The 2025-26 college basketball season is finally here, and it gave way to a wild first week in the Atlantic 10 with several head coaching debuts, too many injuries, and a couple of major upsets.
Our resident
A10 reporter, Riley Frain, is bringing you a weekly notebook this season to recap all the latest news from his coverage around the league.
This week, Duquesne and St. Bonaventure are off and running, early struggles are rearing for Fordham and Loyola Chicago, all while La Salle and George Mason battle injuries.
Does Duquesne have its next all-conference backcourt duo?
Aaron Jackson and Bill Clark. Derrick Colter and Micah Mason. Dae Dae Grant and Jimmy Clark. Tarence Guinyard and Jimmie Williams?
Duquesne’s two transfer guards in Guinyard and Williams are off to a hot start in Pittsburgh and already look the part of Duquesne’s next premier backcourt duo.
The Dukes thrashed Niagara 83-63 on opening night with Guinyard and Williams leading the way. The former UT-Martin Skyhawk finished as top-scorer with 19 points on 4-for-6 from three, adding five assists and three rebounds. Meanwhile, the former USF Bull chipped in 15 points on 6-for-10 shooting, along with four assists and three steals to complete the win.
However, Duquesne hosts a much stronger MAAC opponent tonight in Sacred Heart. The Pioneers bolster a talented backcourt trio of their own in Mekhi Conner, Nyle Ralph-Beyer and Dashon Gittens who will provide Guinyard and Williams with a real litmus test.
Magpayo era off to a rough start on Rose Hill
Mike Magpayo took over at Fordham this offseason and brought with him a unique analytics-driven approach that turned UC Riverside into a consistent top-five team in the Big West.
His long awaited debut came Tuesday at Rose Hill as Fordham played host to KenPom’s 356th ranked program in NJIT, with the Rams favored by 14.5 points. Ultimately, Fordham’s offense came out ice cold and forced graduate senior guard Dejour Reaves to carry a massive load through the first half.
He finished as the games leading scorer with 21 points and 3 assists while senior wing Zarique Nutter eventually warmed up in the second half to contribute 15 points, but it wasn’t enough. NJIT staved off the Rams in a 72-61 upset behind 18 points from freshman guard David Bolden who was an unranked recruit out of Nicolet HIgh School in Glendale, Wisc.
The Rose Thrill faithful might be in for a long season from the Bronx if Magpayo can’t find the right rotation within his unique contingent of transfer portal talent.
Kory Mincy set for bigger role amid George Mason’s injuries
Third-year George Mason head coach Tony Skinn is in search of a third consecutive 20-plus win season and brought in a talented transfer class to aid preseason first team selection Brayden O’Connor.
To throw an early wrench into the Patriots plans, O’Connor was helped off the court midway through the first half of George Mason’s season opener against Wofford. He was later spotted on the sidelines in a walking boot and using crutches while the program has yet to provide an update on his status going forward.
Junior guard Kory Mincy, a Presbyterian transfer, made the most of an unfortunate situation and came off the bench to fill in O’Connor spot where he flourished. Mincy went on to lead the Patriots with a game-high 18 points and six assists on 6-for-9 shooting, as George Mason coasted to a 70-46 win over the Terriers.
With O’Connor likely set to miss some time, expect Mincy to continue filling a similar role as Skinn and Co. prepare to face Winthrop on home soil tonight.
La Salle battles injuries but has a new breakout freshman
Darris Nichols made his La Salle head coaching debut on Wednesday night to the tune of a 87-59 blowout win over Coppin State in which the Explorers led from wire-to-wire.
La Salle is without sophomore guard Jaden Johnson who’s injured to start the season while Josue Grullon was a last minute scratch but more importantly, Truth Harris went down injured. He limped off with help early into the first half but was later seen on the sidelines in a boot which Nichols played down in postgame media following the win.
“I don’t have anything [on Harris],” Nichols said. “I saw he was in a boot or whatever but they always put guys in a boot so we’ll see tomorrow and put some dirt on it.”
Three-star freshman guard Ashton Walker, who initially committed to Nichols at Radford, was the breakout star of the night. He went on to lead all scorers with 18 points and seven rebounds on 6-for-10 shooting before fouling out with just under two minutes left in regulation.
Between Jaeden Marshall, Damon Strand and Rob Dockery, La Salle has a plethora of guard talent to fill holes in the meantime but Walker looks like he’ll play a major role in Nichols rotation this season.
Shaky start for Loyola Chicago gives way to major upset
Loyola Chicago’s season opener was almost spoiled as the Ramblers faced off at home with KenPom’s 254 ranked program in Cleveland State. The Vikings led for much of the first half before Deywilk Tavarez bailed out Loyola Chicago late with a buzzer-beating three that secured a 91-88 win.
However, the Ramblers early struggles were indicative of things to come as on Thursday night, the buzzer-beating win made way to what will be one of the A10’s worst upsets this season. Loyola Chicago fell to KenPom’s 359th ranked program in Mercyhurst, who led essentially from wire-to-wire and slammed the door shut late for a 73-65. Bernie Blunt III, son of St. Joe’s and A10 legend, Bernard Blunt, was clutch for the Lakers with 27 points, including 13 points in the last four minutes to hold out over the Rambers.
Head coach Drew Valentine has a ton of individual talent within this Loyola Chicago group but his team looked devoid of life and energy against Mercyhurst. There’s major changes on the horizon at the Gentile Center and maybe this was the smack in the mouth that a potential top-6 team needed to get back on track early in the season.
Buddy Simmons’s dad steals the show in St. Bonaventure win
St. Bonaventure traveled to Rock Hill, S.C. for the Field of 68 Opening Day Marathon and we’re tasked with facing one of the Missouri Valley’s most consistent programs in Bradley. It was a back-and-forth battle all afternoon before the Bonnies emerged late with a 69-63 win and a new star in their backcourt.
Junior guard Buddy Simmons II was the difference maker for St. Bonaventure as his 24 points and four assists both marked a game-high and helped to hold off a late effort from Bradley. However, off the court, it was Simmons’ dad, Darryl Simmons, who brought the energy and stole the show with his sideline celebrations as his son drained multiple clutch three’s late into the second half.
It’s clear the program loves the energy he brings and Bonnies’ teammates were even seen on social media asking if Simmons’ dad would be in attendance at the Reilly Center this year. Woj might need to lock this guy up with an NIL Deal and get him on the sidelines of every St. Bonaventure game.
New VCU head coach has much tougher tests ahead
VCU got off to a great start in the Phil Martelli Jr.-era as the Rams weathered a tough first half and thrashed Wagner late on their way to the century mark in a 103-74 win. The Rams had six double-digit scorers on the night but Charleston transfer Lazar Djokovic was the biggest surprise and finished with a game-high 21 points.
He was followed by Terrance Hill Jr. off the bench who chipped in 17 points in just 19 minutes of action and Brandon Jennings, who added 15 points, eight rebounds, six assists and two blocks.
Martelli and Co. were undoubtedly excited about a season opening win but a much together test is on the road ahead for VCU, who will meet Utah State on a neutral court in Frisco, Texas tonight.
An Aggies team that was nationally ranked and made the NCAA Tournament in Jerrod Calhoun’s first year at the helm, it’s the Rams first true test and the A10’s highest ranked matchup of opening week.
