UNC Basketball Teams to Open Season in Greeley

The University of Northern Colorado hosts a home doubleheader at the Bank of Colorado Arena on Monday, November 2, 2026.

Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Basketball

Expressive sports illustration of a basketball player in navy blue and gold driving for a layup, capturing athletic movement. — The University of Northern Colorado men's and women's basketball teams launch their 2026 seasons with a doubleheader at Greeley's Bank of Colorado Arena. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The University of Northern Colorado basketball teams kick off their seasons with a doubleheader at the Bank of Colorado Arena on Monday, November 2, 2026. Both the men's and women's squads enter the year ranked in the top three of their respective Big Sky Conference preseason polls.

Why it matters

These openers serve as a launchpad for the teams' stated goals of securing a Big Sky regular season title and earning a spot in the NCAA Tournament. The events represent the culmination of an intensive offseason for both programs as they look to build on successful campaigns from last year.

The UNC women's team enters the year coming off a 23-win 2025-2026 season. Meanwhile, the men's squad participated in 60 to 70 organized offseason events to prepare for the upcoming schedule.

The players

Langston Reynolds

He is a first-team selection and the preseason most valuable player in the Big Sky Conference.

University of Northern Colorado

This is a public research university located in Greeley that sponsors multiple NCAA Division I athletic programs.

The details

The women's team will face Hastings College at 5 p.m., followed by the men's team matchup against Colorado College at 7:30 p.m. The women's roster features seven new players and returns five veterans, including three starters from last year, while the men's team is led by preseason conference most valuable player Langston Reynolds.

Monday, November 2, 2026: The home doubleheader takes place at Bank of Colorado Arena.
January 2027: The Big Sky conference schedule gets in full swing.

Season Trajectory

These season openers signal the start of a critical period for the University of Northern Colorado to meet the high expectations set by preseason conference polling. Establishing early momentum is vital for the programs to secure favorable positioning before the conference schedule intensifies in January.

The doubleheader provides the first opportunity for fans to see how new roster additions integrate with returning starters in live gameplay. These games also offer a baseline to gauge if the men's team can maintain their projected second-place standing as they look toward the conference season.

The takeaway

Success in these early games is essential for building the team chemistry needed to compete for a Big Sky title. Supporters can look for how the integration of new roster members influences the teams' performance against their opening opponents.