Texas A&M-Kingsville vs UT Rio Grande Valley prediction: Brandon Chambers debuts at UTRGV against Division II Texas A&M-Kingsville
The Vaqueros open a new era against a Lone Star Conference opponent, and the real question is who UTRGV actually is now.
- UTRGV should control a Division II visitor at home; the opener matters most as a first look at Chambers' rebuilt rotation.
- Watch whether UTRGV's guards still shoot it from deep the way last season's team did, at 37.4% from three.
- No spread or total has been posted; last season's Vaqueros played at 67 possessions per 40 minutes, 214th nationally.
A new coach, a new roster
UTRGV opens the 2026-27 season at home on Monday, Nov. 2, with Brandon Chambers on the bench for the first time. The former NC State assistant was hired April 3 after Kahil Fennell left, inheriting a program coming off a 19-14 season and a school record for conference wins at 14-8 in the Southland.
How much of that team survives is the open question. Our roster data lists several of last season's guards on this year's roster, but a June report said only two players remain from last season's squad. Treat the roster picture as unsettled until the Vaqueros take the floor. Newcomers on the roster page include T'Johnn Brown from McNeese, Darius Carr from Midland and Josiah Hill from Tyler JC, plus freshmen Kaleb Corbitt and Ian Parham. No starting lineup has been confirmed.
What last season's Vaqueros did well
Last season's team was built on shot quality at both ends. UTRGV posted a 55.6% effective field goal percentage (a shooting mark that counts threes 1.5 times), 30th of 365, and held opponents to 30.3% from three, 22nd nationally.
The weak spots were possessions. The Vaqueros ranked 260th in turnover rate and 243rd in defensive rebounding last season. Against a Division II visitor, those leaks matter less than they will in Southland play, but they are the first thing a new staff tends to address. Last season's final adjusted net rating of 4.3 (points per 100 possessions, opponent-adjusted) ranked 124th, a useful baseline only if the core is really back.
The visitor from Kingsville
Texas A&M-Kingsville plays in Division II's Lone Star Conference under Omar Gonzalez, head coach since 2023-24. Its 2025-26 season ended with a Lone Star Conference tournament loss to DBU. The roster lists several first-year players, including Tyree Winston, Carter Shipman and Evan Egans, and no starters have been identified. The game is classified as an interdivisional matchup.
Key players
- Marvin McGhee III (UT Rio Grande Valley): Shot 43.3% from three on 180 attempts last season, with an offensive rating of 127.6.
- Koree Cotton (UT Rio Grande Valley): Led last season's returners at 13.9 points per game with a 27.3% usage rate.
- Jaylen Washington (UT Rio Grande Valley): Ran the offense last season with 4.2 assists per game on 52.7% shooting.
- Julien Gomez (UT Rio Grande Valley): Hit 43.7% of his threes last season in 22.5 minutes a night.
Numbers that matter
| 3-point % (last season) | 37.4% | Ranked 26th nationally and drove UTRGV's offense in 2025-26. |
|---|---|---|
| Opponent 3-point % (last season) | 30.3% | The perimeter defence ranked 22nd, the team's best trait last season. |
| Turnover rate rank (last season) | 260th | Ball security was the weak link a new staff inherits. |
| 2025-26 record | 19-14 | Included a school-record 14 Southland wins before the coaching change. |
Texas A&M-Kingsville vs UT Rio Grande Valley: quick answers
When is Texas A&M-Kingsville vs UT Rio Grande Valley?
Monday, November 2, 2026 at 8:30 PM ET.