Game 8, 2025-26: Harvard (12/3)

[InnervisionsUMASS]

I don’t think any of the coaches we’ve hired over the last 25 years realize they need to be as much a salesman of the program as much as they are coaches of the team. It’s probably exhausting but no one since Cal has sold the brand consistently. Every time we get a new coach they have the honeymoon period where they tour the state, hit up the Red Sox broadcast booth, etc but after the first few months you don’t really hear from them again. Frank was all over local tv and radio in Boston at the beginning but it’s been awhile since I’ve heard him on the local channels. You have to do everything in your power to sell this college basketball program in a pro sports dominated state.

Not to Cal's level, but I do think both Ford and DK put solid effort into, and had solid success, selling the program. Bru to a lesser extent after that. Lap, McCall, Martin and Bamford.. not so much.

[BR72]

I'll stop picking on individual players at this point. As a general observation, if you throw away all the other stats, this game was decided at the 3 point line. We were 8/16 and they were 3/19. Harvard was at 37% going into this game. If they hit 37% tonight they are 7/19 and have 12 more points. If we hit 3's at 37% we are 6/16 and have 6 fewer points. Harvard wins going away. My point is that we didn't play well and the combination of us having a good night and Harvard having a bad night was what won the game[/b].

This is one of the dummer takes that I've seen. You have to take into account who is actually taking the shots because, while the team might average 37%, not every Harvard player does. Last night, Tey Barbour, a 29% 3-point shooter took 37% of Harvard's 3-point shots. In UM's case, Banks (a 39% 3-point shooter) and Parker (48%) took 75% of the shots. I would argue that UM got the 3-point shots that it wanted while forcing Harvard to take less favorable shots. They didn't win the game because they were lucky that more of their 3-point shots went in.

There obviously remain issues with this team, including, but not limited to, its depth and ability to sustain leads. I thought that they played an excellent defensive first half but didn't handle Harvard's second half adjustments well. And the FT shooting is a continuing problem. Nevertheless, a solid win over a decent Harvard team and its on to UM-Lowell.

[SignMan]

Happy we defeated FBE (Far Bigger Endowment)
Just saw the score...
Mrs SM sick this week, so UM sports hasn't been looked at in some days...

We are planning to be at the game vs FSU.

[classof60]

Stillno mention of the game in the Globe

[MikeUMA]

I wonder what Bamford thinks of Frank's courtside antics? I had to work late so I only watched on TV last night and I saw RB down at the end of the bench in a few clips so he could see that first hand.

I've never seen Ryan on/near the bench. He typically sits in the courtside seats on the home-side baseline.

[MikeUMA]

Stillno mention of the game in the Globe

Ha. Don't hold your breath. The Globe only swoops in when there's a negative story to capitalize on. Make the base mad about how the State U is spending public dollars.

Do they even send a staffer to Chestnut Hill for BC games? We barely get a Gazette writer at home games anymore.

[MikeUMA]

maybe give them 1 college credit for attending games w/a some level of commitment.

That's incredibly soft.

Or, expand on what you meant by some level of commitment.

[MikeUMA]

I honestly think the team needs to go back to basic promoting to get the students and the people back in the Mullins Center.

Expand on that. What would you like them to do that they're not already doing?

Promo schedule: https://x.com/UMassMBB/status/1984001742955278403
They run ticket deals.
Etc

[MikeUMA]

Just Being Frank discussion of the Harvard game
https://youtu.be/AT1o2cfj7WU?si=bZeQqGsH-A9QcIZ-&t=490

[InnervisionsUMASS]

I honestly think the team needs to go back to basic promoting to get the students and the people back in the Mullins Center.

Expand on that. What would you like them to do that they're not already doing?

Promo schedule: https://x.com/UMassMBB/status/1984001742955278403
They run ticket deals.
Etc

Faculty and Staff Appreciation night will def get the students out!

[minutefanjsf]

Rant: I don't know why, but Frank has a bug up his ass for Bettiol. Yes, he has a turnover problem and he's not perfect defensively, but no one on this team is. We don't have any perfect players. In the postgame show, Frank said Leo had a terrible game. Ok bud, he had 18 points on 7-10 shooting and a perfect 4-4 at the line. Without that, your team would have been blown out by a bunch of bookworms. Criticize him/them in private in the locker room, but it's like Frank has no clue how hard it is to play and win. It's easy to sit on the bench and scream obscenities. Leo's woring his ass off. They won the game, and he was a big reason why.

