Warren Wilson vs North Carolina A&T prediction: North Carolina A&T opens against Warren Wilson leaning on free throws
The Aggies' season opener against a non-Division I visitor is a first look at whether a foul-line offense can carry a rebuilt rotation.
- North Carolina A&T should control a home opener against a non-Division I visitor; the real question is how its newcomers fit together.
- Watch A&T's attacks downhill: last season it ranked 3rd nationally in free throw rate, drawing fouls at an elite clip.
- No spread or total is posted yet; A&T's last-season pace of 69.2 possessions per 40 minutes hints at the game's shape.
A first look in Greensboro
North Carolina A&T opens its 2026-27 season on Tuesday, Nov. 3, at Corbett Sports Center, and the opponent matters less than what the Aggies reveal about themselves. Warren Wilson is not a Division I program, so this is a tuneup in the truest sense.
Monté Ross is listed as entering his fourth season, and he needs a step forward. A&T went 11-19 last season and finished 274th of 365 in adjusted net efficiency (points per 100 possessions, adjusted for opponents).
The foul line as identity
The Aggies' clearest strength last season was getting to the line. Their free throw rate, free throw attempts per field goal attempt, was 45.1%, 3rd in the country. That came from an offense that rarely shot from deep: A&T ranked 323rd in 3-point attempt rate.
The catch was conversion. A&T made 71.6% of its free throws, 220th nationally, so all those trips left points behind. Against a smaller-program opponent, aggressive drives should produce plenty of attempts again.
What has to get cleaner
Last season's problems were possessions and perimeter defense. A&T turned it over on 18.5% of its trips, 292nd nationally, and forced turnovers at a rate that ranked 338th. Opponents shot 36.4% from three against the Aggies, 339th in the country.
The defensive glass was a bright spot, ranking 88th in defensive rebound rate. A low-stakes opener is the place to see whether the perimeter coverage improved.
New faces on both benches
A&T's roster adds transfers Shane Lancaster from Alcorn State, Ponce James from Delaware State and Matthew Webster from Georgia Southwestern, plus freshmen Saxton Simley, Vasileios Pourlidas and Rodney Westmoreland III. No starting lineup has been announced, which makes last season's team numbers only a rough guide.
Warren Wilson, coached by Chris Horton, last played in February, an 83-72 loss to Salisbury in the Coast-to-Coast Conference tournament quarterfinals. Its roster includes senior Marcus Andrews, junior Khanye Bland and freshman Isaac Allen.
Numbers that matter
| Free throw rate, last season | 45.1% | A&T ranked 3rd nationally in getting to the line, its defining offensive trait. |
|---|---|---|
| Turnover rate, last season | 18.5% | Ranked 292nd, ball security was a persistent leak in A&T's offense. |
| Opponent 3-point %, last season | 36.4% | Ranked 339th, the perimeter defense is the top item to watch for improvement. |
| Adjusted net efficiency rank, last season | 274th | A&T's final standing last season sets a low bar for the rebuilt roster to clear. |
Warren Wilson vs North Carolina A&T: quick answers
When is Warren Wilson vs North Carolina A&T?
Tuesday, November 3, 2026 at 7:00 PM ET.