Panhandle St (OK) vs Alabama State prediction: Chris Wright's rebuilt Alabama State opens the Acadome against Panhandle State
With almost nobody back from a 10-22 team, this home date is a first look at what a new coach and a 21-point scorer from Mississippi Valley State can build.
- Alabama State should control a home date against a non-Division I visitor, with the story being how Wright's new roster fits together.
- Watch Michael James, the Mississippi Valley State transfer who averaged 21.2 points last season, as the new offense's first option.
- No spread or total has been posted; returning minutes of 5.0% make last season's numbers a shaky guide for any line.
A program starting over
Alabama State went 10-22 last season, and almost none of that team remains. Players on this roster account for just 5.0% of last season's minutes and 4.1% of its points. Tony Madlock is gone, and Chris Wright takes over with a 332–121 career record. His last rebuild is the reason Alabama State hired him: he inherited a Langston team that finished 1–27 and went 31–3 in his first season.
The Hornets open Nov. 3 at Texas A&M, and this "Heroes in the Hive" game gives the Acadome crowd its first look at the new group.
James arrives as the engine
Michael James is the headline addition. He played 36.8 minutes a night at Mississippi Valley State last season and scored 21.2 points per game on a 30.3% usage rate, meaning he finished nearly a third of his team's possessions. He also shot 90.4% from the line, a useful trait for a program that made 69.4% of its free throws last season, 279th of 365.
Amaree Brown, who scored 13.8 points per game at Southern Indiana last season, gives Wright a second guard who wants the ball. Brown's 41.2% effective field goal percentage (threes count 1.5 times) points to volume more than efficiency.
What carries over, if anything
Last season's Hornets played fast, 34th in pace, and forced turnovers on 19.3% of possessions, 62nd nationally. They also fouled heavily, ranking 336th in opponent free throw rate. With a new coach and new players, none of that is a reliable guide to this team. Oklahoma Panhandle State, coached by Charles Belt, is not a Division I program, and Alabama State will be expected to set the terms at home.
Key players
- Michael James (Alabama State): Averaged 21.2 points and shot 90.4% on free throws last season.
- Amaree Brown (Alabama State): Scored 13.8 points per game last season on a 30.5% usage rate.
- JaSteven Walker (Alabama State): Started 14 of 16 games last season, averaging 4.6 points in 15.8 minutes.
- Trey Miller (Alabama State): Averaged 4.0 assists in 3 games last season.
Numbers that matter
| Returning minutes | 5.0% | Share of last season's minutes played by players on Alabama State's current roster. |
|---|---|---|
| Last season's record | 10-22 | The team Wright inherited, almost entirely replaced. |
| James scoring | 21.2 | Points per game at Mississippi Valley State last season, the top mark of any newcomer. |
| Wright career record | 332–121 | Includes a 31–3 first season at Langston after a 1–27 year. |
Panhandle St (OK) vs Alabama State: quick answers
When is Panhandle St (OK) vs Alabama State?
Wednesday, November 11, 2026 at 6:00 PM ET.