Did you notice the play in the 2nd half where Leo was diving after a loose ball near the UMass bench before a timeout and Frank ran over and was screaming in his face as he was on the floor?

Team wins and if you look at them you'd think they lost by 50. There's no joy in playing the game. Could be a reason no one goes to games

I think the screaming is not always "bad commentary". The screaming is fiery. I don't think Frank knows how to not use his "couch in a full gym" voice during game play. Even when he giving out "normal" instructions during game play the volume is way off the charts. I am know he shouts things he shouldn't as well.

[minutefanjsf]

I'm not sure any of us have the answer for getting students to the games. Winning would help, but we need more than that. I like the idea that Bona has about dorms, etc. It's probably been tried, but maybe we need to find a way to recruit a couple of "ambassadors" in each dorm to try to drum up support with a goal of getting 50 students per dorm to attend.

I have no idea how far-fetched this idea is, but we have to try something. How many dorms are there?

I've said this on X/twitter. I think student turnout at everything is bad because of the show up and swipe to get in. Forcing kids to get tickets (digital or paper-never coming back) will increase attendance. Kids sitting in a DC or dorm at 5 PM trying to convince their friends to go to a game they don't need tickets to is like choosing between what slice you'd like at Antonio's. games are not events or distinguished in any way from any other choice the students have. Let's face it, if you're anywhere on campus that requires walking to an athletic venue that you aren't obligated to go to to watch a mediocre or worse event, you're choosing to play Minecraft instead. The beginning of every season they should do a student "sale" for tickets. Give the swag for "buying" the ticket. Places like Georgia revoke student tickets if they do not use their ticket to go to games. Keep some tickets for games to promote if they want.

[InnervisionsUMASS]

I'm not sure any of us have the answer for getting students to the games. Winning would help, but we need more than that. I like the idea that Bona has about dorms, etc. It's probably been tried, but maybe we need to find a way to recruit a couple of "ambassadors" in each dorm to try to drum up support with a goal of getting 50 students per dorm to attend.

I have no idea how far-fetched this idea is, but we have to try something. How many dorms are there?

I've said this on X/twitter. I think student turnout at everything is bad because of the show up and swipe to get in. Forcing kids to get tickets (digital or paper-never coming back) will increase attendance. Kids sitting in a DC or dorm at 5 PM trying to convince their friends to go to a game they don't need tickets to is like choosing between what slice you'd like at Antonio's. games are not events or distinguished in any way from any other choice the students have. Let's face it, if you're anywhere on campus that requires walking to an athletic venue that you aren't obligated to go to to watch a mediocre or worse event, you're choosing to play Minecraft instead. The beginning of every season they should do a student "sale" for tickets. Give the swag for "buying" the ticket. Places like Georgia revoke student tickets if they do not use their ticket to go to games. Keep some tickets for games to promote if they want.

I concur with most of this. But, the reality is: They don't even send out tickets to STHs anymore... no way in hell are they going back to a ticketing system for students.

[minutefanjsf]

I'm not sure any of us have the answer for getting students to the games. Winning would help, but we need more than that. I like the idea that Bona has about dorms, etc. It's probably been tried, but maybe we need to find a way to recruit a couple of "ambassadors" in each dorm to try to drum up support with a goal of getting 50 students per dorm to attend.

I have no idea how far-fetched this idea is, but we have to try something. How many dorms are there?

I've said this on X/twitter. I think student turnout at everything is bad because of the show up and swipe to get in. Forcing kids to get tickets (digital or paper-never coming back) will increase attendance. Kids sitting in a DC or dorm at 5 PM trying to convince their friends to go to a game they don't need tickets to is like choosing between what slice you'd like at Antonio's. games are not events or distinguished in any way from any other choice the students have. Let's face it, if you're anywhere on campus that requires walking to an athletic venue that you aren't obligated to go to to watch a mediocre or worse event, you're choosing to play Minecraft instead. The beginning of every season they should do a student "sale" for tickets. Give the swag for "buying" the ticket. Places like Georgia revoke student tickets if they do not use their ticket to go to games. Keep some tickets for games to promote if they want.

I concur with most of this. But, the reality is: They don't even send out tickets to STHs anymore... no way in hell are they going back to a ticketing system for students.

They send digital tickets that incessantly notify us pathetic game is coming up and even when the parking opens up. Even if they are digital tickets it would help. I agree they are not going back to paper tickets.

[InnervisionsUMASS]

They send digital tickets that incessantly notify us pathetic game is coming up and even when the parking opens up. Even if they are digital tickets it would help. I agree they are not going back to paper tickets.

The digital only tickets suck.