The Siena Saints are set to open the 2026‑27 Metro Conference season with a much‑anticipated rematch against Merrimack on December 4 at MVP Arena, the same venue where they captured last year’s title.
A 64‑54 victory a year earlier cemented Siena’s place as defending champions, a triumph that will be commemorated when the championship banner is hoisted in August 2026.
A New Era for the Saints
Heading into the new campaign, the program welcomes Nevada Smith as its new head coach, taking over from Gerry McNamara, who departed for a role at Syracuse.
Smith inherits a squad that must replace several key contributors, while Merrimack will be without its recent stars Kevair Kennedy, Ernest Shelton and KC Ugwuakazi, all of whom have moved on via transfer.
Following the opener, Siena will travel to face Quinnipiac on December 6 and return home for a holiday showdown with Fairfield on December 29, before a New Year’s Day clash with Iona and a Martin Luther King Jr. Day meeting with Manhattan at MVP Arena.
The Metro Conference Tournament is slated to return to Boardwalk Hall from March 4 through March 9, with the championship game scheduled for a Tuesday, giving the Saints another chance to defend their crown on a national stage.
Off the court, the team’s nonconference slate remains in flux, pending contract negotiations that could bring matchups against Bryant, Dayton, Brown, Bucknell and St. Bonaventure into the schedule, while an exhibition against Syracuse is set for mid‑October.