Game 21, 2022-23: Duquesne (1/28)

[umasscollective]

The Massachusetts Collective is hosting a pregame meetup in Amherst, MA prior to the Duquesne Game. Join us!

The Spoke
35 East Pleasant
Amherst, MA
.3 mile / 4 min drive to Mullins Center

2pm - 4pm
- Cash Bar & Potluck Food
- So far, folks are bringing:
Patrick M. - BBQ Sandwhiches and Pizza
Ken & Susan L. - Crock Pot Mac & Cheese
Julia M. - Cupcakes
Deb M. - Pimento Cheese & Cracker App

EMail [email protected] if you would like to bring food!

[MakeMullinsGreatAgain]

HUGE game tomorrow! hopefully we can build off Wednesday and get to 4-5 in the conference - there is not a game left on the schedule that you look at and think we have no chance at winning. I know we are not very good on the road so it would be foolish to say we can run the table but if we play like we did vs Richmond there is no reason to think we cannot 7-3 down the stretch - 10-8 would def get us a first round bye and with any luck should they get to 11-7 they may actually get a 2nd round bye. Of course all this optimism goes down the drain should they lay an egg tomorrow - I feel confident that won't happen though - lets go UMass!!!

[RagingCager]

Yes, tomorrow’s game is an opportunity to continue positive momentum in this new era of A10 play. I’m concerned about how the rotation will be affected if both Noah and TJ are back. I thought the guys took advantage of the shorter rotation vs Richmond and got into a good flow and rhythm without worrying so much about their playing time . Don’t get me wrong, Noah is a great player and we’re a much better team with him in the lineup , but as far as the rest of the rotation is concerned, IMHO, RJ and Cross should stay on the floor as much as possible unless an injury or foul trouble rears it’s ugly head. Diggins is emerging as a solid backup at the point and may be able to fill in at the 2 as well. This leaves Levesque and Kante at the 5, with DD clearly the most productive option at the 4.

Of course there are different approaches when it comes to rotations and playing time…, I’m of the belief to play your best players as much as possible at this stage of the season with some of the other guys having to take a step back until an opportunity arises for additional playing time. But, of course, the only approach that matters is Coach Martin’s…. I’ll be there Sat hoping we can take another step forward vs Duquesne!

[MakeMullinsGreatAgain]

IMO it's that time of year to start hurting some feelings - we do not have luxury of losing many more games - we need to play our best 8 guys 25+ minutes

Starters
Noah, TJ, RJ, Cross, Levesque

Next 3
DD, Kante, Diggins, Gapare

Last 2
Keon and BM

I think Keon and BM should get some time but no more than 8-10 minutes max

Obviously this changes if TJ or Noah cannot play but this rotation gives us the best chance to win

[MikeUMA]

This game tomorrow is pretty important if we want to start climbing out of the Opening Round.

Bergman and A10 Talk compiled a look at where the bracket would set with current standings and tie-breakers:

Code: Select all

            9 DUQ  ]
            8 RICH ]  1 VCU ]

12 MASS ]
13 URI  ]   5 FORD ]  4 DAY ]

10 SJU  ]
15 LOY  ]   7 GMU  ]  2 SLU ]

11 DAV  ]
14 LAS  ]   6 SBU  ]   3 GW ]

UM is among the 4 teams at 3-5, but we're just 1 game behind the 4-team logjam of 4-4 teams. The projected bracket could take a big shift after this weekend.

And after that, we have a stretch with a huge opportunity to gain ground:
2/1 at Mason (currently 4-4)
2/4 vs Davidson (3-5)
2/8 at Fordham (4-3)
2/11 at La Salle (2-5) for some payback
2/14 Loyola (1-7)
2/18 Rhody (3-5)

But it all starts with keeping it going vs the Duqies.

