Northern New Mexico vs Northern Colorado prediction: Northern Colorado's rebuilt Bears get a first look against Northern New Mexico
With barely a quarter of last season's minutes back, Steve Smiley's home opener against a non-Division I visitor is less about the result than about who emerges in the rotation.
- Expect Northern Colorado to control a mismatch at home, with the real interest in how Smiley distributes minutes among newcomers.
- Watch Minnesota transfer Langston Reynolds running the offense that Quinn Denker's 19.2 points per game carried last season.
- No spread or total has been posted. Last season's Bears scored 82.5 points per game, 44th nationally, but most of those scorers are gone.
A roster rebuilt almost entirely
Northern Colorado went 20-12 last season. It ranked 57th of 365 in offensive efficiency (points per 100 possessions) at 117.4. Almost none of that production walks back into Bank of Colorado Arena on Tuesday night. Returning players account for just 25.1% of last season's minutes and 21.3% of its points.
The departures are the core of that offense. Quinn Denker averaged 19.2 points and 7.0 assists. Brock Wisne added 16.2 points, and Zach Bloch hit 42.9% from three. With so much gone, last season's team numbers are a weak guide to this group.
The new faces to watch
Langston Reynolds is the most experienced arrival. He started 26 games at Minnesota last season, playing 33.2 minutes a night and handing out 4.5 assists. Shooting is the question: he made 25.6% of his threes and 59.2% at the line.
Chiante' Tramble, a junior by way of Southern Miss and Independence CC, made 35.9% of his threes last season in a bench role. Campbell Blogg arrives from Melbourne United of the NBL. Among the returners, center Egan Shields is the efficient one, shooting 65.8% from the floor last season.
An identity worth testing
Last season's Bears were elite on the defensive glass, grabbing 76.2% of opponents' misses, fifth in the country. They also almost never forced mistakes. Their forced turnover rate of 13.2 per 100 possessions ranked 359th. Whether Smiley's new roster keeps either trait is worth tracking, even against a smaller opponent.
Familiar visitor, new coach
Northern New Mexico is a familiar opponent for the Bears. The Bears won 92-50 in Greeley in November 2024, and Smiley's 200th career win came against the Eagles in 2023. Michael Dominguez, hired in April 2025 after six seasons at New Mexico Highlands, leads the Eagles in his second season. Smiley, in his sixth season, is signed through 2030. The school is billing the game as Military Appreciation Night.
Key players
- Langston Reynolds (Northern Colorado): Averaged 11.6 points and 4.5 assists in 33.2 minutes at Minnesota last season.
- Egan Shields (Northern Colorado): Shot 65.8% from the floor last season with an offensive rating of 126.6.
- Chiante' Tramble (Northern Colorado): Made 35.9% of his threes off the bench at Southern Miss last season.
- Vincent Delano (Northern Colorado): Played 20.1 minutes a game last season, the most of any returner.
Numbers that matter
| Returning minutes | 25.1% | Only about a quarter of last season's minutes return, so the Bears are effectively a new team. |
|---|---|---|
| Denker's scoring, last season | 19.2 | The departed point guard's points per game are the biggest hole Reynolds and the newcomers must fill. |
| Defensive rebound %, last season | 76.2% | Fifth nationally, the trait most worth watching to see if it carries over. |
| Last meeting | 92-50 | Northern Colorado's home win over Northern New Mexico in November 2024. |
Northern New Mexico vs Northern Colorado: quick answers
When is Northern New Mexico vs Northern Colorado?
Tuesday, November 10, 2026 at 8:00 PM ET.