Lehigh men’s basketball recently released its 2026-2027 Patriot League and non-league schedule, with tough matchups and important games ahead.
Lehigh’s opening game is away on Nov. 2 against Saint Louis University. Following their opener, they have three straight home games against Cornell, Brown and Marist.
Halfway through the season, Lehigh is set to play SEC powerhouse Auburn University. Last year, Lehigh also faced the University of Houston, a Big 12 team. Games like these are what test the drive for more competitiveness through regular season play. Lehigh would be considered the underdog, but would have the chance to practice against a larger team in preparation for Patriot League matchups.
Brett Reed, the team’s head coach, believes participating in these challenging games for the first two months is what will differentiate them in Patriot League play.
Coming off of a Patriot League Championship and a March Madness appearance makes the 2027 season’s stakes high.
With many star players returning, this team hopes to build on last season’s success and compete for another championship.
“We have people like Hank Alvey, Joshua Ingram and Édouard Benoit, who could take major steps forward for a program and proven effective players in the Patriot League,” Reed said.
On Dec. 30, Lehigh will face American University, their first Patriot League opponent. This starts their 18-game streak of facing only Patriot League competition with the chance to be No. 1 in Patriot League rankings.
Last year in conference play, Lehigh went 11-7, and many of the same teams they faced last year will be out for revenge such as Holy Cross, Colgate University and Boston University. All of which lost to Lehigh to get to the NCAA tournament.
While many returning players are key assets to winning another championship, the newcomers are also trying to see where they fit in.
First-year Nate Djanogly is one of four new players.
Growing up in London, Djanogly said basketball wasn’t too prevalent, and his parents had a different idea to make himself more known.
He said when he was 15 years old and playing on the youth national team, he and his parents decided moving to the U.S. was the best option to pursue his dream of playing basketball professionally. Djanogly played basketball at Brewster Academy and then Northfield Mount Hermon, where he graduated last spring.
Senior forward Jake Pike said he remembers being a newcomer and reflected on how much chemistry he’s built with the team from his first year to now.
“(When) you come as a freshman, you’re so confused, everything’s so fast,” Pike said. But we’ve had the same head coach for all four years. I played with a lot of the same guys for most of my time here, so it’s kind of built up chemistry without knowing it.”
Both coaches and players share a commitment to continuous improvement rather than settling for past success.
Pike said it’s easy to stop trying as hard because the team won the Patriot League championship last year, but he said they need to keep working as hard, as if they were the worst team in the league.
Reed said the team’s past experiences have helped build confidence, but continued improvement will be necessary to succeed.
“It will be a daily battle to continue to improve so we can be at the top of the league once again,” Reed said.
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