Game 1, 2023-24: Albany (11/7)

[umasscollective]

Fired up to get the season going! We will be hosting a pregame event at White Lion in Amherst, details below:

UMass vs. Albany Pregame
Tuesday, November 7th
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
White Lion, Amherst, MA

While many restaurants in Amherst are CLOSED on Tuesday, our partner White Lion and Marcus Camby, are opening specifically for us from 5pm - 7pm!

This event is open to everyone, so bring your friends, family, and fellow fans.

Hope to see you there! Go UMass!

[MikeUMA]

^ Thank you, as always, for doing everything you do.

As for the Great Danes, Sage was talking them up a bit in his Spaces the other night, but looks like fellow America East coaches don't see it. Albany was picked to finish 7th out of the league's 9, in their pre-season poll.
https://americaeast.com/news/2023/10/17 ... -poll.aspx

Last year, they had Lari Ketner (UM class of 1999), Tairi, on their roster. He averaged 3.3 points and 2.6 boards in 7.8 minutes per game.

He has since transferred. According to Verbal Commits, he ended up at Holy Family, a D2 school in Philly.
https://verbalcommits.com/players/tairi-ketner
The school itself hasn't updated their roster yet for this season.
https://athletics.holyfamily.edu/sports/mens-basketball

[bobolink]

UMass has about an 80% chance of winning according to ESPN's analytics.

Last year UMass beat them 87-73, led by Gapare's 15 points. Only 1 Albany player who started that game is still with them (Amica, senior PG) Only 2 UMass players who started are still on the team (Cross and Diggins). Neither was very good in that one, but they didn't need to be as 4 bench players hit double figures. UMass led 46-21 at halftime, but played poorly in the second half, getting outscored by 11.

A likely leader for the Great Danes is Jonathan Beagle, who I think was recruited by UMass. At 6'10" 240 he's a little bigger (at least bulkier) than anyone on the UMass roster. Beagle, the reigning Rookie of the Year in America East, was second in scoring and led in rebounding in last year's game.

[Old Cage]

Daily Gazette Sports @dgazettesports · 37m
UAlbany men's basketball: Great Danes could be missing 2 key players for opener at UMass

https://www.dailygazette.com/sports/ual ... 355f4.html

[69MG]

Has anyone herd anything on the status of Cohen and Hankins-Sanford?

[umasscollective]

Has anyone herd anything on the status of Cohen and Hankins-Sanford?

Both healthy and ready to go according to latest podcast episode of JBF.

[69MG]

^ Excellent. If I had time I would find the "Bill & Ted" clip of "Excellent". Picture it in your minds!

[debache]

Anyone else having trouble downloading their season tickets to Google wallet? I called the athletic department and left a message, but have not heard back.

[debache]

They just called back and it is all set.

[MikeUMA]

^ Excellent. If I had time I would find the "Bill & Ted" clip of "Excellent". Picture it in your minds!

[Juice Stand]

Anyone else having trouble downloading their season tickets to Google wallet? I called the athletic department and left a message, but have not heard back.

Glad you got it figured out. I was a little confused initially because in years past, each game would be an individual ticket that needed to be added, now it's just one ticket that "rolls over" to the next ticket. It's one of those technology things you just have to trust will work when the time comes I guess.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to getting out to the Mullins on Tuesday. Can't wait!

[69MG]

^ Excellent. If I had time I would find the "Bill & Ted" clip of "Excellent". Picture it in your minds!

Nice job, Mike. Party on, DUDE!

[Floyd]

Anyone else having trouble downloading their season tickets to Google wallet? I called the athletic department and left a message, but have not heard back.

Glad you got it figured out. I was a little confused initially because in years past, each game would be an individual ticket that needed to be added, now it's just one ticket that "rolls over" to the next ticket. It's one of those technology things you just have to trust will work when the time comes I guess.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to getting out to the Mullins on Tuesday. Can't wait!

So, can you explain how it works? I usually get the paper tix

[69MG]

I have my paper tix and happy to have them. See you all there on Tuesday. If we have Josh and Daniel and they are missing a player or two, no excuse for anything less than a 10 point win.

[Floyd]

69, how'd u get paper tix, u have to ask for them?