DeLand, Fla. — Stetson men's basketball opens the 2026-27 season with a challenging road swing, visiting Clemson on Monday, Nov. 2, at 7:00 p.m. before traveling to Columbia, South Carolina, to face the Gamecocks on Tuesday, Nov. 3, at 7:00 p.m. The two contests mark the first of six regular-season matchups against Power Four opponents for the Hatters this season.

Stetson enters the new campaign looking to build on its postseason experience from 2025-26. The Hatters finished last season with a 12-21 overall record and a 7-11 mark in ASUN play before earning the No. 10 seed in the ASUN Championship. Stetson opened the tournament with a 92-76 victory over No. 7 seed Eastern Kentucky to advance to the quarterfinals, where the Hatters' run ended against No. 2 seed Austin Peay.

Senior forward Collin Kuhl headlines the returning group after being named ASUN Preseason Player of the Year and selected to the Preseason All-ASUN Team. Kuhl earned Third Team All-ASUN honors last season after averaging 13.1 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. He recorded eight double-doubles and led the conference in field-goal percentage at 65.6 percent, finishing sixth nationally. His 419 points and 200 rebounds led the Hatters in their respective categories.

Stetson also returns experienced forwards Alex Doyle and Finley Sheridan, along with returning contributors Daniel Macgregor, Isaac Jones, Ben Gladieux, Miller McGowan and Sean Morgan. The returning group will provide an experienced foundation for head coach Donnie Jones as the Hatters begin another demanding season.

The Hatters welcome several newcomers who will add depth and versatility to the roster. Guard Thiago Sucatzky joins Stetson after competing at FIU, while forward Makhi Myles arrives after previous stops at Southeastern Louisiana and UAB. Graduate forward Magnus Entenmann joins the frontcourt after playing at Kent State, and guard Roman Miller brings collegiate experience from Cowley College. First-year players Jean-Ernest Boyomo Keedi, Bankston Pourchier and Mason Fuentes round out the incoming group.

Stetson closed its preseason with an encouraging first-half performance against Florida on Tuesday, Oct. 27. Facing the SEC preseason favorite, the Hatters trailed by just two points, 42-40, at halftime before the Gators pulled away in the second half to secure an 85-68 victory.

Thiago Sucatzky led the Hatters with 18 points on 8-for-13 shooting, adding six assists without committing a turnover. Doyle also finished with 18 points, knocking down six three-pointers, while Kuhl contributed 14 points and seven rebounds. Stetson received 28 points from its bench and demonstrated its ability to compete against high-level competition heading into the regular season.

Clemson opens the season after a 24-11 campaign in 2025-26 that included its third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. The Tigers were selected sixth in the ACC preseason media poll and bring a combination of returning experience and new talent into the season. Carter Welling averaged 10.2 points per game last season, while Ace Buckner added 8.3 points per contest. Clemson also added four transfers, including Cole Certa, who averaged 12.8 points at Notre Dame, and Dylan Faulkner, who posted 18.0 points and 9.5 rebounds per game at Samford while earning First Team All-SoCon honors. David Fuchs also joins the Tigers after averaging 12.7 points and 7.8 rebounds at San Francisco, where he earned WCC Newcomer of the Year honors.

The Tigers finished exhibition play with an 84-70 win over Presbyterian on Oct. 28. Buckner led Clemson with 21 points, while Faulkner added 20 points and eight rebounds. Clemson has also established itself as a consistent presence in the ACC, recording 98 wins over the last four seasons.

The Hatters will then travel to Columbia for Tuesday's matchup against South Carolina at Colonial Life Arena. The Gamecocks finished 13-19 overall and 4-14 in SEC play last season before being picked 16th in the 2026-27 SEC preseason media poll.

South Carolina closed its exhibition schedule with a 77-68 victory over Campbell on Oct. 25, rallying after trailing by as many as nine points early in the first half. The Gamecocks went into halftime down 33-32 before responding after the break and using a late 16-2 run over the final 5:27 to pull away. Juan Fernández led South Carolina with 28 points and nine rebounds, while Kory Mincy added 11 points, five assists and three steals. Blakeney contributed 12 points, including four three-pointers in six attempts. The Gamecocks' late surge and ability to generate offense from multiple players will provide an early challenge for the Hatters in the second game of their opening road swing.

Stetson's opening trip begins a non-conference schedule featuring six Power Four opponents before the Hatters turn their attention to ASUN play. The early-season challenges will give the team opportunities to build on last year's postseason experience and prepare for another competitive conference campaign.

Fans can watch Monday's game at Clemson on ACCNX and Tuesday's matchup at South Carolina on SEC Network+. Live stats for both games will be available at GoHatters.com. Follow Stetson Athletics on social media for updates throughout the season.

About Stetson Athletics
At Stetson University, student-athletes don't just compete—they thrive. Located in historic DeLand, Florida, between Orlando and Daytona Beach, Stetson offers the perfect blend of competitive athletics, academic excellence, and an unbeatable Central Florida lifestyle. As the oldest private university in the region, Stetson supports approximately 500 student-athletes across 19 NCAA Division I sports. Nicknamed the "Hatters" after the institution's namesake John B. Stetson, a hat manufacturer who originated the modern-day cowboy hat, most Stetson athletic teams compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference, where they proudly hold the longest active membership since 1985. With top-tier facilities, personalized support, and a welcoming campus community, Stetson is where students can grow, compete, and succeed. Learn more at GoHatters.com or follow social media accounts @StetsonHatters.