West Coast Baptist vs Southern Utah prediction: Southern Utah opens its Big Sky era with a mostly new roster
The Thunderbirds return under a quarter of last season's minutes, so a game against NCCAA West Coast Baptist is mostly a first look at who plays with Jaiden Feroah.
- Southern Utah hosts a visitor we hold no Division I data for, so the real interest is in rotations and new pieces.
- Watch Jaiden Feroah alongside Tennessee Tech transfer JaJuan Nicholls in a reshaped frontcourt.
- No spread or total is posted. Last season Southern Utah played at a 71.8-possession pace, 20th fastest nationally.
A roster rebuilt nearly from scratch
Southern Utah went 10-22 last season and finished with an adjusted net efficiency (points per 100 possessions, adjusted for opponents) ranked 270th of 365. Those team numbers are a weak guide now. Players on this roster account for just 24.2% of last season's minutes, and the program moves into the Big Sky Conference after its WAC run ended in a tournament loss to UT Arlington.
Rob Jeter, who was in his third year as head coach in 2025-26, has to replace Elijah Duval, one of last season's main scorers. Elijah Duval averaged 15.3 points and carried a 33.1% usage rate, the share of possessions he finished. Tanner Hayhurst, who shot 46.1% from three, is also gone.
Feroah and Nicholls up front
The returning centerpiece is Jaiden Feroah, a forward who started all 32 games last season. He averaged 13.5 points and stretched defences at 41.5% from three.
JaJuan Nicholls arrives from Tennessee Tech, where he scored 11.2 points a game on 62.7% shooting without attempting a three. His offensive rating of 126.4 suggests an efficient finisher. How those two share the floor is the most useful thing this game can show.
Tempo and ball security
Last season the Thunderbirds pushed the pace, and they also gave the ball away. Their turnover rate of 19.7 per 100 possessions ranked 339th. With Elijah Duval and Tanner Hayhurst gone from the backcourt, a lower-level opponent offers a low-stakes test of whether that habit carries over.
West Coast Baptist competes in the NCCAA and the Southwestern States Intercollegiate Conference, and was coached by Joey Vara as of December 2025. We hold no statistics for the Eagles. The tip time had not been announced.
Key players
- Jaiden Feroah (Southern Utah): Averaged 13.5 points last season with a 62.3% effective field goal percentage.
- JaJuan Nicholls (Southern Utah): Shot 62.7% from the field at Tennessee Tech last season on a 26.8% usage rate.
- Cale Barclay (Southern Utah): Played 15.5 minutes a game last season but made 13.2% of his threes.
Numbers that matter
| Returning minutes | 24.2% | Most of last season's production is gone, so last season's team profile says little. |
|---|---|---|
| Last season's pace | 71.8 | Southern Utah ranked 20th in possessions per 40 minutes last season. |
| Last season's turnover rate | 19.7 | Ranked 339th of 365, the clearest weakness to watch with a new backcourt. |
| Feroah's three-point shooting | 41.5% | The top returner gives the frontcourt real floor spacing. |
West Coast Baptist vs Southern Utah: quick answers
When is West Coast Baptist vs Southern Utah?
Monday, November 2, 2026 at 12:00 AM ET.