The Mark Fox era opened this season on a promising note. After several years struggling against mediocre competition, lacking the fundamentals necessary to compete at the high D1 level, this year’s Cal basketball team immediately established a higher floor under their new leader. Basic competence. Three solid wins against Pepperdine, UNLV, and Cal Baptist showed that the Bears are no longer a doormat. Gone are the days watching one of the worst defenses in the nation -- watching opposing teams routinely shoot 60% on 2p attempts, via a parade of layups and dunks at the rim. No longer do Cal fans have to suffer through defensive possessions ruined by players who do not have the slightest idea how to stay in front of their man, or communicate on the help side when a teammate is beat.