Coaches are one-game-at-a-time folks. But as the Seattle U men’s basketball team preps for its return to the West Coast Conference after a 45-year hiatus, head coach Chris Victor can’t help peeking ahead a month to the start of the Redhawks’ league schedule.

The gauntlet his team faces is hardly something he’ll be celebrating this week at his Thanksgiving dinner. Four games in eight days, including a home date vs. San Francisco and road matchups against No. 12 Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s. That powerhouse trio had a combined win-loss record of 18-1 through Tuesday.

“That’s like our welcome to the conference schedule. We’re going to start out with some big tests,” Victor said. “This is a heck of a conference. We’re just going to put our head down and see what we can do.”

What Seattle U has done so far has been encouraging. The Redhawks are 4-1 and coming off their first-ever victory over Stanford, a 77-69 road triumph over a previously undefeated team last Friday in which they rallied from a 57-44 deficit with less than 12 minutes to play. 

“Good win for us. That was our first road game of the season. It was the best opponent we’ve played. It’s just confirmation that we’re getting better,” said Victor, who is 84-54 in his fifth season as the program’s head coach. “Even the way we played, we were down 13 — I didn’t think we were great most of the game — but the guys showed some toughness and resilience and grit. That was good to see.”

Senior point guard Maleek Arington is proud of the way his teammates swam upstream to secure the road win. “Especially early on this year, we’ve had a big focus on finishing games and not giving up. I think that game showed the fight the guys had,” Arington said. “It meant a lot to everybody. Once we knew we were in it, we were making our runs, everybody got a boost in confidence that made us keep pushing. Just being able to push through the adversity, being down 13 on the road, is not easy. I’m proud of the guys.”

Arington, who began his college career at Idaho State then transferred to Seattle U before last season, knows the win at Stanford could have some lasting benefit once the Redhawks begin their conference schedule.

“I think the guys know now we can compete with anybody. Especially going to road games at Gonzaga, Saint Mary’s — those are tough places to win,” he said. “Those good teams are going to go on their runs and the crowd’s going to get into it. We know we can push through it and we have done it before.”

In the transfer portal age, Seattle U has built its team through continuity. The team lost three of its top four scorers from a year ago, but four of five starters on this team were part of the roster in 2024-25. Arington and backcourt mate Brayden Maldonado are returning starters in new roles.

“This year specifically, Brayden and Maleek have really stepped into a big-time leadership role,” Victor said. “That has allowed us to get off to a good start but with the transfers and newcomers it’s helped with their transition. I think it’s been a real big piece.”

The two have been roommates for two years since arriving on campus. Maldonado, a native of Anchorage, Alaska, previously played at Division II Metropolitan State in Denver. 

“This summer we knew we were the two returning guards and we were going to have to lead,” said Arington, who grew up in the Seattle area. “We hung out every day. I bring him to my family’s house. Having that chemistry is a huge part. I think it helps everyone else because we’re always on the same page.”

Maldonado has emerged as the West Coast Conference scoring leader, averaging 20.2 points, a jump from 9.0 a year ago when he was team Redhawks’ fourth or fifth option. He has been a remarkably efficient scorer, third in the conference in field-goal accuracy (57.9 percent) and tops in both 3-point (56.0 percent) and free-throw shooting (100 percent at 21-for-21).

“A great start to the year,” Victor said. “Last year he transitioned from Division II, the first year in a new program, the first year at a new level, the first year in Seattle. It took him a little bit. He had a really good offseason. He’s extremely hard-working and he’s just a different player this year.”

Arington sees the improvement his teammate had made. “He knows what the best shot is for him and the team. Being the other guard, I know what is a great shot for him,” Arington said. “He’s just real confident right now. He’s in the zone. He puts in the work, so when it comes game time, he’s going to score.”

It doesn’t hurt that Maldonado lines up alongside Arington, one of the league’s more versatile backcourt players. At 6-foot-3, Arington provides the Redhawks with 7.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, 5.8 assists and a conference-leading 2.6 steals. He was at his disruptive best against Stanford.

“We count on Maleek for a lot. He’s one of our lead guards, he’s one of our team captains. He’s our best defender. We put a lot on his shoulders,” Victor said. “For him to have that game — nine points, seven rebounds, six assists, four steals — just kind of shows he’s involved in a little of everything on both ends of the floor.”

Arington sees himself as a facilitator on all fronts. “I’m the point guard. I’m the head of the snake.” he said. “Me doing all those little things and making the winning plays will open other areas up for other guys. I can score, too, but my main focus is to play hard and guard and make all the little plays.”

It starts on defense for Arington. He has 202 career steals, earning All-Big Sky defensive honors two years ago at Idaho State and a spot on the All-WAC defensive team a year ago.

Could he make it three years in a row in a third different conference this season? “No question,” Victor said. “I think he’s one of the best defenders in the country.”

At Stanford, Arington was matched against freshman guard Ebuka Okorie, who had averaged 25.5 points through his first four college games. Arington held him to 17 points on 5-for-15 shooting. “I thought Maleek did a very good job on him,” Victor said. “Maleek is a very big part of this team in every area.”

Arington was given a foundation of defense from his earliest days playing ball. His dad taught him defensive principles and his AAU teams often utilized an aggressive, pressing style. “Having the mindset of guarding the best player, getting stops, diving on the floor, all the little plays, it brings me energy and I know it brings my team energy,” he said.

Victor is getting production from every player in his starting five. Forward Will Heimbrodt, a 6-7 redshirt sophomore from the San Francisco Bay Area, contributes 16.3 points on 54-percent shooting, 5.0 rebounds and a conference-leading 3.6 blocked shots per game. Junseok Yeo, a 6-8 senior  forward from Seoul, South Korea and transfer from Gonzaga, averages  12.4 points and 4.2 rebounds. Center Dan Houran, a 6-10 sophomore from China, provides 5.0 points and 2.8 rebounds.

The Redhawks were picked eighth in the preseason conference coaches poll, and while Victor is pleased with the squad’s start, he’s not taking anything for granted. “I have a lot to learn in a new conference,” he said. “I’m sure we’ll learn a lot our first year and then we’ll see where we end up.”

For now, it’s a game at a time. The Redhawks trek to Las Vegas this weekend for the Resorts World Classic, with games Friday against Texas State and Saturday vs. either UC Santa Barbara or Lehigh. Then it’s back home for three games in Seattle.

Those games are personally important to Arington. “I can see my family at all my games. It’s tough to fly into Pocatello,” he said, referring to his two seasons at Idaho State. “Having all my friends, family, seeing them at all my home games makes me happy.”