Keuka vs Cornell prediction: Cornell's new shooters get a first test against Empire 8 champion Keuka
An exhibition-style date with a Division III champion lets Cornell show whether its three-point machine survives heavy roster turnover.
- Cornell should push the pace and fire from deep; the real question is how much its rebuilt rotation looks like last season's.
- Watch Cornell's newcomers, especially transfers JJ Sanchez and Luke Kennevan, as shooters in a system built on the three.
- No spread or total is posted yet. Cornell played at 71.7 possessions per 40 minutes last season, 24th fastest nationally.
A system built on threes
Cornell's identity last season was plain: shoot often, shoot well, and run. The Big Red took 52.6% of their shots from three, 5th most in Division I, and made 39.3% of them, 6th best. Their effective field goal percentage (a measure that counts threes as 1.5 times a two) was 59.9%, also 5th nationally.
That produced an offense that scored 122.6 points per 100 possessions, 16th of 365. The trouble was at the other end. Opponents hit 37.2% of their threes against Cornell, 357th of 365, and the Big Red finished 15-13.
A rebuilt roster gets a rehearsal
Those numbers describe last season's team, and they may be a weak guide to this one. Jon Jaques, in his third season as head coach, has never had to replace quite this much production. The school brought in seven newcomers, including freshmen Carson Davis, Quinn Gibson, Sage Mateo and Mikehi Williams, plus sophomore transfers JJ Sanchez and Luke Kennevan, who project to add shooting.
Williams has been tagged as a possible first-year impact player, though that is a projection, not a confirmed starting role. Cornell is picked fifth in the Ivy League. A home game against a Division III opponent is a chance to see which newcomers earn minutes. No injury or eligibility news had surfaced for either team as of Oct. 26.
Keuka arrives as a champion
Keuka arrives with some credentials of its own. Last season it won the Empire 8, the school's first conference title in any sport, then pushed top-ranked Trinity in the NCAA Division III tournament before falling 74-63. Tom Wilk was hired in July 2025 after four seasons as head coach at Tompkins Cortland Community College. Keuka's current roster has not been confirmed.
The upcoming game tips at 2:00 PM ET on Sunday, Nov. 8, at Newman Arena, streaming on ESPN+.
Numbers that matter
| Cornell 3-point attempt rate, last season | 52.6% | 5th most in Division I, the core of the Big Red's offense. |
|---|---|---|
| Cornell 3-point %, last season | 39.3% | 6th nationally, though much of that shooting must be replaced. |
| Cornell opponent 3-point %, last season | 37.2% | 357th of 365, the defensive weakness that held the team to a 15-13 record. |
| Cornell pace, last season | 71.7 | Possessions per 40 minutes, 24th fastest, which points to a high-possession game. |
Keuka vs Cornell: quick answers
When is Keuka vs Cornell?
Sunday, November 8, 2026 at 2:00 PM ET.