Coming off its first 20-win campaign since 2019-20, the Tribe will return to action under the direction of third year Head Coach
Brian Earl.
In 2025-26, W&M went 20-12 with marking the 10th time in program history that the Tribe reached the 20-win threshold and first in six years. In conference play, the Green and Gold tied for fifth with a 10-8 CAA record. In early December, the Tribe reached No. 50 in the NCAA's NET rankings, the highest position in program history.
As has been customary under Earl, the Tribe was one of the fastest-playing teams last season. W&M ranked first in the country in average possession length (13.7) and seventh in adjusted tempo per the advanced metrics of KenPom.
After having eight players depart to graduation, welcome 13 newcomers comprised of seven Division I transfers, a Division II transfer, four junior college prospects and two freshmen. Additionally, W&M welcomes back junior guard tandem
Ethan Connery and
Colin Lamine Ndaw.
W&M has been strong inside the friendly confines of Kaplan Arena during Earl's tenure. Over the last two seasons, the Tribe is 23-4 (.852) in Williamsburg, the program's best two-year span at home since it boasted the same record from 2016-18. Over the last five seasons, dating back to his final three seasons at Cornell, Earl's teams are 54-9 (.857) in home contests.
The Green and Gold has played a non-Division I opponent in 19 of the last 20 seasons. W&M has posted a 25-game winning streak and won by an avaerage margin of 42.8 points per game, eclipsing the 100-point mark in nine of those contests.
William & Mary was picked to finish sixth in the CAA Preseason Coaches poll released on Oct. 15. The Tribe totaled 78 voting points and trailed UNCW, Charleston Hofstra, Towson and Monmouth in the preseason rankings.
Earl brought in a class of 13 newcomers from 11 different states and two different countries (Australia & Slovenia). A proven group of winners, six of the 11 transfers played on teams that won conference titles, postseason tournaments or advanced to the NCAA Division I, II or NJCAA Tournaments/.
Five of the Tribe's newcomers-
Brian Carter Jr. (54.5%),
John Roland (50.0%)
Nilavan Daniels (47.6%),
Gavin Ward (43.2%) and
Will Feagles (39.9%) all shot 39.9% or higher from 3-point range last season.
Bridgewater is the first of eight games against schools in state of Virginia on the schedule for the Tribe this season. The eight contests against in-state opponents is tied for the highest total since 2012-13, when W&M played a Virginia school 11 times.
William & Mary leads all-time series between the schools, 13-0, as the two schools will meet for the first time since Nov. 12, 2016, when the Tribe defeated the Eagles, 96-44, at Kaplan Arena. Prior to the meeting a decade ago, the two schools had not met since 1986. Prior to that,W&M and Bridgewater met 11 times between 1922-33 and the Tribe won all 11 contests during that span.
The Eagles enter the 2026-27 campaign under the direction of third year Head Coach Mike Mackzo. Bridgewater returns seven players that recorded minutes from its 2025-26 squad that went 7-18 overall and 3-13 in ODAC play.
Bridgewater's leading scorer Jahmir Brown has returned for his senior season. The Charlotte, N.C., native averaged 13.5 points on 48.8% shooting from the floor and 3.7 rebounds per game.
Up Next
Following Monday's opener, the Tribe will take on another in-state opponent at home in
Norfolk State on Nov. 8. The contest will tip-off at 6 p.m. from Kaplan Arena.
