2020-21 season

[kikoandjimmer]

Grace Heeps is gone, transferring to UAlbany, very close to her home. I bet the home angle really appealed to her in addition to actually playing basketball. Her mom said last year that she "missed playing the game". She didn't get a ton of minutes with the fast offense that UMass ran last year and I'm guessing if there is a season in 2020-21, she would be further down the bench with the talent coming on, same reasons essentially as Paige McCormick and Bre Hampton-Bey. Wish them all the best.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CDMVwKsJDVJ/

I will say this about Grace. She has a great court awareness and protected the ball very well with very few turnovers. Much in the same line as Leah McDerment who came in a few years ago to help steady a ship of a team that had more turnovers than field goals. UAlbany will have some great years ahead with Grace.

[One]

Angelique Ngalakulondi is back on the Roster. We had the best front court in the A10, now we have unprecedented depth as well. All five Minutewomen will be sprinting up and down the court, no other A10 team has that depth in every position. Expect huge fourth quarter's when the other team is just exhausted. Lets get this virus behind us and these women on the court!

[69MG]

Other than the 1 game suspension that turned into who knows what, does anyone recall why she left the team (or got kicked off) after 12 games? Shades of Mike Williams, or further back Rick Pitino. At any rate, it's good to have her back. She can help.

[kikoandjimmer]

From what I heard, there were some family issues, maybe a death or serious illness in the family. She had great offensive abilities (NH high school player of the year if i recall correctly). I do recall her defense lacking, but just like Verdi said about Ber'Nyah, in high school, a lot of the best players don't play defense.

I think this roster will put us in the conversation to go far in the A10 tournament. Let's hope that some semblance of a season happens as long as it is safe for all involved.

[kikoandjimmer]

Jess nelson is retiring from basketball. Two major knee surgeries IIRC. A lot of people refer to her as the "team mom" with a calming influence on the locker room. I think she will remain with the program in some leadership capacity.

[kikoandjimmer]

HUGE NEWS!!!! Sam Breen's waiver for an extra year of eligibility is GRANTED. She will be with us for two more years. I fully believe that we will make the NCAAW tournament in one or both of those years.

[Berkman]

Looking forward to going to their game with Davidson whenever it is.

[PreecherJenkins]

HUGE NEWS!!!! Sam Breen's waiver for an extra year of eligibility is GRANTED. She will be with us for two more years. I fully believe that we will make the NCAAW tournament in one or both of those years.

I will be willing to put a bet on this. If they make the tourney in the eitherof the next two years I will buy as many season tickets as games they play in the tourney. If they do not make a tourney you have to buy 4 season tickets for the next season? Deal?

[kikoandjimmer]

I already plan on 2 or 3 the next season they allow fans in the stands

[Steve81]

Hope fans are allowed by the middle of the A10 season. Will finally have time to catch some games.

[kikoandjimmer]

Assistant Coach Candice Walker has left the program to return to her alma mater at Loyola in Maryland. I think this makes sense considering her family, fiancee, etc are all down that way. That said, she was the recruiting coordinator and has probably been the force behind these great incoming classes. I hope that Verdi will replace Walker with someone close to her ability -- a loss for the program but a win for Loyola.

[69MG]

^ Agree with everything you said. My other concern is that we don't lose any players or recruits. She was the top recruiter for Verdi.

[One]

The A10 2020-2021 preseason teams and rankings came out today. Sam Breen making the first team is well deserved. I think the team should have been ranked higher, only 7th overall. They finished last year tied for fourth, but I guess loosing so many key contributors (Leidel, McCormick, Hampton-Bey and Perry) will make the other coaches wonder.


https://atlantic10.com/news/2020/11/8/v ... onors.aspx

[kikoandjimmer]

There were a few great signings announced today. Another Top 100 player. Everything still seems to be trending up with this program!

[69MG]

Verdi was looking for 3 more OOC games and he just got 1. Probably on Sunday as BC was supposed to play UMass-Lowell but UML has paused women's BB effective 11/23.

BC was 20-12 last year. I looked at their roster and all key returning players are 5'11 or shorter. We should have a size advantage but I admit that's about all I know about the game.

Tory Verdi
@CoachVerdiUMass
· 44m
Thank You @bc_wbb for answering the call! 1 game confirmed and many more to go. DM/call me if your interested in playing. Have plenty of open dates.