UMassHoops.com

UMassFan99 wrote: ↑Wed Sep 11, 2019 5:21 pm

Worcester_To_Amherst wrote: ↑Thu Sep 05, 2019 6:55 am Tough schedule this year, IMO. That stretch from Mogegan-Yale is going to be brutal.

We could conceivably lose all 6 of those games. Tough competition for sure.

for sure. 4 power conference games, with 3 of those on the road, followed by 2 against the co-champs of the Ivy. The other 7 non-conference games all look easy by comparison, although 2 are also road games in which this inexperienced team can be expected to slip once or twice.

There’s a part of my brain that sees a path to 8 OOC wins, but being realistic about our inexperience, the time it will take to figure out the optimal rotation, unforeseen injuries, and the learning curve with stuff like running a real press... I hope we win 6.

Slapthefloor93 wrote: ↑Thu Sep 12, 2019 6:30 pm There’s a part of my brain that sees a path to 8 OOC wins, but being realistic about our inexperience, the time it will take to figure out the optimal rotation, unforeseen injuries, and the learning curve with stuff like running a real press... I hope we win 6.

We probably only win 4 or 5 in the OOC. Anything more than that is pure bonus....

I’m not good at making predictions, but I feel as optimistic about this year’s basketball team as I am pessimistic about the football team.

I think the talent level is higher than it’s been and if the apparent buy-in/team chemistry is for real I think UMass will be a surprise team in the A-10.

The style of play demonstrated on the USVI trip adds to me optimism!

Well here’s my thinking just going through the schedule and imagining who will be favored:

Vs. UML - Us (1-0)
At Fairfield - Us (2-0)
Vs. Northeastern - Them (2-1)
Vs. CCSU - Us (3-1)
Vs. Rider - Toss up, but probably us (4-1)
Vs. Virginia - Them (4-2)
Vs. Saint John’s/ASU - Them (4-3)
At Rutgers - Them (4-4)
Vs. South Carolina - Them (4-5)
At Harvard - Them (4-6)
Vs. Yale - Them (4-7)
Vs. Maine - Us (5-7)
At Akron - Us (6-7)

I know we will lose some that we shouldn’t (likely candidates include UMass-Lowell, Rider, and Akron), but on the other hand, we will probably steal a few as well (Vs. South Carolina or Yale?, At Harvard? The second Mohegan game?). Point is, I think that 8 is possible and that Eldon’s guess of 4-5 is also possible, but at the end of the day, I think 6 is the more likely result and a good goal to shoot for.

LS71 wrote: ↑Fri Sep 13, 2019 12:35 pm The style of play demonstrated on the USVI trip adds to me optimism!

Did you go? I have not heard any real 3rd party accounts? Sorry LS I am not trying to be a smartass....

We only really got to hear what MM wanted to tell us - one of the things he did say was that they needed a lot of work on defense. Overall, stats are frankly meaningless without any true barometer of the opponents. Think about what MM had to say in general terms..... They need a lot of work on defense, and they still blew out the opposition. UMass is not going to just outscore everyone and win games 104 - 98 every night....


Don't get me wrong, I am beyond curious about the output from Tre (specifically). But this is a very young team and if they can't play D, they are not going to be winning many/any games against any team of equal or better [on paper] talent.

I'm starting to see some of the same things we saw from fans last year going into the season. Temper your expectations people....


I think this year will be a .500ish showing. It's what I thought we'd see last year, but that obviously it ended up worse due to some now publicized issues. I think McCall will reign that all in and they'll work out the kinks with what is essentially his 3rd roster turnover. The 2020-21 season is where we'll see this team make the jump.

For me personally, I’m not really expecting anything. There are just too many unknown variables to have any real expectations. I could see us winning anywhere between 9 and 16 games on the season, and that’s as wide of a range as I’ve considered in years.

So no expectations, only hopes. I will say about hopes though, that my biggest one is to just finally not play on Wednesday in Brooklyn. I think that in and of itself would make this season an overall win.

eldonabe wrote: ↑Fri Sep 13, 2019 1:38 pm

LS71 wrote: ↑Fri Sep 13, 2019 12:35 pm The style of play demonstrated on the USVI trip adds to me optimism!

Did you go? I have not heard any real 3rd party accounts? Sorry LS I am not trying to be a smartass....

i know you’re not. I wish I could have gone.

From what I read it was a pressing, forcing turnovers and running type of game they played. If that’s true they seem to have guys who like to play that way. I agree they’re very young but given the Woodstock connection, some guys have played together before which may give them an advantage over young teams coming together from different places.

I’ll be happy if they play better as the season progresses, regardless of W/L’s.

A couple of things. They couldn't play the style of D that they want to in the VI trip because we only had 8 players. Diallo didn't play and he is an important piece of the pressing defense. Also missing were Pierre, Buggs and Baptiste.

The roster got updated today. They added Walker and did an into piece on him. Pretty sure he has to sit 1 and play 3, but he can practice with the team.
https://umassathletics.com/news/2019/9/ ... oster.aspx

KTM has been removed from the roster. I thought might happen due to his injuries.

^
Interesting. I don’t think schools take players off rosters because they are injured. If he’s not on the roster, I would guess he’s not on the team anymore. Anyone know for sure how this works?

78 wrote: ↑Fri Sep 13, 2019 4:59 pm ^
Interesting. I don’t think schools take players off rosters because they are injured. If he’s not on the roster, I would guess he’d not on the team anymore. Anyone know for sure how this works?

That's what I was thinking, too.

Looks like Walker grew 2 inches since his previous write up.

LS71 wrote: ↑Fri Sep 13, 2019 12:35 pm I’m not good at making predictions, but I feel as optimistic about this year’s basketball team as I am pessimistic about the football team.

Interesting, so you think the team has a chance to go undefeated? Just kidding LS. I think the football team has a legitimate chance to grab anywhere from 0 to 2 wins this year, so if we flip that prediction, basketball should win 25-31 games. Heck yeah, I'll take it!

78 wrote: ↑Fri Sep 13, 2019 4:59 pm ^
Interesting. I don’t think schools take players off rosters because they are injured. If he’s not on the roster, I would guess he’s not on the team anymore. Anyone know for sure how this works?

If he had to quit BB because of his injuries I hope the school honors his scholarship. I have not heard anything regarding if he's still in school or not. Is anyone a follower of KTM on twitter? His acct. is closed to outsiders.
@TurnerKhalea