College Basketball · Big Sky · 2026-27
Southern Utah Thunderbirds
Preseason · Coach Rob Jeter
Preseason Power Rankings
#260▲11
Who is best right now.
-9.4points per 100 possessions vs an average D-I team
Last week: -9.4 (#271)
Full Power Rankings → Compare to another teamRating breakdown
Adjusted for every opponent and home court. Power = offense minus defense.
Projected record
14-18
- Conference record
- 9-11
- Conference title
- 1%
- Outright title
- 1%
- Luck
- 0.0
Actual results so far plus the rest of the seasonplayed out 10,000 times with the win chance for each game (non-Division I opponents count as 97% wins). The title is the regular-season crown; conference tournaments aren't included. Later rounds of holiday tournaments are added once the opponent is known.
Why #271 in the preseason
What the computer saw going in
- →Last season: #262 in the country (-9.0), 10-22.
- →24% of last season's minutes are back.
- →1 transfer in, led by JaJuan Nicholls (Tennessee Tech, 11.2 ppg). Transfers moving up a level are counted cautiously.
- →1 ranked freshman: Dezhon Hall (#310).
- →Lost Tanner Hayhurst (10.3 ppg, now at Western Michigan), Elijah Duval (15.3 ppg, now at UAB), Isaiah Cottrell (8.8 ppg).
Teams like Southern Utah
The closest matches across all 365 Division I teams, based on the current ratings.
This season
Everyone who has played, most minutes first: per-game numbers from the box scores, updated after every game.
| Player | G · GS | Min | Pts | Reb | Ast | FG% | 3P% | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rashaad DavisG · Freshman | 3 · 0 | 16.0 | 6.0 | 2.0 | 4.3 | 50.0 (7-14) | 20.0 (1-5) | 60.0 (3-5) |
| Jaiden FeroahF · Senior · #483 ranked | 3 · 3 | 14.7 | 9.0 | 4.7 | 1.3 | 78.6 (11-14) | 57.1 (4-7) | 50.0 (1-2) |
| DJ SmithF · Freshman | 3 · 0 | 14.3 | 9.7 | 7.0 | 2.0 | 65.0 (13-20) | 33.3 (1-3) | 100.0 (2-2) |
| Juok RiakF · Junior | 3 · 0 | 14.0 | 6.3 | 5.0 | 2.3 | 42.1 (8-19) | 33.3 (1-3) | 66.7 (2-3) |
| Anthony BrelandG · Sophomore | 3 · 0 | 13.7 | 15.7 | 3.7 | 3.0 | 58.6 (17-29) | 50.0 (8-16) | 62.5 (5-8) |
| Dezhon HallG · Freshman · #3682 ranked | 3 · 0 | 13.7 | 12.7 | 3.7 | 1.3 | 66.7 (12-18) | 50.0 (1-2) | 86.7 (13-15) |
| Chase DegraffenriedG · Sophomore | 3 · 3 | 13.7 | 6.7 | 4.0 | 2.0 | 42.9 (6-14) | 44.4 (4-9) | 100.0 (4-4) |
| Brayden JohnsonG · Junior · #2907 ranked | 3 · 0 | 13.7 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 16.7 (1-6) | 25.0 (1-4) | 100.0 (2-2) |
| JaJuan NichollsF · Junior · #776 ranked | 3 · 3 | 13.3 | 14.0 | 5.0 | 1.3 | 85.7 (18-21) | — (0-0) | 66.7 (6-9) |
| Jordan BrownG · Sophomore | 3 · 0 | 13.3 | 8.3 | 4.0 | 3.3 | 42.9 (9-21) | 30.8 (4-13) | 100.0 (3-3) |
| Zeplin KiddG · Sophomore · #2897 ranked | 3 · 0 | 13.3 | 1.0 | 3.7 | 0.7 | 20.0 (1-5) | 33.3 (1-3) | — (0-0) |
| Dylan SandersG · Junior | 3 · 3 | 12.7 | 8.7 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 52.6 (10-19) | 36.4 (4-11) | 100.0 (2-2) |
| Cale BarclayF · Sophomore · #2443 ranked | 3 · 3 | 12.0 | 8.7 | 3.7 | 4.3 | 91.7 (11-12) | 0.0 (0-1) | 80.0 (4-5) |
| Jalik NichollsF · Sophomore | 3 · 0 | 11.0 | 8.3 | 2.7 | 2.0 | 62.5 (10-16) | 50.0 (4-8) | 50.0 (1-2) |
| Mikhail ProtsenkoC · Freshman | 3 · 0 | 10.7 | 8.0 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 100.0 (11-11) | — (0-0) | 50.0 (2-4) |
Projected rotation
The preseason model's minutes projection for each player with a track record (college stats or a recruiting rank), most minutes first. Players without one aren't projected here; This season above lists everyone who has played.
