Siena men’s basketball enters Sunday’s home opener against Princeton with a singular mission: secure the program’s first victory under head coach Nevada Smith. The Saints (0-1) look to bounce back from a disappointing 80-75 defeat at Bryant on Monday, where they squandered an 11-point first-half lead. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. in MVP Arena, where Smith expects his team to translate their theoretical game plan into tangible results on the court.
Nevada Smith demands improved spacing and pace after 80-75 loss to Bryant
The loss to the Bulldogs highlighted significant offensive inefficiencies, as Siena shot just 37.5% from the field and struggled from deep, connecting on only six of 27 three-point attempts. Smith noted that the team failed to execute his preferred fast-paced style, describing their performance as a “shell” of their true potential. “Our spacing was bad. Our pace was bad,” Smith admitted, emphasizing that the team must refine its execution to avoid repeating the “empty calories” of their season opener.
Despite the early stumble, Smith maintains a positive outlook, framing the 32-game regular season as a marathon rather than a sprint. He emphasized the importance of celebrating incremental progress, stating that any win will be treated as a significant milestone for the locker room. As Siena prepares to host Princeton, the focus shifts to tightening defensive rotations and improving offensive rhythm to turn their season around in front of the home crowd.
Source: Yahoo Sports
