Curry College vs Stonehill prediction: Stonehill opens its first postseason-eligible season against Curry
Kraus's Skyhawks bring a defence that held up well last season into a home opener against a Division III visitor, with an offence that still has to prove itself.
- Stonehill should control a slow, defence-first game at Merkert Gymnasium; the margin depends on whether its offence looks better than last season's.
- Watch Stonehill's ball security: last season's 20.0% turnover rate ranked 347th of 365, the clearest weakness to fix early.
- No spread or total had been posted as of Oct. 14; last season's 64.2 possessions per 40 minutes points toward a low-possession game.
A new kind of opener
This one counts differently for Stonehill. The Skyhawks' four-year move up from Division II kept them out of NCAA postseason play until this season, so the Nov. 2 opener against Curry College starts the first campaign in which an NEC title can lead somewhere. Chris Kraus is entering his 13th season in charge.
Curry is not a Division I team we hold data for, so this preview rests on Stonehill alone.
The defence is the foundation
Last season Stonehill finished 12-21, but the record hid a real defence. The Skyhawks allowed 105.2 points per 100 possessions, 98th nationally. Opponents posted a 47.2% effective field goal percentage, a shooting measure where threes count 1.5 times, and that ranked 31st of 365.
The interior was the strength. Opponents made 46.0% of their twos, 21st in the country, and Stonehill grabbed 73.8% of available defensive rebounds, also 31st.
The offence is the question
The other end was the problem. Stonehill scored 102.0 points per 100 possessions last season, 331st nationally, and its opponent-adjusted offensive rating finished 361st of 365. Turnovers did the most damage: the Skyhawks gave the ball away on 20.0% of possessions, 347th.
Those figures describe last season's team, and the roster carried into this one may differ. An opponent outside our Division I data offers a place to see whether the ball security has improved.
The tempo should be familiar. Stonehill played at 64.2 possessions per 40 minutes last season, 336th in the country, so expect a deliberate game with limited possessions for either side.
Numbers that matter
| Opponent 2-point % (last season) | 46.0% | Ranked 21st nationally, the core of a Stonehill defence that protected the paint. |
|---|---|---|
| Opponent eFG% (last season) | 47.2% | 31st of 365, showing how hard Stonehill made scoring last season. |
| Turnover rate (last season) | 20.0% | Ranked 347th, the biggest drag on an offence that finished 331st in efficiency. |
| Pace (last season) | 64.2 | Possessions per 40 minutes, 336th nationally, signalling a slow, grinding game shape. |
Curry College vs Stonehill: quick answers
When is Curry College vs Stonehill?
Monday, November 2, 2026 at 7:00 PM ET.