Carroll Men's Basketball Begins Season in California
The Saints open their 2026-27 campaign with road games against Stanton and Hope International.
Updated on Oct. 24, 2026 in Basketball
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The Carroll men's basketball team kicks off its 2026-27 season with back-to-back road games in California. The Saints travel to face Stanton on Friday and Hope International on Saturday.
Why it matters
The program enters a rebuilding phase as it attempts to replace the production of departing conference MVP Isaiah Crane. The team aims to secure its first conference title since 2022 while making another push for the NAIA Tournament.
The team enters the year seeking to replicate last season's 257 total steals and high-pressure defense. Returning guard depth is bolstered by new frontcourt additions, including Viktor Bystrom, who previously shot 73 percent from the field.
The players
Dan Pearson
He serves as the head coach of the Carroll men's basketball team and emphasizes a balanced system over individual play.
Isaiah Crane
The former conference MVP was a primary scorer who transferred to Montana State during the 2026 offseason.
Viktor Bystrom
He is a new frontcourt addition to the roster who previously started 18 games and maintained a 73 percent field goal percentage.
The details
Head coach Dan Pearson intends to leverage a system focused on collective output to compensate for the loss of Isaiah Crane. New roster additions Viktor Bystrom, Julian Ormond, and Isaac Patik were brought in to increase height and physicality on the front line.
Timeline
Friday, October 23, 2026: Carroll plays Stanton in California.
Saturday, October 24, 2026: Carroll plays Hope International in California.
Season Trajectory
The Saints are positioning themselves for a return to the NAIA Tournament by testing their roster against challenging out-of-state opponents early. Success in these nonconference games is critical to setting the tone for the 22-game Frontier Conference schedule.
With 22 conference games scheduled, the early nonconference performance will be a key indicator for playoff eligibility. Fans should monitor how the combined 22 points per game from Ormond and Patik impact the team's floor spacing this year.
The takeaway
The team is shifting toward a collective approach to scoring to fill the void left by their former star. Fans should expect a focus on defense and increased frontcourt size to be the defining characteristics of this season's squad.
Further reading
Get the latest updates on the team at Basketball.
More information
Follow the latest Carroll Athletics news and game recaps to track season progress.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Missoulian.
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