Game 9, 2025-26: Lowell (12/6)

[Floyd]

I know its cliche but, we dont want everyone playing their best right now, rather improving as the season wears on. As long as they stay healthy and guys play for each other and keep working, they should improve as a team. We're pretty solid in most spots, and several guys can carry the team any night so we're a little more dynamic than the past. Solid bench play is key

[InnervisionsUMASS]

Seeing improvement over the course of the season is certainly something I'd like to see. Especially with our new conference situation. Need to be able to make a Conference Tournament run.

[Juice Stand]

...Placide might do nicely, although he needs to be healthy..

Has anyone heard what's up with Placide? He hasn't been dressed the last two games. It's a shame, he looked good in his last game against Oregon St.

They said it was a foot injury and he would likely miss BC too.

Thanks. I don't like that. Foot injuries can be tricky.

[Juice Stand]

Seeing improvement over the course of the season is certainly something I'd like to see. Especially with our new conference situation. Need to be able to make a Conference Tournament run.

I've always thought about this and wonder how people measure improvement. Wins and losses aren't a good measure in my opinion because theoretically other teams are improving as well, so while you're improving, you're facing off against teams that are getting better. Our freshmen and new guys get more confident, their freshman and new guys get more confident, etc.

I've already seen some improvement on offense. The first 2 games, they looked like guys that hadn't played together before and just met that day. The starters + Parker look much more cohesive now than they did early on. The offensive scheme still stinks, but there's better communication and expectations of where guys will be. The bench beyond Parker however, oof, they still look lost, so seeing bench improvements would be great. I guess improving FT's too, but that's such a mental thing.

I'd like to see the improvements defensively. There are two areas that I see as an armchair observer: They routinely bite on fakes and get beat on the blow by (extreme Bill Raftery voice). They need to move their feet, not bite on fakes, and prevent or at least alter drives to the hoop. The other is that they over-commit as a team and leave shooters wide open, resulting in a scramble to defend the open shooter, who gets an easy look.

[minutefanjsf]

Seeing improvement over the course of the season is certainly something I'd like to see. Especially with our new conference situation. Need to be able to make a Conference Tournament run.

I've always thought about this and wonder how people measure improvement. Wins and losses aren't a good measure in my opinion because theoretically other teams are improving as well, so while you're improving, you're facing off against teams that are getting better. Our freshmen and new guys get more confident, their freshman and new guys get more confident, etc.

I've already seen some improvement on offense. The first 2 games, they looked like guys that hadn't played together before and just met that day. The starters + Parker look much more cohesive now than they did early on. The offensive scheme still stinks, but there's better communication and expectations of where guys will be. The bench beyond Parker however, oof, they still look lost, so seeing bench improvements would be great. I guess improving FT's too, but that's such a mental thing.

I'd like to see the improvements defensively. There are two areas that I see as an armchair observer: They routinely bite on fakes and get beat on the blow by (extreme Bill Raftery voice). They need to move their feet, not bite on fakes, and prevent or at least alter drives to the hoop. The other is that they over-commit as a team and leave shooters wide open, resulting in a scramble to defend the open shooter, who gets an easy look.

They are much better this year with help defense especially under the basket/in the lane.

[Juice Stand]

Seeing improvement over the course of the season is certainly something I'd like to see. Especially with our new conference situation. Need to be able to make a Conference Tournament run.

I've always thought about this and wonder how people measure improvement...

They are much better this year with help defense especially under the basket/in the lane.

I was asking for improvement assessment as the season progresses, not for improvement year to year. There's no question they're better than last year. That was maybe the worst team I've ever seen as a UMass fan. Basically, where do they need to improve, and how does that compare to how their competition improves. Somebody that's mediocre today will find some things that click and turn it on late in the season. I hope it's us.

[minutefanjsf]

I've always thought about this and wonder how people measure improvement...

They are much better this year with help defense especially under the basket/in the lane.

I was asking for improvement assessment as the season progresses, not for improvement year to year. There's no question they're better than last year. That was maybe the worst team I've ever seen as a UMass fan. Basically, where do they need to improve, and how does that compare to how their competition improves. Somebody that's mediocre today will find some things that click and turn it on late in the season. I hope it's us.

They are also much better overall on defense since game one.