Bethesda University vs Pepperdine prediction: Griff Aldrich's rebuilt Pepperdine gets an early test run against Bethesda
With 13 newcomers and a new coach, the Waves' real opponent in Malibu is their own unfamiliarity.
- Pepperdine should control a non-Division I visitor; the interest lies in how Aldrich's transfer-heavy rotation fits together.
- Watch Jahari Williamson's shooting: he hit 44.5% from three at Kent State last season.
- No line posted yet. Last season's 9-23 record says little, since only 5.1% of those minutes return.
Nearly a brand-new program
Pepperdine finished last season 9-23, ending with a 77-68 loss to Portland in the first round of the WCC tournament. Ed Schilling was dismissed in March, and Griff Aldrich, the former Virginia associate head coach and Longwood head coach, was hired Mar. 26.
Aldrich rebuilt nearly everything. The roster carries 13 newcomers, seven transfers and six freshmen. Players back from last season logged just 5.1% of its minutes, so the old team's defense, which ranked 332nd of 365 in points allowed per 100 possessions, is a weak guide. League coaches picked the Waves seventh in the WCC.
Where the points come from
Petar Majstorovic, a preseason All-WCC pick, started all 32 games at Long Beach State last season and averaged 14.4 points. Grad guard Will McClendon also made the preseason all-league team.
The most efficient piece may be Williamson, who made 81 threes at Kent State with an offensive rating of 140.8 (points produced per 100 possessions used). Evan Haywood adds more shooting from Butler, and the 6-9 Youri Fritz shot 59.5% from the field at Northeastern, though only 52.1% at the line. Against a smaller-program opponent, the question is less whether Pepperdine scores than which combinations Aldrich trusts.
An unknown visitor, a farewell building
Bethesda competes in the NCCAA's Division I West Region rather than the NCAA, and this is the first meeting between the men's programs. Little is known about its roster beyond a young core of freshmen.
The setting carries its own weight. Firestone Fieldhouse is in its final season, and this game is one of the last there before Pepperdine moves into The Mountain at Mullin Park on Dec. 5. Tip is set for 6 p.m. PT, 9 p.m. ET.
Key players
- Petar Majstorovic (Pepperdine): Averaged 14.4 points and 6.4 rebounds at Long Beach State last season and was named preseason All-WCC.
- Jahari Williamson (Pepperdine): Shot 44.5% from three on 182 attempts at Kent State last season.
- Youri Fritz (Pepperdine): The 6-9 grad student shot 59.5% from the field at Northeastern last season.
- David Mager (Pepperdine): The top returner hit 39.2% of his threes last season in 10.6 minutes a game.
Numbers that matter
| Returning minutes | 5.1% | Almost none of last season's playing time is back, making 2025-26 team stats a poor guide. |
|---|---|---|
| Last season's record | 9-23 | The finish that led to the coaching change and roster overhaul. |
| Williamson's offensive rating | 140.8 | His efficiency at Kent State last season makes him the rotation's sharpest shooter. |
| WCC preseason pick | seventh | League coaches expect improvement but not contention. |
Bethesda University vs Pepperdine: quick answers
When is Bethesda University vs Pepperdine?
Saturday, November 7, 2026 at 9:00 PM ET.