Game 23, 2023-24: Rhode Island (2/11)

[Floyd]

Your point is well received eldon, but they need to MAKE the FTs and not make bad passes for TOs in those situations. Fatigue, pressure etc all play into what happens as well, but ultimately it's execution. Yes it's on the staff to teach and prepare for those situations, but to me, there's a reason there's certain guys who always come up big and make those plays. They have that instinct to make the play. Not sure you can teach that.

Frank is a pretty intense coach and it would surprise me if he doesn't review these type of situations with the players. Even in timeouts, he and the staff are always talking, pretty directly, to them. I could be way off here, but I'm pretty sure Matt would say it wasn't a great decision throwing away that pass under our hoop, I think he knows that, but in the heat of the moment shit happens, but he makes up for it on the other end.

In the end, they were down at the half, came out and played a pretty good 2nd half to take the lead, had a couple mis steps, but ultimately got the W. That's progress from years past

And respectfully, not disagreeing with your points, I just think you can only teach those situations so much, then hope when they come up, guys execute

[eldonabe]

Your point is well received eldon, but they need to MAKE the FTs and not make bad passes for TOs in those situations. Fatigue, pressure etc all play into what happens as well, but ultimately it's execution. Yes it's on the staff to teach and prepare for those situations, but to me, there's a reason there's certain guys who always come up big and make those plays. They have that instinct to make the play. Not sure you can teach that.

Frank is a pretty intense coach and it would surprise me if he doesn't review these type of situations with the players. Even in timeouts, he and the staff are always talking, pretty directly, to them. I could be way off here, but I'm pretty sure Matt would say it wasn't a great decision throwing away that pass under our hoop, I think he knows that, but in the heat of the moment shit happens, but he makes up for it on the other end.

In the end, they were down at the half, came out and played a pretty good 2nd half to take the lead, had a couple mis steps, but ultimately got the W. That's progress from years past

And respectfully, not disagreeing with your points, I just think you can only teach those situations so much, then hope when they come up, guys execute

Agree Floyd, that said, Frank himself admitted that they do not work on those situations enough.

[Floyd]

Frank never throw his players under the bus, seems he always takes the responsibility. Another reason why I think he's a great coach

[NilesGold]

Ndjigue: C+: Maybe one of hits worst games as he hasn’t had many as his missed dunk was extremely frustrating (just lay it in) and his defense was less than stellar (even though House clearly was a challenge for anyone).

Are you high? He had a bad blown layup, but aside from that he was great. Great defense on House, no turnovers, hit his only 3pt attempt.

Let’s not judge cannabis users! So the stating guards of Fortnight, House and Weston scored 45 points combined and somehow Jayden had nothing to with their production. We got shredded in both games this year by The URI guards. I watched the game in-person and the tv replay and nothing changed my mind. Jayden is a good defensive player especially as a true freshman but he struggles against stronger and or longer guards. If Jaden puts on another 10-15 pounds and develops as a shooter then this kid is a potential first team A10 player by his senior year.

He's by no means perfect, but Jayden is probably our best on-ball defender, and he's a much better defender than our other guards, who's I'd say are mostly average (at best). I just re-watched the last 10 minutes of the game... Ndjigue comes out with the score 55-51 UMass, comes back in at 74-69, and although URI continues to score, as best I can tell it's never because of Ndjigue, as he's playing extremely good defense.

[inthescoop]

^Both can be correct - things don't always have to be black and white. He is our best on ball defender and the game vs URI was not one of his better ones. But we're still damn lucky to have him, he is the glue of the team.

[Floyd]

I love watching this team, more than any team since maybe the Cady, Maxie, Chaz , Putney team. They're never out of it and really play hard nosed team basketball. Really hope they stick together and grow this thing together. They remind me of the Harper, Barbee, McCoy, Herndon group that really started to pickup the program from some down years.

[LS71]

I love watching this team, more than any team since maybe the Cady, Maxie, Chaz , Putney team. They're never out of it and really play hard nosed team basketball. Really hope they stick together and grow this thing together. They remind me of the Harper, Barbee, McCoy, Herndon group that really started to pickup the program from some down years.

I like this team too, although the way they close out games makes me wonder if they are 'out of it' at times....

They need a Harper-type warrior to get them over the top. Don't forget Anton Brown...who was a great PG for this team. This was a group of warriors like few teams at UMass before or after. They put the program on the map nationally!

[minutefanjsf]

Re: Ndjigue — he did get beat 2-3 times on backdoor cuts, something that’s happened a few times this year. I’ve almost made comments about in previous games but I don’t really think anyone needs me posting about backdoor cuts in their life. Part of those cuts is probably him being a freshman and part of it is probabkh the aggressive scheme we play most of the time.

He’s a good player (with some things to work on sure) — not sure he will ever score enough to make a 1st team all conference, but he gets to a lot of loose balls and is a bit of agitator out there.

Re: Curry he’s shot 6-for-26 over his last 3 games after he had that stretch where he really seemed to be turning a corner. Part of that is probably him being a freshman and part is probably teams making him a focal point in their scouting.

