Siena College’s men’s basketball program has released a non‑league slate that reads like a championship‑ready test, with coach Nevada Smith promising a schedule stacked with high‑profile opponents.
The opening stretch begins with a home game against Bryant on November 2, followed by a showdown with Princeton at MVP Arena on November 8, and guaranteed matchups against Dayton on November 10, St. John’s on November 18 and Seton Hall on November 28.
Rather than padding the record with easy wins, the Saints have deliberately avoided any “bad teams,” aiming to raise the competitive floor under the guidance of assistant coach Shaun Morris, who oversaw the scheduling process.
A historic venue beckons
The lineup also features an exhibition against Syracuse on October 18 at MVP Arena, preceded by a banner ceremony honoring the 2026 Metro championship team, and a return to the Franciscan Cup rivalry with St. Bonaventure on December 9, plus a trip to face Albany for the Albany Cup on December 12.
Key returning players from the 2025 title‑winning squad — Brendan Coyle, Reid Ducharme, Isaiah Henderson and Owen Schlager — are expected to anchor the effort, while a potential meeting with Rick Pitino’s St. John’s at Madison Square Garden offers a historic experience for the roster.
The schedule also includes a Nov. 24 contest against Vermont, a game that could snap a nine‑game losing streak, and a series of road trips to Bucknell, Monmouth and Colgate in late November and December.