Game 5, 2023-24: South Florida (12/2)

[MikeUMA]

8 more days 'til we hit the court again. South Florida at 1 PM. NESN / NESN Watch / ESPN+, but get to Mullins if you can.

The Bulls are returning the favor for our visit last season, when we won, 73-67
https://umasshoops.com/wiki/doku.php?id ... th_florida

USF let Brian Gregory go, and brought in Amir Abdur-Rahim. AAR did a great job bringing Kennesaw State back to life, from a 1-28 season in his first to the NCAA Tournament last season. AAR took over Kennesaw from Al Skinner.
https://umasshoops.com/wiki/doku.php?id=skinner_al

In the AAC this season, the Bulls were picked to finish 9th of the 14.

So far, they're off to a 2-2 start. Like us, all home games, but 2 losses an AAC team shouldn't take at home
by 5 to Tony Barbee's Central Michigan last week
by 11 to Maine on Wednesday, where USF died by the three (2-20)

On the season, USF is not good from 3, shooting just .220

More stats
https://gousfbulls.com/sports/mens-basketball/stats
https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/sc ... /2024.html

USF has one more before us: at Hofstra on Thursday 11/30

[inthescoop]

Really not a fan of this large gap in the scheduling.

[Quann]

Really not a fan of this large gap in the scheduling.

Really strange. At least schedule one midweek game this week.

[SignMan]

Come on Saturday...

[eldonabe]

Really not a fan of this large gap in the scheduling.

Really strange. At least schedule one midweek game this week.

It is not uncommon though, they had a 9 day gap last year as well.



I actually think it is not a bad thing from a coaching perspective. You get some live action under your belt, now you have a good base to work on weak spots etc.... It can work both ways as they may come out flat Saturday or refreshed to start the real grind.

[umasscollective]

Join us POSTGAME at the SPOKE in Amherst from 3pm - 6pm

Join us at THE SPOKE in Amherst from 3 PM to 6 PM on December 2nd for a family-friendly, all-ages post-game event after the UMass men's basketball game. Enjoy complimentary pizza from Five College Movers and meet special guests, including players and coaches. It's a perfect opportunity for fans of all ages to discuss the game and connect with the UMass community. Bring the whole family for a fun afternoon!

Interested in sponsoring the event? Get social media shoutouts (including from 1 Mass Co athlete), a tabling opportunity at the event, and signage at the event. Click here to become a sponor https://checkout.stripe.com/c/pay/cs_li ... xcNzxNJ3gl

[MikeUMA]

Really not a fan of this large gap in the scheduling.

At the "Power Hour" today with Frank/Jay/Nathan, someone asked about that. Frank said that with the mostly young team that he has, he likes that there's fewer games and more opportunities to practice, before the grind of the conference season.

[UMassFan99]

I get that. Make some sense.

[inthescoop]

Really not a fan of this large gap in the scheduling.

At the "Power Hour" today with Frank/Jay/Nathan, someone asked about that. Frank said that with the mostly young team that he has, he likes that there's fewer games and more opportunities to practice, before the grind of the conference season.

Thanks Mike - glad to hear there is some reasoning behind the scheduling.

[InnervisionsUMASS]

Really not a fan of this large gap in the scheduling.

At the "Power Hour" today with Frank/Jay/Nathan, someone asked about that. Frank said that with the mostly young team that he has, he likes that there's fewer games and more opportunities to practice, before the grind of the conference season.

Thanks Mike - glad to hear there is some reasoning behind the scheduling.

I didn't hear how he answered it, just reading it on paper here... but it doesn't really read like that was the reasoning for the scheduling, just that he likes it this way.

Scheduling in CBB gets wonky in December because of in-season tournaments and finals... we have this break, then we play 3 games in 8 days. I think it just worked out this way. I'm happy to hear FM is trying to utilize the gap to their advantage.

[natwam2547]

^ Exactly. This isn't the "reason" for it. I just think he's putting a positive spin on reality. No sense in controlling what you can't control. If it were up to him, Frank would be playing that ever elusive 31st game this week in-between. Remember the DK video last year when Frank was shooting the shit with the assistants before the big reveal and he talked about how no one wanted to play them? Yeah, this is probably a direct result of this as well. I personally, hate it. No better experience than getting out on the floor and playing someone other than your own teammates for umpteenth time.

I really wish the high mid-majors would band together and play each other each year in some sort of way. Maybe we don't have to have an A-10/MW challenge like what was initially proposed, but to make sure we play a MW team each year, or an AAC team each year or a MVC team each year. I get why they cancelled it, because it ended up being make-or-break (even though that is quite literally in the title of the event itself), but the bracket busters for the mid-majors at the end of February was some of the best college basketball I'd watch each year. It was such an awesome concept and produced very entertaining basketball.

[umasscollective]

Join us POSTGAME at the SPOKE in Amherst from 3pm - 6pm

Join us at THE SPOKE in Amherst from 3 PM to 6 PM on December 2nd for a family-friendly, all-ages post-game event after the UMass men's basketball game. Enjoy complimentary pizza from Five College Movers and meet special guests, including players and coaches. It's a perfect opportunity for fans of all ages to discuss the game and connect with the UMass community. Bring the whole family for a fun afternoon!

Interested in sponsoring the event? Get social media shoutouts (including from 1 Mass Co athlete), a tabling opportunity at the event, and signage at the event. Click here to become a sponor https://checkout.stripe.com/c/pay/cs_li ... xcNzxNJ3gl

JOSH COHEN, RAHSOOL DIGGINS, KEON THOMPSON will all be in attendance for this event postgame.

Come join us!

[MikeUMA]

USF is a 5.5 point dog tonight at Hofstra. FloHoops has the stream so I guess none of us will be watching

Stats: https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=484929

[69MG]

On the ESPN predictor, Hofstra is a 10.9 point favorite. I can't figure out if ESPN thinks Hofstra is that good (they lost to GW and Princeton and they have beaten High Point, Buffalo (1-6) and Wright State (3-4). Or if they think USF stinks (they did lose to Maine by 11 at home).

We're only 5.8 point favorites.

[Worcester_To_Amherst]

Saw Maine play HC last night. HC doesn't have a good roster, and Maine handled them easily. Looked like a really good coached team. Still, an AAC team losing to them by 11 at home is pretty bad. Thinking the good guys should win on Saturday.