Saturday, November 15th, 8:00 p.m. (et).

FACTS & STATS: Site: Haas Pavilion (12,000) -- Berkeley, California. Television: None. Home Record: Pacific 0-0, Cal 0-0. Away Record: Pacific 0-0, Cal 0-0. Neutral Record: Pacific 0-0, Cal 0-0. Conference Record: Pacific 0-0, Cal 0-0. Series Record: California leads, 23-2.

GAME NOTES: Exhibition play is now over, and both the Pacific Tigers and California Golden Bears are set to open the 2008-09 season in Berkeley tonight. This offseason has been one of controversy and shame for Pacific. Three players, including arguably the league's top player in Steffan Johnson, were kicked off the team stemming from an on-campus sexual assault investigation. Clearly, the team that will take the floor tonight is not the group that was expected to win the Big West Conference. As for California, it is now under the guidance of Mike Montgomery, who had a great deal of success coaching Stanford, the rival of the Golden Bears. Cal lost three starters from last season's team that finished a mediocre 17-16 overall, reaching the second round of the NIT. The Golden Bears own a commanding 23-2 series lead over Pacific, and the teams last faced one another in 1999.

With five starters and 11 letterwinners from a 21-win team slated to return, the Tigers looked like a near lock to contend for the Big West title and make another run at the NCAA Tournament. That is, of course, until the scandal derailed the team's plans. A First Team All-Big West Conference selection a year ago, Johnson (14.5 ppg, 4.9 apg) has since transferred to Idaho. Starting center Michael Nunnally received a one-year suspension, while backup point guard Michael Kirby may become eligible in late-December. That leaves seniors Anthony Brown and Chad Troyer to carry the load both tonight and all season. Troyer averaged 12.8 ppg and shot 44.3 percent from three-point range. Brown shot 55.4 percent from the field, while collecting 10.7 points and 7.2 rebounds per game.

Like many other teams in the conference, Cal has a great deal of returning talent in the backcourt. Coach Montgomery is happy to have both Patrick Christopher and Jerome Randle in place. Christopher is a 6-5 junior who averaged 15.2 ppg a year ago. As for Randle, a 5-10 blur with the ball, he posted 11.8 ppg and 3.7 apg last season. The biggest question involves the frontcourt, as star Ryan Anderson moved on to the NBA. Jamal Boykin was a solid contributor last season, and the 6-8 junior will be counted on to take his game to the next level. Harper Kamp is also 6-8 and may be ready for a breakout sophomore campaign.

If Pacific had its full team as expected, the Tigers would be capable of contending with California. Unfortunately, that is not the case, and the Golden Bears will win easily at home.

Predicted Outcome

California 80, Pacific 63