Norfolk State vs Georgia State prediction: Two strangers in Atlanta: Georgia State's rebuilt Panthers host Norfolk State
Both rosters were rebuilt over the offseason, so Georgia State's three-point volume and Norfolk State's new backcourt count for more than anything either program did last season.
- Expect a feeling-out game between two almost entirely new rosters, with Georgia State firing threes and Norfolk State leaning on its newcomer guards.
- Jordan Skyers and Bahsil Laster against a Georgia State backcourt that plays heavy minutes but rarely forces turnovers.
- No spread or total posted yet; Georgia State went 1-1 against the spread, covering at Charlotte as an 11.5-point underdog.
Two programs starting over
Few nonconference games feature this little shared history between a team and its own past. Georgia State brings back just 2.4% of last season's minutes, and Norfolk State returns 7.0%. Last season's numbers for either program say far more about the players who left than the ones who will take the floor Sunday.
The Panthers are also learning a new coach. Jon Cremins, the program's 17th head coach, arrived after assistant stops at places including Vanderbilt and James Madison. His rebuilt roster added 11 transfers and three freshmen. The first two Division I tests went badly: a 76-73 home loss to Bowling Green and a 77-67 defeat at Charlotte, where the 49ers closed on an 11-0 run. The only win came 111-61 over Andrew, which isn't a Division I program.
Norfolk State has the steadier hand on the bench. Jones is in his 14th season, and the Spartans were picked third in the MEAC preseason poll despite debuting 10 newcomers.
Georgia State lets it fly
Cremins's group shoots from deep as a matter of identity. Threes make up 46.4% of Georgia State's shot attempts, 86th-most in Division I, and it is hitting 35.2% of them. Jaden Jackson, a South Dakota State transfer, carries that load at 15 of 40, including 6 of 15 against Bowling Green.
The volume has a second-half cost when shots stop falling. Against Charlotte, Jackson went 3 of 9 from deep and Jacob Meyer shot 3 of 15 overall. Forward Jacolb Fredson-Cole is the counterweight: he scored a career-high 21 at Charlotte on 9 of 13 shooting and averages 10.3 rebounds.
Norfolk State's 3-point defense from last season (opponents hit 32.5%, 107th) belongs largely to departed players, so how well the Spartans' new guards close out on shooters is a real unknown.
Norfolk State's new backcourt
The Spartans lost their top scorer, Anthony McComb III, who averaged 17.1 points last season. The replacements are both on the MEAC preseason watch list. Skyers, a freshman, scored 22 with six steals against Randolph College. Laster, a junior from UT Arlington, added 20 points and seven assists on 6 of 10 shooting.
That Randolph game came against a non-Division I opponent, so read it as a glimpse rather than a baseline. Laster's last season gives reason for caution: he shot 20.9% from three at UT Arlington. Chris Walker, who hit 3 of 5 from deep for 19 points, may be the steadier perimeter threat. Norfolk State was also scheduled to play at William & Mary on Nov. 8.
Where the free possessions go
Georgia State takes care of the ball, with a 15.1% turnover rate (105th), but it barely pressures anyone. Its steal rate of 6.6% ranks 321st. That suits a Norfolk State backcourt that will be handling a new system against a Division I opponent.
The foul line is a Georgia State weakness in a tight game. The Panthers are making 58.9% of their free throws, 327th nationally, and Fredson-Cole is 25% from the stripe. In a three-point loss to Bowling Green, that kind of margin decides games. Norfolk State lived at the line last season, ranking 21st in free throw rate, but with Jones's roster almost entirely new, whether that habit carries over is unproven.
Key players
- Jaden Jackson (Georgia State): The South Dakota State transfer averages 17.0 points and is 15 of 40 from three.
- Jacolb Fredson-Cole (Georgia State): Averaging 14.3 points and 10.3 rebounds, including a career-high 21 at Charlotte.
- Jacob Meyer (Georgia State): The UAB transfer leads the team at 6.3 assists but shot 3 of 15 at Charlotte.
- Chris Jones (Georgia State): The only player back from last season is shooting 77.8% from the field.
- Jordan Skyers (Norfolk State): Scored 22 points with six steals against Randolph College on a 43.5% usage rate.
- Bahsil Laster (Norfolk State): Posted 20 points and seven assists in his debut after averaging 7.3 points at UT Arlington last season.
- Chris Walker (Norfolk State): Scored 19 points on 3-of-5 shooting from three against Randolph College.
Numbers that matter
| Georgia State returning minutes | 2.4% | The Panthers' rotation is almost entirely new under first-year coach Jon Cremins. |
|---|---|---|
| Norfolk State returning minutes | 7.0% | Last season's Spartans statistics describe mostly departed players. |
| Georgia State 3-point attempt rate | 46.4% | Ranks 86th in volume, making Georgia State's outside shooting the game's biggest swing factor. |
| Georgia State free throw % | 58.9% | Ranks 327th, a liability if the game is close late. |
| Georgia State steal rate | 6.6% | Ranks 321st, so Norfolk State's new ball handlers should face little pressure. |
Norfolk State vs Georgia State: quick answers
When is Norfolk State vs Georgia State?
Sunday, November 15, 2026 at 1:00 PM ET.