Simpson College (IA) vs Western Illinois prediction: Western Illinois opens its rebuild at home against Simpson
With little of last season's roster back, the Leathernecks' home opener against a Division III visitor is a first look at who Chad Boudreau has built around.
- Western Illinois should control a Division III opponent at home. The real interest is which unfamiliar players earn the minutes.
- Watch Makai Kvamme, the returning guard who started 24 games last season, running an offense that needs a steadier hand.
- No line is posted yet. The number that matters most is Western Illinois returning just 16.8% of last season's minutes.
A program starting over
Western Illinois went 5-26 last season and finished 364th of 365 in adjusted net efficiency. That measure is points scored minus points allowed per 100 possessions, adjusted for opponents. Boudreau enters his fourth season in Macomb, and the OVC preseason poll picked the Leathernecks ninth of nine.
Those numbers describe a team that mostly no longer exists. Only 16.8% of last season's minutes return, so last season's profile is a weak guide to this group. The roster is built largely around players stepping up from lower levels of college basketball. Only 16.8% of last season's minutes return, which is the clearest sign of how many players are new.
Who is left to score
The losses start with Lucas Lorenzen, who averaged 14.7 points and scored 24 in a February win over Eastern Illinois. Last season's offense ranked 358th in efficiency. Its effective field goal percentage, which counts threes as 1.5 makes, ranked 360th.
Kvamme is the steadiest holdover, averaging 25.3 minutes and 2.7 assists last season. Danny Stephens brings more of a scoring role, with a 20.9% usage rate, but he was hurt on and off last season. Forward Jack Riley, who is 6-foot-7, is coming back from an injury that kept him out of 2025-26. No current status has been reported for either player.
Simpson and the schedule
Simpson, coached by third-year coach Kyle Jones, went 9-16 last season and has no seniors on its roster. The Storm open Nov. 7 at home against Knox, two days before this trip.
Western Illinois opens its season Nov. 2 at Valparaiso, a week before this game. Against Simpson, the useful signs will be ball movement and free throws. Last season's team ranked last nationally in assist rate and 351st in free throw percentage, at 66.5%.
Key players
- Makai Kvamme (Western Illinois): He started 24 of 31 games last season and averaged 1.2 steals, though he shot 17.2% from three.
- Danny Stephens (Western Illinois): Injuries limited him to 15 games last season, when he averaged 5.5 points with a 20.9% usage rate.
Numbers that matter
| Returning minutes | 16.8% | Western Illinois brings back very little of last season's playing time, so last season's team stats say little about this group. |
|---|---|---|
| Last season's adjusted net rank | 364th | Only one Division I team rated worse at the end of 2025-26. |
| Last season's assist rate rank | 365th | The Leathernecks ranked last nationally in assists per made basket. |
| Simpson's 2025-26 record | 9-16 | The Storm return a roster with no seniors under a third-year coach. |
Simpson College (IA) vs Western Illinois: quick answers
When is Simpson College (IA) vs Western Illinois?
Monday, November 9, 2026 at 7:00 PM ET.