Siena Basketball: New Coach Smith Sets Championship Bar

Nevada Smith, the new head coach for Siena men's basketball, has established ambitious goals for the program since his hiring. He openly believes the team has the potential to achieve "special things" and is training them for a deep NCAA Tournament run in March. Smith has previously stated his aim for the Saints to reach the second round of the NCAA Tournament and even called Siena "the Gonzaga of the East."

Smith's confidence is shared by his players, including transfer guard Pace Prosser, who joined the four returning scholarship players. Prosser, who led Gannon to a Division II championship last season, instills a belief in the team that they are "the best team when we step into a gym." He emphasizes a winning culture and conviction, stating the team "believe[s] that we're going to win every game."

The Saints will face early tests against ranked opponents like Dayton and St. John's. In a recent exhibition, freshmen Tim Ibukunoluwa and Trent Egbiremolen showed promise. The team aims to implement Smith's fast-paced style, focusing on a high volume of three-point attempts, despite a challenging shooting performance in a recent exhibition loss to Syracuse.