrigation and drainage systems is underway and Installation of handrails and the new aluminum benches continues. Up in the brand new press box, interior painting has been completed and the installation of lighting, ceilings and bathroom finishes. The concession areas are nearing completion on the concourse level with plumbing fixtures and interior tile being installed.

The repair and restoration of the exterior stadium wall at the north and south scoreboards is underway. Restoration includes repairing, patching and painting the surface.

The installation of underground utilities near the North Tunnel and Service Center is scheduled to be complete in the next week. Work on site lighting, including the installation of underground electrical lines and lamp pole bases, continues.

Grading and other earthwork continues on the north side of the stadium in preparation for construction of new stairs, ramps and landscaping.

CBS Sports Network college basketball insider Jon Rothstein breaks down the 10 underrated transfers for the 2012-13 college basketball season in his column this morning. Second on the list is Cal redshirt sophomore Ricky Kreklow.

Kreklow enrolled at Cal last year and sat out this past season due to the NCAA transfer rules. The Columbia, Mo. native came to Berkeley from the University of Missouri where he played in 32 games as true freshman for the Tigers, averaging 2.1 points and 1.3 rebounds in 9.8 minutes per game during 2010-11.

Rothstein ranked Kreklow the second-most underrated transfer for next season, saying, "This 6-foot-6 wing should blend perfectly in Mike Montgomery's style after probably not being a good fit for Mike Anderson's high octane system during his one year at Missouri. Sporting a high basketball IQ along with the ability to knock down shots, Kreklow should blend nicely on Cal's perimeter with Allen Crabbe and point guard Justin Cobbs."

You can read Rothstein's entire list here, including comments on each individual.

For a preview of what Kreklow brings to the Golden Bears, here is a recent video of his shooting prowess captured at Haas Pavilion.

San Francisco Chronicle: Swimming with stars scarier than dancing

San Francisco Chronicle: Good day for Bay Area players in baseball draft

BearTerritory.net: Oh, Donofrio drafted

BearTerritory.net: Flemer selected by Rockies

BearTerritory.net: Jones picked by Twins

BearTerritory.net: Giants grab Delfino

ESPN Pac-12 Blog: Pac-12's 1,000-yard rushers

Several Cal student-athletes were selected on the third and final day of the Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft so far today.

The list of Cal draftees is up to seven as senior right-handed pitcher Joey Donofrio was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 31st round in the last half hour.

Earlier today, senior outfielder Danny Oh and senior right-handed Matt Flemer were each drafted in the 27th round with Oh going to the New York Yankees and Flemer going to the Colorado Rockies. Junior left-handed pitcher Justin Jones was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 26th round and junior infielder Mitch Delfino was picked up by the San Francisco Giants in the 20th round.

Yesterday, junior second baseman Tony Renda was selected by the Washington Nationals in the second round with the 80th overall pick of the draft and senior catcher Chadd Krist was picked by the Chicago Cubs in the ninth round.

We will continue to update this list as the draft progresses today. You can also follow the MLB Draft with live audio or with Draft Tracker.

The NCAA Track & Field Championships start today with seven Golden Bears competing in the four-day event at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa.

Among them is four jumpers - Brian Carmichael (high jump), Chad Jones (triple jump), Chase Wheeler (long jump) and Harrison Steed (high jump) - from this year's squad, the highest number of jumpers in the national meet in 90 years. The Bears' 1922 team, which won the NCAA title, also sported four jumpers in Jack Merchant (long jump, 4th), Allen Norris (pole vault, 1st), Brick Muller (long jump, 2nd; high jump, 3rd) and Ted Treyer (high jump, 5th).

Before you get set to follow the action today through Saturday in Des Moines, Iowa, get to know a little more about Cal's four jumpers competing in the national meet here.


Brian Carmichael




Chad Jones




Chase Wheeler




Harrison Steed

From a young age, Scott Esparza played a role in field events as a master in the shot put and discus, but the first time the redshirt-freshman took up the hammer was his first year at the University of California... last year. Now, Esparza will join six other Golden Bears at this week's NCAA Championships at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa.

