The Los Medanos College men’s basketball team is entering the 2025–26 season on new energy, good chemistry, and a winning mindset. Off last season’s 15-13 overall and 9-7 conference records, the Mustangs believe they can add more levels to the team this season.
Head coach Derek Domenichelli expressed that the team has improved some of the most critical areas from last season. “One of the things that we’ve really improved on in the off season is shooting,” Domenichelli said. “Our shooting is so much improved over what it was a year ago, and our pressure defense really gets the tempo of the game up. We’re playing much faster this year.”
Last season, LMC averaged 72 points per game, making 43.3% of field shots and 33.7% of three-point shots. Rebounding was also a strong suit with nearly 40 rebounds per game at 39.2 and one of the conference’s best defensive rebounding percentages. Domenichelli believes this year’s team can do even better.
“We’ve got more guys who can pressure the ball,” he said. “We can take it up and down the floor and play much faster than we’ve been able to in the past.”
The team’s mindset is positive as the new season gets closer. Domenichelli says he’s impressed by how locked in the team has been. “I’m excited about the upcoming season,” he said. “The group of young men that I’m working with are so positive. They’re working hard in practice. They seem to be getting along with each other. They come to practice every day, focused and playing hard.”
Freshman guard No. 10 Greg Tom said the team has something special this year. “Super excited to be honest,” Tom said. “I think we have a lot of depth to the team, and coach has been very vocal about saying that we haven’t had this much depth before in previous years. So I think we could have an opportunity to make a really good run this year.”
For him, his goals and mindset are simple yet determined. “My goal is for the team to win the championship, win league, blow these other teams out that have beaten us in the past,” he said.
Sophomore guard No. 5 Gianni Altman, the other key member of the team, believes that the chemistry of the team is better than ever before. “We just had our first scrimmage and I feel like we’ve got the most chemistry I’ve ever had in any team that I’ve ever played with in my three years,” Altman said. He pointed out that the team’s athleticism and speed are strong suits of this team overall. “We’ve got a group of explosive guards that just get on the rim, and run. So it’s really, really fun.”
Altman is focused on both individual and team goals. “I think the biggest thing for us is to win a conference title,” he said. “As far for me, personally, I want to transfer out, so I’m taking care of my business in the classroom. That’s my biggest goal. If I take care of that, basketball will fall into place.”
The Mustangs will begin the season with high hopes and a sense that this team is special. Their first home game is Nov. 13 at 6 p.m. in the LMC gym against Skyline College. From players to coaches, the message is clear: Dominate and win, and have fun doing it.
