College basketball season starts Monday, Nov. 2, and six Bay Area men's teams are at home on opening night.

The schedule

  • San José State vs. UTSA, noon, Provident Credit Union Event Center (MW+)
  • Cal vs. Adams State, 5 p.m., Haas Pavilion (ACCNX)
  • USF vs. Radford, 7 p.m., War Memorial Gym at Sobrato Center (ESPN+, KNBR radio)
  • Santa Clara vs. Towson, 7 p.m., Leavey Center (ESPN+)
  • Saint Mary's vs. Illinois State, 7 p.m., University Credit Union Pavilion (ESPN+)
  • Stanford vs. Eastern Washington, 7 p.m., Maples Pavilion (ACCNX)

Times are Pacific and come from the schools and ESPN's schedule.

Saint Mary's: a new coach and a long home streak

Monday is the first game for Mickey McConnell as head coach, Saint Mary's said. He is the program's 27th head coach. The Gaels have won 26 straight games at UCU Pavilion, a program record and the nation's fourth-longest active home streak, and have not lost at home since December 2024. Preseason All-WCC guard Joshua Dent leads a roster with 10 newcomers.

Illinois State is no easy opener. The Redbirds went 23-13 last season and reached the NIT semifinals, and they return their top two scorers, Johnny Kinziger and Chase Walker, the school said.

Santa Clara: the WCC favorite

Santa Clara was picked to win the West Coast Conference with nine of 10 first-place votes, Towson noted in its preview. Guards Jake Ensminger and Sash Gavalyugov made the WCC preseason team. It is the first meeting between the schools. Towson's roster includes Ben Roseborough, who averaged 12 points a game at San José State.

USF: 14 newcomers

USF opens a five-game homestand against Radford. Chris Gerlufsen's Dons have won five straight openers, and their 14 newcomers tie for the most in Division I, the school said. Ndewedo Newbury, back after missing last season with an injury, made the WCC preseason team.

Cal: a doubleheader at Haas

Cal went 22-12 last season, its most wins since 2015-16, but lost its top four scorers, Cal Bears On SI reported. Coach Mark Madsen said center Lee Dort is day to day with a sprained ankle. Projected starters include Jordan Ross, Nojus Indrusaitis and Jake Wilkins. A ticket to the women's game that follows also gets fans into the men's game.

More: Stanford's Maples Pavilion openers, Santa Clara's preseason No. 1 pick and San José State's rebuild.