The first official Siena men’s basketball practice under new head coach Nevada Smith just delivered a wild shocker: Smith is labeling every single scholarship player on the roster as a “guard,” from 6-foot-2 junior Pace Prosser all the way up to 7-foot-1 Spanish freshman Andres Amon. This isn’t just a quirky roster note, it’s the core of Smith’s “positionless” philosophy, and it promises to throw the Metro Conference into absolute chaos.
“Playing in Chaos” Is the New Normal in Loudonville
Coach Smith isn’t just talking a big game; he’s putting his money where his mouth is. Since his introductory news conference back on April 7, Smith has promised a fast tempo, and Tuesday’s workout in the Del Grosso Practice Court certainly showed flashes of it. The Saints scrimmaged briskly in the final half-hour, with shots flying everywhere. Smith explained his vision, saying, “We’re trying to get comfortable playing in chaos.” He doubled down on the “guard skill” idea, stating, “We do skill-based stuff. We’re positionless. I wouldn’t put a position on there if I could choose not to put a position. We’d just have nothing. But we train as guards, why not just be guards? I don’t like to pigeonhole guys. They shouldn’t be put in a box.” Can you imagine a 7-foot-1 player running the same guard drills as a 6-foot-2 player? That’s exactly what Andres Amon and Pace Prosser are doing, and it’s a huge shift from traditional basketball.
The Grind, The Grit, and the New Tempo
While Smith admitted the first practice was “slower today” with “a lot of teaching,” he expects things to “go quicker as we move forward.” The defending Metro Conference champions had 12 of their 13 scholarship players on the court, with only sophomore guard Owen Schlager sidelined by a rolled ankle. One player who’s seen it all is graduate “guard” Brendan Coyle. Formerly listed as a forward, Coyle is now entering his fifth season with Siena, a rarity in this transfer portal era, and he’s playing for his third head coach. That kind of loyalty is clutch. Coyle embodies the “next-play mentality” Smith preaches, shrugging off a painful whack to his right thumb during practice to hit a couple of three-pointers, a staple of Smith’s offense. Coyle noted the “lot of up and down” tempo change from the previous halfcourt-oriented system, highlighting the team’s focus on “really efficient shots.”
The chemistry is already building, with Coyle saying, “There’s a lot of excitement going into this one. I think we’ve got a really special group.” The blend of four returning scholarship players and nine newcomers, who’ve already gone through summer workouts, seems to be gelling. Coyle added, “The new staff brings a lot of energy, and I think the guys that they’ve brought in to come with the returners has meshed really well so far. Chemistry is really high and I just think we’ve got a lot of talent in the gym right now.” With Pace Prosser making his Division I debut after winning a national championship at Division II Gannon, this team is hungry. They’re just scratching the surface, working on game situations and finding their rhythm. The Metro Conference better be ready for Siena’s fast, chaotic, and totally positionless future.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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