California Golden Bears

The California Golden Bears play at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley, bringing Atlantic Coast Conference basketball to the Bay Area. Under Mark Madsen, the Golden Bears aim to restore the program to its Newell and Montgomery success. California's blue and gold colors and Berkeley's academic reputation create appeal. The program has won a national championship and reached multiple Final Fours. California's move to the ACC in 2024 was historic. The Golden Bears' rivalry with Stanford, the Big Game, extends to basketball.

California won the 1959 NCAA championship under Pete Newell. The Golden Bears reached the 1960 title game as well. Jason Kidd, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, and Jaylen Brown are among the program's NBA alumni. California has made 18 NCAA Tournament appearances. The program joined the ACC in 2024. Newell's legacy and the program's academic excellence attract recruits.