Media voters picked Cal men's basketball to finish 15th in the 18-team ACC this season. Last year the Bears were picked 16th and finished 22-12, tied with Stanford for ninth, Cal Sports Report notes.
Why it matters: Coach Mark Madsen is coming off his best season at Cal but lost most of his scoring, so the season opener is a first look at a mostly new team.
Who's back
Center Lee Dort is the lone returning starter, according to Duke Basketball Report. Transfers include Nojus Indrusaitis (Pitt), Jordan Ross and Jake Wilkins (Georgia), Michael Cooper (Wright State) and Amier Ali (Mississippi State).
No Cal player made the preseason all-ACC teams.
The schedule
Cal opens Monday, Nov. 2, at 5 p.m. against Adams State, followed by Radford Nov. 4, Houston at Lake Tahoe Nov. 8 and USC Nov. 11. The Big Game home date with Stanford is Jan. 23.