Bridgewater College (VA) vs William & Mary prediction: William & Mary's veteran guards get an early run against Bridgewater
With almost all of last season's minutes back, the Tribe's Nov. 2 date with ODAC visitor Bridgewater is mainly a first look at whether last year's breakneck, foul-drawing attack carries over.
- Expect William & Mary to push tempo and lean on a returning guard group against an ODAC opponent we hold no data for.
- Watch the Tribe's drives: last season they ranked 10th nationally in free throw rate and 16th in 2-point percentage.
- No spread or total has been posted. The 2016 meeting, an exhibition, ended 96-44 for William & Mary.
A roster that stayed together
Few mid-majors return this much. Players on William & Mary's roster accounted for 89.1% of last season's minutes, so last season's numbers are a fair guide here. Brian Earl enters his third season after finishing in the CAA's top five in each of his first two, including a 20-12 record last winter.
The notable loss is forward Kilian Brockhoff, now at Eastern Michigan. Earl added 12 newcomers in June, among them graduate guard Tre Blassingame from Idaho. Jayden Forsythe (West Virginia) and Stas Sivka (George Mason) also arrive as transfers.
Speed and contact
Last season the Tribe played at the 7th-fastest pace in Division I and scored 83.1 points per game. They got there by attacking the paint. Their free throw rate (free throw attempts per field goal attempt) ranked 10th, and they made 59.0% of their twos.
The ball moved, too. An assist rate ranked 11th says this offense shares the ball rather than relying on isolation.
The weak spot was the glass. William & Mary's offensive rebound rate ranked 318th, so second chances were rare. Against a smaller-college opponent, that matters less than whether the transition game is sharp in its first live action.
The visitors and the format
Bridgewater plays in the ODAC. Little is known about its 2026-27 roster, and Mike Maczko's status as head coach hasn't been confirmed beyond last season. The Eagles sat at 6-12 last January.
The teams last met in November 2016, a 96-44 William & Mary exhibition win. Whether this year's game is an exhibition hasn't been confirmed, and no tip time has been announced.
Key players
- Tunde Vahlberg Fasasi (William & Mary): He averaged 11.8 points last season and shot 35% from three, the best mark among the top returners.
- Chase Lowe (William & Mary): Lowe shot 57.7% from the field last season and posted a 122.8 offensive rating.
- Reese Miller (William & Mary): Miller led the returners with 12.2 points per game last season, all off the bench.
- Kyle Pulliam (William & Mary): Pulliam made 82.6% of his free throws last season, which matters on a team that lived at the line.
Numbers that matter
| Returning minutes | 89.1% | This is the share of last season's minutes played by players on this season's roster. |
|---|---|---|
| Pace rank, last season | 7th | The Tribe played one of the fastest tempos in Division I. |
| Free throw rate rank, last season | 10th | Drawing fouls was a pillar of the offense. |
| Offensive rebound rank, last season | 318th | Second-chance points were scarce for William & Mary. |
Bridgewater College (VA) vs William & Mary: quick answers
When is Bridgewater College (VA) vs William & Mary?
Monday, November 2, 2026 at 12:00 AM ET.