Honestly, walking into Firestone Fieldhouse lately feels a bit like waiting for a storm to break. There’s this weird mix of salt air from the Pacific and the high-tension energy of a program trying to find its soul again. If you’ve been tracking the Pepperdine men's basketball schedule, you know the vibes have been... complicated.
We aren't just talking about a list of dates and tip-off times. This is the second year of the Ed Schilling era, and after a rocky start to the 2025-26 campaign, every single game on the calendar is starting to feel like a referendum on where this team is headed. They're currently sitting at 5-10 overall. That's not where anyone wanted to be, but the nuance is in the "how" and "who."
The WCC Gauntlet: Making Sense of the 18-Game Grind
The West Coast Conference changed things up this year. It's not the same old round-robin where you see everyone twice and call it a day. Now, with 12 teams in the mix including newcomers like Seattle U and Washington State, the Pepperdine men's basketball schedule is a jigsaw puzzle of "home-only" and "away-only" matchups.
The Waves got a bit of a tough draw here. They only see Santa Clara and Oregon State once, and both of those are on the road. That hurts. Santa Clara is always a hornets' nest, and losing 82-63 at the Leavey Center on January 2nd proved exactly why.
🔗 Read more: Buddy Hield Sacramento Kings: What Really Happened Behind the Scenes
Key Upcoming Matchups to Circle
If you're looking to catch a game or just want to know when to hide behind the couch, these are the dates that matter right now:
- January 14 vs. Portland: This is huge. It's Veterans and Military Appreciation night. More importantly, it’s a game the Waves should win to stop the bleeding.
- January 21 at Gonzaga: Look, Spokane is never fun. The Zags already handed Pepperdine a 96-56 loss in Malibu back in December. Going into the McCarthey Athletic Center is the ultimate litmus test for whether Schilling’s "intricate offense" can actually hold water against elite pressure.
- February 14 vs. LMU: The PCH Cup. Nothing else matters when the Lions come to town. It’s a home-only game this year for Pepperdine, so there’s no second chance in Westchester.
Why the Non-Conference Record is Deceiving
It's easy to look at the losses to teams like UC Irvine or New Mexico State and get frustrated. I get it. But Schilling has been vocal about the fact that he intentionally built a schedule with "continuity."
He didn't want a "cupcake" schedule that inflated the record only to have the team collapse the second they saw a WCC jersey. They took No. 12 UCLA to the wire in November, eventually losing 74-63. That game showed flashes. It showed that Styles Phipps and Javon Cooley have the raw talent to compete with high-major athletes.
💡 You might also like: Why the March Madness 2022 Bracket Still Haunts Your Sports Betting Group Chat
The problem? Consistency. One night they’re dropping 113 on Lincoln University, and the next they’re struggling to crack 60 against Vermont. It’s a young roster. Phipps is only a sophomore, and while he's averaging over 12 points and 5 assists, the learning curve for a "detailed" offensive system is steep.
Breaking Down the Roster Impact
When you look at the Pepperdine men's basketball schedule, you have to look at who is actually playing those minutes. It’s a very international group. You’ve got Danilo Dozic (Serbia), Stefan Cicic (Riverside, but via Tulane), and Yonatan Levy (Israel).
Schilling’s pitch was that this team would be "more skilled and versatile."
They are.
Dozic is a 6'10" presence who can actually move.
But the defense? That's the part that's lagging.
They're giving up over 76 points a game. In a conference like the WCC, where Saint Mary's will grind you into dust and Gonzaga will outrun you, that defensive rating is a flashing red light.
📖 Related: Mizzou 2024 Football Schedule: What Most People Get Wrong
The "Home Court" Reality
Firestone Fieldhouse is iconic, but it's small. It's intimate. When it's loud, it's a nightmare for visitors. But this year, the Waves are just 3-7 at home. If they want to make any noise in the WCC Tournament in Las Vegas come March, that has to change. You cannot lose home games to Abilene Christian and Northern Colorado and expect to be a factor in February.
What to Watch for in the Final Stretch
The back half of the Pepperdine men's basketball schedule is heavy on travel. They have a Pacific Northwest swing that includes Washington State and Seattle U back-to-back.
- Actionable Insight for Fans: If you're planning to attend, keep an eye on the Tuesday/Wednesday flex dates. The WCC is working more with national TV partners this year, so tip times can shift slightly to accommodate ESPN+ or CBS Sports Network.
- Strategic Watching: Watch the first five minutes of the second half. This team has had a tendency to come out flat after the break. If they can fix the "middle-game slump," they’ll steal a few wins they aren't supposed to get.
- The "Vegas" Factor: The WCC Tournament at Orleans Arena (March 5-10) is a clean slate. Last year, the Waves went on a miracle run to the semifinals. Given the talent on this roster—especially a healthy Aaron Clark—nobody should want to see them in a single-elimination bracket.
Keep your eyes on the Portland game this Wednesday. It’s at 6:00 PM local time. If the Waves can establish an interior presence early with Cicic and Dozic, it sets the tone for the rest of the month. It's about finding an identity before the calendar turns to February.
Check the official athletics site for live stat links before tip-off, as the WCC Network broadcast sometimes has local blackouts depending on your provider.