Champion Christian vs UT Martin prediction: UT Martin's rebuilt roster gets a tune-up against Champion Christian
After a double-overtime loss at Tulane, a Skyhawks team with almost no returning minutes gets its first home look at a non-Division I visitor it will see twice in a week.
- UT Martin should control a lopsided game; the question is how sharp a roster of newcomers looks in its home debut.
- Davi Remagen and Kaan Onat against a small-college defense: two newcomers who combined for 45 points at Tulane.
- No line posted yet; UT Martin covered as a 6.25-point underdog at Tulane, and that game cleared a 146.5 total.
A new team learning on the fly
UT Martin went 22-11 last season, but that team is mostly gone. Players on this season's roster accounted for just 18.2% of last season's minutes, so last year's eighth-ranked defense says little about this group. Third-year coach Jeremy Shulman is working with 14 newcomers, a program-record 10 of them freshmen.
The opener at Tulane on Nov. 2 was a decent first draft. The Skyhawks lost 100-98 in double overtime, with Onat tying it at 98 on a free throw with five seconds left in the second extra period. That Tulane team ranked 209th in opponent-adjusted net efficiency, so it was a real test, not a cupcake.
Threes now, defense later
The early identity is long-range volume. UT Martin took 57.6% of its shots from three at Tulane, 22nd most in Division I, and made 44.7% of them. Sasha Savkov hit 6 of 13 and Remagen 5 of 9.
The warning sign came at the other end. Tulane got to the line at a 69.7% rate (free throws attempted per field goal attempt) against the Skyhawks, 343rd of 348 in opponent free throw rate, and UT Martin made only 61.3% of its own free throws. Against a weaker opponent those habits cost less, but they are what Shulman will want cleaned up before OVC play.
A familiar visitor, twice
Champion Christian, a National Christian College Athletic Association school from Hot Springs, Ark., is a regular on this schedule. The Skyhawks are 4-0 all-time against the Tigers, including a 96-52 win last December. The two teams are also scheduled to meet again at the Elam Center on Nov. 19.
UT Martin comes in with 11 days of rest since Tulane and was voted third in the OVC preseason poll. No injuries have been reported for either side.
Key players
- Kaan Onat (UT Martin): Posted 21 points and 13 rebounds over 40 minutes at Tulane with a 30.7% usage rate.
- Davi Remagen (UT Martin): Scored 24 points in 25 minutes off the bench at Tulane, hitting 5 of 9 threes.
- Sasha Savkov (UT Martin): Made 6 of 13 threes for 20 points and added 10 rebounds in the opener.
- Filip Petkovski (UT Martin): The top returner started 28 games last season and went 2 for 2 from three at Tulane.
Numbers that matter
| Returning minutes | 18.2% | Last season's team numbers are a weak guide to this rebuilt roster. |
|---|---|---|
| 3-point attempt rate | 57.6% | UT Martin's opener showed a shot profile built around volume threes, 22nd most in Division I. |
| Opponent free throw rate | 69.7% | Fouling was the biggest flaw at Tulane, ranking 343rd of 348. |
| All-time vs. Champion Christian | 4-0 | The Skyhawks have never lost to the Tigers, winning 96-52 last December. |
Champion Christian vs UT Martin: quick answers
When is Champion Christian vs UT Martin?
Friday, November 13, 2026 at 7:00 PM ET.