Game 24, 2024-25: at La Salle (2/9)

[MikeUMA]

UM gets a little extra rest this week, with the last game on Tuesday, and the next game Sunday, at La Salle. 2 PM at their newly refurbished arena, now called John Glaser Arena.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Glaser_Arena

USA will have it on TV. Make it a double-feature, with GW at Bonaventure just before us.
NBC owns the digital rights, so no ESPN+. Stream via USA or the NBC Sports App.

The Explorers are 12-11 / 4-6 now, having gotten their ass kicked at VCU last night: 96-66.
https://goexplorers.com/news/2025/2/4/m ... t-vcu.aspx
https://vcuathletics.com/news/2025/2/4/ ... 96-66.aspx

La Salle is 2-4 in their last 6, with the first being the 82-60 loss in Amherst on 1/19.
https://umasshoops.com/wiki/doku.php?id ... 9_la_salle
My mini-recap of that one: Tied at 57, La Salle collapses and UM finds success. Curry (22 pts) nearly matches career high, plus 7 assists and 0 TOs. Career high boards from Ndjigue (13). Diggins 17 pts, DHS 10 & 9, Malek 10 & 8.

Matchup: https://bracketologists.com/matchup/NDAxNzI0NDE5

We could use a W here to wash away the stink from the SLU collapse.

[eldonabe]

La Salle is 2-4 in their last 6, with the first being the 82-60 loss in Amherst on 1/19.

Exactly why the betting money should go to LaSalle.

[kd68]

Will we bounce back from the debacle of the other night.

[Juice Stand]

^Garret Cote at the Gazette asks that very question: "Colleges notebook: Can UMass bounce back after dismal loss to Saint Louis?"
https://gazettenet.com/Gut-check-time-f ... s-59304982

[inthescoop]

Diggins will bounce back - he loves playing in Philly.

[69MG]

A hypothetical. If we beat La Salle tomorrow, do you think we can go 4-3 the rest of the way? The schedule isn't a back breaker. No games are easy, but I only see 2 really hard ones, @ VCU and @ SBU.

[Juice Stand]

Matt McCall will be the color analyst on the game per Aaron Bracy, a Philly Sports reporter for the AP.

A hypothetical. If we beat La Salle tomorrow, do you think we can go 4-3 the rest of the way? The schedule isn't a back breaker. No games are easy, but I only see 2 really hard ones, @ VCU and @ SBU.

I have no idea how to gauge this team. They're either a gritty beast that will beat you to a pulp, or a collection of knuckleheads that can't hit layups and melts down in crunch time. I personally think the remaining schedule is very difficult. St Bonaventure and Schmidt are always tough, so those two are a challenge, and you also have VCU and Loyola. La Salle and GW are on the road, and no matter the opponent road games are hard. Let's get past LaSalle first.

@ LaSalle
H Davidson
H St Bona
@ VCU
@ GW
H URI
@ St Bona
H Loyola Chicago

[MakeMullinsGreatAgain]

A hypothetical. If we beat La Salle tomorrow, do you think we can go 4-3 the rest of the way? The schedule isn't a back breaker. No games are easy, but I only see 2 really hard ones, @ VCU and @ SBU.

I def. think 4-3 is possible. The home games are all winnable - realistically they will be favored in all of them. With that said they probably lose at least one of those but I think they are so up and down that they win one of those road games. Including today I'd sign up for 4-4 in a heartbeat.

[eldonabe]

The line is currently a Pick'em.

I want to laugh and cry at the same time.

[Quann]

The line is currently a Pick'em.

I want to laugh and cry at the same time.

You expected us to be favored?

[Floyd]

I would hope after The Great Giveaway this team would come out focused and fired up with something to prove. It's now or never to salvage something out of this weird season

[Worcester_To_Amherst]

Starting with URI, I was going to be happy with 2-2 over these 4 games. SLU was a classic improbable UMass choke job, the worst I can remember under Frank. But a win sets them up to continue playing meaningful basketball down the stretch. The team has shown resiliency this year, and they need more of that today.

[Berkman]

Game is on regular TV USA network. CH 49 here in the Charlotte area.

[inthescoop]

Oh hey, a national TV game!

Guess who’s at LaSalle commentating on the game for USA.. no other than, Matt McCall

[Sheck]

Matt McCall in the analyst chair today. Good deal.