West Chester University men's basketball opens the 2026-27 season as the preseason favorite to win the PSAC East Division.
The Golden Rams tip off a six-game homestand against St. Thomas Aquinas at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 10, at Hollinger Field House. PSAC coaches gave West Chester four first-place votes in the preseason poll, the university's athletics department announced Oct. 29.
The pick follows a 21-8 season that ended with a one-point loss. Indiana University of Pennsylvania beat West Chester 71-70 in the PSAC quarterfinals on March 4 at Hollinger Field House. The Golden Rams had entered the tournament as the PSAC East's top seed and led by as many as 10 points in the first half before IUP rallied.
What returns
Head coach Damien Blair enters his 19th season at West Chester with a career record of 325-168.
His backcourt brings back experience.
Senior guard Ruben Rodriguez Jr. led the team with 14.9 points per game last season while adding 6.6 rebounds and 125 assists across 28 games. He shot 43.6 percent from the field and scored in double figures in 23 of 25 games, including seven games of 20 or more points. Rodriguez is the lone returning All-PSAC East First Team selection.
Senior guard Dylan Blair appeared in all 29 games, averaging 9.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and 112 assists. Sophomore guard Jaysean Williams averaged 8.9 points in 19.6 minutes per game and connected on 40.4 percent of his three-point attempts.
What's gone
The Golden Rams lost two double-digit scorers. Anthony McCall averaged 13.7 points per game and Gabe Moss added 13.2. Both were seniors named to the All-PSAC East First Team, according to the PSAC. Neither appears on the published 2026-27 roster, according to The Quad, the university's student newspaper.
Last season, West Chester ranked third in the PSAC in scoring at 85.4 points per game while allowing 73.9. The team averaged 40.4 rebounds per game compared to opponents' 30.3.
Coaching staff change
The program also promoted longtime assistant Benjamin Kay to associate head coach earlier this fall. Kay first joined the West Chester staff in 2015 and returned in 2021. Since his return, the Golden Rams have captured three PSAC East regular-season titles, according to HoopDirt.
Blair said of Kay's promotion: "Not many people possess the ability to impact every aspect of a program. Ben does."
Schedule ahead
After the Nov. 10 opener, West Chester hosts Wilmington, Goldey-Beacom, the College of Staten Island, West Liberty and Jefferson before its first road trip Dec. 4-5 at Slippery Rock and Gannon. Gannon is the defending national champion and the unanimous preseason favorite in the PSAC West.
East Stroudsburg was picked second in the PSAC East with three first-place votes, followed by Shepherd, Millersville and Shippensburg.