| Player | How he got here | Proj. min | Last season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jaiden FeroahF · Senior |  Returning | 30 | 13.5 pts · 6.7 reb · 1.8 ast |
| JaJuan NichollsF · Junior |  Transfer from Tennessee Tech | 19 | 11.2 pts · 5.3 reb · 0.4 ast |
| Cale BarclayF · Sophomore | Returning | 16 | 4.6 pts · 2.8 reb · 1 ast |
| Dezhon HallG · Freshman | Freshman · #310 recruit | 8 | — |
| Zeplin KiddG · Sophomore | Returning | 6 | 1.1 pts · 1.2 reb · 0.2 ast |
| Brayden JohnsonG · Junior | Returning | 6 | 0.8 pts · 0.2 reb · 0.7 ast |
Gone from last season: Tanner Hayhurst (10.3 ppg, to 
Western Michigan), Elijah Duval (15.3 ppg, to 
UAB), Isaiah Cottrell (8.8 ppg), Dylan Jones (8.1 ppg), Zach Bell (7 ppg), Jalen Lee (5.5 ppg)
Roster
Everyone on this season's roster, with this season's numbers for anyone who has played. Names link to player pages, ranked players first.
| # | Player | How he got here | Pos | Class | Ht / Wt | Hometown | This season | Last season | Rank · Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | Jaiden Feroah | Returning | F | Senior | 6-9 · 214 | Draper, UT | 9.0 pts · 4.7 reb · 1.3 ast (3 G) | 13.5 pts · 6.7 reb · 1.8 ast (32 G) | #483 · +0.89 |
| 7 | JaJuan Nicholls | Transfer from Tennessee Tech | F | Junior | 6-9 · 220 | Scranton, PA | 14.0 pts · 5.0 reb · 1.3 ast (3 G) | 11.2 pts · 5.3 reb · 0.4 ast (31 G) | #776 · +0.58 |
| 24 | Cale Barclay | Returning | F | Sophomore | 6-8 | Herriman, UT | 8.7 pts · 3.7 reb · 4.3 ast (3 G) | 4.6 pts · 2.8 reb · 1.0 ast (31 G) | #2443 · -0.28 |
| 4 | Zeplin Kidd | Returning | G | Sophomore | 6-7 | Atlanta, GA | 1.0 pts · 3.7 reb · 0.7 ast (3 G) | 1.1 pts · 1.2 reb · 0.2 ast (13 G) | #2897 · -0.45 |
| 0 | Brayden Johnson | Returning | G | Junior | 6-1 | Tulsa, OK | 1.7 pts · 1.7 reb · 1.3 ast (3 G) | 0.8 pts · 0.2 reb · 0.7 ast (13 G) | #2907 · -0.45 |
| 2 | Dezhon Hall | Freshman | G | Freshman | 6-3 | Fishers, IN | 12.7 pts · 3.7 reb · 1.3 ast (3 G) | — | #3682 · -0.79 |
| 6 | DJ Smith | Freshman | F | Freshman | 6-10 | Dallas, TX | 9.7 pts · 7.0 reb · 2.0 ast (3 G) | — | Not ranked yet |
| 32 | Mikhail Protsenko | Freshman | C | Freshman | 7-1 | Belgorod, Russia | 8.0 pts · 2.0 reb · 0.3 ast (3 G) | — | Not ranked yet |
| 3 | Rashaad Davis | Freshman | G | Freshman | 5-10 | Milwaukee, WI | 6.0 pts · 2.0 reb · 4.3 ast (3 G) | — | Not ranked yet |
| 22 | Anthony Breland | New to Division I | G | Sophomore | 6-2 · 190 | Newton, NC | 15.7 pts · 3.7 reb · 3.0 ast (3 G) | — | Not ranked yet |
| 33 | Chase Degraffenried | New to Division I | G | Sophomore | 6-4 | Salem, UT | 6.7 pts · 4.0 reb · 2.0 ast (3 G) | — | Not ranked yet |
| 1 | Jalik Nicholls | New to Division I | F | Sophomore | 6-6 | Scranton, PA | 8.3 pts · 2.7 reb · 2.0 ast (3 G) | — | Not ranked yet |
| 10 | Jordan Brown |  Transfer from UNC Greensboro | G | Sophomore | 6-1 · 200 | Atlanta, GA | 8.3 pts · 4.0 reb · 3.3 ast (3 G) | — | Not ranked yet |
| 5 | Dylan Sanders | New to Division I | G | Junior | 6-4 | Aurora, CO | 8.7 pts · 0.7 reb · 1.0 ast (3 G) | — | Not ranked yet |
| 11 | Juok Riak | Returning | F | Junior | 6-8 | Madison, WI | 6.3 pts · 5.0 reb · 2.3 ast (3 G) | — | Not ranked yet |
Schedule
Projected scores and win chances come from the current ratings and update every morning.
