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The Game
Stonehill College men's basketball opens a new era tonight as it visits Big East member University of Connecticut to tip off its inaugural season at the NCAA Division I level at the XC Center. The Skyhawks were a charter member of the Northeast-10 Conference, which opened play in 1980, while UConn is in its third season back in the Big East after an eight year hiatus as a charter member since 1979.

Media Information
Tonight's game is being broadcast live through the Fox Sports App, with opening night coverage also being shown throughout the evening on FoxSports 1. John Fanta (PBP) and Donny Marshall (analyst) have the call of the action for FoxSports. The game is also being broadcast live via the UConn Learfield Sports Network and Sirius with Mike Crispini (PBP) and Wayne Norman (analyst) calling the action.

Against the Huskies
Tonight marks the first ever meeting between Stonehill and UConn.

In Transition
Stonehill announced it had accepted an invitation to join the Northeast Conference and commence a four-year transition to full NCAA Division I membership on April 5. The Skyhawks started their four-year transition on July 1 and will earn full NCAA Division I membership in 2026-27. At the June NEC meetings, the Conference presidents announced a shift in the waiting period for automatic qualifier sports from competing for NEC postseason championships from four to two years, making Stonehill eligible to compete in the NEC postseason starting in 2024-25.

Proud History
Stonehill won the Northeast-10 Presidents' Cup six times, finishing in the top three in the final standings 15 of the last 17 years. Stonehill was one of just ten institutions nationwide to receive the NCAA Division II Presidents' Award for Academic Achievement, recognizing athletic departments with an Academic Success rating of 90-percent or better, each of the first ten years of the program's existence. The College ranks No. 98 in the category of National Liberal Arts Schools by U.S. News & World Report and No. 94 for the Best Value category.

Hoop History
Stonehill men's basketball earned 15 NCAA Division II Tournament bids over its history, the last was halted by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Stonehill were charter members of the Northeast-10 Conference, winning the first two tournament championships in 1981 and '82, finishing its time in the Conference with four postseason titles and six regular season championships.

Preseason Prognostications
Stonehill was picked to finish ninth in its first Northeast Conference season by the league's head coaches. Merrimack received six of the eight first place votes to hold the pole position atop the preseason poll, followed by Sacred Heart with two first place votes. Saint Francis (Pa.) follows in third, while Wagner is picked fourth and received the final first place vote.  

Tough Slate
Stonehill has assembled a tough non-conference slate in its inaugural Division I season, featuring opponents from the Big East  (2 - UConn, Providence), ACC (1 - BC), Missouri Valley (3 - UIC, Bradley, Valpo), Patriot League (2 - Army, Holy Cross), America East (2 - UMass Lowell, Binghamton), MAAC (2 - Quinnipiac, Rider), A-10 (1 - Fordham) leading up to its inaugural NEC slate around the New Year. 12 of the Skyhawks 15 non-conference games will also be played on the road.  

Inside the Roster
Stonehill head coach Chris Kraus '06 returns ten letterwinners, including three starters from his 2021-22 team that finished 15-12, including 10-9 in the NE10, reaching the Conference quarterfinals.
Stonehill's inaugural Division I roster includes:
• Four fifth-year players
• Three new transfers, including two postgrad transfers
• Two Division I transfers, including fifth-year returnee Isaiah Burnett (Navy) and newcomer Thatcher Stone (William & Mary)
• No seniors, three juniors, three sophomores and two freshmen.

For Starters
November 7 marks the earliest season-opener in program history for Stonehill. The Skyhawks previous earliest opener was November 9 against District of Columbia (W 61-55) in 2019.

Opening Night Streak
Stonehill has won its last three season openers dating back to an 86-83 overtime setback to Dominican College at Merkert Gym on November 10, 2017. The Skyhawks have won 10 of its last 11 season-opening games dating back to the 2009-10 season.

UConn Tie
Stonehill fifth-year guard Shamir Johnson (Waterbury, Conn.) is the godson of former UConn guard E.J. Harrison, who played on the Huskies' 1999 National Championship winning team.

Getting Social
Fans and media members of Stonehill athletics have multiple social media outlets to get updates on all 23 varsity programs. The department's Facebook page is www.facebook.com/stonehillskyhawks, and you can also follow @GoStonehill on Twitter and @stonehillskyhawks via Instagram! You can also search for Stonehill men's basketball on Facebook, follow the team's Twitter account via @StonehillBball as well as head coach Chris Kraus @CoachChrisKraus, and its new Instagram feed @stonehillbball.

Up Next
Stonehill is back in action on Thursday, when it hosts Quinnipiac University in its first Division I home game at Merkert Gymnasium on Thursday at 7 p.m.