Ottawa (KS) vs Tulsa prediction: Tulsa begins life after Barnstable, Riley and Green against Ottawa
An NAIA visitor gives the reshaped Golden Hurricane a first look at who carries an offence that finished sixth nationally last season.
- Tulsa should control a non-Division I opponent; the real interest is which newcomers and returners take the shots three departed scorers left behind.
- Watch Tulsa's perimeter shooting: last season's team hit 38.0% from three, 19th nationally, and Ade Popoola is the leading returning shooter.
- No spread or total has been posted. Tulsa returns just 47.6% of last season's points, so its scoring baseline is genuinely unsettled.
Replacing a top-10 offence
Tulsa went 30-8 last season and scored 125.1 points per 100 possessions, sixth of 365 in Division I. The season ran deep into spring: the Golden Hurricane beat New Mexico 74-69 in an NIT semifinal in Indianapolis on April 2 to reach the championship game.
Much of that firepower is gone. Miles Barnstable 14.6 with a 136.7 offensive rating. The roster returns 58.9% of last season's minutes. Eric Konkol, entering his fourth season, added a large class in June: freshman Denton Forsythe plus transfers including Brent Moss, Macon Emory, Chris Loofe, Aleksa Dimitrijevic and Derelle Desire. Last season's numbers are a loose guide for this group.
The shooting identity
Tulsa built its attack around volume and accuracy from deep. Its 3-point attempt rate of 46.4% ranked 40th, and it made free throws at 78.1%, 14th nationally. The question is who keeps that up.
Ade Popoola, a 38-game starter in our roster data, shot 40.9% on 242 three-point attempts last season. One caveat: Tulsa's June roster release named five returners and did not list him, so his status is worth confirming. Myles Rigsby appears in both and brings an 88.6% free throw mark.
Ottawa and the schedule question
Ottawa plays in the NAIA's KCAC and entered its February finale 10-17. Jamie Batish was named head coach in 2025 after an interim stint; no 2026-27 confirmation of his status turned up. The roster lists many freshmen, including Jalen Aldridge and Jeran Barnett.
Two things are unsettled. ESPN lists the game at the Reynolds Center with a time to be announced, but Ottawa's own schedule shows games Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 and does not list Nov. 2. We found no injury information for either team, though availability was not fully checked.
Key players
- Ade Popoola (Tulsa): Shot 40.9% from three on 242 attempts and averaged 10.8 points last season, though his place on this season's roster needs confirming.
- Myles Rigsby (Tulsa): Averaged 6.2 points off the bench last season with a 124.7 offensive rating and is confirmed on Tulsa's June roster.
Numbers that matter
| Last season's offence | 6th | Tulsa's 125.1 points per 100 possessions ranked sixth nationally in 2025-26. |
|---|---|---|
| Returning points | 47.6% | Less than half of last season's scoring is back, so the offence is being rebuilt. |
| Last season's 3-point % | 38.0% | Ranked 19th, the core of a perimeter-heavy attack that needs new shooters. |
| Returning minutes | 58.9% | A moderate share of experience returns alongside a large transfer class. |
Ottawa (KS) vs Tulsa: quick answers
When is Ottawa (KS) vs Tulsa?
Monday, November 2, 2026 at 12:00 AM ET.