| Nov 2 | vsWest Coast Baptist(non-D1) | W134-69Box score → |
| Nov 5 | vsGrace University(non-D1) | W97-53Box score → |
| Nov 7 | vsBethesda University(non-D1) | W143-49Box score → |
| Still to play · computer projections | ||
| Nov 12 |  atHigh Point | Projected 66-86SUU: 4% to winSouthern Utah: 4% to win Compare |
| Nov 14 |  atWake Forest | Projected 68-84SUU: 9% to winSouthern Utah: 9% to win Compare |
| Nov 19 |  at#14Texas | Projected 64-94SUU: 1% to winSouthern Utah: 1% to win Compare |
| Nov 23 |  vs (N)Arkansas StateFlorida International MTE | Projected 76-82SUU: 32% to winSouthern Utah: 32% to win Compare |
| Nov 24 |  atFlorida InternationalFlorida International MTE | Projected 75-83SUU: 25% to winSouthern Utah: 25% to win Compare |
| Nov 25 |  vs (N)Long Beach StateFlorida International MTE | Projected 74-77SUU: 43% to winSouthern Utah: 43% to win Compare |
| Dec 3 |  vsIdaho StateConference | Projected 81-71SUU: 82% to winSouthern Utah: 82% to win Compare |
| Dec 5 |  vsWeber StateConference | Projected 84-77SUU: 73% to winSouthern Utah: 73% to win Compare |
| Dec 8 |  atWashington | Projected 69-87SUU: 6% to winSouthern Utah: 6% to win Compare |
| Dec 12 |  atSan José State | Projected 75-83SUU: 25% to winSouthern Utah: 25% to win Compare |
| Dec 22 |  atUtah | Projected 68-81SUU: 13% to winSouthern Utah: 13% to win Compare |
| Dec 31 |  atEastern WashingtonConference | Projected 75-80SUU: 33% to winSouthern Utah: 33% to win Compare |
| Jan 2 |  atIdahoConference | Projected 72-79SUU: 30% to winSouthern Utah: 30% to win Compare |
| Jan 7 |  vsNorthern ColoradoConference | Projected 77-78SUU: 46% to winSouthern Utah: 46% to win Compare |
| Jan 9 |  vsPortland StateConference | Projected 75-74SUU: 53% to winSouthern Utah: 53% to win Compare |
| Jan 16 |  atUtah TechConference | Projected 74-79SUU: 34% to winSouthern Utah: 34% to win Compare |
| Jan 18 |  vsMontana StateConference | Projected 74-80SUU: 28% to winSouthern Utah: 28% to win Compare |
| Jan 25 |  atMontanaConference | Projected 75-79SUU: 37% to winSouthern Utah: 37% to win Compare |
| Jan 28 | atWeber StateConference | Projected 82-81SUU: 51% to winSouthern Utah: 51% to win Compare |
| Jan 30 | atIdaho StateConference | Projected 78-74SUU: 64% to winSouthern Utah: 64% to win Compare |
| Feb 4 | vsIdahoConference | Projected 76-75SUU: 51% to winSouthern Utah: 51% to win Compare |
| Feb 6 | vsEastern WashingtonConference | Projected 78-77SUU: 54% to winSouthern Utah: 54% to win Compare |
| Feb 8 |  atNorthern ArizonaConference | Projected 76-77SUU: 50% to winSouthern Utah: 50% to win Compare |
| Feb 13 | vsUtah TechConference | Projected 78-76SUU: 56% to winSouthern Utah: 56% to win Compare |
| Feb 18 | atPortland StateConference | Projected 72-77SUU: 31% to winSouthern Utah: 31% to win Compare |
| Feb 20 | atNorthern ColoradoConference | Projected 74-81SUU: 26% to winSouthern Utah: 26% to win Compare |
| Feb 22 | atMontana StateConference | Projected 71-84SUU: 13% to winSouthern Utah: 13% to win Compare |
| Feb 27 | vsNorthern ArizonaConference | Projected 79-73SUU: 70% to winSouthern Utah: 70% to win Compare |
| Mar 1 | vsMontanaConference | Projected 78-76SUU: 59% to winSouthern Utah: 59% to win Compare |
Big Sky standings
| # | Team | Conf | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southern Utah | 0-0 | 3-0 |
| 2 | Montana State | 0-0 | 1-1 |
| 3 | Northern Colorado | 0-0 | 1-1 |
| 4 | Idaho | 0-0 | 1-1 |
| 5 | Portland State | 0-0 | 1-1 |
| 6 | Utah Tech | 0-0 | 1-1 |
| 7 | Montana | 0-0 | 1-1 |
| 8 | Eastern Washington | 0-0 | 0-2 |
| 9 | Northern Arizona | 0-0 | 0-2 |
| 10 | Weber State | 0-0 | 0-2 |
| 11 | Idaho State | 0-0 | 0-2 |
No games yet: Power Rankings order until the season tips off.
All conference standings →