HAMILTON, Ont. — A new season brings a fresh opportunity for the McMaster Marauders men's basketball team as they prepare to begin the 2026-27 OUA campaign with a revamped roster and renewed expectations.
Following a challenging 2025-26 season that saw the Marauders finish with a 3-19 record, head coach
Patrick Tatham has welcomed nine additions to the roster, combining experienced collegiate transfers, familiar faces returning to the program and promising first-year talent.
With improved depth in the backcourt, a developing group of returning players and an emphasis on establishing a tougher defensive identity, McMaster is determined to return to the OUA postseason.
2025-26 Season at a Glance
| Category |
Result |
| Regular Season Record |
3-19 |
| Home Record |
2-9 |
| Away Record |
1-10 |
| Postseason |
Did not qualify |
2025-26 Regular Season Statistics
| Category |
McMaster |
| Points Per Game |
71.9 |
| Points Allowed Per Game |
84.5 |
| Field Goal Percentage |
41.10% |
| Three-Point Percentage |
27.10% |
| Free-Throw Percentage |
67.20% |
| Rebounds Per Game |
37 |
| Assists Per Game |
13.8 |
| Turnovers Per Game |
16.4 |
2025-26 Returning Statistical Leaders
New Additions
Key Departures
Three Key Performers
Kailon Nicholls | Guard
Kailon Nicholls (Toronto, Ont.) arrives at McMaster as one of the program's most significant offseason additions, bringing experience from NCAA Division I and Division II basketball.
During the 2025-26 season at Angelo State University, Nicholls appeared in 30 games, making 16 starts while averaging 7.2 points, 2.3 assists and 1.4 rebounds per contest. He finished the campaign with 217 points, 70 assists and 31 steals while shooting 35.5 per cent from three-point range and 86.5 per cent from the free-throw line.
The fourth-year guard is expected to play a central role in McMaster's revamped backcourt, providing scoring ability, playmaking and experience to a roster looking to take a significant step forward.
Nicholls has already impressed throughout the preseason, particularly against Victoria and UBC, where Tatham believes he demonstrated his ability to compete against some of the country's top programs.
Elijah Bethune | Guard
Elijah Bethune (Toronto, Ont.) returns to the McMaster program ahead of the 2026-27 campaign, bringing experience and familiarity to a roster featuring several new faces.
The third-year guard is expected to play an important role in stabilizing the Marauders' backcourt, particularly after a season in which McMaster relied heavily on first-year players.
Bethune's return provides Tatham with another experienced option capable of contributing on both ends of the floor. His familiarity with the program will be valuable as McMaster works to establish a more consistent offensive identity.
Alongside Nicholls and fellow returning guard
Cashius McNeilly, Bethune will be part of a deeper and more versatile perimeter rotation.
Riley Bleich | Forward
Riley Bleich (Fonthill, Ont.) returns to the Marauders looking to build on a promising 2025-26 campaign.
The six-foot-eight forward appeared in all 22 regular-season games last year, making six starts while averaging 8.7 points and 4.3 rebounds per contest.
Bleich finished the season with 192 points and 95 rebounds, providing McMaster with a developing presence in the frontcourt.
After gaining valuable experience during his first OUA campaign, Bleich has made considerable progress throughout the offseason, adding strength and size while continuing to develop his game.
Tatham highlighted Bleich alongside
James Kelly as two returning players who have taken significant steps forward during preseason preparations.
With Culley-Bremner's departure leaving a major opening in the frontcourt, Bleich will be counted on to assume greater responsibility as McMaster looks to improve its interior play and rebounding.
2026-27 Season Preview
The McMaster Marauders enter the 2026-27 season looking to establish a new identity following a challenging campaign that saw the program finish with a 3-19 record.
With several returning players gaining valuable experience last season, head coach
Patrick Tatham believes the Marauders are positioned to take a significant step forward.
Riley Bleich,
James Kelly,
Jack McMahan and
Isaiah Flores will be counted on to assume greater responsibilities after gaining valuable playing time throughout the 2025-26 campaign.
Providing leadership will be fourth-year captain
Riaz Saliu (Oshawa, Ont.), who averaged 9.3 points and 7.6 rebounds last season while starting all 22 regular-season games. Saliu's experience and leadership will be instrumental as McMaster looks to establish consistency on both ends of the floor.
"He's like the heartbeat of our team. He wears his emotions on his sleeve. He plays unbelievably hard," said Tatham.
Offensively, the Marauders are expected to feature a guard-oriented approach, emphasizing ball movement, versatility, and creating scoring opportunities through their perimeter players. With increased experience across the lineup, McMaster will look to improve on its 71.9 points per game from last season while becoming more efficient in its offensive execution.
Defensively, McMaster will look to establish a more aggressive identity, emphasizing perimeter pressure, collective effort and consistency throughout all four quarters. After allowing 84.5 points per game last season, the Marauders will aim to become a more disciplined and difficult team to play against.
"Scrappy," said Tatham when asked to describe his team's identity. "I think these guys are fearless. I think they're very tenacious on the defensive end, and I think they're all about each other on the offensive end."
The Marauders have already tested themselves against strong national competition during the preseason, facing Victoria, Dalhousie and UBC in exhibition action. Those matchups provided valuable preparation ahead of the OUA regular season and an opportunity to develop chemistry before conference play begins.
McMaster will open its regular season on Friday, October 23, welcoming Nipissing to Burridge Gymnasium for an 8 p.m. tip-off. A home-heavy opening stretch will provide an opportunity to establish early momentum before a demanding November schedule featuring road trips to Lakehead, Ottawa and Carleton.
With an emphasis on team chemistry, defensive intensity and continued player development, McMaster enters the new campaign determined to return to the OUA playoffs. For Tatham, the program's ambitions extend beyond simply qualifying for the postseason.
"Our goal right now is the Final Four," said Tatham. "You put yourself in the Final Four, you have a chance to win one game and go to Nationals."
With a renewed sense of purpose and a commitment to competing on every possession, the Marauders will look to turn last season's challenges into progress throughout the 2026-27 campaign.
