Cal Baptist Basketball: 2019-20 season preview for Lancers

RENO, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 19: Head coach Rick Croy of the California Baptist Lancers disputes a call with a referee during the game between the Nevada Wolf Pack and the California Baptist Lancers at Lawlor Events Center on November 19, 2018 in Reno, Nevada. (Photo by Jonathan Devich/Getty Images) /

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LAS VEGAS, NV – MARCH 10: The Western Athletic Conference logo is shown in the free throw lane before a semifinal game of the Western Athletic Conference Basketball Tournament between the Utah Valley Wolverines and the Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners at the Orleans Arena on March 10, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images) /

The Lancers can be a major spoiler in the WAC

While the Lancers are ineligible for the NCAA Tournament as a transitioning Division I team, they are eligible for the other postseason tournaments and a return to the postseason in 2019-20 could be in the offing. They will be tested early by traveling to Austin to take on Shaka Smart’s Texas Longhorns and then three days later they find themselves taking on the Cal Bears.

After hosting the 2K Empire Classic with Central Arkansas, Georgia State, and Prairie View A&M, they welcome South Dakota as part of the WAC/Summit League Challenge to close out November. December sees the Lancers begin on a two-game road trip within California to face a couple of Big West teams, UC-Riverside and UC-Irvine. They’re last games before league play comes at home against Bethune-Cookman and SWAC teams Southern and Mississippi Valley State.

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Even without the allure of the Big Dance, Cal Baptist has a decent chance to gain some valuable March Tournament experience for when they are eligible for the WAC and NCAA Tournaments. For a team that is ineligible for the WAC tournament, they can be a dangerous team and play a significant spoiler role in determining who wins the WAC, as well as seeding for the conference tournament in 2019-20.