The Pleasanton, Calif., native was competing in the shot put and discus at Amador Valley High School when he watched his coach, Travis Nutter, compete in the hammer at the 2008 Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore.

"After watching him compete, I knew I had to get involved and it became my goal that in college I would throw the hammer," said Esparza. "My first year of real training with the hammer was last year, my first year at Cal."

In his first season of competition in the hammer this spring, he finished eighth at the Pac-12 Championships and, two weeks ago, set a personal record with a distance of 206-3 to place eighth at the NCAA West Preliminary Rounds in Texas to qualify for the NCAA Championships. Esparza's mark ranks fifth on Cal's all-time performer list in the event.

"Honestly, my goal at the NCAA Preliminary meet was to PR and try to make the final of the event," Esparza explained. "To qualify for the NCAA's and finish eighth overall in Texas was an unbelievable feeling. It was an opportunity that my coach and I were prepared to try to take advantage of.

"I was tapered at the right time and felt healthy," Esparza continued. "I knew that at that point in the year it was either 'do or die,' and I went for it and hit a big PR early in the competition that allowed me to build on my two remaining throws."

Several of his teammates were in Texas to celebrate with him in-person afterwards, and he will have six of his fellow Golden Bears in Des Moines to cheer him on this week.

"It's great to see the hard work pay off for my teammates," he said. "We have all had ups and downs this year and it's a privilege to be a part of this talented group."

After learning he had qualified for the NCAA's, he was quick to relay the exciting news to his family, which wasn't able to be at the meet in Austin.

"The competition had run so long that they were calling me on my cell phone as soon as I had gotten into the van back to the hotel," Esparza said. "They found out right away."

Esparza, whose father attended Cal, knew he was going to be a Golden Bear from the start.

"I've wanted to come to Cal my whole life," he said. "Ever since I could remember, I watched Cal football games with my dad. As soon as I was given the opportunity by Coach [Tony] Sandoval and Coach [Ed] Miller to come and be a part of the track & field team at Cal, it was an easy decision."

He redshirted last season and has worked closely with new assistant coach John Dagata in the hammer this year.

"Coach Degata has brought discipline and knowledge specifically about the hammer to my training, as well as doing a great job of preparing me physically to peak at the right times this year," Esparza said. "The entire coaching staff has been extremely supportive."

Since earning a spot in this week's NCAA Championships, Esparza has been living in Berkeley and working on his throwing with Degata with a morning and afternoon throwing session each day at Edwards Stadium.

"My coach and I are following the same plan we had for the preliminaries in Texas with a peak at the end of the week on Friday," Esparza explained. "I am just trying to maintain the same focus and intensity I had going into Texas with the main goal for Friday."

Esparza hopes to take what he has learned in his first year and his experience in the NCAA's to improve each of his next three seasons in Berkeley.

"I have a lot left to learn; the hammer is such a technique based sport especially at the higher levels," the redshirt freshman said."

He has set the bar high for himself in his first season of competition which leaves much promise for a bright future in Berkeley.

For now, he will focus on the NCAA Championships in Iowa this week as he becomes the first Cal student-athlete to compete in the hammer since Nutter (1996-98), yes the same Nutter who got Esparza interested in the event in the first place.

Junior second baseman Tony Renda was just selected by the Washington Nationals with the 80th overall pick of the 2012 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft.

The Golden Bear has garnered several accolades following a season where he hit .342 with 16 doubles, five home runs and drive in 27 runs. Renda led the Bears with 16 stolen bases. His 244 career hits in his first three seasons rank sixth on the Cal all-time hits list. The five players ahead of the junior second baseman each utilized all four years of their college eligibility.

Major League Baseball and the MLB Network have provided extensive coverage of the draft. Here is the network's highlight package of Renda leading up to the draft.

