#13 Kyler Theophile dunks the ball, Oct. 11, 2026 at VyStar Arena. Photo courtesy of KSU Athletics
Kennesaw State men’s basketball is looking to live up to the standards it has set this season.
In Year 2 as a member of Conference USA, the Owls secured their first championship in the conference and second appearance in the Division I NCAA Tournament in four seasons.
The 2025-26 team finished with an overall record of 21-14 and 10-10 among CUSA competition.
Despite finishing tied for sixth in the conference standings, the team got hot at the right time and took down Western Kentucky, Sam Houston and finally Louisiana Tech in the title game.
The Owls were picked to finish second in the CUSA preseason poll, receiving three first-place votes, and despite losing three of the team’s starters from a year ago, coach Antoine Pettway is optimistic about where his team is at.
“They’re a connected group already,” he said. “They love each other, they fight for each other, and I think that’s half the battle. We’re excited to start the season Nov. 2.”
Two of last season’s starters, R.J. Johnson and Braedan Lue, both averaging 10.9 points per game, took their talents to the Southeastern Conference. Johnson went to Mississippi State and Lue transferred to Tennessee.
The only returning starters for the Owls are forwards Amir Taylor and Trey Simpson, both of whom earned preseason all-conference honors.
“I’m really excited to be a leader,” Taylor said. “I feel like my game matured in a lot of ways, mainly defensively. I want to take more pride in defense, and then my offense is always gonna be there.”
The Owls will have 11 newcomers this season and six freshmen, including Kyler Theophile, who had 14 points and shot 6-for-7 in the exhibition game against Mercer.
When Simpson, Avery Thomas II and Taylor were asked what player on the team fans should look out for this year, they all had the same answer-Theophile.
The Owls were fortunate enough to grab three players from conference foes- Thomas II came from Louisiana Tech, CJ Beaumont played at Sam Houston, and Jacoby Hill transferred in from archrival Jacksonville State .
“In the transfer portal, you never truly know what you’re getting,” Pettway said. “But I think we had the best guess at it because we played against these guys and we scouted these guys. They’ve done a great job coming in and buying in.”
Also included among the newcomers is Cobb County product Zyree Brown, who helped lead Pebblebrook to the Class AAAAAA state championship last season.
The Owls’ non-conference schedule features a trip to Tampa to take on South Florida in the second edition of the “Love Wins Classic,” which serves as a tribute to the late Amir Abdur-Rahim who coached at both programs and passed away shortly before the 2024-25 season.
Non-conference play also features a multi-team event held in Cancun, where the Owls will first take on SE Louisiana at home and then travel to Mexico to play Eastern Michigan over Thanksgiving week, as well as a trip to Tuscaloosa to play Alabama on Nov. 17.
KSU’s season is set to get underway at VyStar Arena on Nov. 2 at 7p.m.
