BearTalk

   Coach Mike Montgomery has fashioned a non-conference schedule that could feature matchups against the past two NCAA champions.

   It’s an appropriately difficult schedule for a team that has designs on winning the Pac-10 Conference title.

   The Golden Bears will take on 2008 national champ and likely pre-season No. 1 Kansas at Lawrence, Kan., on Dec. 22.

   Prior to that, Cal travels to New York City’s Madison Square Garden for the semifinals and finals of the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic on Nov. 19 and 20. The possible opponents there — and matchups are not yet set — are defending national champ North Carolina, along with Syracuse and Ohio State.

   The four teams gathering in NYC have combined for eight national titles, 109 trips to the NCAA Tournament and the four coaches have totaled more than 2,100 victories.

   Key Pac-10 home dates include a conference opener on Jan. 2 against Stanford, a visit by UCLA on Jan. 9, and a potentially crucial matchup on Feb. 13 vs. Washington, which is expected to duel Cal for the conference title.

   Here’s the full schedule along with a team-by-team breakdown of the Bears’ possible non-conference opponents: No game times have been set.

   – Thursday, Nov. 5: vs. Chico State (exhibition). The Bears will tune up against the Division II Wildcats, who were just 8-19 a year ago.

   – Monday, Nov. 9: vs. Murray State. Cal opens play in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic at home against the Racers, who were 19-12 a year ago, including 13-5 in the Ohio Valley Conference. Three double-digit scorers return, led by 6-4 senior forward Danero Thomas, who averaged 12.5 ppg and had 30 against  Austin Peay. Likely outcome: Win.

 – Wednesday, Nov. 11: vs. Detroit. Game 2 of the Coaches vs. Cancer, and win or lose, the Bears go to MSG. The Titans have won just seven games each of the past two seasons and were last in the Horizon Conference a year ago at 2-16. Xavier Keeling, a 6-7, 235-pound forward, returns for his senior season after scoring 11.6 ppg last year before being injured in the seventh game. The big draw for Bay Area fans will be former Richmond High star Eli Holman, a 6-9 sophomore forward who sat out last year after transferring from Indiana. Likely outcome: Win.

   – Thursday-Friday, Nov. 19-20: at Coaches vs. Cancer Classic in New York City. Pairings are not yet set, but there are no easy pickings among a field with North Carolina, Syracuse and Ohio State. UNC (34-4), lost all five starters but returns 6-10 sophomore forward Ed Davis along with a top-five national recruiting class that features forward John Henson. Syracuse (28-10), a Sweet 16 participant in the NCAAs, lost point guard Jonny Flynn. But four starters are back, including 6-4, 230-pound forward Paul Harris (12.0 ppg), who had 29 points and 22 rebounds in the Orange’s six-overtime win over UConn in the Big East Tournament. Ohio State (22-11) lost freshman center B.J. Mullens to the NBA draft, but the top four scorers return, led by 6-7 junior forward Evan Turner (17.3 ppg), who had 10 games of 20 points or more. Likely outcome: Tough to say before we have the pairings, but we’ll go with a split.

   – Tuesday, Nov. 24: vs. Jacksonville. First, an apology. I mistakenly had the Bears playing Jacksonville State in an earlier version of this blog. In fact, Jacksonville (18-14) is a much more challenging opponent. The Dolphins were regular-season champs of the Atlantic Sun Conference before losing to Florida in the NIT. They lost non-conference games to Florida State, Georgetown and Georgia Tech by a combined margin of 14 points. And the club’s top three scorers return, led by 5-10 senior guard Ben Smith, who averaged 16.9 ppg and scored 30 against Georgia Tech. A stiffer test, and yet . . . Likely outcome: Win.

   – Sunday, Nov. 29: vs. Princeton. The Tigers, ranked 18th nationally at the time, beat Cal way back in 1971 at the Kentucky Classic in Lexington. Not so likely to happen here, although Princeton (13-14) returns its top nine scorers from a team that tied for second in the Ivy League. Junior guard Dan Mavraides (10.3 ppg) is sure to have a rooting section from his hometown of San Mateo. Likely outcome: Win.

   – Wednesday, Dec. 2: at New Mexico. The Bears will bravely visit The Pit in Albuquerque, where the Lobos were 16-2 a year ago and have assembled an all-time record of 614-144. Coach Steve Alford’s squad (22-12) tied for second in the Mountain West Conference last season, but lost its top three scorers after falling to Notre Dame 70-68 in the second round of the NIT. The top returning player is 6-6 senior forward Ramon Martinez, who averaged 10.6 ppg and 6.4 rpg. Likely outcome: Win.

   – Saturday, Dec. 5: vs. Iowa State. The Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series matchup against the Cyclones (15-17) will feature an appearance by one of the top players Cal will face all season. Craig Brackins, a 6-10, 230-pound junior center, who toyed with entering the NBA draft after averaging 20.2 ppg and 9.5 rpg. He had 42 points and 14 rebounds against Kansas and 38-14 against Houston. Also back is 6-4 junior guard Diante Garrett, who contributed 9.8 ppg and 5.0 apg. Likely outcome: Win.

   – Wednesday, Dec. 9: at Pacific. Cal’s visit to the Stockton Arena marks just the second time since World War II the Bears have played UOP on the road. Cal is 24-2 all-time vs. the Tigers following a victory last year in Montgomery’s debut. Pacific (21-13) suffered heavy losses at graduation, losing its top four scorers, but coach Bob Thomason calls his four newcomers the most athletic recruiting class he’s had. Likely outcome: Win.

   – Tuesday, Dec. 22: at Kansas. Following a break for final exams, the Bears face perhaps their toughest opponent of the season. The Jayhawks (27-8) return their two best players in senior guard Sherron Collins (18.9 ppg, 5.0 apg) and 6-11 junior center Cole Aldrich (14.9 ppg, 11.1 rpg). KU also features a recruiting class rated No. 6 in the nation by rivals.com, and featuring top shooting guard Xavier Henry. Then there’s Allen Fieldhouse, where the Bears absorbed a 76-56 loss in 1993-94. And that Cal team had Jason Kidd. Likely outcome: Defeat.

   – Monday-Tuesday, Dec. 28-29: Golden Bear Classic at Haas Pavilion. Pairings are not set, but don’t expect the Bears to face UC Santa Barbara (16-15) on opening night. The Gauchos are among the favorites in the Big West Conference and feature East Bay products Will and Chris Brew. Also visiting are Furman (6-24) and Utah Valley (17-11). The Paladins return their top three scorers, led by 6-2 junior guard Jordan Miller (13.8 ppg). Utah Valley lost its only two double-digit scorers to graduation. Likely outcome: Two wins.