While softball's season came to end just short of an NCAA Championship today, looking back on a stellar season, we saw many school records fall for in 2012.

The season saw five team records fall, while seniors Valerie Arioto and Jamia Reid painted their names throughout the Cal record books during their standout careers in Berkeley.

Here is a list of single-season and career school records that were set this season.


Victories
Cal completed the season 58-7, establishing a school-record for victories in a season. The Bears' old record for wins in a season was 56, set in 2002 when Cal won the NCAA title.

Runs scored
The Bears scored 422 runs this season, smashing the old mark of 322 set during the 2007 season

Runs Batted In
Cal drove in 376 this season, besting the old school record by nearly 100 RBI. The Bears old record of 286 was set during the 2010 season.

Home Runs
The Bears blasted 84 home runs this season, again, smashing the old record by a good amount. Cal's old home run record was 55 set back in 2009.

Total Bases
Cal finished the season with a school-record 856 total bases, besting the old record of 736 set in 1999 by more than 100 total bases


Valerie Arioto
- Single-Season Home Runs (23), breaking her old record of 19 set in 2010 and 2011
- Career Runs (222) from 2008-12, breaking Lindsay James' record of 163 set 2003-06
(Note: Jamia Reid finished her career second all-time with 172 from 2009-12)
- Single-Season Runs (65), breaking her old record of 61 set in 2010
- Single-Season RBI (60), tying her 2010 record
- Career Total Bases (431), breaking Haley Woods' record of 396 from 2003-06
- Career Slugging Percentage (.689), breaking Veronica Nelson's of .656 from 2000-03
- Single-Season Slugging Percentage (.912), breaking her old record of .819 set in 2010


Jamia Reid
- Career Hits (300), breaking Gillian Boxx's record of 274 from 1992-95
- Career Stolen Bases (177), breaking Keri Kropke's record of 74 from 1990-93
- Single-Season Stolen Bases (51), breaking her old record of 48 set in 2010

Today's opponent, Alabama came into the postseason as the No. 2 overall seed behind top-ranked Cal.

The Crimson Tide is 57-7 overall, completing Southeastern Conference play 23-5 and capturing the league tournament title. Alabama has not lost yet in postseason play, sweeping all three of its games in the SEC Tournament, as well as its three contests in the Tuscaloosa Regional (against Tennessee-Martin and South Alabama) and its two games in the Tuscaloosa Super Regional (against Michigan). The Crimson Tide opened Women's World College Series play with a 5-3 victory over Tennessee on Thursday and downed Arizona State, 2-1, on Friday to earn the bye to the semifinals and the day off yesterday. Alabama's has won its last 10 contests after dropping an 8-5 decision to Fordham on the road on May 7.

Senior centerfielder and No. 2 hitter Jennifer Fenton is hitting a team-best .390 and has a team-leading 43 stolen bases in 46 attempts on the year. Sophomore Kaila Hunt (20) and senior Amanda Locke (18) are the Crimson Tide's power hitters, combining for 38 of Alabama's 94 home runs on the year.

Sophomore Jackie Traina is Alabama's ace with a 39-2 record and 1.69 earned run average in 44 appearances that includes 39 starts on the year. Traina is coming off an 11-strikeout performance with just one run allowed on three this in a 140-pitch complete-game win against Arizona State on Friday.

As a team, Alabama entered the Women's College World Series second in the nation in scoring, averaging 6.98 runs per game.

Cal and Alabama last met during the 2011 Women's College World Series as the Crimson Tide escaped with a 1-0 victory in a pitcher's duel between Cal's Jolene Henderson (the Golden Bears' likely starter today) and former Crimson Tide pitcher Kelsi Dunne. A pair of singles and steals by Alabama in the bottom of the third plated the only run of the game for either team. Dunne pitched six complete innings with just one hit - that went to Britt Vonk - to get the win. Traina pitched the seventh inning, getting two groundouts and a strikeout, for her third save of the year. Henderson allowed one earned run on seven hits with one walk and nine strikeouts.

