Game 3, 2021-22: Penn State (11/15)

[MikeUMA]

7 PM start time set for the Monday game. No surprise there.

[mdogt12]

https://umassathletics.com/sports/mens- ... l/schedule
CBS Sports Network

[inthescoop]

Penn State's new head coach is Micah Shrewsberry, who we at one point thought was going to become the next UMass head coach.

[69MG]

I'm a little (actually more than a little) concerned about not having Steadman for an extended period. Buttrick will be going up against Harrar, the guy he backed up at Penn State. Harrar had 16 points and 14 boards in 26 minutes in a fairly easy win over a mediocre Youngstown State team.

The Youngstown center had 22 and 10 in 37 minutes so maybe Harrar can't defend?? Penn State won the rebounding battle 43-25 but YSU is very small other than the center. Tallest other starter was 6'5.

[MikeUMA]

^
Buttrick vs Harrar will be interesting to watch. Trent might be eager to prove himself over his former teammate, which could lead to some trying to do too much. He'll need to keep that in check.

[69MG]

A very in-depth article about the Penn State team. I'm not a coach, but it looks like a great scouting report to me.

https://www.pennlive.com/pennstatefootb ... jones.html

[Floyd]

Might be a good game for Dibaji to see more minutes and put him on their big guy and let Buttrick do his own thing. Dibaji has really seemed to become defensive minded, and has the size and athleticism to cover their big man

[InnervisionsUMASS]

Might be a good game for Dibaji to see more minutes and put him on their big guy and let Buttrick do his own thing. Dibaji has really seemed to become defensive minded, and has the size and athleticism to cover their big man

I guess I'm confused by this... even if you put Dibaji on their Big, that doesn't mean their Big won't be covering Buttrick. Usually players "doing their own thing" on the D side spells disaster. I'm not saying you're suggesting that, I assume you mean doing his thing on the offensive side... it just comes off weird to me.

[69MG]

^ Maybe it keeps Buttrick out of foul trouble if he doesn't have to guard Harrar.

[InnervisionsUMASS]

Oh yeah, that's certainly valid. It's going to be tough either way... these guys really need to put some effort into boxing out. 2nd and 3rd chance opportunities will kill this team.

[69MG]

I love looking up potentially useless stats. Here are some defensive numbers from last year:

Harrar - 8 total blocks and 15 steals in 25 minutes a game

Buttrick - 9 total blocks and 13 steals in 13 minutes a game

Do we set up plays to have the guards and wings take it to the basket and get Harrar in foul trouble, or maybe they just blow by him and score. 8 blocks in 25 games for a starting center isn't overwhelming.

[Floyd]

^ Maybe it keeps Buttrick out of foul trouble if he doesn't have to guard Harrar.

Thanks 69, that was my thought. Sounds like Steadman may not be available, and we may need to keep Trent on the floor. I like the effort Dibaji has shown defensively and he seems bigger this season

[Juice Stand]

I thought this was going to be a tough game, but I was optimistic that UMass could win a tight one since it's at home and Penn State is typically a cellar dwellar in the Big Ten. Once I saw Steadman in the walking boot and heard McCall talk about his injury on the Plant the Flag Podcast, I had slightly less optimism. After the blowout at Yale, I would say that my optimism has waned. I'll still be there, just hoping some of our guys catch fire and can light up the scoreboard.

[inthescoop]

I know it’s so early in the season but tomorrows game will tell us if McCall has any control in this team as a leader and role model.

If we got blown out.. we know our answer immediately. Just need to keep this game close and competitive; show some life.

[TheChamp]

Matt McCall vs. the guy we should have hired (Micah Shrewsberry). Was screaming for Shrewsberry and he wanted the job but Bamford gonna Bamford.

Shrewsberry just landed the #16 ESPN class in the country in his first class including three 4* recruits and here we are stuck with star Trent Buttrick and a bunch of retreads on their third team.