2019-20 season

[UMassHoops]

I don't know, if we were coming off a .500 season or something I'd agree. But we were 11-21 so the bar was set sufficiently low that we could play a lot of freshmen and probably still improve significantly. Most of the guys we are losing either barely played (Hayward), were injured long periods (Pip, Cobb), couldn't stay on the floor (Holloway) or was a freshman himself (Wood) or only played a portion of the season (Unique). We are losing a portion of the talent that got us 11 wins and the play-in A10 game...

Do I expect freshmen to step in immediately and lead us to the A10 title - no way. But I'm pretty sure if they are as good as advertised that Mitchell can replace or exceed what we got from Holloway last year. Pip would be difficult to replace but he was hurt/ineffective most of the year so starting Keon doesn't feel like a downgrade (downgrade from 17-18 Pip but not 18-19). Wood shouldn't be tough to replace last year's level of performance if we sign someone. Hayward and Cobb a strong freshman could replicate, I don't feel their production was a high bar.

I won't feel quite as good if we lose Laurent, because his scoring and 3 point shooting will be tough for a freshman to immediately replace. But I would reasonably expect Sy/Diallo/Pierre to all be better players and absorb a lot of minutes.

I'd still be looking for us to improve as the season progresses and exceed last years record.

[UMassfan_19]

^
Agree. While Laurent did bring scoring he was also in the dog house for many games. He also traveled a ton in pivotal moments. He reminds me of donte Clark he can get 15-20 but you only realize after the game.

[LS71]

If UMass does nothing more that reduce its unforced errors, next season can only be better.

[Steve81]

Please give us a team fun to watch, that make great passes and scores. One that is clicking by the end of the season and some enjoyable basketball. Beyond the opposite of the above, my biggest concern is PG. It has been said the to make a run in the A10, you need great PG play.

[69MG]

Training has begun. Sadly, this looks like our entire roster right now.

https://twitter.com/CotyGreene/status/1 ... 3970151429

[m626t]

MM looks like he has been bulking up.

[Roadtrip]

No word on signings yet?

[UMassfan_19]

MM looks like he has been bulking up.

He was going squat for squat with samba

[capezona]

At first I thought the chaos at the end of the season was disheartening but I'm feeling very different now. When McCall first arrived he had to really scramble just to field a team and staff. His second year still reflected the remnants of that frantic time and it wasn't working well. He has basically started over keeping the best parts of the team and replacing the malfunctioning parts in a more thought-out process. I'm not relishing another rebuilding year in year three but I think it will be a positive year for the future of the program under McCall and I look forward to seeing the new guys in what will be a McCall team.

[LS71]

^ The talent level is higher and those who stayed have bought in.

There’s more reason to optimistic for next season than there was for last season!

Go UMass!

[thecaptain]

apparently we are playing UVa next year in the mohegan sun tourney. sorry if this has been posted already

[mdogt12]

Jon Rothstein
@JonRothstein
Sources: Virginia will face UMass and Arizona State will play St. John's in the first round of the 2019 Hall-of-Fame Classic at Mohegan Sun.

[bobolink]

Pleasant memories of the 2 times I know of when UMass faced a defending national champion: Arkansas (1994) and UConn (2004).

[LS71]

^ I like those memories more than the one from that time UMass played at Mohegan.

If I’m not mistaken that last visit was a loss to CCSU.

Talk about a long ride back to WMass.

[natwam2547]

^^ Also UNC in 1993

^Umass played in the tournament in 2014, lost to Notre Dame, beat FSU.