Adams State vs California prediction: Cal's rebuilt roster debuts against Division II Adams State

A new Cal, mostly

Cal won 22 games last season, its most since 2016, and then watched most of that team leave. Only 20.5% of last season's minutes and 14.9% of its points return. Dai Dai Ames (16.9 points a game) is now at Tennessee, Justin Pippen is at Ohio State, and John Camden and Chris Bell are gone too.

The Bears bring in nine newcomers, five transfers and four true freshmen. The ACC picked them 15th of 18. This first-ever meeting with Adams State, a Division II program from the RMAC, is the official start to Mark Madsen's fourth season.

Who carries the load

Michael Cooper arrives from Wright State after averaging 13.4 points with a 25.4% usage rate, the share of possessions a player finishes while on the floor. Nojus Indrusaitis, from Pittsburgh, hit 38.7% of his threes. Georgia transfer Jordan Ross posted an offensive rating of 121.5 in a smaller role.

The returning anchor is forward Lee Dort, who shot 59.7% from the field and pulled 7.8 rebounds a game. Against a smaller-level opponent, Dort's work inside and Cooper's shot creation should set the tone.

What last season still says

Last season's Cal shot 36.7% from three (36th of 365) and 78.0% at the line (17th). It also ranked 332nd in offensive rebound rate, the share of its own misses it recovered. Those were the habits of players who have mostly left, so treat them as background rather than forecast.

Situation

This is Cal's home opener at Haas Pavilion, after an exhibition at LMU on Oct. 16. Tip time is unsettled: Cal's announcements list 5 p.m., while its schedule page shows 7 p.m. PT. Madsen had loose bodies removed from his knee in early October and said he was "still hobbling a little bit" but running practice. No player injuries have been reported for either side.