Cal Visits LMU In Exhibition Action

California men's basketball's 2026-27 season starts up with exhibition action on tap this week, as the Golden Bears head south to pay a visit to LMU for the first time. Tip time is set for 6 p.m. PT on Friday (Oct. 16) at the Lions' Gersten Pavilion in Westchester.

THE SERIES
• The teams have met five times prior in official competition, with the Lions holding a 3-2 edge over the Bears. They last faced in 2006 at the Great Alaska Shootout, and Cal won that one 78-70.
• Friday's exhibition action will offer a first look for fans at the 2026-27 Cal squad, which features nine newcomers along with nine returners from last season.

FOLLOW ALONG
• The Bears-Lions exhibition meeting will stream on ESPN+ with Ben Wilson and Bill Herenda on the call.
• Fans can also listen live to Justin Allegri on the Cal Bears Sports Network radio broadcast on 810 AM and The Varsity App.
• Live stats will be available HERE.

AROUND THE CORNER
• Cal has another exhibition game on the docket next when the Bears visit Oregon State in a 7 p.m. meeting on Oct. 24 in Corvallis, Oregon.

HOME OPENER
• The Bears officially open the season on Nov. 2 with a first-ever meeting against Adams State at Haas Pavilion. That home opener starts at 5 p.m. and will be followed by the Cal women's home opener, offering a double dose of hoops action for fans.

FOR FANS
• The first 3,000 fans at the home opener will receive a Rally Towel to cheer on the Bears all season long.

BEAR BITES
• This is Cal's fourth season under head coach Mark Madsen.
• Cal enters its third season in the ACC (previously Pac-12).
• Nine newcomers: 5 transfers, 4 true freshmen
• Nine players returning; eight departed/graduated
• Eight players have international ties, including three Lithuanians.
• Deputy General Manager Richard Midgley was hired in May 2026.
- Midgley played at Cal 2002-06 and is a 1,000-point scorer as a Bear.
- Midgley was a scout for the Brooklyn Nets under GM and Cal alum Sean Marks.
• Former New Orleans Pelicans assistant Casey Hill was hired as assistant coach in August 2026.
- Hill won 2015 D-League Championship as head coach of Santa Cruz Warriors.

JERSEY SPONSORSHIP
• In a landmark moment for California Athletics, Dialpad — the AI platform for customer experience — has been selected as the inaugural jersey patch sponsor across all 30 of the Golden Bears' sports programs.
• It is the largest corporate partnership in Golden Bears history.
• Cal was the first athletic department in the ACC to announce a jersey patch sponsor for any sport.
• The comprehensive multi-year partnership, facilitated by Learfield's Cal Bears Sports Properties, is also personal. Berkeley is where Dialpad Co-founder and CEO Craig Walker got his start, which makes bringing Dialpad back to campus especially fitting.
• The connection reflects a shared belief in what Berkeley has always stood for: using new ideas to move the world forward.

LAST SEASON
• Recorded most wins in a season (22) since 2016 and first postseason win since 2014.
• Recorded eight games with 90-plus points scored
• Five players ranked in top-100 national statistical categories.
• One of 10 ACC teams to reach 20 wins.
• Finished ninth in the ACC and reached the second round of the National Invitation Tournament.
• Beat two AP-ranked opponents (UCLA & UNC) for the first time in a season since 2016.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
All-Time Overall Record: 1677-1345 (.555)
NCAA Championships: 1 (1959)
NCAA Final Fours: 3 (1946, 1959, 1960)
NCAA Tournament Appearances: 19 (last: 2016)
NIT Championships: 1 (1999)
Conference Regular Season Championships: 15 (last: 2010)

TV TIME
• Cal is locked in with 22 televised tests in its third season in the Atlantic Coast Conference
• All 18 of the Golden Bears' ACC regular-season games will be televised along with four nonconference tests, with Cal set to appear on ACC Network, ESPN2, ESPNU and The CW
• Fans can also catch 10 of the Bears' nonconference games streaming on ACCNX, while Cal's nonconference visit to Utah will stream on Peacock

CHAMPIONSHIP RINGS
Mark Madsen is one of two current NCAA Division I head coaches who won an NBA title during their playing careers. Madsen is the only one of those two coaches to have won two NBA titles, both coming with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2001 and 2002.
Name (School) — NBA Title(s)
Speedy Claxton (Hofstra) — 2003, San Antonio
Mark Madsen (Cal) — 2001 & 2002, Los Angeles

CALIFORNIA THROUGH AND THROUGH
"California Through and Through" is more than a slogan – it's a statement of identity, pride and our trajectory as Cal men's basketball. Just like our state, our program is engaging, diverse and inspiring. We have a rich history and legacy, and we have a bright future. Being California Through and Through means we celebrate our community and our place within it.

GET TICKETS
Tickets for 2026-27 can be purchased by visiting CalBears.com/Tickets, calling 800-GO-BEARS (462-3277) or emailing goldstandard@berkeley.edu.

SUPPORT THE BEARS
Fans can support the Golden Bears through the Cal Men's Basketball Excellence Initiative.

STAY POSTED
For further coverage of Cal men's basketball, follow the Bears on X (@CalMBBall), Instagram (@CalMBBball) and Facebook (/CalMBBall/).

California Golden Bears Athletics

Next Event

Related News

Related Videos