# 2020–21 Cal Poly Mustangs men's basketball team

The 2020–21 Cal Poly Mustangs men's basketball team represented California Polytechnic State University in the 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Mustangs, led by second-year head coach John Smith, played their home games at the Mott Athletics Center in San Luis Obispo, California as members of the Big West Conference.

## Previous season

The Mustangs finished the 2019–20 season 7–23, 4–12 in Big West play to finish in last place. They failed to qualify for the Big West tournament (although the Big West tournament was ultimately cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic).

## Schedule and results

| Date time, TV | Rank$^#$ | Opponent$^#$ | Result | Record | Site (attendance) city, state |
| Non-conference regular season ||||||
| November 27, 2020* 4:00 pm, BigWest.TV | | Bethesda | W 100–46 | 1–0 | Mott Athletics Center San Luis Obispo, CA |
| December 4, 2020* 6:00 pm, BigWest.TV | | San Francisco | L 60–88 | 1–1 | Mott Athletics Center San Luis Obispo, CA |
| December 9, 2020* 6:00 pm, BigWest.TV | | Santa Clara | L 69–76 | 1–2 | Mott Athletics Center San Luis Obispo, CA |
| December 13, 2020* 1:00 pm, BigWest.TV | | San Jose State | W 75–71 | 2–2 | Mott Athletics Center San Luis Obispo, CA |
| December 16, 2020* 3:00 pm, BigWest.TV | | San Diego | L 61–70 | 2–3 | Mott Athletics Center San Luis Obispo, CA |
| December 19, 2020* 7:00 pm | | at Loyola Marymount | L 52–76 | 2–4 | Gersten Pavilion Los Angeles, CA |
| Big West regular season ||||||
| December 27, 2020 | | at Hawaii | Cancelled | Cancelled | Stan Sheriff Center Honolulu, HI |
| December 28, 2020 | | at Hawaii | Cancelled | Cancelled | Stan Sheriff Center Honolulu, HI |
| January 1, 2021 | | UC San Diego | Cancelled | Cancelled | Mott Athletics Center San Luis Obispo, CA |
| January 2, 2021 | | UC San Diego | Cancelled | Cancelled | Mott Athletics Center San Luis Obispo, CA |
| January 8, 2021 7:00 pm, ESPN3 | | at Cal State Bakersfield | L 49–62 | 2–5 (0–1) | Icardo Center Bakersfield, CA |
| January 9, 2021 7:00 pm, ESPN3 | | at Cal State Bakersfield | L 50–65 | 2–6 (0–2) | Icardo Center Bakersfield, CA |
| January 15, 2021 4:00 pm, BigWest.TV | | UC Riverside | L 51–86 | 2–7 (0–3) | Mott Athletics Center San Luis Obispo, CA |
| January 16, 2021 4:00 pm, BigWest.TV | | UC Riverside | L 53–70 | 2–8 (0–4) | Mott Athletics Center San Luis Obispo, CA |
| January 22, 2021 4:00 pm | | at UC Irvine | L 49–68 | 2–9 (0–5) | Bren Events Center Irvine, CA |
| January 23, 2021 4:00 pm | | at UC Irvine | L 44–67 | 2–10 (0–6) | Bren Events Center Irvine, CA |
| January 29, 2021 4:00 pm, BigWest.TV | | Cal State Northridge | W 76–70 | 3–10 (1–6) | Mott Athletics Center San Luis Obispo, CA |
| January 30, 2021 4:00 pm, BigWest.TV | | Cal State Northridge | L 51–64 | 3–11 (1–7) | Mott Athletics Center San Luis Obispo, CA |
| February 5, 2021 9:00 pm | | at Hawaii | L 68–84 | 3–12 (1–8) | Stan Sheriff Center Honolulu, Hawaii |
| February 6, 2021 9:00 pm | | at Hawaii | L 64–81 | 3–13 (1–9) | Stan Sheriff Center Honolulu, Hawaii |
| February 12, 2021 4:00 pm, BigWest.TV | | Cal State Fullerton | Canceled | Canceled | Mott Athletics Center San Luis Obispo, CA |
| February 13, 2021 4:00 pm, BigWest.TV | | Cal State Fullerton | Canceled | Canceled | Mott Athletics Center San Luis Obispo, CA |
| February 19, 2021 4:00 pm | | at Long Beach State | L 60–64 | 3–14 (1–10) | Walter Pyramid Long Beach, CA |
| February 20, 2021 4;00 pm | | at Long Beach State | L 69–74 | 3–15 (1–11) | Walter Pyramid Long Beach, CA |
| February 26, 2021 4:00 pm | | UC Davis | L 61–69 | 3–16 (1–12) | Walter Pyramid Long Beach, CA |
| February 27, 2021 4:00 pm | | UC Davis | L 66–68 $^{OT}$ | 3–17 (1–13) | Walter Pyramid Long Beach, CA |
| March 5, 2021 5:00 pm, ESPN3 | | at UC Santa Barbara Blue–Green Rivalry | L 57–71 | 3–18 (1–14) | The Thunderdome Santa Barbara, CA |
| March 6, 2021 5:00 pm | | at UC Santa Barbara Blue–Green Rivalry | L 54–70 | 3–19 (1–15) | The Thunderdome Santa Barbara, CA |
| Big West tournament ||||||
| March 9, 2021 6:00 pm, ESPN3 | (10) | vs. (7) Cal State Fullerton First round | W 87–82 | 4–19 | Michelob Ultra Arena Las Vegas, NV |
| March 11, 2021 5:00 pm, ESPN3 | (10) | vs. (2) UC Irvine Quarterfinals | L 51–58 | 4–20 | Michelob Ultra Arena Las Vegas, NV |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. All times are in Pacific. ||||||
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