2020-21 Season

[m626t]

Gazette article on Jay Burnham and the difficulties of broadcasting with all the restrictions lately: https://www.gazettenet.com/UMass-athlet ... c-38909763

I'm glad Jay is with UMass. Not a dig at anyone else, but he's the best play by play guy we've had in a long time.

He's fine. He's a slight upgrade over the last guy (the name escapes me right now... yikes) but still a far cry from Bob Behler. Jay's a good guy though and does a solid amount of behind the scenes work that many don't notice.

Anyone remember when Dan Yorke, who I believe owned a little radio station in Westfield, did the games? That was when no one else wanted to carry them. He was really an amateur at the time, and really got excited during the games.

[devildawg3010]

Looking forward to this week of games. The top 7 teams are playing a total of 16 games. Within those 16 games only 2 games (GMU and St Joes) are not against the top 7 teams. Dav and VCU play each other so one of the top 2 will lose.
I’m glad they replaced St Joes with SLU. UMass is prob that team in the conf that every other team looks at and could make an argument that the seeding should be based on NET or Kenpom plus. We will also see how we compare to the top half b4 tournament.

[Old Cage]

Tony Bergeron @UmassCoachB · 2h
Turned the ship around and pointed it in the right direction!!!!! Quickly too!
Umass Minutemen are currently in 1st place in the A10. YES, FIRST PLACE!

Yes we are! https://www.espn.com/mens-college-baske ... /_/group/3

Except that someone tied with us is reported to have beaten us.

[capezona]

I'm telling you, this no play strategy is working.

[MikeUMA]

Game at SLU has been pushed out one day, to Monday 3/1, at 6 PM. CBSSN will have it.

That unfortunately gives us one less day to get to and prep for the A10 Tourney. First Round starts 3/3, but I don't think it's possible for us to slip that far. If we slip to 5th - 10th we're playing Thursday. If we can hold on to 4th or better we're off until Friday.

#MASSiveWeek

[69MG]

Any chance we get an NIT bid if we make it to the A10 title game (and win tonight)? NIT info link below:

https://www.zagsblog.com/2021/03/01/202 ... orth-texas

[JoleonLescottsHair]

Any chance we get an NIT bid if we make it to the A10 title game (and win tonight)? NIT info link below:

https://www.zagsblog.com/2021/03/01/202 ... orth-texas

This is why I simply don’t get why more games weren’t scheduled, even if against Springfield College or AIC. Even with a weird Covid season and all the cancelations, the NIT is not going to invite a team with 8 or 9 wins. It doesn’t matter that it might be the equivalent of an 18 win season in any regular season. And even if a win over a D2 or D3 or NAIA school would not be considered a quality win, it WOULD raise the win total and allow for the appearance of a legit invite. Less than 10 wins (no matter how many games played), no way. Sucks because this is a pretty decent team and the NIT would be a nice, modest building block for a normal season next year.

[69MG]

^ I think that horse left the barn at about 7:00.

[natwam2547]

Any chance we get an NIT bid if we make it to the A10 title game (and win tonight)? NIT info link below:

https://www.zagsblog.com/2021/03/01/202 ... orth-texas

This is why I simply don’t get why more games weren’t scheduled, even if against Springfield College or AIC. Even with a weird Covid season and all the cancelations, the NIT is not going to invite a team with 8 or 9 wins. It doesn’t matter that it might be the equivalent of an 18 win season in any regular season. And even if a win over a D2 or D3 or NAIA school would not be considered a quality win, it WOULD raise the win total and allow for the appearance of a legit invite. Less than 10 wins (no matter how many games played), no way. Sucks because this is a pretty decent team and the NIT would be a nice, modest building block for a normal season next year.

I do agree with this and the only thing I can think of is that they didn't want to risk potentially exposing themselves to the virus for a scrimmage. Played it safe in the end.

[natwam2547]

Any chance we get an NIT bid if we make it to the A10 title game (and win tonight)? NIT info link below:

https://www.zagsblog.com/2021/03/01/202 ... orth-texas

Obviously they didn't win last night, but I would have said no anyway. Unless a bunch of power 6 schools declined the invite. The fact that it will be 16 teams really lowered their opportunity.

[Floyd]

Make a good run here and play well, maybe they get an invite. Play more games= more experience= good

[69MG]

Just a thought. For the first time in a few years I felt like the new guys were a significant improvement over the guys who left. So I looked up the stats of the guys who left and their replacements. I'll let the numbers speak for themselves.

East - 9.3 points, 2.5 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 2.7 turnovers, 32.1% from 3
Noah - 11.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 2.0 turnovers, 39.3% from 3, and he's a better defender.

Clergeot - 5.0 points, 1.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.4 turnovers, 28.0 % from 3. But he was great at taking charges.
Garcia - 10.4 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 2.2 turnovers, 32.5% from 3.

Diallo - 6.7 points, 5.9 rebounds 17.2% from 3. The other stats are negligible.
DeGray - 8.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, 37% from 3.

Baptiste - 2.1 points, 2.9 rebounds
Mark - 2.0 points, 1.7 rebounds. Djery was much more intimidating as a post defender.

I didn't count Chatman because he only played in 6 games. CJ Jackson also transferred but if you count Cairo as his replacement it's a slaughter.

My point in all of this is that if we can keep this group together (and Tre, Dibaji, TJ and hopefully Preston) we have a chance to be very good next year. As has been mentioned, we just need to add a couple of pieces.

[DoctorJ]

Will Mark and Carl return next year?

[69MG]

Will Mark and Carl return next year?

I have no inside info but I think the answer is no for both.

[Upstate10]

I think Mathews will be an improvement over Mark.