Game 17, 2023-24: at Loyola Chicago (1/17)

[MikeUMA]

UM's first trip to Chicago in a long time. I think our last there was the Great Eight game in December 1996.
https://umasshoops.com/games/1996-97/1204georgetown/

First trip to Lo-Chi and their Gentile Arena
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_J._Gentile_Arena

Ramblers got a good win at Saint Joe's yesterday, in another setback for Billy Lange. Hawks were up by 8 with 5:40 left and blew it. 20 points for Lo-Chi's Jayden Dawson.
https://loyolaramblers.com/news/2024/1/ ... eph-s.aspx

UM/Loyola is on Wednesday at 7 Eastern / 6 local. CBS SN has it on TV and thru their site
https://www.cbssports.com/watch/cbs-sports-network

[stevemaz]

If Cross starts we are going to win this one

[tdmass]

^ I watched the last 10 or 12 minutes of Loyola v St. Joes and they are very good and I don't see us winning this, Cross or no Cross!

[MikeUMA]

Matchup:
https://bracketologists.com/matchup/NDAxNTk2ODQ1

On another note, we need to thank Lo-Chi for beating Boston College back in November.

[Juice Stand]

Based on the fact that Cross was dressed for the URI game, and some of Frank's comments about the ankle being "not too bad", I think we'll see Cross play in this one. This team needs to learn how to win on the road if they're going to make any noise this year, it'll be interesting to see how they bounce back after the URI loss and play in a second consecutive road game.

[MakeMullinsGreatAgain]

I think Cross sitting was a combo of things - not only dealing with the ankle but also having work done on his mouth for the tooth that was knocked out. Frank said between Pink Eye, the tooth and subsequent surgeries to fix that along with the ankle that he had a lot of stuff going on and just wasn't ready to play Saturday.

[tdmass]

^ Matt Cross . . . Calamity Jane!

[DanaDingle3]

This team's bounced back quickly after every loss, having yet to lose two in a row. They've also yet to win a true road game.

The Ramblers are off to a solid 3-1 start in league play, as Mike noted, recently having knocked off Joe's in Philly.

We gotta get the monkey off our back and steal a road game. If Cross plays, we win by four.

[WillHerndonFan]

Need to hit our 3 point shots as we can’t keep pace with teams hitting their threes. It’s that simple!

[minutefanjsf]

Need to hit our 3 point shots as we can’t keep pace with teams hitting their threes. It’s that simple!

Or possibly defend against the three?

[69MG]

Need to hit our 3 point shots as we can’t keep pace with teams hitting their threes. It’s that simple!

Or possibly defend against the three?

Watson, Dawson and Norris take about 13 threes per game combined and they shoot them at 44%. Yes, we need to defend the 3.

[minutefanjsf]

Need to hit our 3 point shots as we can’t keep pace with teams hitting their threes. It’s that simple!

Or possibly defend against the three?

Watson, Dawson and Norris take about 13 threes per game combined and they shoot them at 44%. Yes, we need to defend the 3.

An active 1-2-2 where whoever is one is willing to get to every elbow to elbow three even as a secondary defender would help, IMO. Once he is there the middle 2 can drop to the corner if necessary. Can’t overplay and have the lower two levels crossing over the middle as much as we’ve had.

[inthescoop]

UMass are 2.5 point underdogs.

[eldonabe]

Statistically they are pretty close. Hard to pick Umass though on the road.

[MakeMullinsGreatAgain]

need to avoid our usual slow start on the road - would love to see them come out on a 14-4 run and give us some wiggle room when we go into our seemingly inevitable 4-5 minute period where we turn the ball over, take quick bad shots and become very stagnant on offense.

We know what Cross and Cohen are going to give us - Diggins and Thompson are the keys tonight - need them to take care of the ball and be aggressive -- can't settle for a 3 point shot - especially Keon - not sure he's hit one in his last half dozen games.

Lose tonight and I have a feeling we are 9-9 or 10-8 best case - win and I may have some optimism we aren't the same old UMass we've been