Experienced Army men's basketball team may make move

Army heads into the 2026-27 men's basketball season a bit older, more experienced and with more focus, says third-year head coach Kevin Kuwik.

"I think as you get older, you give yourself the best chance,'' he said.

The Black Knights opened Monday with a respectable showing in an 84-50 loss at No. 2 Duke, and Army made its home debut against NCAA Div. III Mount Saint Mary from Newburgh on Thursday night, the first of 15 home games at West Point's Christl Arena.

"I'm excited to take this journey and see what we can do,'' Kuwik said.

Army is coming off an 11-21 season (in February losing eight of its final nine. "We hit the wall,'' Kuwik said) and 5-13 mark in the Patriot League, so it's no wonder the league's coaches picked Army for 10th place in the preseason poll.

The Black Knights return 11 players and introduce five freshmen to the lineup. With so many veterans available for a change, the team spent time training and playing in Puerto Rico over the summer, providing valuable practice time and developing. "I think it was awesome,'' Kuwik said of the experience. "We're definitely ahead of the game a far as having that live experience for those 11 returnees.''

Kuwik believes his team can play offense with good pace and share the ball well and the hope is the team will defend better this season – the Black Knights primarily play man-to-man in the halfcourt. "I think that's probably the most important thing,'' he said. Last season, Army gave up 77 points a game (scoring 72) and allowed foes to shoot 47 percent from the field, slightly up from a season earlier.

Senior captains Ryan Curry and Tate Laczkowski will start at point and center, respectively. Kevin McCarthy and Jason Holloway return to starting roles on the wings. Junior Jaden Ellis allows the team to go small while sophomore Dylan Benner makes them bigger.

"Ryan has a ton of experience and played in some big moments and made some big shots,'' Kuwik said. Curry, a third-team Patriot all-star, led the team with 13 points a game and 76 3-pointers. "He's poised to have a great year, both on the ball and off the ball.'' Laczkowski averaged five points and five boards as a junior after barely playing as a sophomore.

McCarthy (eight points per game) played through injuries all last season, and his healthier presence can provide a deep perimeter threat – he hit 55 threes. Holloway (11 ppg) plays physical and attacks – his ability to provide offense could make a big difference. Ellis can be a dual outside-inside threat and his defense on the perimeter can help. The 6-foot-7 Benner has good handling skills for a big man and his ability to step out can stretch a defense.

Kuwik would like to play 10-12 players a game, but the experience is a bit thin after the lead six. Like McCarthy, sophomores Dylan Watt and Jahan Green made great strides in the offseason. Watt is a fast point guard who will push the ball into the paint, and Green is a physical slasher from the wing. Two 6-7 junior veterans who should contribute are active rebounder Nnaemeka Ikechi and wing Dylan Murans, who can shoot and crash.

The freshman class has Kuwik excited. Patrick McDonough plays in the Curry mode, Kuwik said, and has had a strong fall. Wing Deke Cooper can attack the paint. Henry Rasmussen can shoot and plays physical. Parker Henderson – believed to be the first 7-footer in Army history – needs work but has upside. Forward Michael Masini has skills and good touch. "I see all five of them making a good impact for us,'' Kuwik said.

Kuwik said there's opportunity to make up ground in the Patriot because "five or six teams have lost a ton of experience, so I think it's wide open to make a move.''

The non-conference slate includes a Nov. 17 home date with Marist; a pair of San Antonio games on Nov. 24 game with Air Force and Nov. 26 with Texas-San Antonio; a Dec. 11 road date with Columbia; and, Dec. 20 game at Rutgers.

Army hosts Navy on Jan. 23 and plays at Annapolis, Md., on Feb. 20 – both games will be on CBS Sports Network. Patriot predominant favorite American visits Feb. 3 and the Eagles host in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 17. Defending playoff champ Lehigh – picked to finish second – visits on Jan. 6, and the Mountain Hawks host Jan. 20.

"I'm not one that wants to put a ceiling or a floor,'' Kuwik said. "I want to see growth, obviously, first in the non-conference and then in the conference. My biggest thing is if we make that next step defensively, I think we're going to like where we end up.''

kmcmillan@th-record.com

X / Twitter: @KenMcMillanTHR

Army men's basketball 2026-27

Roster

Seniors – No. 2 Ryan Curry, G; No. 32 Tate Laczkowski, F

Juniors – No. 3 Jaden Ellis, G; No. 10 Jacen Holloway, F; No. 12 Dylan Murans, F; No. 14 Brendan O'Keefe, G; No. 22 Kevin McCarthy, G; No. 34 Nnaemeka Ikechi, F

Sophomores – No. 13 Dillon Watt, G; No. 23 Dylan Benner, F; No. 25 Jahaan Green, G

Freshmen – No. 1 Deke Cooper Jr., G; No. 4 Henry Rasmussen, F; No. 5 Patrick McDonough, G; No. 33 Michael Masini, F; No. 44 Parker Henderson, C

Coaches – Kevin Kuwik, head; Nick Thorsen, associate head; assistants Carmen Maciariello, Brandon Newsome, Will Louis

2026-27 schedule

November

Mon. 2 – at Duke, L 50-84; Thur. 5 – Div. III Mount Saint Mary, 6 p.m.; Tues. 10 – at New Haven, 7 p.m.; Sat. 14 – vs. Saint Thomas, 1 p.m.; Tues. 17 – vs. Marist, 6 p.m.; Sat. 21 – at Binghamton, 3:30 p.m.; Tues. 24 – vs. Air Force (at Texas San Antonio), 4 p.m. ET; Thur. 26 – at Texas San Antonio, noon ET; Sat. 28 – vs. Rider, 7 p.m.

December

Wed. 2 – vs. Md. Baltimore County, 11 a.m.; Sat. 5 – at Albany, 7 p.m.; Mon. 7 – vs. York, 6 p.m.; Fri. 11 – at Columbia, 7 p.m.; Sun. 20 – at Rutgers, noon; Wed. 30 – at Holy Cross*, 2 pm.

January

Sat. 2 – at Loyola, Md.*, 5 p.m.; Wed. 6 – vs. Lehigh*, 6 p.m.; Sat. 9 – at Colgate*, 2 p.m.; Wed. 13 – vs. Bucknell*, 6 p.m.; Sun. 17 – vs. Lafayette*, 2 p.m.; Wed. 20 – at Lehigh*, 7 p.m.; Sat. 23 – vs. Navy*, 1:30 p.m. (CBSSN); Wed. 27 – vs. Holy Cross*, 6 p.m.; Sat. 30 – at Bucknell*, 5 p.m.

February

Wed. 3 – vs. American*, 6 p.m.; Sat. 6 – vs. Boston Univ.*, 1 p.m.; Wed. 10 – at Lafayette*, 7 p.m.; Sat. 13 – vs. Colgate*, 1 p.m.; Wed. 17 – at American*, 7 p.m.; Sat. 20 – at Navy*, 1:30 p.m. (CBSSN); Wed. 24 – vs. Loyola, Md.*, 3:30 p.m.; Sat. 27 – at Boston Univ.*, 1 p.m.

March

Tues. 2 – Patriot first round, at higher seed; Thur. 4 – Patriot quarterfinals, at higher seed; Sun. 7 – Patriot semifinals, at higher seed, TBD; Wed. 10 – Patriot final, at higher seed, 7 p.m. (CBSSN)

Home games played at West Point's Christl Arena; asterisk marks Patriot League game; all league and home games streamed on ESPN Plus (subscription)

This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: Experienced Army men's basketball team may make move