Great Lakes Christian vs Eastern Michigan prediction: Billy Donlon's rebuilt Eastern Michigan takes its new pieces home
With 12 newcomers and a first-year coach, Eastern Michigan's home date with NCCAA Great Lakes Christian is a chance to see what the new roster actually is.
- Eastern Michigan should control a non-Division I visitor; the interest is in rotations, roles and how Billy Donlon's transfers fit together.
- Mohammad Habhab inside: the preseason All-MAC first-teamer averaged 14.2 points and 8.3 rebounds last season.
- No spread or total has been posted; with 34.4% of last season's minutes back, last season's numbers are a weak guide anyway.
A new era in Ypsilanti
Very little about Eastern Michigan looks like last season's team. Billy Donlon is in his first season as head coach, and the roster carries 12 newcomers, 11 of them transfers. Players back from last season account for just 34.4% of its minutes, so the 10-21 record and an adjusted offense that ranked 294th of 365 (points per 100 possessions, adjusted for opponents) describe a different group.
The MAC isn't expecting a leap: the Eagles were picked ninth in the preseason poll. This is their third game, after an opener at Coastal Carolina, and the first real chance for a home crowd to see the rebuild.
Who carries the load
The anchor is Mohammad Habhab, who briefly entered the transfer portal in the spring before deciding to stay and was named to the Preseason All-MAC First Team. He played 36.0 minutes a night last season and did his work inside rather than outside.
The new scoring comes from the backcourt. Jabri Fitzpatrick averaged 15.0 points at New Haven, and Kilian Brockhoff brings an effective field goal percentage (threes count 1.5 times) of 54.1% from William & Mary. Gregory Lawson II is the shooter to watch after making 43.2% of his threes last season.
Paint first, threes later
The exhibition against defending national champion Michigan showed both the identity and the gap. Eastern lost 87-62 but outscored the Wolverines 44-32 in the paint, while making just two of 11 threes. Last season's team was similar, ranking 333rd in 3-point attempt rate.
Against Great Lakes Christian, an NCCAA Division II program that lost an 86-81 tournament game to Bob Jones in March, the Eagles should be able to score inside at will. The more useful question is whether the new guards start taking, and making, threes.
Key players
- Mohammad Habhab (Eastern Michigan): Averaged 14.2 points and 8.3 rebounds last season while starting all 30 games.
- Jabri Fitzpatrick (Eastern Michigan): Scored 15.0 points per game at New Haven last season with a 25.4% usage rate.
- Gregory Lawson II (Eastern Michigan): Made 43.2% of his 88 three-point attempts last season.
- Kilian Brockhoff (Eastern Michigan): Averaged 10.7 points at William & Mary last season with a 54.1% effective field goal percentage.
Numbers that matter
| Returning minutes | 34.4% | Most of last season's production is gone, so last season's team stats say little about this group. |
|---|---|---|
| Exhibition paint points | 44 | Eastern outscored Michigan 44-32 inside in an 87-62 exhibition loss. |
| Last season's 3-point attempt rate rank | 333rd | The Eagles rarely shot from deep last season, and went two of 11 against Michigan. |
| MAC preseason pick | ninth | League expectations remain modest despite the overhaul. |
Great Lakes Christian vs Eastern Michigan: quick answers
When is Great Lakes Christian vs Eastern Michigan?
Wednesday, November 11, 2026 at 6:30 PM ET.