?In this, his sophomore season, he wanted Cal to reach the Final Four.
?And next season, his plan called for the Bears to win their first national title since 1959.
The ease with which Cal advanced to the round of 16 last season made it appear possible that the 6-foot-4 playmaker would achieve all three. After winning eight of their last nine Pacific 10 games, the Bears defeated Louisiana State and Duke before losing to Kansas in the tournament.
It now seems likely that Kidd, one of the country's best players, will not achieve either of his last two goals.
It will not be his fault if Cal does not make it to the Final Four this season. Injuries have cost the team two starters and an outstanding freshman guard, Randy Duck.
As for 1994-95, Kidd will probably be playing in the National Basketball Association by then. And junior Lamond Murray, also one of the nation's top players, might turn professional as well.
The handicap of trying to carry a team with only seven players is proving to be a bit too much for Kidd and Murray. Both seem to be slowly wearing down. Their play enabled the Bears to build seemingly comfortable leads against UCLA and USC last week, before they wilted.
Cal managed to outlast the Bruins, but Saturday the young, physical Trojans simply wore the Bears out. The same thing figures to happen in the NCAA tournament.
n
Last spring, maybe a day or two before the Artesia (California) High School basketball banquet, a reporter called UCLA coach Jim Harrick. Harrick was going to the banquet, not because he cared for Artesia, but because forward Charles O'Bannon and center Avondre Jones, two of the most sought-after recruits in the country, had yet to make public their choice of colleges.
Harrick wouldn't be alone. Kentucky's Rick Pitino, who like Harrick desperately wanted to sign O'Bannon, also would be there. In fact, Pitino had agreed to be the guest speaker. Pitino didn't do it out of the kindness of his heart; he did it because he needed a forward to take Jamal Mashburn's spot.
Michigan coach Steve Fisher would be there too. With Chris Webber leaving for the National Basketball Association, Fisher had to have a center. The same went for USC, which would send assistant coach Charlie Parker.
In all, four grown men -- with combined earnings of easily more than $1 million a year -- would be stuck at a high school banquet trying to look as if they cared who won the junior varsity hustle award.
"What exactly do you do at one of these things?" Harrick was asked.
"We'll sit in the back and make faces at Pitino," Harrick said.
"Weird job you got there," the reporter said. "Sportswriting is weird, but what you do ..."
"Yeah, buddy," Harrick said matter-of-factly, "be careful what you wish for."
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