Game 17, 2023-24: at Loyola Chicago (1/17)

[InnervisionsUMASS]

They overcame that run in the 1st half where I thought this would turn into a blowout... once again, the team continues to fight. D was suspect early, a lot of backdoor cuts through the LUC offense that cause us some pain, but they made an in-game adjustment (what a concept!) and really clamped down. Josh and Curry were standouts. A few bad/untimely whistles, a few bad fouls (that Worthy stretch in the 2nd half was bad...), some untimely FT misses. Like a few others, this could have been a win.


They have got to figure out how to win on the road. Also, can we get Mason a jersey with his name on the back? He's a member of the team, not some kid they pulled out of Coolidge because 10 guys caught the flu.

[MakeMullinsGreatAgain]

Tough to say they def. win if Matt played but Matt is exactly what they needed last night - especially on that last play.

Yes. If Cross was on the floor on that last possession, he/we would have gotten that rebound. That was the tenacity that was lacking when it mattered most.

I agree and I also think Jayden gets at least a hand on it and disrupts the play a bit - if not grabs that rebound. Frank said it in his post game presser - and I saw it live - although he didn't single anyone out - but Diggins was just standing out of bounds under the basket not even attempting to get in the scrum for that rebound. I haven't looked at the replay but Frank said "the young guys were just standing around" so I assume Jaylen and Keon were on the perimeter somewhere - but Diggins stood out in my mind - he never even made an attempt to get that rebound.

[InnervisionsUMASS]

^

I agree on Jayden, it was very unfortunately he was not able to be in on that final play. He has become a guy I want to see on the floor for 40 minutes, he's become that important of a team member in my eyes.

[stevemaz]

Goaltending.

Curry’s steal looked clean to me…the y didn’t show a replay.

This bad call turned out to be the difference in the game as it put a guy who has missed only one FT all year at the line. 2 free pts

[stevemaz]

Free throws. This team has shown their fatal flaw, and it's unfortunately free throws. It cost them the Harvard and Georgia Tech games and now Loyola as well. In the last 1:30, they missed four of them. There are going to be a lot of close games in conference play and in the tournament, and their inability to consistently hit free throws will limit what kind of season they have. I was disappointed in Frank's response to a fan question in the last podcast where he kind of shrugged off the free throw issue. For a guy that preaches mental and physical toughness he just let it slide and said guys are tired, they're hurt, so it's hard. Yeah, of course it's hard, but other teams can finish at the line and we to figure that out.

With that said, I'll try to be positive. They played with tremendous fight and grit without Cross, and Jaylen Curry is showing that he is a real stud. I didn't expect them to win, so to be in the game and have a lead that late is more than I anticipated.

I disagree on this. with FTs you need to compare the teams and we actually won that battle.

[stevemaz]

That sucked…initiate contact but no whistle.

Call a blocking foul on UMasss with free throws; not let em play.

UMass got robbed tonight!

Maybe I’m in the minority but I thought that the refs were solid tonight.

They called too many ticky tack fouls on both teams. it was horrific and on the last play no way that should have been called..maybe a late whistle if the shot doesnt go down.

[natwam2547]

I agree about Jayden minus his clear inability to hit FT's.

I really wish DHS stood his ground on that last play. Worst case scenario they call him for a foul (yes it would have been his 5th which he ended up getting on the and-1 anyway) and Alston has to hit 2 FT's to tie. Missing 4 FT's in crunch time sucks, but 2 weeks ago we would have killed for 22-31. I'm still in the camp that while this sucked big time, I still love the fight. They clearly aren't rattled on the road either. Get Cross back in there, protect home court and steal a couple on the road. Either way, this is still a fun team to watch considering their age and lack of experience playing together. This is another game that is a 15-18 point loss a few years ago.

[Juice Stand]

Free throws. This team has shown their fatal flaw, and it's unfortunately free throws. It cost them the Harvard and Georgia Tech games and now Loyola as well. In the last 1:30, they missed four of them. There are going to be a lot of close games in conference play and in the tournament, and their inability to consistently hit free throws will limit what kind of season they have. I was disappointed in Frank's response to a fan question in the last podcast where he kind of shrugged off the free throw issue. For a guy that preaches mental and physical toughness he just let it slide and said guys are tired, they're hurt, so it's hard. Yeah, of course it's hard, but other teams can finish at the line and we to figure that out.

With that said, I'll try to be positive. They played with tremendous fight and grit without Cross, and Jaylen Curry is showing that he is a real stud. I didn't expect them to win, so to be in the game and have a lead that late is more than I anticipated.

I disagree on this. with FTs you need to compare the teams and we actually won that battle.

I suppose we'll agree to disagree. Crunch time free throws are what I'm talking about, not free throws made earlier in the game (and yes, I know how math works). We went 4-8 in the final 90 seconds and missed the critical final free throw, they made theirs. Missing 4 free throws in a minute and a half down the stretch is really poor and in my opinion the primary reason we lost the game.

