Cal Men’s Basketball Enters Third ACC Season With Revamped Roster Under Coach Mark Madsen

The University of California men's basketball program opens its 2026-27 collegiate campaign in Berkeley in November with a heavily reconstructed roster as head coach Mark Madsen guides the Golden Bears into their third Atlantic Coast Conference season. Cal is coming off a resurgent 22-win season that culminated in a National Invitation Tournament berth in March, marking the university's first postseason tournament appearance since 2017. Despite that momentum, the coaching staff must replace all four returning starters who averaged double-digit scoring figures during the previous winter campaign.

Among the most significant offseason departures were dynamic backcourt guards Dai Dai Ames and Justin Pippen, both of whom entered the collegiate transfer portal following the conclusion of spring workouts. To stabilize the perimeter rotation at Haas Pavilion, Madsen and his athletic department recruiting committee secured commitments from experienced power-conference transfers. Point guard Jordan Ross arrives in the East Bay from the University of Georgia, bringing valuable postseason poise after competing in the NCAA Tournament during three consecutive collegiate seasons.

Joining Ross in the revamped rotation is junior wing Nojus Indrusaitis, who transferred to Berkeley from ACC rival Pittsburgh after averaging 9.1 points and 3.1 rebounds per game last season. Basketball analysts at The Daily Californian noted on Friday that Indrusaitis provides outside shooting range and wing size necessary to compete against nationally ranked conference opponents traveling to Northern California. Preseason practices on the campus court along Bancroft Way and Oxford Street have emphasized defensive rebounding, transition pace, and cohesive ball movement among the newcomers.

The Golden Bears will officially tip off their non-conference regular season schedule at home against Adams State, a Division II program, before navigating a demanding slate of regional and coast-to-coast tournament matchups. University officials and Berkeley downtown merchant board members anticipate strong student and alumni attendance following last year's winning campaign, which revitalized game-day foot traffic across Telegraph Avenue and Shattuck Avenue restaurants. Campus transit planners will maintain standard evening shuttle operations for all home contests.

Season ticket packages, single-game seating charts, and broadcast schedules for the 2026-27 men's basketball campaign are currently available Monday through Friday through the athletic department portal at calbears.com or by calling the Haas Pavilion box office at (800) 462-3277. Fans attending the season opener against Adams State are encouraged to review clear-bag security policies and campus parking guidelines prior to arrival in Berkeley.