Inside: A capsule look at the Bay Area’s men’s and women’s college basketball teams.

CAL GOLDEN BEARS

Coach: Charmin Smith (1st overall) Last year’s record: 20-13

The Down Low: There are few teams in the country that lost as much talent as Cal. Kristine Anigwe was drafted, Asha Thomas and Receé Caldwell graduated and Kianna Smith and McKenzie Forbes transferred, leaving Jaelyn Brown as the only returning starter. Along with the players, Lindsay Gottlieb took a job with the Cleveland Cavaliers, becoming the first NCAA women’s head coach to be hired by an NBA team. This will be a transition year as Charmin Smith ushers in the next chapter of Cal basketball. Smith has already done a phenomenal job on the recruiting trail, nabbing not one, not two, but three five-star recruits. First game: Friday at Harvard, 4p.m.

SAINT MARY’S GAELS

Coach: Paul Thomas (14th with Saint Mary’s, 28th overall)

Last year’s record: 21-12

The Down Low: Saint Mary’s yearto-year turnover isn’t as drastic as Cal’s, but the Gaels lost a decent chunk of last year’s core. Sydney Raggio, Megan McKay and Jasmine Forcadilla, who scored 44.6 percent of the Gaels’ points last season, all graduated. Leading the way for Saint Mary’s will be Sam Simons, a preseason All-WCC Team selection after being named to the freshman team last season. Madeline Holland, Emily Codding and Taycee Wedid return as well, giving Saint Mary’s one of the best shooting teams in the WCC. Last season, Simons, Holland, Codding and Wedid combined to make 174of their 434three-point attempts (40.1 percent).

First game: Today at Nevada, 3 p.m.

SANTA CLARA BRONCOS

Coach: Bill Carr (4th with Santa Clara, 15th overall)

Last year’s record: 14-17

The Down Low: Santa Clara returns most of last year’s core, bringing back its top-seven players. How far the Broncos go largely hinges on Tia Hay. In her first season with Santa Clara, Hay led the Broncos in minutes (32.3), points (15.5), assists (4.2) and steals (2.0) per game, earning a 2nd Team All-WCC honors. Ashlyn Herlihy and Lindsey VanAllen will help ease the scoring burden. Last season, Herlihy averaged 10.9 points and 7.4 rebounds. VanAllen was third in scoring despite coming off the bench.

First game: Today at home vs. UC Santa Cruz, 3:30 p.m.

SAN FRANCISCO DONS

Coach: Molly Goodenbour (4th with USF, 8th overall)

Last year’s record: 7-24

The Down Low: There were nine freshmen on last year’s roster. That inexperienced plagued the Dons, but it also provided the youngsters with lots of playing time and forced them to grow up. Julia Nielacna was one of the freshmen who got big minutes, averaging 9.1points and 3.0 rebounds. Not only do the Dons’ have many returnees, but they’ve also added experience with Lucie Hoskova, Masha Vasileua, Mikayla Williams and Dolapo Balogun, the latter two being graduate transfers. Hoskova was an NJCAA All-American honorable mention at Casper College last season, averaging 17.4points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists.

First game: Today at Northern Colorado, 6 p.m.

SAN JOSE STATE SPARTANS

Coach: Jamie Craighead (7th with SJSU, 11th overall)

Last year’s record: 6-24

The Down Low: This season could be rough or San Jose State, which was picked to finish last in the Mountain West Conference. The Spartans return their top six scorers, led by Raziya Potter, the team’s leading scorer last season as a freshman. Intrigue surrounds Kalina Obrey, who could provide a desperately-needed spark. As a high school senior, Obrey led the state of Hawaii with 438 points and 168 made free throws, earning USA Today and Gatorade player of the year honors.

First game: Today at UC Irvine, 7p.m.

STANFORD CARDINAL

Coach: Tara VanDerveer (34th at Stanford, 41st overall)

Last year’s record: 31-5, lost in NCAA round of eight)

The Down Low: Stanford would be the favorites to win the Pac-12 if University of Oregon’s Sabrina Ionescu had gone pro. Regardless of preseason ranking, the Cardinal is poised for another deep postseason run. Along with a litany of returners, headlined by Kiana Williams, the Cardinal boast the No. 2recruiting class in the nation. That cohort features Haley Jones, the consensus No. 1 prospect.

First game: Today at home vs. Eastern Washington, 7 p.m.