Game Day Essentials:
Indiana (9-3) vs. Siena (9-3)
- Tip Time: 6:00 p.m. Eastern, Monday
- Location: Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall (17,222), Bloomington, Ind.
- Television: BTN (Kevin Kugler, Jordan Taylor)
- Radio: IU Radio Network (Don Fischer, Errek Suhr, John Herrick)
- Stream: Fox Sports
- Point Spread: Indiana is around a 23.5-point favorite
- KenPom Projected Score: Indiana 79 Siena 61
- History: First Meeting
- Tickets (via our StubHub affiliate link)
Siena’s Gerry McNamara
Gerry McNamara leads Siena men’s basketball after a notable career as both a player and assistant coach at Syracuse. Currently in his second year as a head coach in Division I, McNamara has an early 23-21 overall record with the Saints.
McNamara played from 2002 to 2006 with the Orange and helped contribute to an NCAA title in 2003. He earned All-Big East honors in three of his four seasons, including two first-team mentions in 2005 and 2006. After some time playing overseas, McNamara returned to Syracuse as a graduate manager in 2009 and was promoted to an assistant in 2011.
McNamara was promoted again to associate head coach for one season in 2023, before officially being named head coach for Siena on March 29, 2024. McNamara led the Saints to a 14-18 record in his first season.
Siena’s results and roster:
| DATE | OPPONENT | LOCATION | RESULT |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11/3/2025 | Bryant | Albany, N.Y. | W 82-66 |
| 11/7/2025 | at Brown | Providence, R.I. | W 62-46 |
| 11/12/2025 | at St. Bonaventure | St Bonaventure, N.Y. | L 66-75 |
| 11/17/2025 | Colgate | Albany, N.Y. | L 69-72 |
| 11/21/2025 | UAlbany | Albany, N.Y. | W 73-63 |
| 11/24/2025 | at Holy Cross | Worcester, Mass. | W 73-69 |
| 11/28/2025 | vs Longwood (Capital Thanksgiving Classic) | Washington, D.C. | W 70-63 |
| 11/29/2025 | vs American (Capital Thanksgiving Classic) | Washington, D.C. | W 59-55 |
| 11/30/2025 | vs Maine (Capital Thanksgiving Classic) | Washington, D.C. | W 64-60 |
| 12/5/2025 | Niagara | Albany, N.Y. | W 83-54 |
| 12/7/2025 | Canisius | Albany, N.Y. | W 74-52 |
| 12/17/2025 | at Vermont | Burlington, Vt. | L 69-83 |
Via Siena Athletics:
Siena is in search of its first high-major (Power 4 + BIG EAST) win in three years, and first true high-major road win in 28 years. The Saints most recently defeated Florida State (ACC) and Seton Hall (BIG EAST) in the span of four days at the ESPN Events Invitational during Thanksgiving Weekend Nov. 24-27, 2022. However, Siena has dropped 26 straight true road games against current Power 4/BIG EAST programs, last winning 86-84 on Nov. 22, 1997 at Northwestern.
Siena is ranked 25th in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top-25 Poll for the second straight week. Dec. 8 poll marked first ranking since Jan. 15, 2021 (#23). Siena has either been ranked or received votes in six of the first seven polls
Expectations are high for the Saints entering the 2025-26 season. Siena was listed as a “Potential March Cinderella” by ESPN.com.
The Saints were projected to finish second according to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches’ Poll. Siena received 152 points and three first-place votes, trailing only Quinnipiac (158 points, eight-first place votes)
The Saints finished tied for eighth in the MAAC last season, but had strong roster retention coupled with impact additions.
Senior Justice Shoats was one of only three conference players to earn unanimous Preseason First Team All-MAAC acclaim. Shoats made an immediate impact in his first season with the Saints last winter, earning Second Team All-MAAC. One of just five players named a USBWA Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week last Nov. 12 Ranked fourth in the MAAC in assists (4.7), fifth in scoring (16.1), and eighth in steals (1.8) Scored in double figures in 28 of 32 games, highlighted by nine 20-plus point performances Averaged 17.3 points, 5.2 assists, and 2.0 steals in MAAC regular season play.
Gavin Doty earned Preseason Second Team All-MAAC recognition. Unanimous MAAC All-Rookie Team honoree after earning a league-high five MAAC Rookie of the Week awards. Ranked fifth amongst all players in the MAAC with six double-doubles and eighth in free throw percentage (.802)., Overall, averaged 11.3 points and a team-high 6.1 rebounds while shooting at a 49.2% clip from the field. Led all MAAC freshmen in league action in scoring (14.1), rebounding (7.9), field goal percentage (.480), and free
throw percentage (.815).
Siena returns nine letterwinners, three starters, and four of its top-five scorers from a season ago. The Saints rank eighth nationally, returning 68.1% of their total points scored from last season. Siena is one of nine teams to bring back at least 65% of its scoring, rebounding, and assists.
A major key to the Saints early season success has been an unheralded defense. Siena ranks 11th nationally, allowing just 63.2 points per game. They are a perfect 9-0 when holding the opposition under 70 points. Saints allowed just 59.4 points per game during their seven-game win streak. Also rank 39th nationally in three-point field goal defense (.290) and 82nd in TO margin (+2.3).
No. 173 Siena’s KenPom notable numbers:
(out of 365 teams)
Tempo – No. 299 (Offense No. 327 / Defense No. 283)
Offensive Efficiency – No. 235
- Siena holds a 50.4 effective field goal percentage so far on the season (No. 206). The Saints have shot 29.0 percent from three (No. 328) and 53.5 percent from inside the arc (No. 130).
- McNamara puts a lot of emphasis on scoring inside. They score 58.5 percent of their points come on 2s (No. 10), compared to 21.3 percent of points on three-pointers (No. 357).
- Both Siena’s turnover and offensive rebound percentage are fairly average compared to Division 1 teams. Their turnover percentage stands at 16.8 percent (No. 150), and their offensive rebound rate is at 33.3 percent (No. 112).
Defensive Efficiency – No. 119
- Siena shows a bit more strength on the defensive side. Teams are shooting a 49 percent effective field goal percentage (No. 99). Opponents have shot 29 percent from three (No. 26) and 51.7 percent on twos (No. 183).
- Their turnover and offensive rebounding numbers are even better on defense. The Saints have forced turnovers at a 20.3 percent rate (No. 49) and limited offensive rebounds at a 27 percent rate (No. 55).
- Also, like the offense, teams are finding their points on the inside. 58.6 percent of opposing points have come from two-pointers (No. 7).
- Teams aren’t assisting at a high rate against Siena, with just a 40.1 percent rate (No. 6).
OG’s Pick
Overall: 10-2
I see a similar result to Chicago State incoming for Indiana. Siena definitely boasts a better defense, but their lack of size could easily give them fits if the Hoosiers decide to exploit it better than they did Saturday. If not, IU will have to battle with a good perimeter defense, but that hasn’t stopped them from putting up shots. It’s definitely not out of the cards for Indiana to win by 20+ once again, but they’ll need a more sustained effort in this game.
Pick: Indiana 82 – Siena 65
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