In this analogy, is Mike Montgomery Jules? I have no idea.

Were I Bill Simmons, I would begin this post with a classic quote from Harvey Keitel's character in "Pulp Fiction." The quote, paraphrased, is about not celebrating accomplishments too early. Because I am not Bill Simmons, instead of actually using the quote I have to say that I would use the quote, but can't, because Simmons has already used it a million times, and sportswriting nobodies like myself can't just go jacking Simmons' go-to movie quote without proper citation.

But! Were I Simmons, I would make that reference. I would make it in order add this caveat before things get bold and predictive: the Cal Bears shouldn't get ahead of themselves quite yet. It's still just June. But (and here's where the bold and predictive bit happens) if you were to begin the season today, Mike Montgomery's team would be the favorite to win the Pac-10. Hands down.

It seems odd to say, given how thoroughly mediocre Cal has been for so long, but it's true. The Bears were quietly solid last year, finishing fourth in the Pac-10 behind Washington, UCLA, and Arizona State. And unlike the teams above them, Montgomery lost no one from last year's squad. Washington will have to do without its top scorer, Jon Brockman. UCLA lost guard Jrue Holiday to the draft lottery and forward Drew Gordon to an unfortunate knee injury. Arizona State's James Harden be drafted in the top five overall. USC is ... well, you know about USC.

On the other hand, Cal is returning its two best players, guards Patrick Christopher and Jerome Randle. Theo Robertson, the team's third-leading scorer, is back too, as is rebounding forward Jamal Boykin. Cal essentially loses no one from a team that was already pretty good in the first place; in the meantime, the teams around them are atrophying from loss. (This sense of confidence is helped by the fact that Montgomery is a more-than-capable college coach. The Bears are in good hands game-to-game.)

Washington will have something to say about it, but right now -- almost by process of default -- Cal is your early Pac-10 favorite. It is still very early, though. Let's not go sucking -- ahhh, nevermind.

Related: Pac-10 Basketball