The 2026–27 NCAA Division III basketball season tips off Nov. 6, bringing nationally ranked contenders, NCAA Tournament hopefuls and fresh starts to FloCollege.

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From a Gustavus Adolphus men's basketball team coming off a 27-win season to a UW-Whitewater women's program looking to build on another NCAA Tournament appearance, opening day offers plenty of reasons to tune in.

Here are five D3 basketball games to watch Friday, Nov. 6, on FloCollege.

Gustavus Adolphus vs. Transylvania Men's Basketball — Nov. 6, 4 PM ET

Two teams coming off 20-win seasons meet in one of the most intriguing matchups of opening day.

Gustavus Adolphus enters the 2026–27 season following a 27–3 campaign that saw the Gusties average 84.1 points per game while outscoring opponents by 17.6 points per contest.

The Gusties also averaged nearly 11 made 3-pointers per game, making their perimeter offense one to watch as the new season begins.

Transylvania brings plenty of experience winning games, too. The Pioneers finished 20–9 last season, averaging 74 points per contest.

With 47 combined wins between the programs last season, the matchup at the 42nd Annual Lopata Classic offers an early measuring stick for both teams.

UW-Whitewater vs. Benedictine (IL) Women's Basketball — Nov. 6, 2 PM ET

UW-Whitewater begins its new season after another trip to the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Tournament.

The Warhawks finished 20–9 in 2025–26, including a 70–65 NCAA Tournament victory over Transylvania before falling to nationally ranked UChicago in the second round.

But Benedictine (IL) won't be an easy opening opponent.

The Eagles went 17–9 last season and averaged 70.6 points per game, more than seven points above Whitewater's season scoring average.

Benedictine also made 7.5 3-pointers per game, creating an intriguing matchup against a Whitewater defense that allowed just 56.2 points per contest.

The teams meet at the 25th Annual McWilliams Classic, providing an immediate test for two programs coming off winning seasons.

Wheaton (IL) vs. La Verne Women's Basketball — Nov. 6, 3 PM ET

A cross-country matchup between Illinois and California brings two programs looking for a fresh start into the opening-day spotlight.

Wheaton College finished 12–15 last season, including a 7–9 record in College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin play.

The Thunder averaged 57.7 points per game but created opportunities defensively, recording 10.4 steals per contest.

La Verne, meanwhile, struggled through the 2025–26 season, finishing below .500 while averaging 55.8 points per game.

One bright spot was Alyssa Smith, who averaged 17.1 points per game across 24 appearances.

With both teams looking to turn the page, this early-season meeting is an opportunity to establish momentum before conference competition begins.

Eastern Mennonite vs. Mary Baldwin Men's Basketball — Nov. 6, 6:30 PM ET

There's already some history between these Virginia programs heading into opening night.

Mary Baldwin defeated Eastern Mennonite 79–66 on Nov. 12, 2025, giving the Fighting Squirrels bragging rights in last season's meeting.

Now Eastern Mennonite gets another opportunity.

The Royals finished 8–17 last season, averaging 62 points per game, while Mary Baldwin went 11–14 and averaged 67.6.

One area Eastern Mennonite will need to improve is its 3-point shooting. The Royals shot 28.8% from beyond the arc last season, compared with Mary Baldwin's 32.6%.

With an opening-night rematch and a chance to reverse last year's result, this matchup provides plenty of early-season motivation.

Roger Williams vs. Babson Women's Basketball — Nov. 6, 5 PM ET

A familiar opening-week matchup returns as Roger Williams and Babson meet for the second consecutive season.

Babson defeated Roger Williams 71–53 in last year's season opener, beginning a campaign that saw the Beavers finish 18–9 while averaging 65.8 points per game.

The Beavers were especially effective on the glass, averaging 41.9 rebounds per contest and outrebounding opponents by nearly seven per game.

Roger Williams finished 13–13 last season, earning victories over Connecticut College and Wheaton (Mass.) while looking to establish consistency throughout the year.

Now the Hawks get another opportunity against a Babson program that has increased its win total in each of the past two seasons.

With Babson opening at home and Roger Williams seeking revenge for last November's defeat, the rematch provides an intriguing start to the 2026–27 season.

Archived Footage On FloCollege

Video footage from all games will be archived and stored in a video library for FloCollege subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscriptions.

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