SE Louisiana vs Little Rock prediction: Travis Ford's rebuilt Little Rock debuts at home against SE Louisiana

A program starting over

Little Rock fired Darrell Walker and hired Travis Ford in March, and the former Kentucky guard rebuilt the roster in one offseason. Ford brought in 14 new players: transfers, international players, junior college players and freshmen. The only holdover from the previous staff is Terrion Burgess, who averaged 7.5 points and 3.2 rebounds. An April report also noted that four players missed all of 2025-26 with injuries.

That makes last season's team numbers a weak guide to these Trojans. The 12-20 team that finished 310th of 365 in adjusted net efficiency (points per 100 possessions, adjusted for opponents) is mostly gone. Little Rock also plays its first season in the newly formed United Athletic Conference, and its preseason included an exhibition against Kentucky at Rupp Arena.

SE Louisiana brings more coaching stability. David Kiefer is in his eighth season, though how much of last season's 9-22 roster returns isn't clear.

The Lions need to find shooters

SE Louisiana's problem last season was simple: the ball didn't go in. The Lions made 28.3% of their threes, 362nd of 365, and their effective field goal percentage (threes count 1.5 times) of 47.0 ranked 347th. That added up to an offense that finished 355th in raw efficiency.

The defense kept them in games. SE Louisiana allowed 70.5 points per game, 78th nationally, partly because of its slow pace: 65.7 possessions per 40 minutes, 283rd. If the Lions control the tempo again, Little Rock's newcomers will have to score in a grind.

The Lions did get to the line often, though it didn't fix the offense. Their free throw rate (attempts per field goal attempt) of 39.6% ranked 59th, but they made only 68.4% at the line, 315th.

Turnovers on both ends

Both teams struggled with ball security last season. Each turned it over on 18.8% of possessions, Little Rock ranking 304th and SE Louisiana 305th. Both also forced plenty: SE Louisiana ranked 55th in forced turnover rate and Little Rock 69th.

For Little Rock, that profile came from a roster that has since left. For a team playing together for the first time in a regular-season game, though, holding onto the ball against an SE Louisiana defense built on steals is a real test. Early giveaways could matter more than shooting in a game with few possessions.

What to watch

• Ford's rotation: which of the 14 newcomers start, and whether freshmen such as Jonas Thurman, Micah Moore or Jakari Smith play right away.
• Burgess's role: the one returning Trojan becomes the bridge between eras.
• SE Louisiana's three-point volume: a team that shot this poorly from deep may need to attack the rim and draw fouls.
• The line: none has been posted, so the first number will show how the market values a roster it hasn't seen yet.