He’s a good player (with some things to work on for sure) and brings a dynamic with his speed that we don’t have, otherwise. He’s playing plenty of minutes as a freshman — almost 20 a night. I recognize the landscape has change in regards to transfers, but to say he is a likely transfer is silly to me. Everyone might transfer — that’s the world — but we have no idea, really.

I agree the aggressive scheme is the what causes the breakdowns at times. I don’t think Frank blames the primary defender in all situations, though. Jayden getting beat on back door cuts is something that happens in this defense to everyone. Frank has stated that he expects his players to get between the person they guard and the ball. There will be moments when this type of overplaying requires help defense. The failure in rotation is likely something Frank dislikes more. There are obvious back door issues where the primary defender is the issue. In Jayden’s case, most of the time he has not been leaving someone a free run back door, like Worthy has done a few times. He has been beaten by a quick good play by the offense that should be covered by a help defender. Matt Cross has gotten so many steals as the help/rotation in these types of plays. That is the scheme/trap.

[minutefanjsf]

Though I would like to blame Frank 100% for what happens at the end of games, it always comes down to players being mentally strong when it matters most. I don’t think Archie Miller is responsible for Jaden House of URI practicing end game scenarios as the kid said fuck it and said I am not losing this game. Need Cross, Diggins, Cohen and or Thompson to step up when the game gets tight

Ummm.... you are making my point.


Everyone is blasting Shanahan for not telling everyone about the OT rules to they could make the right decision. Most of the players didn't know the OT rules in the playoffs. Who's fault is that?

This stuff is no different... At this level of hoops, most of these kids dominated their HS games and had few opportunities or need to play through last minute tight games. You need to teach them - you know, that whole "coaching" thing.

Of course these players need to execute, but Frank should be telling them -- "boys, use some clock, but drive to the basket and get to the foul line and maybe get a 3 point play". Too many empty possessions where they are jacking up contested three's in those situations. The other team NEEDS a stop, you make it easy bombing 3 pointers. I bet their 3PT percentage in those situations is under 20% - maybe close to 10%. Getting to the line and making 1 FT is better than the horseshit they are doing now.

Making it worse is Frank does not have a goto guy - so it seems to be shoot by committee - or whoever happens to have the ball with 4 seconds left on the SC.

My guess based on Frank’s reactions often at the end of games is he has told them to do exactly what you’ve said, and has practiced it. We have very few guys who can successfully drive and get to the hoop and finish through contact. Relying on officials, especially A10 officials and during that game against URI, to make a call if the player can’t score through contact, is "iffy”, IMO. It is definitely a fundamental and sound approach. If they get cut off from the lane, they kick it out and then a three. It is the “new way”. I don’t like it either.

[NilesGold]

^Both can be correct - things don't always have to be black and white. He is our best on ball defender and the game vs URI was not one of his better ones.

That first part is correct, but I'm a bit perplexed by the opinion that vs URI was not one of his better games. Aside from his 1 missed layup/dunk, I thought he played very well on both sides of the ball.

[TheOFFSeason]

Ndjigue: C+: Maybe one of hits worst games as he hasn’t had many as his missed dunk was extremely frustrating (just lay it in) and his defense was less than stellar (even though House clearly was a challenge for anyone).

Are you high? He had a bad blown layup, but aside from that he was great. Great defense on House, no turnovers, hit his only 3pt attempt.

Let’s not judge cannabis users! So the stating guards of Fortnight, House and Weston scored 45 points combined and somehow Jayden had nothing to with their production. We got shredded in both games this year by The URI guards. I watched the game in-person and the tv replay and nothing changed my mind. Jayden is a good defensive player especially as a true freshman but he struggles against stronger and or longer guards. If Jaden puts on another 10-15 pounds and develops as a shooter then this kid is a potential first team A10 player by his senior year.

FM went with Davis for extended minutes, as he had been playing well, when House got the 11 straight. Which means that trio you mentioned had, at best, 34 pts while JN was in…that’s pretty good. What you are missing is how JN directs the D out there…he communicates very well which is very important. I don’t think it is a coincidence that the only game that UMass played this year that they played poorly was the only game this year that JN played poorly-Towson….that is my opinion.

[TheOFFSeason]

Lethal might not have been the correct term. He started 2-4 and made 2 in a row at one point. Combine that with the Loyola game where he hit a bunch to get us back in it is probably what I'm blurring in my mind. Confident is probably the more accurate term. I was more or less just referring to your post about not realizing he took 13 shots.

Though Curry may not have a high 3 point %, this guy scares URI as he played well in the first game and solid in the second game. As I said before, Curry is the most dynamic scorer on the team but Frank values defense over offense and that is why Curry’s minutes are up and down. Hate to say it. But this guy will likely end up transferring when And NIL deal presents itself.

When Curry is taken out it is usually because the ball isn’t moving on offense, or his shot selection, more than it is his defense…he actually has learned to play pretty hard on defense.

[69MG]

^ I agree with that. On offense he sometimes dribbles on the perimeter for too long trying to figure out if he can get a shot. He's not yet a pass-first point guard. However, he has speed that nobody else on the team has, and once he is able to make quicker decisions on who to get the ball to, the sky is the limit.