Scheduling
Going into the 2025–2026 college basketball season, all 364 Division I basketball teams have specially handcrafted their schedules in hopes of having a successful season and making it to the Big Dance. Teams will arrange their schedules in any way possible to put themselves in the best possible position. Out of those, 265 of 364 teams scheduled at least one opponent from a different division. Within this, over 70 Division II programs and 140 Division III programs have been scheduled.
One would think that a Division I program—usually with more students, higher athletic budgets, and a more prestigious conference—would easily dominate. But just like in all sports, not everything is guaranteed. Last season, Michigan Tech defeated University of Wisconsin–Green Bay 72–70 following Green Bay coach Doug Gottlieb’s pregame comments calling them “Nobody U.” Nobody is ever safe. Great basketball talent exists at every level. Sometimes all a team needs is one chance to make history, and so far, Division II is proving its worth.
Photo Cred: Bleacher Report
The Games
Hawaii Pacific (DII) 79–78 Boise State
To start the college basketball season, Hawaii Pacific sent shockwaves throughout the college basketball world. After entering the game as 20+ point underdogs, the Sharks were not intimidated. Hawaii Pacific went 15–14 last year and lost its only opportunity against a Division I program, falling to Hawaii 63–67 — and that wasn’t going to happen again.
The first half was a shootout, with Josh Niusulu hitting a three-pointer to give the Sharks a 38–37 lead at halftime. The second half’s pace quickened even more, with both sides increasing their shot attempts. A Quentin Meza and-one layup with 3:02 left to put the Sharks up 77–70 proved to be the final blow. Boise State couldn’t score fast enough and ultimately became the first Division I team to lose to a non–Division I opponent during the 2025–2026 season.
Key Stats:
HPAC – Joshua West: 23 points, 3 rebounds, 4 steals
HPAC – Quentin Meza: 14 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals
BOIS – Dylan Andrews: 15 points, 9 assists, 2 rebounds
BOIS – Drew Fielder: 13 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists
Northwood (DII) 85–81 Western Michigan
Only three days after Boise State’s loss to Hawaii Pacific, the Western Michigan Broncos hosted the Northwood Timberwolves at home for their second game of the season. Western Michigan head coach Dwyane Stephens returned after a disappointing 12–20 season, where the team went an even 9–9 in conference play. Northwood, however, wasn’t much better. Head coach Tom Church went 9–19 in his first season leading Northwood after previously coaching at Tiffin University.
Coming into the game, Western Michigan had already made its home debut, defeating Coastal Carolina 76–71 the prior week. They were expected to notch their second win — and second home win — of the year. But at one point during the first half, Northwood was up by fifteen, leaving the crowd silent. At halftime, Northwood led 44–39, and the Broncos couldn’t get a stop.
In the second half, it was more of the same. Northwood forced more turnovers, resulting in eleven more shot attempts during the game. It’s hard to win a basketball game when you’re not controlling the tempo, and Northwood dominated in that aspect, holding onto the lead and winning 85–81 once the buzzer sounded.
Photo Cred: ESPN
Key Stats:
NW – Parker Day: 20 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals
NW – Will Young II: 11 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, 2 blocks
WM – Jalen Griffith: 23 points, 2 assists, 4 steals
WM – Jayden Brewer: 24 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 4 blocks
Wilmington (DII) 71–62 Delaware
The day after Western Michigan’s shocking home loss, the University of Delaware Blue Hens hosted the Wilmington University Wildcats in a local in-state contest. Delaware went 16–20 the previous season and was hoping for a strong home start to the year. The Wildcats had only nine wins last season in Division II, and going into this game, nobody expected it to be close.
If the Wildcats could barely beat teams in their own division, how could they beat a Division I opponent? But after the first ten minutes, it was Wilmington who led 19–15 — to everyone’s surprise. And they never let up.
With eight minutes left, Wilmington extended their lead to eight, going up 60–52. Delaware couldn’t hit a three-pointer to save their lives, shooting just 12.5% from deep, and the deficit proved too much to overcome. Delaware fell at home, 62–71, to the Wilmington Wildcats. Wilmington forced 16 turnovers to Delaware’s seven, resulting in a 19–5 advantage in points off turnovers — the exact margin that decided the game.
Key Stats:
WILM – Tre Hawkins: 21 points, 10 rebounds
WILM – Jaiden Guy: 18 points, 11 rebounds
DEL – Macon Emory: 11 points, 14 rebounds
DEL – Christian Bliss: 13 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists
North Greenville (DII) 92–81 Gardner–Webb
It didn’t even take another week for another Division I school to get upset by a lower-division opponent. After two blowout losses to Power Five schools to open the season, the Gardner–Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs held their home opener on November 10th against the North Greenville Crusaders.
Gardner–Webb head coach Jeremy Luther led the Bulldogs to an 11–20 record in his first season and was looking to improve. But in the first half of their home opener, his team was already trailing 51–40 — and at one point, the lead ballooned to 15.
Although Gardner–Webb forced 18 turnovers compared to their own eight, a lack of rebounding and North Greenville’s red-hot three-point shooting made the difference. The Crusaders went 15-for-30 from beyond the arc and cruised to a 92–81 victory. Gardner–Webb fell to 0–3 on the season with a difficult non-conference stretch still ahead.
Key Stats:
NGC – Savion Brown: 20 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocks
NGC – Carter Bobbit: 18 points, 2 rebounds
NGC – Zayden Edwards: 25 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists
GW – Jacob Hudson: 15 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals
GW – Jacob Hogarth: 15 points, 5 rebounds
