Game 1, 2012-13: Harvard (ESPN Tip-Off Marathon - 10am)

Marty Peretz · Post by **Marty Peretz** » Mon Nov 12, 2012 4:00 pm

I have sources (hate to use that terminology because it sounds wildly self-important/arrogant, but I obviously don't want to name names) who've said the exact same thing. Freddie has been playing great. The kid has a ton of talent and I think he's better as a starter anyway just based on the way he plays. If he fails, we go back to Jesse. No big deal. Can't wait for tomorrow. Also think I'm going to hit the coach's show tonight.

Chris20 · Post by **Chris20** » Mon Nov 12, 2012 4:06 pm

Of anyone on the team, Freddie is the guy who has to have the right buttons pushed. If he has indeed been playing good defense, taking mostly good shots and making his share, it probably makes sense to give him this nod. Also, he and Jesse are big enough to play together, with Chaz, against most teams in my opinion. I say that because I think cutting Jesse's minutes would be a negative.

xlgman · Post by **xlgman** » Mon Nov 12, 2012 4:16 pm

If you want to get further psyched for tomorrow's game, and you have access to it, you should do a re-watch of the first half of last year's St. Louis game. Just sweet.

chdavis295 · Post by **chdavis295** » Mon Nov 12, 2012 4:32 pm

Anybody going to be in town for a hotel? Come down to the Mullins Center Fields and check out the campout

Chris20 · Post by **Chris20** » Mon Nov 12, 2012 4:39 pm

Camp Kellogg! Nice job Chili and whomever else organized. Have fun and keep it peaceful.....

HoopHead · Post by **HoopHead** » Mon Nov 12, 2012 4:46 pm

Another possibility concerning Freddy's starting is match-ups. Perhaps he is better than Jesse, on some dimension, against Harvard's starters. Just saying, there is another possibility in this.

Can't wait to see this team in action tomorrow!

Marty Peretz · Post by **Marty Peretz** » Mon Nov 12, 2012 5:15 pm

Boston Herald statehouse beat writer just tweeted that Deval Patrick would be in the building tomorrow. Whatever your politics, I think it's quite cool that the gov is attending.

InnervisionsUMASS · Post by **InnervisionsUMASS** » Mon Nov 12, 2012 5:17 pm

^

He's probably rooting for Harvard!

Calmass9 · Post by **Calmass9** » Mon Nov 12, 2012 5:31 pm

Leaving work in 10 minutes and heading to Amherst. Unbelievably jacked up for this season. I lurk here daily and post once a month daily but I'll give my two cents on Freddie.

We were all shocked by a lot last year but does anything compare to how shocked we were when Freddie started locking down on defense? I was a Senior during Freddie's Soph year and he was my least favorite player on the team. Didn't play D, no hustle, awful shot selection; just a basketball player with so much ability not putting it together. And then last year he works his ass off on defense for 85% of the year and actually became a player I admired. He didn't get the minutes he wanted, couldn't get his offensive rhythm going other than a few select spurts all year, but he still worked his ASS off on defense every time he was out there.

This year he puts it together. There is 0 chance in hell I thought he would be starting tomorrow's game after the way DK treated him (and it was fair) last year. But there he is, worked his ass off this offseason and in the starting line up. DK sees it and I trust DK. See you all tomorrow or tonight if anyones downtown. Lets go UMASS!

fenway617 · Post by **fenway617** » Mon Nov 12, 2012 5:33 pm

Berkman wrote:Vegas don't do their point spreads until the day of the game.

One place has UMass -5.5 another has them -8 ...

thingaboutcollegesports · Post by **thingaboutcollegesports** » Mon Nov 12, 2012 5:38 pm

Haven't posted in forever but have still followed the board. I'm back in as an active participant. Excited for the Umass season. I watched Harvard practice this season--even with the scandal stuff, they'll be good---eventually. I do think it will take them some time.

My big thing for Umass this year will be to see how they've grown defensively. I did not think they were a great defensive team last year. The strength of their defense was being able to wear people down late in games. It was effective late in the season but that style is a gamble (I thought it was necessary for their personnel. This year, I hope they can lock people down in the half court more often---that's how you win big games. It's how you become a consistent team.

Good luck!

ThingAbout

UMassFan99 · Post by **UMassFan99** » Mon Nov 12, 2012 5:47 pm

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketb ... inners-ncb

Interesting blog. Gives us some props, but the ends by essentially saying he goes with UMass, but if Harvard was at full strength they would "be more than capable" of winning this game. . .not exactly a vote of confidence for us. . .

Swampy · Post by **Swampy** » Mon Nov 12, 2012 5:48 pm

Chris20 wrote:Camp Kellogg! Nice job Chili and whomever else organized. Have fun and keep it peaceful.....

Weather forecast says they'll be getting wet.

Berkman · Post by **Berkman** » Mon Nov 12, 2012 6:05 pm

With the warm weather today and the forecast for rain tomorrow which will mean warm temperatures, I wonder if it might affect the court surface. The ice for hockey is under the court. There have been times in the spring where the court surface has become slick with moisture. Hope that don't happen tomorrow.

Floyd · Post by **Floyd** » Mon Nov 12, 2012 6:09 pm

I kind of like the idea of giving Freddie the start. Start of his senior season, on ESPN. Good chance to get Freddie off to a good start. I love Jesse and what he brings, but we'll need a good season from Freddie to get to where we want to be at seasons end. As others have said, he's got the talent, and I hope he has a nice senior year along with TV. Jesse will get his minutes, but we really need a solid year from Freddie and I think we will