La Sierra vs Pepperdine prediction: Griff Aldrich's Pepperdine rebuild gets its first home test against La Sierra
An NAIA visitor gives the new Waves staff a low-stakes opening night at Firestone Fieldhouse, and an early look at whether last season's porous defense has changed.
- Pepperdine should control an NAIA opponent at home. The real story is how Aldrich's new-look roster plays in its home debut.
- Watch Pepperdine's defense, which allowed opponents a 54.3% effective field goal percentage last season, 331st nationally.
- No spread or total is posted. Last season's 115.7 defensive efficiency, 332nd of 365, is the number any eventual line must weigh.
A new coach, a clean slate
Pepperdine finished 9-23 last season and 4-14 in the WCC, last in the conference. The season ended with a 77-68 loss to Portland in the first round of the WCC tournament. Ed Schilling is out. Griff Aldrich is in, hired in May after coaching Longwood from 2018 to 2025 and spending 2025-26 as associate head coach at Virginia.
The upcoming game on Thursday, Nov. 5, is the Waves' first home game of the season and the first meeting ever between the programs. La Sierra plays at the NAIA level, so it is an exhibition-grade opponent for a Division I rebuild. The roster Aldrich inherits includes seven listed freshmen, among them Stefan Cicic, Vladimir Sudar and Luka Vudragovic.
The defense has to change
Last season's team numbers are a rough guide for a roster under a new staff, but they show where the work starts. Pepperdine allowed 115.7 points per 100 possessions, 332nd of 365. Opponents posted a 54.3% effective field goal percentage, a shooting measure that counts threes 1.5 times, which ranked 331st.
The offense wasn't much better. The Waves shot 31.7% from three, 306th, and turned it over on 18.6% of possessions, 297th. One bright spot: they shot 75.0% at the line, 77th nationally. Against a lower-division opponent, the useful signals are cleaner ones: fewer giveaways and fewer open looks allowed.
Who carries the Waves
Will McClendon and Majstorovic were named to the preseason All-WCC team, which makes them the obvious focal points. McClendon's health hasn't been confirmed. He has been listed as out, but that listing may be stale, and his preseason honor points the other way. His status is unconfirmed, so his minutes in the home opener are worth watching.
Numbers that matter
| Defensive efficiency, last season | 115.7 | Points allowed per 100 possessions ranked 332nd of 365, the core problem Aldrich inherits. |
|---|---|---|
| Opponent eFG%, last season | 54.3% | Ranked 331st nationally, so opponents shot efficiently against Pepperdine. |
| Turnover rate, last season | 18.6% | Ranked 297th, and ball security is a clear early test for the new staff. |
| Free throw %, last season | 75.0% | Ranked 77th, one of the few strengths in last season's profile. |
La Sierra vs Pepperdine: quick answers
When is La Sierra vs Pepperdine?
Thursday, November 5, 2026 at 12:00 AM ET.