Game 21, 2024-25: at Rhody (1/29)

[DanaDingle3]

Just when it looks like the team is coming together, they give up 90 in a loss.

I like Frank's style better than previous coaches, but it's tiring. Maybe they'll grind to a bye or double bye, but man, it's kind of tiring.

[JoleonLescottsHair]

Forgot we played tonight. Even with the recent three game streak, there is little to believe in this program. It’s just not happening at this point, particularly with A10 exit and MAC welcome. Sucks. Memories.

[69MG]

How can we play such tight D against GW and zero D tonight. Frustrating. We should win just about every game when we score over 80.

[stevemaz]

another game where lack of good three pt shooters killed us. we have two guys that are ok from 3 and that is not enough

[Juice Stand]

I'm weirdly not affected by the loss last night. There were probably 10 minutes, the end of the 1st and opening the 2nd that sunk us but otherwise we competed and never quit on the game. When I boil it all down, that's really what I want to see from a UMass team. Win or lose, just give it everything you've got, and they did that. We get a return game in Amherst on March 1st, which will also come out of a week-long break.

This was one of those games where the "bad UMass" from earlier in the season showed up. 67% at the line, 27% from 3 and next to nothing from the centers. Malek & Shahid combined for 6 points on 2/8 shooting and 3 rebounds in 24 minutes. Based on how the month of January went, it kind of seems like that's the key to this season. When the centers contribute, we win. When they don't, we lose. Diggins, Curry, DHS, and Rivera have all kind of settled in and looked like what we expect, but the centers are up and down. Last night was down.

[Worcester_To_Amherst]

Took just a little too long to find the right line up combination. Need to bounce back Saturday.

[InnervisionsUMASS]

Missed the first 25 minutes of game action, but we were down by 19 or so when I was able to tune in. Sounds like they went through a lull and dug themselves a hole. Once again, great to see the fight in the comeback... they took advantage of both URI's stupidity and some help from the refs to make it a winnable game.

I'm with Juice... I don't feel terrible after this one.

[Floyd]

Really thought they were gonna come back & get this one. A couple bad turnovers/not great shots when they were down 6 & again 4 really hurt. Looked a little rushed & forced, but I thought they fought back & that effort was pretty good. Getting down 21 was the killer, just lost focus and gave up some easy buckets.

Clean up some of those bad turnovers, & improve even a little on the 67% and 27% and I think they take this one. Not a horrible game so keep building. Team is showing progress

[69MG]

A lot of talk about the offense, but I'll say it again: We scored 82 points. The problem was the defense.

[Old Cage]

^ And the defense was fine at the beginning. The bottom fell out when Frank decided to go ten deep.

[MakeMullinsGreatAgain]

I love the lineup of DHS, Rivera, Jayden, Curry and Diggins - it's small but Rivera and DHS play bigger than they are - if DHS continues to play like this the rest of the way I'd love to see this lineup in there 25+ minutes a game.

Anyone know why Curry sat coming out of half? I know he wasn't great in 1st half but Frank is usually so damn stubborn that regardless of what the starters do he usually puts the starting 5 back out there to start the 2nd half. Coincidently URI went on a 13-0 run with Curry on the bench and that was essentially the game - 21 points down on the road is damn near impossible to come back from.

And why no timeout by Frank?? I mean you cannot just sit there and let the game go from down 8 to 21 - you have to call a TO after the run went to 8 straight - some coaches would have even done it after 4-6 straight - you just can't let it get away that early in the 2nd half.

[eldonabe]

How can we play such tight D against GW and zero D tonight. Frustrating. We should win just about every game when we score over 80.

Foul Trouble dictated that defense as much as anything.

[eldonabe]

I love the lineup of DHS, Rivera, Jayden, Curry and Diggins - it's small but Rivera and DHS play bigger than they are - if DHS continues to play like this the rest of the way I'd love to see this lineup in there 25+ minutes a game.

Anyone know why Curry sat coming out of half? I know he wasn't great in 1st half but Frank is usually so damn stubborn that regardless of what the starters do he usually puts the starting 5 back out there to start the 2nd half. Coincidently URI went on a 13-0 run with Curry on the bench and that was essentially the game - 21 points down on the road is damn near impossible to come back from.

And why no timeout by Frank?? I mean you cannot just sit there and let the game go from down 8 to 21 - you have to call a TO after the run went to 8 straight - some coaches would have even done it after 4-6 straight - you just can't let it get away that early in the 2nd half.

Curry had 3 fouls - I think he was trying to keep him from a quick one out of the gate after the half.

[LS71]

To their credit they battled back to make it close. Problem is....they need to play that way for 40 minutes every game. They didn't last night.

[NilesGold]

A lot of talk about the offense, but I'll say it again: We scored 82 points. The problem was the defense.

This is the correct take. There were issues other than the defense, but that was by far the biggest problem.