Harvard vs Chicago prediction: Harvard returns to UChicago, 75 years later, for a rare D-III date
A veteran Crimson team that won with patience and defense last season opens its road slate at a Division III power that reached the national quarterfinals.
- Expect Harvard's deliberate, defense-first style to set the terms against a Division III opponent on its home floor.
- Freshman Jason Singleton, who scored 23 in the UMass exhibition, against a UChicago backcourt we know nothing about.
- No line is posted yet; Harvard played at the 347th-fastest pace of 365 last season, a low-possession habit.
A rematch 75 years in the making
The first time Harvard and Chicago played, in 1951, the Crimson won. Their second meeting comes Sunday, Nov. 8, at Ratner Athletics Center, and it counts as an official Division I game for Harvard. It is just the 15th time since 2000 that a Division III school has hosted a Division I program in the regular season.
UChicago is no ordinary host. Mike McGrath, entering his 28th season, took the Maroons to the D-III national quarterfinals last March after a 72-48 opening-round win over Penn State Behrend. McGrath was also named to the NCAA D-III men's basketball committee this summer. Nothing has surfaced about this season's Chicago roster.
Harvard's slow, steady formula
Tommy Amaker, entering what the school calls his 20th season, built last season's 17-12 team around defense and patience. Harvard ranked 25th in Division I in points allowed per game and 63rd in defensive efficiency (points allowed per 100 possessions). It also played slowly, 347th of 365 in pace.
The Crimson rarely sent opponents to the line, ranking 26th in opponent free throw rate, and made its own free throws at a 79.9% clip, best in the country. That combination tends to squeeze games against teams with less size; Harvard's minutes-weighted height sits at 76.9 inches. Last season's numbers carry more weight than usual here, because four of five starters are back.
New faces and an open question
The returning core includes All-Ivy selections Robert Hinton and Thomas Batties II, with Batties sharing captain duties with Xavier Nesbitt. Harvard was picked second in the Ivy preseason poll, with seven first-place votes.
Freshman combo guard Jason Singleton made the loudest early impression, scoring 23 in an 82-74 exhibition loss to UMass on Oct. 23, when a late Harvard run cut the gap to 70-67 before UMass pulled away. Fellow freshman Preston Merrick projects as an off-ball runner.
One question lingers: Austin Hunt's health, since a healthy Hunt could make a big difference for the Crimson.
Key players
- Jason Singleton (Harvard): Led Harvard with 23 points in the Oct. 23 exhibition against UMass.
- Thomas Batties II (Harvard): One of four returning starters from last season's 17-12 team.
- Robert Hinton (Harvard): A returning starter for a team picked second in the Ivy preseason poll with seven first-place votes.
Numbers that matter
| Harvard pace, last season | 347th | One of the slowest teams in Division I, which keeps possession counts low. |
|---|---|---|
| Harvard free throw %, last season | 79.9% | Ranked 1st of 365, a weapon if the game stays tight late. |
| Harvard points allowed per game, last season | 66.7 | Ranked 25th nationally, the backbone of Amaker's approach. |
| D-III hosts of D-I since 2000 | 15th | This game is one of the rarest regular-season matchups on the calendar. |
Harvard vs Chicago: quick answers
When is Harvard vs Chicago?
Sunday, November 8, 2026 at 1:00 PM ET.