Men's Basketball 2025-26 Season Preview

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 film sessions. Quiet reflection on what it takes to go from "good" to "special." That Skyline banner hanging in the gym isn't a weight — instead, it's motivation. The Macs aren't chasing anymore; they're being chased. They've gone from hunters to hunted. And with that comes a new challenge: can this team take the next step on the national stage? Can they turn that first-round heartbreak into something greater — maybe a run into the NCAA DIII Tournament Round of 32, or beyond?

I remember my first year at YU — the same year this core walked onto campus as freshmen. I still remember sitting down with Zevi Samet for lunch that first week, talking hoops, life, and what could be. We've all watched them grow. We've waited for this moment together. And when they snapped that 1,187-day drought against Farmingdale — on their court, to win the Skyline title — it felt like a full-circle moment.

However, this season brings change. Effy Freundlich, Luke Cronin, Jonathan Levy, and Ezra Sicklick are gone — their leadership impossible to replace. Yet, if there's one thing Coach Elliot Steinmetz does best, it's reloading. Enter new faces like Joe Schanzer, Yair Dovrat, and Alex Kirievsky, ready to step into the spotlight. Of course, the returning stars and outgoing seniors : Max Zakheim, Roy Itcovichi, Or Sundjyvsky, Dothan Bardichev, and others who know exactly what it takes to win. Then there's captain Samet, also in his final year who's in a league of his own beyond the court . 

The Macs aren't ducking anyone either. After finishing with the #1 non-conference strength of schedule in D3 last year (per @d3datacast), they've built another powerhouse slate for 2025-26. There's a Virginia road trip at Randolph-Macon and Mary Washington. They host Trinity (CT), last year's national champion, and NYU, the runner-up. There's a journey to Wesleyan (CT), a Final Four contender, and a trip to Chicago, where they reconvene with their friends from Illinois Wesleyan. There's also a rematch at Tufts, where last year's run ended 83-66 in the Round of 64. In a recent Instagram post, Coach Steinmetz said it best: "I'm genuinely excited to coach college basketball again for the first time in two years." He's not talking about X's and O's — he's talking about this group and the journey they’re about to take.

The best part is that it all starts Wednesday, hosting Chapman in the opener. The Macs enter as preseason favorites in the Skyline Conference. They've been humbled by national giants like Trinity, NYU, and Tufts — but that's what forged their edge. After 250 days of waiting, lifting, sweating, and dreaming, they're ready to make the most of their final ride. "One Last Ride" isn't just a slogan. It's a statement. So without further ado, let's ride.