Gonzaga, Texas A&M, Nevada and Auburn highlight non-conference games. Potential match-up with Arkansas in West Palm Beach, Florida tournament.


Cal Announces Additional 2023-24 Nonconference Games - California Golden Bears Athletics (calbears.com)

Presser typo has Raising the Bar's 2 games either nov 24-25 or 25-26th, no doubt fixed soon.

I reviewed the twelve OOC games. Bears play 8 home and 4 away. The best that I can envision is a record of 8-4. I would guess that Cal would fall to Gonzaga, Texas A&M (SEC), Arkansas (SEC) & Auburn (SEC). In the couple of four team weekends, I assumed that the Bears would advance to the championship vs the SEC. If Cal loses the opener, they'll be in the loser's bracket game. The way that I figured it, the record would likely be the same.

I believe that the schedule was easier last season and the Bears finished 9-2 in OOC competition. SMU actually upset Cal in a surprise in Berkeley.

Schroeder71 said:

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I reviewed the twelve OOC games. Bears play 8 home and 4 away. The best that I can envision is a record of 8-4. I would guess that Cal would fall to Gonzaga, Texas A&M (SEC), Arkansas (SEC) & Auburn (SEC). In the couple of four team weekends, I assumed that the Bears would advance to the championship vs the SEC. If Cal loses the opener, they'll be in the loser's bracket game. The way that I figured it, the record would likely be the same.

I believe that the schedule was easier last season and the Bears finished 9-2 in OOC competition. SMU actually upset Cal in a surprise in Berkeley.

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Texas A&M will be a battle of the portal transfers. They were only 9-20 last year and 2-14 in their conference. But their transfers in this season include Lauren Ware and Endyia Rogers. Obviously. some good NIL being paid.

Auburn was only 5-11 in the SEC, and has also had a roster makeover. However, strangely, their top scorer from last year has also transferred to Texas A&M.

The portal will be showing not only who can draw in players, but also who can quickly get them to play together and win. Lindsey certainly did that last year at USC.

annarborbear-you study this stuff in detail like I do. I reviewed Auburn, too, but decided to save the info in case I do a write-up of the game during the season. Four of their top seven scorers transferred out. GO BEARS!

It's been mentioned in football, but it applies to basketball too: With the portal, your system needs to be easy to pick up. A complex offense or defense -- which can help if players fully understand and implement -- is probably not the best way to go if you're only going to have players for a year or two.

That said, simple systems abound in the sport, and only those coaches not paying attention will be caught out.