UT Dallas vs Tarleton State prediction: Caleb Blackwell leads a nearly new Tarleton State against UT Dallas
With a first-year coach and a roster built from the portal, Tarleton's game against UT Dallas is a first look at a team that last season can barely explain.
- We hold no Division I data on UT Dallas, so the real interest is how Eric Haut's rebuilt rotation fits together.
- Watch the Tarleton backcourt: Preseason All-UAC guard Caleb Blackwell alongside Texas State transfer Franck Emmou, a 42% three-point shooter last season.
- No spread or total has been posted. Tarleton returns just 16.4% of last season's minutes, so last season's numbers say little.
A program starting over
Tarleton State enters its first UAC season with almost nothing left from the team that went 14-18 last season. Billy Gillispie is gone, and Eric Haut is in his first year in charge. Of the 16 players on his roster, four are back, 11 came through the transfer portal and one is a 2026 high school graduate.
The returners played only 16.4% of last season's minutes. That makes last season's identity a weak guide. Gillispie's team forced turnovers on 24.4% of possessions, 2nd of 365 in Division I, and shot threes less often than any team in the country. Leroy Kelly IV, who averaged 2.0 steals last season, is one of the few links to that pressure style. The biggest loss is Dior Johnson, who scored 24.0 points per game before leaving for UCF.
Portal guards with range
The transfers point toward a team that can shoot. Caleb Blackwell, named Preseason All-UAC on Oct. 28, averaged 10.6 points at UTEP last season and made 36.4% of his threes on 132 attempts. Franck Emmou shot 42% from deep and 87.2% at the line at Texas State.
Isaac Harrell brings efficiency from Elon, where his offensive rating (points produced per 100 possessions used) was 127.5 last season. JaVar Daniel adds rim protection after blocking 1.8 shots per game at West Georgia. How quickly that group finds roles is the main question for this game.
An opponent and a status in question
UT Dallas is not a Division I team in our data, and no 2026-27 roster or coaching news has surfaced for the Comets. The status of the game is also unsettled. Tarleton's schedule lists it as a regular-season contest, while UT Dallas lists it as an exhibition at Tarleton State. Tipoff in Stephenville is set for 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Nov. 10, one of two Tarleton home games before Alcorn State visits. No injury or eligibility news had surfaced for either team as of Oct. 31.
Key players
- Caleb Blackwell (Tarleton State): The Preseason All-UAC pick averaged 10.6 points and shot 36.4% from three at UTEP last season.
- Franck Emmou (Tarleton State): He made 42% of his threes and 87.2% of his free throws at Texas State last season.
- Isaac Harrell (Tarleton State): He posted a 127.5 offensive rating in 32 games at Elon last season.
- Leroy Kelly IV (Tarleton State): One of four returners, he started 20 games and averaged 2.0 steals last season.
Numbers that matter
| Returning minutes | 16.4% | Tarleton's roster played only this share of last season's minutes, so last season's team stats are a weak guide. |
|---|---|---|
| Forced turnover rate, last season | 24.4% | Gillispie's defense ranked 2nd of 365 at forcing turnovers, a style the new staff may or may not keep. |
| Blackwell 3-point %, last season | 36.4% | The Preseason All-UAC guard hit at that rate on 132 attempts at UTEP. |
| Dior Johnson scoring, last season | 24.0 | Points per game that left with Johnson's move to UCF. |
UT Dallas vs Tarleton State: quick answers
When is UT Dallas vs Tarleton State?
Tuesday, November 10, 2026 at 8:00 PM ET.