Framingham State vs Dartmouth prediction: Brett MacConnell's first Leede Arena game brings Division III Framingham State
Dartmouth's home opener is less about the opponent than about what a new coach and six newcomers do with a guard spot nobody has claimed.
- Dartmouth should control a Division III opponent at home, with the game shaped by how its new guards handle the ball.
- Watch first-years CJ Aldrich III and Acen Jimenez running the point, the thinnest spot on the returning roster.
- No line is posted yet; last season Dartmouth took 49.1% of its shots from three, 21st-most in Division I.
A new coach's first home night
Dartmouth opens Leede Arena under a new coach, and the opponent is the least of its questions. Brett MacConnell, hired in March in his first head coaching job, replaced David McLaughlin, whose contract was not renewed. He arrives after one season as a Stanford assistant and 13 years at Princeton, the last stretch as associate head coach.
The Big Green host Framingham State on Wednesday, Nov. 4, after opening Monday at Marist. Ivy League media picked them eighth with 30 points, so the season ahead looks like a rebuild. A Division III visitor gives MacConnell a chance to try rotations before the schedule stiffens.
Who runs the offense
Dartmouth added four first-years (CJ Aldrich III, Acen Jimenez, Jake Pollack, Ernas Valauskas) and two transfers: Landon Williams, a redshirt sophomore from Niagara, and junior Dan Civello. MacConnell said the staff hopes Aldrich and Jimenez can handle the ball because the returning roster has little point guard depth. No starting lineup has been announced.
Ball security is the thread to follow. Last season's team turned it over on 17.6% of possessions, 246th in Division I, under a different staff.
Last season's shooting habit
Last season's numbers describe McLaughlin's team, so treat them as a loose guide. That group lived behind the arc, taking 49.1% of its shots from three and making 36.2%, 52nd nationally. The defense rarely created chaos: it forced turnovers on 14.0% of possessions, 344th. It finished 11-16 and ranked 265th in adjusted net efficiency (points per 100 possessions, adjusted for opponents).
Whether MacConnell keeps that shot diet is one of the first things this game can show.
Framingham State's step up
Framingham State plays Division III ball in the MASCAC. Its last known moment came in February, when Vondre Chase scored the go-ahead layup with six seconds left in an 87-86 tournament win over Bridgewater State. The Rams then lost in the semifinals to Worcester State. Little else is known about their 2026-27 roster, and nothing has surfaced on injuries for either side.
Numbers that matter
| Dartmouth 3-point attempt rate (last season) | 49.1% | Ranked 21st-most in Division I under the previous staff, a habit the new coach may or may not keep. |
|---|---|---|
| Dartmouth 3-point % (last season) | 36.2% | Ranked 52nd nationally, the strongest part of last season's offense. |
| Dartmouth forced turnover rate (last season) | 14.0% | Ranked 344th, a defense that rarely took the ball away. |
| Ivy League preseason poll | eighth | Media expect a rebuilding year in MacConnell's first season. |
Framingham State vs Dartmouth: quick answers
When is Framingham State vs Dartmouth?
Wednesday, November 4, 2026 at 6:30 PM ET.