The second year of the Matt Malone era begins this weekend as the Banana Slugs open their season with two games in southern California. UC Santa Cruz plays Redlands on Friday night before traveling to Chapman Saturday night.

Redlands is 0-1 on the year after dropping their home opener against second-ranked Mary Hardin-Baylor. Junior Neil Owens, the Bulldogs' leading returning scorer, had 24 points in the loss. Chapman and the Banana Slugs play for the third-straight year. The Panthers  return two starters from last year- seniors Jack Roggin and Anthony Smith, who both averaged double-figures in scoring.

Returning twelve players, UC Santa Cruz is led by the front-court senior pairing of Calvin Keyes, the Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year last year, and All-Conference First Team senior Avri Finch. Guard Ian McCloskey averaged 9.0 points and 1.2 assists. Overall, the Banana Slugs play eighteen Division III games this season.