On a night where the Macs desperately needed to reset their season’s momentum, Yeshiva delivered a disciplined, physical, and balanced performance on the road. After a sloppy first half from both sides, the Macs tightened up defensively, cleaned up their halfcourt execution, and rode a dominant second half to a convincing 71–46 win over Purchase. Behind Yoav Oselka’s two-way brilliance and Zevi Samet’s historic 2,000th career point, the Macs showed flashes of the cohesion and

All right Macs Nation, huddle up. There’s good news and bad news. The bad is the Macs walk into Skyline play at 1–6, but the record needs context:  the good news is all seven games were non-conference, and all seven were against teams with top-tier athleticism and votes in the national rankings. In other words: the efficiency numbers look shaky, but the strength of schedule has been top-heavy. Every hit they took was basically prep work for a conference that’s a whole lot mor

Two days after an exhilarating victory over defending NCAA runners-up NYU, Yeshiva University looked to keep the good times rolling Saturday against the University of Saint Joseph at the Max Stern Athletic Center. Instead, the Maccabees struggled to maintain consistent offense, and, at times, seemed unable to generate the “juice” needed to win the game. YU fell 78-64 in a game where offense was hard to come by early, but the USJ Blue Jays stepped up when they needed to and pu

Wednesday felt like the Macs finally exhaled, leaving with their first win of the season in six tries. Tonight? They get the team that’s been sitting on their chest for three years. This matchup has always carried weight, but this season it hits different. It’s the final ride for this core, the last chapter of a group that’s lived every high and low together. If they want this season to mean something, if they want to actually own the moment instead of being owned by the narr

On a night when Macs Nation needed something to believe in after five straight frustrations, the Yeshiva University Maccabees finally delivered a win, rallying to defeat NYU 88-83.  The Max Stern Athletic Center was buzzing   —the kind of noise you can feel in your chest. The Macs were finally back home after stops in Virginia and Boston against the D3 Nation’s Elite. It felt like the entire Yeshiva sports universe came out to welcome them. Magen David Yeshivah sent its whole

Legendary football coach Bill Parcells used to say that “you are what your record says you are.” Often, narratives surround teams with poor records, claiming they underperform due to the absence of key players, bad luck, or a difficult schedule. The Macs believe they are truly better than their 0-5 record indicates and that they are poised to start winning games. I spoke to first-year team manager Kobe Kurtz, and he expressed this sentiment clearly, stating that “the panic le

If you're still processing what happened inside Cousens Gymnasium on Sunday you aren't alone. Up 70–49. Ten minutes to go. The #4 squad in the country on the ropes, with their fans silent, their All-Americans shaking their heads. And then, it was gone.  The same Yeshiva Maccabees who looked flawless for 30 minutes — crisp passes, motion offense humming, energy electric — suddenly couldn't break a press, couldn't secure a rebound, couldn't catch a breath. Tufts hit a three, th

Four games in, and the road has been rugged. The Maccabees have faced a gauntlet that would test anyone’s resolve — #2 Randolph-Macon, #1 Trinity, and now another top-five powerhouse in Tufts. These are the kinds of programs that define the upper echelon of Division III basketball, and Yeshiva is diving headfirst into that challenge. Today’s Jumbos are the same battle-tested group that ended Yeshiva’s season in the NCAA Tournament last March, 83–66. They return nearly everyon

On a night where Max Zakheim made his much anticipated return to the lineup, the Max Stern Athletic Center buzzed with hope. For stretches, Yeshiva showed flashes of cohesion, improved spacing, and the kind of defensive grit this group has been searching for early in the season. But standing across from them was the #1 Trinity CT Bantams, the top team in the country and an offensive machine averaging 100 points per game. The Macs hung tough early and entered halftime down jus

Even with the Macs opening the season 0-3, there are plenty of reasons for optimism. Yeshiva went toe-to-toe with both Chapman and #15 Mary Washington, controlling long stretches of each game, before falling by just four and three points, all without their starting point guard and defensive engine, Max Zakheim. With Zakheim returning, the Macs regain their primary facilitator and a much-needed stabilizing presence who can organize the offense and create cleaner looks. The tea