Cal is 0-2 all-time against Alabama in the postseason, dropping a 13-1 decision to the Crimson Tide in the Tuscaloosa Regional in 2007.

San Francisco Chronicle: Cal softball bounces back against Oregon in NCAAs

Bay Area News Group: Cal tops Oregon to extend season at Women's College World Series

Oklahoman: Cal eliminates Oregon

BearTerritory.net: Cal bounces Oregon from WCWS

BearInsider.com: Cal downs Oregon 6-3 to reach college softball's final four

Alabama Press-Register: Alabama softball team to play Cal semifinals

San Francisco Chronicle: Cal men's golf ousted in NCAA team semifinals

Bay Area News Group: Ex-Bear David Torrence races to USA-leading mile at Prefontaine Classic

San Francisco Chronicle: Anthony Ervin back in swimming after decade off

Bay Area News Group: Swimmer Anthony Ervin has sights set on London Games

Watch highlights from today's NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championship Match Play semifinals as Cal's season ended with a 3-2 loss to Alabama at The Riviera Country Club this afternoon. Sophomore Joel Stalter had a 12-foot birdie putt horseshoe around the 17th hole that would have squared both his match and evened the team score. Stalter had drained a 20-foot birdie putt on the same hole Friday to clinch Cal's quarterfinal win over San Diego State.

With Oregon defeating Tennessee, 3-1, earlier today in the Women's World College Series, the Ducks will move on to face Cal tonight at 6:30 p.m. (PT). The Golden Bears and Ducks met for a three-game series in Eugene, April 20-22. Cal took two games to capture the series win. Here is how the Cal-Oregon series played out earlier this year.

Cal broke open a 1-1 stalemate against Oregon with five two-out, unearned runs in the top of the fourth as the Golden Bears captured an 8-1 win over the Ducks in the series opener. Cal out-hit Oregon 7-4 with Frani Echavarria doubling, Jamia Reid tripling and Jace Williams doubling and homering in the contest.

In the middle game, Cal suffered its third loss of the entire season, dropping a 1-0 decision to Oregon at the Ducks' Howe Field. After Friday evening's high-scoring affair that ended in an 8-1 Cal victory, Saturday's game saw the Ducks score once in the sixth to eke out the one-run win over the Bears.

In the series deciding game, Cal exploded offensively to blast Oregon, 10-0. With the six-inning mercy victory, the Golden Bears took the series from the Ducks 2-1 for their fourth consecutive Pac-12 series win.

After Cal posted five runs in the top of the third, three homers in the top of the sixth prevented any chance of an Oregon comeback. With her 20th homer of the season, Valerie Arioto broke her own single-season record for home runs. Cal posted those 10 runs on 11 hits. Ashley Decker led the way with three RBI thanks to her two-run homer and another hit.

Cal has faced Oregon twice in the postseason with the Ducks posting victories in both contests during the 1994 Fresno State Regional. Both were one-run decisions (3-2 and 2-1) with the second lasting 20 innings.

Joel Stalter drained a 20-foot putt birdie putt on the 17th hole of his 2 & 1 victory over Alex Kang to clinch both his win and the team's 3-2 quarterfinal match play victory over San Diego State at the NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championship on yesterday.

Video footage courtesy of San Diego State.

San Francisco Chronicle: Cal shut down by Oklahoma's Ricketts

Bay Area News Group: Cal shut out by Oklahoma, Keilani Ricketts in Women's College World Series

Bay Area News Group: Track and field: Ex-Cal star Montano blazes at Pre

Bay Area News Group: Golf advances to NCAA semifinals

Oklahoman: OU softball team shuts out top-seeded Cal 3-0

ESPNW.com: Sooner stunner

ESPNW.com: Oklahoma tops Cal softball

BearTerritory.net: Henderson is the engine that drives the Bears

Men's golf head coach Steve Desimone talks about the Golden Bears' 3-2 quarterfinal match play victory over San Diego State at the NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championship today.

