Revamped Matadors men’s basketball ready for deeper playoff run in 2026

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) - Arizona Western College men’s basketball enters the new season with a nearly entirely new roster, but the expectations remain the same as the Matadors look to compete for another ACCAC championship.

The Matadors’ 2025-26 campaign ended earlier than anticipated with a Region I semifinal loss to Southern Nevada. Head coach Kyle Isaacs said getting back to that stage and competing for championships has been a priority throughout the offseason.

"That's something that Coach Roe and I have talked about all offseason and then again throughout this fall of wanting to be able to get back to that opportunity and wanting to be able to take that conference championship and then try to move on to the conference tournament championship game again," Isaacs said.

To accomplish that goal, Arizona Western focused on addressing two key areas during the offseason: outside shooting and defense.

The Matadors shot 30.7% from beyond the arc last season while allowing 78.5 points per game, their highest average in at least six seasons. Isaacs said improving defensively was a major priority as the team rebuilt its roster.

"Coming from a Coach [Bob] Knight tree, that's something that we really put a lot of stock into - being able to play really hard and get stops," Isaacs said. "And that's something that we didn't do last year and something that we really tried to focus our roster on as well."

Freshman shooting guard David Watson is among the new additions looking to make an impact on both ends of the floor. Watson said he is focused on adapting to his role and doing whatever the coaching staff needs to help the team succeed.

"My role is defined by coaches' expectations," Watson said. "So basically, whatever you need me to do is what I'm really trying to do to help the team."

Watson said Arizona Western's history of winning and its ability to help players advance to the NCAA Division I level played a significant role in his decision to join the program.

"Honestly, there's a lot of winning in this program. There's a lot of players who have went here and then go outside to the Division I level," Watson said.

One example is former Matador Yaxel Lendeborg, whose success at the next level has helped reinforce the program's belief that Arizona Western can serve as a steppingstone to professional basketball.

"One thing that we really use [in the recruiting process is that] from here it's possible," Isaacs said. "Obviously looking at Yaxel being a lottery pick and all the success that he's had, his success has been our success, without a doubt."

While Watson and the rest of the newcomers work to establish themselves, sophomore shooting guard Nikola Aleksic will provide some continuity as the team's only returning player from last season. Aleksic is expected to play an important role in helping improve the Matadors' outside shooting while providing leadership to a roster filled with new faces.

"Obviously, my shooting is a big emphasis in my playing style," Aleksic said. "I'm going to give my best to bring it to the game. My discipline to everything, I give my best words, leadership, and as coach put me on this path, I'm ready to follow it."

As the Matadors prepare for the season, Isaacs has emphasized conditioning, consistency and daily improvement. His message to the team centers on a simple goal: getting better by 1% every day.

Watson and Aleksic echoed that philosophy, highlighting the importance of steady progress throughout the season.

"We have an overall goal each and every day, and that's to get better 1%," Isaacs said.

Time will tell how much the revamped roster develops over the course of the season, but Arizona Western's objective remains unchanged. The Matadors are looking to turn their offseason work into another championship run and bring more hardware back to Yuma.