Queens University vs BYU prediction: Rebuilt BYU tests Queens' shooting against a defense that never held
Both rosters turned over, but Queens arrives with last season's 351st-ranked defense problem and BYU arrives with Jaxon Kohler, eligible for now.
- BYU's new transfers should find the rim and the offensive glass against a Queens defense that ranked near the bottom of Division I last season.
- Queens' Nasir Mann and Jordan Watford against a BYU frontcourt built around Kohler and freshman Bruce Branch III.
- No line is posted yet. Last season's adjusted net efficiency had BYU 24th and Queens 203rd of 365.
Two rosters rebuilt from scratch
Last season's numbers describe teams that no longer exist. BYU returns just 26.7% of last season's minutes after losing AJ Dybantsa, who scored 25.5 points per game, plus Richie Saunders and Keba Keita. Queens brings back 40.0% of its minutes, but the shooters who powered its first ASUN tournament title are mostly gone.
The Cougars still start the year ranked No. 25 in the AP preseason poll, the first time since 1980 that BYU has opened two straight seasons in the Top 25. Kevin Young, in his third season, rebuilt around Rob Wright III and a wave of power-conference transfers: Collin Chandler from Kentucky, Tyler Betsey from Syracuse and Jaxon Kohler from Michigan State, with five-star freshman Bruce Branch III projected to step into Dybantsa's role.
The last meeting offers a reminder of the gap. BYU won 99-55 in Provo in November 2024.
Queens' threes, BYU's soft perimeter
Queens lived beyond the arc last season, ranking 36th nationally in 3-point attempt rate (the share of shots taken from three). The problem is who took those shots. Chris Ashby made 111 threes and is gone, and Carson Schwieger left for Tulane and Maban Jabriel for Maryland. The returning core is built inside: Mann shot 31.8% from three last season, and Avantae Parker shot 67.4% from the floor.
That matters because BYU's perimeter defense was its weak spot. Opponents hit 35.3% of their threes against the Cougars last season, 290th in the country. If Queens finds a new shooter, The Citadel transfer Dante Kearse is the likeliest candidate after hitting 41.5% from deep in a bench role.
BYU's new pieces shoot it too. Chandler made 73 threes at Kentucky, and Betsey hit 40.7% at Syracuse.
Where Queens bled possessions
Queens' defense was the story of last season, and not a good one. It allowed 118.0 points per 100 possessions, 351st of 365, and opponents posted a 54.2% effective field goal percentage (a shooting measure where threes count 1.5 times), 329th.
The glass was worse news for this matchup. Queens grabbed just 66.3% of opponents' misses, 328th, while BYU rebounded 34.3% of its own misses, 71st. Kohler is the obvious beneficiary: he averaged 8.9 rebounds at Michigan State and posted a double-double in BYU's 72-61 exhibition win over Nebraska, after which Young called him "the perfect fit" at center.
Queens' best counter is its two-point scoring, which ranked 15th nationally last season. BYU blocked 11.8% of opponents' two-point tries, 57th, so Parker and Watford will be finishing over length.
Kohler's status and the calendar
Kohler is eligible after a California court granted a preliminary injunction in Glancey v. NCAA on Oct. 20. The NCAA is expected to appeal and may try to pause the ruling, so his status could still change before tip.
Dawson Baker, who tore his ACL last season, has no current dated update, and BYU hasn't said when he returns. We found nothing on Queens injuries.
Both teams will have games behind them by Nov. 10, if the schedule holds. BYU opens against Ohio State in Salt Lake City on Nov. 2, while Queens has a heavy early slate: Winthrop, then road trips to Loyola Marymount and Oklahoma State. Those results will be the first real read on both new rotations.
Key players
- Robert Wright III (BYU): The lone major returner scored 18.1 points per game last season and shot 41.7% from three.
- Jaxon Kohler (BYU): Averaged 12.5 points and 8.9 rebounds at Michigan State last season and is eligible under a court injunction.
- Collin Chandler (BYU): Kentucky transfer hit 41% from three last season across 36 games.
- Tyler Betsey (BYU): Syracuse transfer made 50 threes off the bench last season at a 40.7% clip.
- Nasir Mann (Queens University): ASUN tournament MVP started all 35 games last season and averaged 13.3 points.
- Jordan Watford (Queens University): Posted a 130.5 offensive rating last season with a 25.3% usage rate.
- Avantae Parker (Queens University): Shot 67.4% from the field last season and blocked 1.3 shots per game.
- Dante Kearse (Queens University): The Citadel transfer shot 41.5% from three last season in 10.9 minutes per game.
Numbers that matter
| BYU returning minutes | 26.7% | Last season's team numbers say little about a BYU roster this new. |
|---|---|---|
| Queens defensive efficiency rank | 351st | Queens allowed 118.0 points per 100 possessions last season. |
| Queens defensive rebound % | 66.3% | Ranked 328th last season, against a BYU team that rebounded 34.3% of its own misses. |
| BYU opponent 3-point % | 35.3% | BYU's 290th-ranked perimeter defense is Queens' best opening. |
Queens University vs BYU: quick answers
When is Queens University vs BYU?
Tuesday, November 10, 2026 at 9:00 PM ET.