Sophomore Joel Stalter of the men's golf team talks to CalBears.com correspondent Kyle McRae following his victory-clinching 20-foot birdie putt to send the Golden Bears to the semifinals of the match play portion of the NCAA Championships today at The Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades.

In dramatic fashion, sophomore Joel Stalter sinks a 20-foot putt on the 17th hole for a birdie to clinch the match play win for fourth-seeded Cal over fifth-seeded San Diego State moments ago in the 2012 NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championships at The Rivieria Country Club in Pacific Palisades. The Bears advance to the semifinals of the match play tournament tomorrow where they will face top-seeded Alabama.

Stay tuned to CalBears.com for more information about the match play semifinals tomorrow.

Next up for Cal in the Women's College World Series is tonight's matchup with Oklahoma. The Sooners are the No. 4 national seed and come into tonight with a 51-8 record on the year after posting a 5-1 victory over USF in their Women's College World Series opener yesterday.

Oklahoma is making its second-straight trip to the Women's College World Series and seventh appearance overall. The Sooners snapped a four-game losing streak in Oklahoma City with yesterday's victory over the Bulls. A native of Torrance, Calif., head coach Patty Gasso, who is in her 18th season at Oklahoma, guided the Sooners to the National Championship in 2000.

One of the many highlights of tonight's contest between Cal and Oklahoma will be the matchup of two of the top players in the nation in USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year finalists Valerie Arioto of Cal and Keilani Ricketts of Oklahoma. Ricketts edged Arioto for the award, which was announced Tuesday evening in Oklahoma City.

The Sooners' junior standout leads Oklahoma offensively with a .413 batting average and pitching with a 0.99 earned run average. Her ERA and strikeouts (404) rank third in the nation this season. Ricketts improved to 34-7 on the year after posting 11 strikeouts in the win over USF yesterday. She has now pitched 33 straight innings without allowing an earned run.

Freshman first baseman Lauren Chamberlain has also starred for Oklahoma offensively. She recorded her 28th home run of the season yesterday which is tied for the ninth-most home runs in a season in NCAA history. Chamberlain entered the Women's College World Series with a .352 batting average.

Oklahoma has played four games against Pac-12 opponents this season with a record of 3-1 in those contests. The Sooners dropped a 5-0 decision to Stanford in Palm Spring, Fla. back in February before defeating Oregon State (6-0), and Arizona twice (6-0 and 7-1) in the Norman Regional and Super Regional, respectively.

Cal and Oklahoma have met five times previously in the postseason, with the Golden Bears owning a 4-1 all-time lead in the postseason series between the schools. Cal and Oklahoma met three-consecutive years in the Women's College World Series from 2002-04 with Cal winning all three of those contests. The Bears' only loss to the Sooners in the Women's College World Series came in 2000 as OU defeated Cal 2-1 en route to the NCAA title. In the next matchup, Cal earned a 4-2 win over OU in 2002 en route to the Bears' National Championship.

Cal and Oklahoma last met on Feb. 20, 2010 as the Sooners used a six-run fifth-inning to defeat the Bears, 12-1. Ricketts earned the complete-game victory while then-freshman Jolene Henderson (Cal's likely starter tonight) pitched four innings in the loss.

Cal's 5-2 victory over Oklahoma in the 2003 Women's College World Series was head coach Diane Ninemire's 700th career victory.

San Francisco Chronicle: Cal starts slow, beats LSU in softball series

Bay Area News Group: Cal softball team rallies to win opener at College World Series

Bay Area News Group: Golf climbs into tie for 4th at NCAAs; set to face San Diego St. in quarterfinals

The Oklahoman: Softball has made Henderson sisters that much closer

ESPNW.com: Top-seeded Cal rallies by LSU

BearTerritory.net: Cal dispatches LSU, 5-3

BearTerritory.net: Renda named third team TPX All-American

BearInsider.com: Bears Get Off to Great Start in WCWS

Elk Grove Citizen: Cal softball advances to WCWS