DETROIT -- The Wayne State University men's basketball team will have one more chance to prepare itself before the 2026-27 campaign begins at home inside the WSU Fieldhouse on Nov. 9.  The Warriors will travel to Division I Detroit Mercy of the Horizon League on Monday, Nov. 2 with the opening tip inside Calihan Hall scheduled for 7 p.m.

STORYLINES
Before beginning the 2026-27 regular season at home on Monday, Nov. 9, the Wayne State University men's basketball team will go next door to face Division I Detroit Mercy in an exhibition on Monday, Nov. 2 beginning at 7 p.m. inside Calihan Hall. The Warriors and Titans faced off with the same circumstances on Oct. 28 of last year before WSU came out on top by a score of 56-54.

SEASON PREVIEW
The Wayne State University men's basketball program enters season No. 5 under head coach, Warrior alum, and WSU Hall of Famer, Bryan Smothers in 2026-27. Smothers has accumulated an overall record of 50-60, including a mark of 33-43 in league action.

Last season, at 13-14 overall and 10-10 in GLIAC play, Smothers led Wayne State to a third straight conference tournament appearance for the first time since the 2012-13 campaign. After defeating Saginaw Valley State on Senior Day in the regular-season finale, the Warriors' season was ended by GLIAC Tournament Champion and NCAA Tournament participant Grand Valley State in the quarterfinal round.

Wayne State brings back one starter in senior forward Marshall Thorn with 27 games played and 21 started a season ago. A 58.7 percent field goal shooter in his first year with the program, Thorn averaged 3.9 points and 4.7 rebounds per contest in 2025-26. Also back letterwinner wise are Jalen Jenkins (27 GP, 10 GS), Adam Ayrault (27 GP, 1 GS) and JaKobie Boose (24 GP). In order that trio put up 6.1, 4.4 and 6.9 points per outing, respectively. Boose is the team's top returning scorer when it comes to PPG, while Thorn paces the group coming back in terms of hitting the glass.

When it comes to new faces on the roster, Smothers and his staff have nine of them, including five freshmen and four transfers. Smothers will also have the same group of assistants joining him, including Associate Head Coach Will Vergollo as well as Gjon Djokaj, Kyle Lorentzen, and Post-Graduate Intern Victor Jackson.

Schedule wise, the slate features 28 games, including 23 within the NCAA's Midwest Region, 20 in GLIAC play, 14 at home inside the friendly confines of the WSU Fieldhouse and a December trip to Puerto Rico. It all kicks off at home on Monday, Nov. 9, against Walsh with the tipoff scheduled for 7 p.m.

"We are very excited to get the season started off with a home game against Walsh, the Midwest Region Champion from last season," said Smothers. "From there, we have our crossover event at Ashland versus Malone as well as the host team Ashland. We have some quality home games that will prepare us for the opening of conference play at home in December. The Puerto Rico Clasico will be a great experience for our program. Getting the opportunity to travel and compete, while enjoying a new cultural environment. Please note that we are still looking for any supporters to travel and donate towards our trip."

Following the regular season, the top eight teams in the conference standings will qualify for the GLIAC Tournament, which begins on March 3. For the quarterfinal round, the higher seed will host, before the highest remaining seed hosts both the semifinals (March 6) and finals (March 7).

SCOUTING DETROIT MERCY
Detroit Mercy, of Division I's Horizon League, enters year No. 3 under head coach Mark Montgomery. Montgomery has gone 25-39 overall at the helm of the Titans and 149-209 in his career, this being his 13th season total. Last season, UDM went 17-15 overall, 12-10 in the conference (tied-for-third) and advanced all the way to the Horizon League Tournament finals. Like the Warriors, the TItans have one returning starter and nine newcomers. For Detroit Mercy, that one starter back is Tyler Spratt, who was named to the HL All-Rookie Team after 12.6 points per game in league play along with 3.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists per contest overall.

GLIAC PRESEASON POLL
The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) released its annual Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll on Wednesday, October 21, with the Wayne State University men's hoops squad being tabbed to finish ninth.
The Warriors compiled a 13-14 record during the 2025-26 campaign and qualified for the GLIAC Tournament for the third straight season, something that hadn't happened since 2012-13.

Each of the 11 head coaches ranked the other 10 squads, with Grand Valley State earning five first-place votes and 89 points in a tie-for-first. The other half of that deadlock, Lake Superior State was picked second, also securing 89 points (three first-place nods). LSSU was followed by Michigan Tech with 83 points (two first-place votes) and Ferris State with 68 points (one first-place nod). Then before Wayne State came Parkside (56 points), Northern Michigan (51 points), Purdue Northwest (49 points), and Saginaw Valley State (47 points). Following the Green and Gold's 37 points in ninth to round out the poll were Davenport (26 points) and Roosevelt (10 points).

T1. Grand Valley State - 89 (5)
T1. Lake Superior State - 89 (3)
3. Michigan Tech - 83 (2)
4. Ferris State - 68 (1)
5. Parkside - 56
6. Northern Michigan - 51
7. Purdue Northwest - 49
8. Saginaw Valley State - 47
9. Wayne State - 37
10. Davenport - 26
11. Roosevelt - 10

UP NEXT
As mentioned above, the season will get underway at home for the Green and Gold on Nov. 9 with a 7 p.m. opening tip against Walsh.  The Cavaliers are coming off a campaign in which they went 29-4 overall, 17-3 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC), won the G-MAC Tournament, and made it all the way to the Midwest Regional Finals of the NCAA Tournament.