Millsaps vs Northwestern State prediction: Northwestern State's rebuilt Demons open Prather against Division III Millsaps
With barely a quarter of last season's minutes back, the Demons' home opener against a Division III visitor is a first look at Rick Cabrera's new rotation.
- Northwestern State should control a Division III visitor at home; the real interest is how a mostly new rotation sorts itself out.
- Watch Izzy Miles, the top returner, who shot 39.7% from three last season and now must carry a bigger load.
- No spread or total has been posted; last season the Demons played at the 357th-fastest pace in Division I.
A roster built from scratch
Northwestern State's roster returns just 26.0% of last season's minutes. Rick Cabrera, in his fourth season, brought in 11 newcomers: four-year transfers, junior-college players and high school signees. That turnover makes last season's 10-22 finish a weak guide to this group.
The departures hurt. Micah Thomas scored 16.8 points a game with a 30.9% usage rate. Willie Williams pulled down 8.5 rebounds a game inside. Both are gone, and the replacements arrive with smaller résumés.
Who carries the Demons now
Izzy Miles is the clearest holdover. He averaged 10.5 points last season and made 39.7% of his threes, and his usage rate of 24.3% suggests he can handle more possessions.
Two transfers fill the gaps. Dionjahe Thomas grabbed 5.3 rebounds a game at Jackson State and steps into the space Williams left. Arne Osojnik scored 6.4 points a game at Northern Arizona. Nathan Ojukwu, from Dakota State, adds another new face. No expected starters have been announced.
A slow, foul-drawing style
Last season the Demons played at 63.1 possessions per 40 minutes, which ranked 357th in Division I. They also lived at the line: their free throw rate (free throw attempts per field goal attempt) was 40.3%, 52nd nationally. With so much of the roster new, it's unclear whether either trait carries over. This is the home opener, coming after a scheduled three-game road trip to start the season.
The Division III visitor
Millsaps plays in Division III and is not a conference opponent. The Majors went 15-10 last season and 6-8 in the SAA before playing in the conference tournament. Connor Kuykendall coaches a roster that lists four freshmen and junior-college transfer Kori Taylor from Mississippi Delta CC. No injury news has surfaced for either side.
Key players
- Izzy Miles (Northwestern State): Averaged 10.5 points last season while shooting 39.7% from three.
- Dionjahe Thomas (Northwestern State): Pulled down 5.3 rebounds a game at Jackson State last season.
- Arne Osojnik (Northwestern State): Scored 6.4 points a game at Northern Arizona last season with a 24.5% usage rate.
- Kordrick Turner (Northwestern State): Shot 53.5% from the field last season in 13.7 minutes a game.
Numbers that matter
| Returning minutes | 26.0% | Northwestern State brings back barely a quarter of last season's minutes, so last season's team numbers mean little. |
|---|---|---|
| Pace rank last season | 357th | The Demons were one of the slowest teams in Division I last season. |
| Free throw rate last season | 40.3% | Ranked 52nd nationally, the one area where last season's offense stood out. |
| Departed leading scorer | 16.8 | Micah Thomas's points per game are gone, and Miles is the likeliest to absorb them. |
Millsaps vs Northwestern State: quick answers
When is Millsaps vs Northwestern State?
Tuesday, November 10, 2026 at 7:30 PM ET.