Honestly, walking into Haas Pavilion these days feels different. It’s not just the new ACC logos slapped on the hardwood or the fact that fans are suddenly checking scores from Virginia and North Carolina instead of Oregon or UCLA. There is a specific kind of electricity that hasn't been in Berkeley for a long time.
For years, talking about California Golden Bears men's basketball felt like a bit of a chore. It was a cycle of "rebuilding" that never actually built anything. But right now, in the 2025-26 season, things are getting weird—in a good way. The Bears just knocked off No. 14 North Carolina 84-78 in front of a rocking home crowd. A few days before that, they had No. 6 Duke on the ropes in a sellout game before the Blue Devils pulled away late.
People thought Cal would be a doormat in the ACC. They were wrong.
The Mark Madsen Effect: Why "Mad Dog" is the Real Deal
When Mark Madsen was hired in 2023, people knew him as the high-energy guy who danced at the Lakers' championship parades. They knew he was a Stanford legend—which, let's be real, made some Cal fans a little itchy. But what Madsen has done in Berkeley is basically a masterclass in program resuscitation.
He didn't just recruit; he overhauled the culture.
He's currently led the team to a 14-5 start this season. That’s the best start for the program since 1959-60. You know, back when Pete Newell was roaming the sidelines and the Bears were the kings of college basketball. Madsen has this "Mad Dog" intensity that somehow translates perfectly to the modern transfer portal era. He's not just a coach; he's a salesman, a tactician, and a bit of a psychological wizard.
The Bears are currently 2-4 in conference play, which might look "meh" on paper, but you have to look at who they've played. They are competing. They aren't getting blown out by the ACC blue bloods. They are standing in the middle of the ring and swinging.
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The Roster: A Weirdly Perfect Mix of Names and Talent
If you haven't looked at the box scores lately, the names might surprise you.
Justin Pippen. Yeah, that Pippen. Scottie's son. He’s a sophomore guard who is basically the heartbeat of this team's transition game. He’s averaging 14.4 points and lead the team in assists with over four a game. He has that "pro" feel—smooth, never rushed, and defensively pesky.
Then you have Dai Dai Ames. He’s a junior transfer from Virginia who is currently lighting it up, leading the team with nearly 18 points per game. Watching him work in the midrange is a throwback. He’s shot over 43% from three-point land this season, which is kind of ridiculous given the volume he takes.
The Guys Doing the Dirty Work
- John Camden: A 6'8" graduate student who has become a lethal floor spacer. He's hitting 2.5 threes per game and just dropped 23 on Morgan State.
- Lee Dort: The big man in the middle. He’s 6'10", 255 pounds of "get out of my way." He leads the team in rebounding (7.5) and blocks, and honestly, his 65.5% true shooting percentage is the only reason some of these close games stayed close.
- Chris Bell: A Syracuse transfer who knows the ACC inside and out. He scored a season-high 28 points recently. He brings that veteran "I've been here before" vibe that Cal desperately needed.
It hasn't all been sunshine, though. Losing Rytis Petraitis for the season was a gut punch. He was a glue guy, the kind of player who does all the things that don't show up in a box score but make coaches sleep better at night. Seeing him sidelined is a massive test for the bench depth.
Haas Pavilion is Actually Loud Again
For a long time, Haas felt like a library. A very large, empty, beige library.
Not anymore.
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The Duke game saw 11,201 fans—a total sellout. It was the loudest the arena has been since the night LeBron James showed up to watch Bronny play a couple of years back. There’s something special about the architecture of Haas; the seats rise almost vertically from the floor. When it's full, the sound doesn't escape. It just bounces around and tries to deafen the opposing point guard.
Coach Madsen has been vocal about this. He knows that in the ACC, you win at home or you die. The Bears are currently 13-2 at home. That is a fortress. If they can figure out how to win a few more on the road—where they are currently 0-3—this team isn't just an "improved" squad; they’re a tournament threat.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Move to the ACC
The narrative when Cal and Stanford joined the ACC was all about "travel fatigue" and "geographical nonsense." And sure, flying to Boston College or Syracuse is a literal pain in the neck.
But here’s what people missed: the ACC fits Cal’s brand of basketball better than the late-era Pac-12 did.
The ACC is a grind. It’s physical. It’s about half-court execution and elite guard play. Madsen’s system—which relies on high-usage guards like Ames and Pippen and physical interior presence from guys like Dort—is built for this. They aren't trying to out-run people in a track meet; they are trying to out-execute them.
The Reality Check: Can They Actually Make the Dance?
Let's talk turkey. To make the NCAA Tournament, Cal probably needs to finish above .500 in the ACC. That’s a tall order given the remaining schedule.
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They have the talent. They have the coach. They have the home-court advantage. But the margin for error is razor-thin. They can't afford "off nights" against the middle-of-the-pack teams like Notre Dame or Virginia Tech (who they narrowly lost to by three points).
The metrics love them in some areas—like their 79% free-throw shooting, which is elite—but hate them in others, like their -1.4 rebounding margin. You can't get out-rebounded in the ACC and expect to live to tell the tale.
Actionable Insights for the Rest of the Season
If you're following the California Golden Bears men's basketball team this year, here is what you actually need to watch for:
- The "Pippen/Ames" Connection: Watch how these two split the ball-handling duties. When they are in sync, Cal’s offense is top-30 in the country. When they both try to "hero ball," things get stagnant.
- The Road Hump: Cal needs a signature road win. Keep an eye on the upcoming trips to the East Coast. If they can steal one in a hostile environment, the committee will start taking them seriously.
- The Bench Step-Up: With Petraitis out, someone like Semetri "TT" Carr or Nolan Dorsey has to become a consistent 8-10 point producer. They can't rely solely on the "Big Three" to carry the load for 40 minutes.
- Haas Attendance: If the "Bench" (the student section) keeps showing up like they did for Duke and UNC, the Bears will likely protect their home court. That environment is worth about 6 points a game.
This isn't your older brother's Cal team. They aren't just happy to be here. They are aggressive, they are well-coached, and for the first time in a decade, they are actually fun to watch. Whether they make the Big Dance or not, the "Golden Age" of Cal basketball feels like it might finally be out of the freezer.
Keep an eye on the turnover margin. Cal currently averages only 9.8 turnovers per game, which is among the best in the nation. As long as they value the ball and keep hitting their free throws at a 79% clip, they are going to be a nightmare matchup for anyone in the ACC tournament come March.