[Floyd]

IMO it's that time of year to start hurting some feelings - we do not have luxury of losing many more games - we need to play our best 8 guys 25+ minutes

Starters
Noah, TJ, RJ, Cross, Levesque

Next 3
DD, Kante, Diggins,

Last 2
Keon and BM

I think Keon and BM should get some time but no more than 8-10 minutes max

Obviously this changes if TJ or Noah cannot play but this rotation gives us the best chance to win

Tafara needs to be included here as well. All depends on opponent and matchups as to minutes played. Just keep improving and let Frank & staff do their thing

[Camby4Life]

Don’t really know much about Duquesne this year but they have some similarities to us. They also started 7-1 and they have a bunch of transfers in their rotation, including their top 2 scorers.

We have to hold home court against the middle of the conference.

[bobolink]

IMO it's that time of year to start hurting some feelings - we do not have luxury of losing many more games - we need to play our best 8 guys 25+ minutes

Starters
Noah, TJ, RJ, Cross, Levesque

Next 3
DD, Kante, Diggins,

Last 2
Keon and BM

I think Keon and BM should get some time but no more than 8-10 minutes max

Obviously this changes if TJ or Noah cannot play but this rotation gives us the best chance to win

Tafara needs to be included here as well. All depends on opponent and matchups as to minutes played. Just keep improving and let Frank & staff do their thing

absolutely. Glancing at Duquesne's record, 6 different players have been their leading scorer. UMass is the same. Easy to forget that Tafara led twice. Yeah, Coach Martin is more about defense, etc., but gotta give him a chance, and I expect that to happen.
Duquesne also seems to have a roster with some like UMass players: they have RJ Gunn, 6'7" 230 lbs who can shoot 3s, and their big scorer by far is their point guard (DD Grant). If Noah had a healthy year that might have been similar, although UMass looks deeper and scoring can be spread around with the likes of RJ and TJ. I think Wildens is better than any of their bigs, and if he plays more minutes at a level like at the beginning of the second half vs Richmond. prospects are great.

[MakeMullinsGreatAgain]

Tafara needs to be included here as well. All depends on opponent and matchups as to minutes played. Just keep improving and let Frank & staff do their thing
[/quote]

Absolutely! completely forgot to add him - he is one of the 8-9 that should be getting at least 20+

[capezona]

absolutely. Glancing at Duquesne's record, 6 different players have been their leading scorer. UMass is the same.

Thanks for pointing that out. I looked back and saw that we have 8 players who have led the team in scoring. 9 have led in rebounding.

[69MG]

Looking at just their A10 stats, which I think is enough of a sample size by now, they have 4 guys shooting 3s at 37% or higher. Can't keep giving up open 3's from the corners. It's been an issue all year. Richmond was 5 for 6 on these until the last few minutes when they couldn't make anything. I paid special attention to this when I watched the replay.

[NilesGold]

IMO it's that time of year to start hurting some feelings - we do not have luxury of losing many more games - we need to play our best 8 guys 25+ minutes

Starters
Noah, TJ, RJ, Cross, Levesque

Next 3
DD, Kante, Diggins, Gapare

Last 2
Keon and BM

Completely agree, I'll just go one step further and say that if Cross & RJ are playing well, they should get about 35 minutes, or as close to that as their foul situation allows.

[MakeMullinsGreatAgain]

oh boy

@MLBergman_

UMass Injury Report, per HC Frank Martin:

F Matt Cross (non-covid related illness) did not practice. QUESTIONABLE vs Duquesne.

G TJ Weeks (knee) practiced in full today and should be ACTIVE.

G Noah Fernandes (ankle) is progressing but still limited in practice. QUESTIONABLE.

3:20 PM · Jan 27, 2023

[69MG]

^ This sucks. If Matt and Noah don't play we may need someone unexpected to step up and play the game of his life.

[MikeUMA]

I don't know how Duq matches up with a player like Cross, but that would hurt not to have him. On the other hand, it'd be more opportunity for Dyondre to shine, and for Gapare to make more progress.