Erskine vs The Citadel prediction: The Citadel opens McAlister with Erskine and a defense to rebuild
A rematch of last season's 105-61 rout gives Ed Conroy's reloaded roster a first home look, and the defense that finished near the bottom of Division I needs it most.
- The Citadel should control a non-Division I visitor playing its second road game in three days; the real question is how the defense looks.
- The Citadel's interior defense, which allowed 58.2% on twos last season (362nd), against whatever Erskine brings inside.
- No spread or total is posted yet; The Citadel's slow pace last season, 310th nationally, shapes what any total will look like.
A home opener with a fix-it list
The Citadel beat Erskine 105-61 at home to open last season, and a repeat result would surprise no one. What matters more for anyone following the Bulldogs this winter is what the first home game reveals about a team picked 10th of 11 in the SoCon preseason coaches poll.
Last season ended 11-22, and the defense was the reason. Opponents posted a 56.7% effective field goal percentage (a shooting measure where threes count 1.5 times), 361st nationally. They hit 58.2% inside the arc, 362nd. Ed Conroy's program says it has reloaded with returning experience, transfers and a freshman class, so last season's numbers are only a rough guide to this group.
Threes by volume, not precision
The Citadel lived behind the arc last season. Nearly half its shots were threes, a 49.7% attempt rate that ranked 17th in the country. They didn't fall often: the Bulldogs made 32.7%, 256th.
Against a smaller-program opponent, that profile can still produce a big night. Marcus Banks led all scorers with 19 points in a 69-59 loss to College of Charleston at the LinkU Invitational on Sept. 27, the latest look at this roster in game action.
Schedule favors the hosts
Erskine plays at UNC Asheville on Nov. 4, two days before this game, so the Flying Fleet arrive on a short turnaround. Erskine struggled at its own level last season, sitting 0-15 in Conference Carolinas play by late January.
The Citadel opens Nov. 2 at Loyola Chicago before returning home. No injury or eligibility news has surfaced for either side.
What to watch - Whether the new roster cleans up a two-point defense that ranked 362nd last season - How many threes The Citadel launches, and whether a better make rate follows - Erskine's legs on the second game of a quick road swing
Key players
- Marcus Banks (The Citadel): Led all scorers with 19 points against College of Charleston in the Sept. 27 LinkU Invitational.
- Sola Adebisi (The Citadel): Posted 15 points and five steals in last season's 105-61 opener against Erskine; his role this season hasn't been detailed.
Numbers that matter
| Opponent 2-point % (last season) | 58.2% | Ranked 362nd nationally, the weakest part of The Citadel's game. |
|---|---|---|
| 3-point attempt rate (last season) | 49.7% | 17th in the country, so expect plenty of threes. |
| Last meeting | 105-61 | The Citadel's margin in last season's opener against Erskine at home. |
| Pace (last season) | 64.9 | Possessions per 40 minutes, 310th, a deliberate tempo. |
Erskine vs The Citadel: quick answers
When is Erskine vs The Citadel?
Friday, November 6, 2026 at 12:00 AM ET.