Wow… But not the good “Wow”.  Coming off a harsh loss the night before, the Yeshiva University Maccabees looked to earn a split of their Virginia road trip, which featured a tough back-to-back against two Top 15 opponents.  Instead of a split, Yeshiva suffered a brutal 90-89 Double Overtime defeat to the #15 University of Mary Washington Eagles in Fredericksburg, VA. Despite an extremely strong first half and controlled second, the Macs handed UMW a ticket to overtime, giftin

Less than 24 hours after getting humbled by #2 Randolph-Macon, the YU Macs walk right back into the fire and finish off their weekend stay in Virginia. Tip-off is at 2 PM, at #15-ranked University of Mary Washington. If last night was a wake-up call, today is the first test of how this senior-led group responds. This whole “one last ride” mission? It doesn’t work unless you bounce back, regroup, and show you can compete with national tournament-level teams. If the seniors wan

The YU Macs were absolutely blitzed by #2-ranked Randolph-Macon, 92–57, on Saturday night, and honestly, the final score tells you everything you need to know. To sum up the Macs’ first game on their Virginia trip in one line, we came, we saw… and we got humbled fast. Sometimes the game just shows you exactly where you stand. Saturday night was one of those nights. From the opening tip, they were fighting in the sand. Randolph-Macon plays this absurd mix of size, speed, disci

For the third time in the last four seasons, the Macs are stepping far beyond the familiar streets of the Northeast for a slate of out-of-conference battles. In past years, the road has taken them to Illinois to face then #21 Illinois Wesleyan and Webster in the Jack Sikma tournament, and last season to Ohio for showdowns with #19 Mount Union and Wooster. But this year’s journey is different; heavier, tougher, and carrying a deeper meaning. This time, the Macs are traveling s

Under the bright lights of the Max Stern Athletic Center and celebrating its 40th anniversary, the Yeshiva University Maccabees returned for the first time in 250 days to a festive atmosphere. Comedian Dovie Neuburger was in the celebrity row, watching the opening chapter of this core’s “One Last Ride,” waiting to see the identity of this group. Instead, along with the rest of the Jewish basketball population, he saw a sloppy, chaotic, frustrating Game 1 — yet somehow still a

A new quest for March begins tonight. Under the bright lights of the Max Stern Athletic Center, the Yeshiva University Maccabees return home to tip off another season filled with promise, grit, and unfinished business. Their first challenge comes from across the country, the Chapman Panthers, who make the long journey from Orange County, California, just 30 miles south of the City of Angels. For Chapman, tonight marks the start of a grueling three-game East Coast swing. They

250 days.  That's how long it's been since we last saw the Macs take the floor. An offseason that felt like forever — after a season none of us will ever forget. A Skyline Championship. An NCAA Tournament appearance. And now, as summer fades and the lights of the Max Stern Athletic Center flicker back on, it's time for one final ride. This is it — the last dance for a group that's carried YU Basketball into a new era. The work hasn't stopped. Far from it. Early mornings. Long

After an exciting campaign last season that ended with a Skyline Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance, the Macs will look for a repeat in the final year for many of the key players on the team. The Macs lost some significant pieces from last year as Effy Freundlich, Luke Cronin, Jonathan Levy, and Ezra Sicklick are no longer with the team. However, Coach Steinmetz will look to fill the void with some promising new pieces. New Players: #2 Joe Schanzer: Joe is a 6-3 guar

The magic of the Macs' season ran out in Boston on Friday afternoon as Yeshiva fell to Tufts, 83-66, in the first round of the NCAA DIII Tournament. What started as a hopeful rematch and a dream upset quickly became a nightmare against the Jumbos' overwhelming size and rebounding supremacy. YU was outclassed on the glass 64-33, and despite Zevi Samet's 29-point showing, the Macs were submerged by the persistent pressure from Tufts.   How it Happened:  - Right from the jump, t

As the NCAA Division III March Madness tournament begins, the Macs find themselves on a collision course with an all-too-familiar...