UMass transfer portal news - 2024

[69MG]

^ That sucks, but there are a boatload of bigs in the portal that could help us. I trust Frank to bring one to Amherst.

[Upstate10]

I'd sell a kidney for Matt Cross news

[inthescoop]

I reckon him not announcing that he’s transferring at this point is good news for us

[Juice Stand]

Pretty nuts that McCall can't even get a decent D1 head coaching gig.

I’d say being an assistant to a proven head coach at a well resourced program like Charleston is a much better gig than most D1 head coaching jobs.

How would one summarize his head coaching run at Umass?

I would say he just wasn't ready, even though he had some prior experience at Chattanooga. He didn't recruit well, and didn't seem to know how to assemble a roster of complimentary pieces. He also got pushed around by Tony Bergeron, who obviously has a big personality. I like McCall and wished he had succeeded here. One of the nicest guys and I appreciate how he ended his tenure. I wish him the best of luck at Charleston.

[Floyd]

I'd sell a kidney for Matt Cross news

What if the news was he's transferring? Lose a kidney and lose Matt. Not good

[natwam2547]

McCall is transferring from the broadcasting ranks back to coaching.

John Fanta
@John_Fanta
5m
Charleston head coach Chris Mack has hired Matt McCall to his staff, sources tell Fox Sports. The 42-year-old McCall has spent the last two seasons as an analyst with Field of 68, NBC and Sirius. Head coach at UMass 2017-22, Chattanooga 2015-17. Quality hire by Mack.

2017 Pat Kelsey takes the Umass job after DK gets fired. Promptly changes his mind and returns to Winthrop.
2017 Umass hires Matt McCall instead of Kelsey.
2021 Pat Kelsey takes the Charleston job.
2022 Chris Mack gets fired from Louisville
2024 Pat Kelsey takes the Louisville job (not directly replacing Mack, but only 2 years removed)
2024 Chris Mack takes the Charleston job, replacing Kelsey and brings along McCall with him

This has to be one of the crazies circle of events with so many layers/factors in college basketball history

[umasscollective]

I’d say being an assistant to a proven head coach at a well resourced program like Charleston is a much better gig than most D1 head coaching jobs.

How would one summarize his head coaching run at Umass?

I would say he just wasn't ready, even though he had some prior experience at Chattanooga. He didn't recruit well, and didn't seem to know how to assemble a roster of complimentary pieces. He also got pushed around by Tony Bergeron, who obviously has a big personality. I like McCall and wished he had succeeded here. One of the nicest guys and I appreciate how he ended his tenure. I wish him the best of luck at Charleston.

Agree. Bad timing and a bad fit, but overall great basketball mind and person and will do well in the future.

[Mike0473]

How would one summarize his head coaching run at Umass?

I would say he just wasn't ready, even though he had some prior experience at Chattanooga. He didn't recruit well, and didn't seem to know how to assemble a roster of complimentary pieces. He also got pushed around by Tony Bergeron, who obviously has a big personality. I like McCall and wished he had succeeded here. One of the nicest guys and I appreciate how he ended his tenure. I wish him the best of luck at Charleston.

Agree. Bad timing and a bad fit, but overall great basketball mind and person and will do well in the future.

He is a nice guy. Wish him well. It seemed he couldn't catch a break here. Nothing he tried worked.

[DoctorJ]

Yes, good dude. Tenure was Gurlufsonian to Lappassian for sure.

Probably will HC again in the future. Not sure we were ever a good match for MM.

I wish him luck. Just not against us.

[HerndonHops]

Tenure was Gurlufsonian to Lappassian for sure.

Hall of fame quote right there.

[InnervisionsUMASS]

Yep, that's an epic one. *applause*

[EAS]

Yes, good dude. Tenure was Gurlufsonian to Lappassian for sure.

Probably will HC again in the future. Not sure we were ever a good match for MM.

I wish him luck. Just not against us.

If clapping aggressively on the sideline for no reason and insisting on the softest full court press ever were barometers for success than he was a great coach. Otherwise, the man was just not a very good fit here.

[Juice Stand]

Yes, that press was horrendous. Automatic layups coming the other way at lightning speed. If I remember correctly, a lot of that was Tony Bergeron's influence, but maybe I don't remember correctly. It's entirely possible.

Getting back to the thread and transfer portal news. Now that the college basketball season is officially over, and Frank is presumably en route or has already arrived back at UMass, I think we'll start to see an uptick in activity, and hopefully some good news. What's up with Keon Thompson? I haven't seen a peep of any offers or interest from other schools. I wonder if he will consider withdrawing from the portal, like Romad Dean at Fordham just did.

[69MG]

^ It was Bergeron's D. Remember the cue cards? What an awful idea.

Just a quick portal update. Nothing from us, either coming or going but a lot of activity now that the season is over. Now 1,515 names in the portal.

[69MG]

All 5 Indiana State starters have entered the portal. I'm guessing some or all end up at SLU and SLU will be much improved. Frankly, we could use a couple of them.