115 days until the 2026-27 college basketball season tips off.
115 days.
Who is counting? Yep, that’s right. We are. Those of us who love this crazy game.
With that excitement, comes the anticipation of teams releasing their full schedules.
Now, most schedules of the teams that we will begin covering or continue covering in 2026-27 haven’t been officially announced.
However, some knowledge of schedules has leaked and been posted on other social media accounts.
So, let’s discuss two teams – Sam Houston and California Baptist.
First, let’s look at the Bearkats non-conference slate. At least some of it.
According to Barstool SHSU – the Bearkats are going to do two things in non-conference play. First, the Bearkats are going to have to become road warriors. Second, the Bearkats are going to earn some money.
Here are the road games: at Alabama, at Illinois, at Wyoming, at Boise State, at San Diego, at Nevada, at Omaha, and at Utah.
Now, considering the college basketball season officially tips off Nov. 9, 2026, the game at Alabama is more of an exhibition. Either way, the Bearkats will have their work cut out for them all while earning money to go toward NIL the following year.
Like the Barstool SHSU account said – ‘We’re not gonna have a team by the start of conference play.’
The Bearkats finished 22-12 overall in 2025-26 and 13-7 in Conference USA play. At Johnson Coliseum, the Bearkats were 13-1 and away from Huntsville, the Bearkats were 6-10.
The Wyoming game is a return game from 2025-26. Sam Houston beat the Cowboys 78-70 in Huntsville on Nov. 19, 2025. In his first three seasons, head coach Chris Mudge is 56-43 overall with a 32-22 record in Conference USA.
Now, let’s take a look at California Baptist.
The Lancers are coming off a WAC Tournament title and first-ever trip to the Big Dance. Dominique Daniels Jr. is special. That’s all you need to know.
However, the Lancers move into the first year in the Big West with a new head coach in Kyle Getter.
Former head coach Rick Croy moved East to Tempe to become the Associate Head Coach at Arizona State. And most of the staff moved on as well – Doc Wellman and Hardy Asprilla are both at Saint Mary’s. Scott Clark took a head coaching job at Concordia University Irvine.
So, a whole new staff, a whole new team. And Kyle Getter didn’t have to do much to put together a schedule that was basically already put together by Wellman.
North Florida comes to Riverside. The Lancers go to Corvallis to take on Oregon State along with road games at Utah, at UC Davis, and at Purdue. CBU will host former WAC foes Chicago State and Seattle U along with Arkansas-Pine Bluff as well as playing two games in the Acrisure Series in Palm Springs.
CBU tips off Big West play on Dec. 3 at UC San Diego followed by the rivalry game two days later at UC Riverside.
The Lancers finished 25-9 overall in 2025-26 – the best season in the Division I era. CBU finished 13-5 in WAC play. The Lancers were a perfect 15-0 at Fowler Events Center and 7-7 away from Riverside.
Led by Dominique Daniels Jr., the Lancers scored the final nine points of the 2026 WAC championship game to earn their first-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament. Ultimately, a slow start doomed the Lancers who couldn’t quite complete the 4-13 upset over Kansas in a 68-60 loss at Viejas Arena in San Diego.
Former Notre Dame associate head coach Kyle Getter was announced as the new head coach of the Lancers on April 26, 2026.
“My family and I are thrilled to join the California Baptist community,” said Getter. “I’m grateful to Dr. Ellis and Dr. Parker for entrusting me with the growth and development of CBU basketball and its student athletes. I am extremely excited to get to campus and begin connecting with our players and the campus community. Lance up!”
