GAMES TO CIRCLE FOR THE 2022-23 SEASON

Saturday, Cal vs. Notre Dame: The Bears will be tested early by the No. 9 Irish in the Citi Shamrock Classic in St. Louis. The game is a part of a partnership between the St. Louis Blues and the St. Louis Sports Commission with Notre Dame. It is a homecoming for Cal head coach Charmin Smith, who is from St. Louis.

Nov. 20, South Carolina at Stanford: The preseason No. 1 and No. 2 teams might be the game of the year until tournament time. The cross-country rivalry has grown since Stanford edged South Carolina in the 2021 Final Four to go to the national championship, which Stanford won. In December, the Gamecocks registered the biggest comeback in program history by rallying from 18 down to top Stanford.

Nov. 26, Kansas at St. Mary’s: If the Gaels want to prove they’re a step above the WBI title they won last season, this is a good test. Kansas, narrowly outside the Top 25 preseason poll, comes to Moraga as part of the St. Mary’s Thanksgiving Classic. The Jayhawks are the highest-ranked opponent on St. Mary’s schedule.

Dec. 18, Tennessee at Stanford: The Cardinal have a few marquee games on the slate ahead of conference play that could factor into NCAA Tournament seeding, and right behind South Carolina is No. 5 Tennessee. It is Stanford’s second-to-last nonconference game — the one after is No. 21 Creighton. The Vols will be looking to prove themselves as a threat.

Jan. 2, Arizona at Stanford: No. 19 Arizona is Stanford’s greatest Pac-12 adversary. The Wildcats fell in the 2021 national championship to the Cardinal, sparking a natural rivalry. Stanford faces Arizona twice, with a trip to Tucson in February, but the early-January matchup comes right after Stanford will be tested by Tennessee and Creighton. The Wildcats are known for their defense, and the Cardinal will be well on its way to establishing their identity.

Feb. 4, Gonzaga at USF: The Zags are the preseason favorite to win the WCC. By this point in the season, USF will know if it’s on a path toward challenging the Bulldogs for the conference title. Gonzaga received Top 25 votes in the preseason and could find itself ranked later this season. If the Dons want to advance to the NCAA Tournament, games like these will matter.