ITHACA, N.Y. -- Many of the faces are new, and and even the familiar ones will be in new roles. The look, however, will be familiar.

Pace. Space. Share. Shoot.

The Cornell men's basketball team has ranked among the top eight teams in the nation in tempo five straight seasons, and last year's Big Red led the country in assists (21.3 per game) and 3-pointers made per game (12.9) while ranking fifth in effective field goal percentage (.599) and sixth in scoring (88.5 ppg.). That identity carries into the 2026-27 season, even as a largely rebuilt roster works to find its footing.

Cornell enters its third season under Jon Jaques '10, the Robert E. Gallagher '44 Head Coach of Cornell Men's Basketball, with a 33-24 record over his first two years, including two of the five consecutive Ivy Madness appearances the program has made. The Big Red was picked fifth in the Ivy League preseason poll, putting it squarely in the mix for a sixth straight appearance.

"We have guys in new roles that have to step up, and a lot of new guys that need to figure it out," Jaques said. "I think everyone's excited for the challenge - I think we have a great chance to get better throughout the season."

Graduation took the team's top two scorers as Cooper Noard (18.2 ppg., a league high) and Jake Fiegen (17.1 ppg.) combined for 35.3 points per game and earned All-Ivy honors. Adam Hinton, Josh Baldwin, DJ Nix, Corbin Zentner and AJ LaBeau also walked the stage last spring. Noard is now at Samford, Fiegen at Villanova and Baldwin at William & Mary as graduate transfers.

The offense will look different on the scoresheet, as much of the scoring came from Noard, Fiegen and Hinton a year ago. Jaques expects a more balanced approach this season.

"Whoever is open and has the best shot shoots it," Jaques said. "We should have 12 or 13 capable guys of finishing a play. I think it makes it really hard to prepare for and guard, and it gives everyone some agency. Everyone has a role."

The starting group begins with a returning core. Senior Kaspar Sepp anchors the frontcourt after leading Cornell in rebounding (5.5 rpg.) and adding 73 assist. Senior guard Jacob Beccles, a 27-game starter, led the team in assists (88) and steals (31) last year. Jaques calls him "the fastest guy in the Ivy League, with or without the ball in his hands."

Junior Anthony Nimani brings efficiency, having shot .568 from the field and .520 from 3-point range in 22 games. Junior wing Gioacchino Panzini, who shot .672 from the field and .500 from 3-point range, will also have a chance to earn a starting role after a strong offseason. Jaques believes Panzini could be one of the best defenders in the Ivy League.

The bench retains shooting. Junior Mateen Rafiq, whom Jaques called "one of the best shooters in the Ivy League," made 19-of-41 3-pointers (.463) in 19 games off the bench. Senior Ian Imegwu, a left-handed stretch forward, hit 22-of-45 (.489) from distance. Sophomores Ryan Burbach, Blake Lecklitner, Jax Abalos and Elijah Griffin are ready to compete for time, and Jaques will go deep in the rotation with "waves of guys and energy."

Freshmen Quinn Gibson and Mikehi Williams are positioned for immediate roles. Williams, a 6-5 forward, was the Georgia Class 4A State Player of the Year in 2026. Gibson, a 6-6 forward from Cherry Hill, N.J., via The Winchendon School, is another physical, athletic wing. Sage Mateo and Trey Williams add guard depth, while 6-8, 243-pound forward Carson Davis adds shooting and size. Transfers Luke Kennevan (Lock Haven) and JJ Sanchez (Citrus College) are also expected to see time and are high IQ players. Kennevan started nearly every game as a freshman at the Division II level.

"We're just longer positionally, a little bigger, so we can do more defensively and be a little more versatile," Jaques said of the newcomers. "I'd like to take advantage of that."

The question, Jaques said, is time.

"So much of how we play is chemistry and repetition, reading each other and knowing everyone's strengths and weaknesses. For us to hit our ceiling, it's really how quickly we can get there."

The 29-game schedule opens Nov. 2 against Pepperdine at Newman Arena and is full of postseason pedigree. Lehigh, the 2025-26 Patriot League Tournament champion, and LIU, which won both the Northeast Conference regular season and tournament titles, each played in the NCAA Tournament, and both received votes in the final CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 poll. Morgan State was the MEAC runner-up, and Monmouth won 19 games. The Big Red also travels to Syracuse on Nov. 18 and visits St. Bonaventure and Colgate, and UNC Greensboro, Bucknell and UAlbany come to Ithaca.

A West Coast trip opens Dec. 28 at Washington and closes Dec. 31 at Gonzaga, which finished 31-4 and No. 1 in the final CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 and is No. 15 in the preseason Associated Press Top 25 and No. 12 in the preseason Coaches Poll. Ivy play begins Jan. 5 at Columbia, and Ivy Madness returns to the Palestra, March 12-14.