The WAC Releases the 2023-2024 Men's Basketball Conference Schedule
7/19/2023 9:05:00 AM | Men's Basketball
ARLINGTON--- California Baptist University men's basketball Western Athletic Conference schedule has been unveiled. The schedule features 20 conference matchups, with all teams slated to play their opponent twice, once on the road and once at home. The new system was introduced following the departure of Sam Houston and New Mexico State to Conference USA, leaving 11 teams in the conference and, thus, ten opponents for every team to compete against.
Almost that time again. 👀⏳🏀#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/isq4Lhnvtq
— California Baptist Men's Basketball (@CBUmbb) July 19, 2023
CBU completed its four-year transition to become a full-fledged member of Division I a season ago and will enter its second season of eligibility. In 2022-23, the Lancers went 17-16 with an 8-10 conference record. CBU was the eighth seed in the WAC Tournament and defeated Abilene Christian in the opening round en route to a quarterfinals loss to #1 seeded Sam Houston at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.
The 2023-2024 schedule has many notable matchups for the Lancers, including an opening day matchup with Southern Utah in Cedar City that is scheduled for November 29th. The home opener for CBU will be against Utah Tech on December 6th in the newly named Dale E. & Sarah Ann Fowler Events Center. The Lancers and Trailblazers have matched up 21 times dating back to their times in the PacWest, with CBU taking last year's matchup 72-58 in Riverside.
CBU will enjoy a three-game homestand in the early portion of the schedule, starting with Tarleton on January 11th, and will face Abilene Christian and Southern Utah to finish the stretch. CBU has enjoyed a fair amount of success in its home confines since joining the WAC in 2018. The Lancers are 60-26 in the Events Center since their DI transition, including a 12-5 record last season. Notable home wins for CBU last season included thrilling victories over UC Riverside and Grand Canyon and a 20-point blowout against Seattle U.
The most intriguing matchup of the conference slate will be a home showdown with Grand Canyon on March 9th. The Lopes and the Lancers split their games a season ago, with CBU holding serve at home with a 79-74 victory. GCU won the WAC tournament in 2023, earning themselves an auto bid in the NCAA Tournament, where they ultimately fell to Gonzaga. The game will serve as the Lancer's senior day in what expects to be a packed arena.
CBU will open conference play on Wednesday, November 29th, on the road against Southern Utah.