[Mykl_18]

Does Keon Thompson start for any other team in the A10? Deserve better play from our starting PG

He's had a few off games, but he's been solid all season. Curry may be making a case to take on the job with his play, but KT has earned being the starter thus far. It is a valid question because Curry has come along, not because we "deserve better play from our starting PG" insinuating KT is bad.

Hasn’t been good in conference play. Feels like he does the bare minimum. Don’t turn the ball over, hand it to Cross/Cohen, and take it to the hoop if there’s a wide open lane. That’s just not going to cut it as a Starting PG in the A10 no matter how hard you play

[InnervisionsUMASS]

Hasn’t been good in conference play. Feels like he does the bare minimum. Don’t turn the ball over, hand it to Cross/Cohen, and take it to the hoop if there’s a wide open lane. That’s just not going to cut it as a Starting PG in the A10 no matter how hard you play

I disagree. I think they can win with that. BUT, again, if Curry is improving and playing better, I'm not opposed to an appropriate switch in the starting lineup.

[NilesGold]

1) the “The No Charge Charge” on Cohen - as any other player would have been called for charging, 2). “The Flop” by Alston that was called a foul on Ndjigue from the ref who can’t actually see the foul

The block on Cohen was atrocious, but even worse was the Loyola possession before the final one, where Alston literally shoved Ndjigue in the back fighting for position on the rebound allowing him to grab the rebound, and then they called a nonexistant foul on Ndjigue when Alston went up for a shot after grabbing that rebound.

[NilesGold]

Tough to say they def. win if Matt played but Matt is exactly what they needed last night - especially on that last play.

Yes. If Cross was on the floor on that last possession, he/we would have gotten that rebound. That was the tenacity that was lacking when it mattered most.

I agree and I also think Jayden gets at least a hand on it and disrupts the play a bit - if not grabs that rebound. Frank said it in his post game presser - and I saw it live - although he didn't single anyone out - but Diggins was just standing out of bounds under the basket not even attempting to get in the scrum for that rebound. I haven't looked at the replay but Frank said "the young guys were just standing around" so I assume Jaylen and Keon were on the perimeter somewhere - but Diggins stood out in my mind - he never even made an attempt to get that rebound.

This game would have been completely different with Cross. DHS was getting absolutely clowned by Alston all game long, that would not have happened to Cross.

[Plano Minuteman]

Hasn’t been good in conference play. Feels like he does the bare minimum. Don’t turn the ball over, hand it to Cross/Cohen, and take it to the hoop if there’s a wide open lane. That’s just not going to cut it as a Starting PG in the A10 no matter how hard you play

I disagree. I think they can win with that. BUT, again, if Curry is improving and playing better, I'm not opposed to an appropriate switch in the starting lineup.

I think they can as well as long as we have a shooter in the game that the opposing D is afraid of. Sucks that Diggins is cold at the same time Cross is out.

Curry for 25-30 minutes a night is great as long as he isn't forcing things too much.

[DanaDingle3]

Yes. If Cross was on the floor on that last possession, he/we would have gotten that rebound. That was the tenacity that was lacking when it mattered most.

I agree and I also think Jayden gets at least a hand on it and disrupts the play a bit - if not grabs that rebound. Frank said it in his post game presser - and I saw it live - although he didn't single anyone out - but Diggins was just standing out of bounds under the basket not even attempting to get in the scrum for that rebound. I haven't looked at the replay but Frank said "the young guys were just standing around" so I assume Jaylen and Keon were on the perimeter somewhere - but Diggins stood out in my mind - he never even made an attempt to get that rebound.

This game would have been completely different with Cross. DHS was getting absolutely clowned by Alston all game long, that would not have happened to Cross.

Ya, same thing happened at URI with David Green. DHS might have better physical tools than Cross, but he's gotta play with more of an edge. I thought he was coming along before he got put in the starting lineup. I know Frank has little choice, but he doesn't look ready for it yet.

We need some of our supporting guys to step up. Between DHS, Davis, Diggins, Thompson, just gotta have more production.

[vanmeter]

Curry has a much better upside than either Rashool or Keon. I think he needs to play 30 minutes a night.Very confident player who doesn’t turn the ball over and generally makes smart decisions.
Cohen, however he looks, is a beast on the offensive end. He may look awkward but he get the job done. Cross was especially missed in this game as we could not rebound defensively. Allston would never have had the impact that hd had with Cross in.
Heard cross ‘may’ be back for next Tuesdays home game which would mean him missing Saturdaysbgsme.
Overall by far the most enjoyable team oriented well coached team we have had in 10 years.
I was at the game last night and their basketball facility is great. Holds about 5500 but very loud- creates great home court advantage.