Georgia College vs Alabama State prediction: Alabama State's rebuilt roster gets its first home look in Montgomery
With only 5.0% of last season's minutes back and a coaching change since March, Alabama State's home opener is mostly about who the Hornets are now.
- Alabama State hosts a visitor we hold no Division I data for, with the real interest in how a mostly new roster fits together.
- Watch transfer guard Michael James, who scored 21.2 points a game at Mississippi Valley State last season, as the likely focal point.
- No spread or total is posted yet; the number that matters most is 5.0%, the share of last season's minutes that returns.
A program starting over
Alabama State spent the offseason rebuilding. Tony Madlock stepped down in late March after four seasons and was expected to join the staff at Memphis, and the school opened a national search for his successor.
The roster turned over just as sharply. Players back from last season's 10-22 team account for 5.0% of its minutes and 4.1% of its points. That makes last season's numbers a weak guide. The Hornets finished 323rd of 365 in adjusted net efficiency (points per 100 possessions, adjusted for opponents), but that rating describes a team that mostly no longer exists.
The newcomers carry the load
The likely centerpiece is Michael James, who scored 21.2 points a game at Mississippi Valley State last season with a usage rate of 30.3%. He shot 90.4% at the line, a useful skill for a team that made 69.4% of its free throws last season.
Amaree Brown arrives from Southern Indiana after averaging 13.8 points, though his effective field goal percentage (threes count 1.5 times) was just 41.2%. JaSteven Walker is the main holdover, having started 14 of his 16 games. The departures are significant: Jerquarius Stanback, who blocked 2.0 shots a game, left for Boise State.
Context before the visit
Alabama State opens Nov. 3 at Texas A&M, so this upcoming home game will be its second. The visitor is a non-Division I program, and the matchup listing is unsettled: Alabama State's schedule has also shown the Nov. 9 opponent as Georgia Gwinnett.
If last season's style carries over in any form, expect a quick game. The Hornets ranked 34th in pace and 62nd in forced turnover rate, though the shooting that came with it ranked 336th in effective field goal percentage.
Key players
- Michael James (Alabama State): Averaged 21.2 points in 36.8 minutes a game at Mississippi Valley State last season.
- Amaree Brown (Alabama State): Scored 13.8 points a game at Southern Indiana last season on a 30.5% usage rate.
- JaSteven Walker (Alabama State): Averaged 4.6 points and 3.2 rebounds in 16 games last season.
Numbers that matter
| Returning minutes | 5.0% | Nearly the entire rotation is new, so last season's team stats say little. |
|---|---|---|
| James scoring last season | 21.2 | Points per game at Mississippi Valley State, the biggest scoring arrival. |
| Pace rank last season | 34th | Alabama State played fast last season, ranking 34th of 365. |
| Adjusted net efficiency rank, last season | 323rd | Last season's final rating, for a roster that has almost entirely turned over. |
Georgia College vs Alabama State: quick answers
When is Georgia College vs Alabama State?
Monday, November 9, 2026 at 6:00 PM ET.