2015-16 Season

[uz2b-len]

What are we debating here? Whether it's gonna be hard for Rashaan to lose 50 lbs?

[UMass1927]

Everyone burns calories at different rates but you can't put the weight on if you don't take in the calories.

He got this big because he had bad eating habits and didn't do enough exercise to compensate. Rashaan can transform himself if hes discipline enough and puts the work in. It's not going to happen over night.

[Carl Spackler]

I sort of started this (although his weight has been a busy topic before) by saying somewhere in the 295 range by the start of next season otherwise we would have to question his dedication/commitment....
Anyone here ever watch the Biggest Loser reality show? Don't want to bring reality tv in to the conversation but I think it's relevant.
The show for the most part focuses on morbidly obese people. Most have been dangerously overweight their entire lives. They have hit rock bottom and somehow or another landed a spot on the show. Most of these folks are 10,15,20, 30+ years older than Holloway. They come to the show and agree to the parameters. Under the guidance of a licensed physical trainer (UMass strength and conditioning team) and a licensed nutritionist (I am assuming UMass basketball has access to this category in spades, hell you can major in this field) these people with extreme physical (and mental in many cases) embark on a very demanding physical training regimen coupled with proper nutrition. At the start many of these people can't set the treadmill to 3.5 mph and walk for 5 minutes without falling off from shear exhaustion. Their fitness/health levels put them in a situation where death is likely within 2,3,4,5 years if immediate action isn't taken.
The transformations are incredible. They have an official weigh in every week, in the beginning these people are losing 10,12,15+ pounds in 1 week. This happens for multiple weeks. It's nothing for a nearly 400 pound guy to lose 30-40 pounds in the first 4,5,6 weeks. Then the huge numbers slow down but they still lose 4,5 pounds a week for a while. After 10,11,12 weeks many of these people have lost close to 100 pounds and barely look like the same person.
I don't know why Holloway's situation would be any more difficult than these folks. Proper caloric intake of the correct nutrients coupled with intense(it's not easy) physical training over the course of an entire off season, which is 7 months before practice starts up in October should result in tremendous weight loss, increased stamina, the training will produce muscle and increased athleticism.
I'm not disputing ktabz and NilesGold assertions that it will be difficult but if Holloway wants it, then it's absolutely achievable in 1 offseason.

[69MG]

I haven't chimed in on this discussion yet but Carl has hit home. I'm 5'8" and 30 years ago I weighed 228. I realized that I looked like hell and that I was endangering my health. No doctors, no formal health plan, no trainers, etc. I just stopped eating junk, reduced my daily calories and got moderate exercise. I lost 50 pounds in 6 months and have kept it off for the entire 30 years. So if I can drop 50 from 228 with no help, Rashaan can drop 50 from 335. He just has to WANT TO. End of discussion, at least for me.

[EBox]

Was thinking of this while watching the SBU game yesterday and came to realize this is somewhat true of the season so far - the commentators usually note how Umass is a fast break/transition/high pace team, but I feel like that has not been true since the Chaz days. Sure, we have some fast break opportunities which we capitalized on, but a lot of forced turnovers where we either slow it down or even wait for our players to get up the floor offensively. Back in the day, Chaz, Jesse Morgan and even Trey would push the tempo, numbers or not, and many times end up with points, or a free throw opportunity. I feel like maybe the reason our score is anemic is because we actually aren't pushing the tempo and let the opponent dictate the pace.

Even when we were down more than 10 yesterday, I felt like the team was slow to get an offensive play/set together, often waiting until 15 on the shot clock to begin moving, which wasted entirely too much time. Sure, we were not going to get back into the game anyway, but I was surprised we didn't push it more, especially having the double bonus with 10 min left in the game.

Anyone else feel the same?

[gr8won]

Clemson beat #16 louisville, can't hurt!

[KahunaK]

Holloway needs to see the potential in himself that so many people already see. Losing the weight is not the issue. Getting the correct mindset to see how great he can become if he loses the weight is the key. RH, if you are reading this, your potential is fantastic if you start believing in yourself and take the step necessary to realize that potential. Lots of people believe in you, believe in yourself.

[inthescoop]

Clemson beat #16 louisville, can't hurt!

Also beat Syracuse the week before - they look like a brand new squad since we played them. I guess the timing was right for us.

[fenway617]

Per Matty V .... Gresham, Baldwin, and Jarreau were at UMass practice today.

[69MG]

Per Matty V .... Gresham, Baldwin, and Jarreau were at UMass practice today.

These three seem to have bonded. It's a bonus for Gresham and Baldwin to play together this year, and if you factor in the playing time for Jarreau and Gresham it has to give us a head start on 2016-2017. I'm hoping that they see themselves (along with McLean and Pipkins) as the future of UMass basketball.

[fenway617]

And don't sleep on Zach Lweis. 3 years of eligibility left.

[uz2b-len]

No, two.

[FL2Mass]

New walk on:

https://twitter.com/Chris_Lydon7/status ... 0135699457

[CapeCodBruiser]

On the Bud Light Coach's Show DK just said they signed 2 walk-ons but didnt give their names. Not sure if one is the kid from the football team.

[Berkman]

One was mentioned in the post above yours.