UMassHoops.com

Floyd wrote: Tue Dec 31, 2024 3:08 pm ^ & 18% from 3

No Inside game either ! Not great

Floyd wrote: Tue Dec 31, 2024 3:26 pm Not sure about anyone else but, does anyone notice how many times guys carry the ball and also travel?.
Seems like they let a lot go

Yep, becoming more and more like the NBA game.

Only had 4 TO’s and still lost by 9.
But I guess shooting in the low 30’s% is like a TO

tdmass wrote: Tue Dec 31, 2024 3:30 pm On schedule to be the WORST shooting team collectively in UMass history!

Diggins finally had great game & Rivera was good but..
Team FG 33% Curry 1-12 ugh
Threes 19% ugh

This season is so painful. What happened? People around the program, including the coach, were talking about winning the A10 on the way out. We'll probably beat McCall's 2nd year league win total of 4, but not by much.

For once UMass isn't skimping - we have a well paid head coach and a seemingly well-resourced collective. What is going to change?

Unless the elective can bring in some decent talent, we will face a bleak future in the MAC. I do feel we will move up in football with the new coach.

Is everyone else still content with Jaylen Curry?

The box score for this game is very revealing. We took 73 shots compared to their 57 but still lost! Our defense could have been better, since their overall shooting percentage was 46%. But what I want to highlight is the disparity in 3-point attempts and makes: 3 for 16 (19%) for us vs. 11 for 31 (35%). We all know that Frank did a poor job of team construction by not bringing in better shooters. BUT, the fact remains that Frank's strategy of foregoing the 3 point shot is going to lead to more games like today's, where we take many more shots than the opponent but still lose by a significant margin. I propose that Frank identify several players besides Sool (among the group of Curry, who unfortunately was off today, Akil, Nate, and even Malek, all of whom can make 3's some of the time) and run more plays to get the "designated shooters" open looks throughout the game. Given the mathematics of today's game, we just have to shoot more 3's and live with the consequences. I also contend that if a shooter only takes one 3 over the course of a game (or even a half), there is no way to get into a shooting rhythm. The designated shooters should be given several open looks each half, and then when someone gets hot, let them "cook." If you disagree with this assessment, tell me how continuing to shoot 2's at a make percentage of 37% (21 made 2's out of 57 attempts) is going to win us any games!

Zero balance on offence. UMass attempted 15 more FGs than StJ and lost by 9! For UMass. Only 5 players scored a point for UMass. And one only had 3 points. Rivera and Diggings had 56 of the 72 points scored and they took 24 of the 26 FTs for the team.

What a mess of the season this is! It's like watching the Patriots on a basketball court.

This was not an encouraging performance. Great to see Diggins put forth his 2nd strong game in a row in a career performance, but they still lost decisively even with a scant 4 TOs and 80% from the FT line.

NilesGold wrote: Tue Dec 31, 2024 4:40 pm Is everyone else still content with Jaylen Curry?

like the rest of the team, consistency is lacking. but a couple games ago, he practically beat Northeastern single-handed, and the talent is there. Today he had 6 assists, 3 steals, zero turnovers. Very bad shooting day. But played way better than the back-up guards.
Can't use the word "content" with anything about this year's team. I hate to see things like that difficult shot near the end of the first half that put UMass down 4 at the half when it should have been down 2 or tied. Can't the coach get them to hold for a last shot?

what happened with Abdelgowad? Wasn't having a good game, but 0 minutes in the second half?

The fact is, other than Rivera, we added nothing to this team. Absolutely terrible shooters. The fact that after a game we have so little posting, shows the lack of interest in a dreary season.

bobolink wrote: Tue Dec 31, 2024 4:53 pm

NilesGold wrote: Tue Dec 31, 2024 4:40 pm Is everyone else still content with Jaylen Curry?

like the rest of the team, consistency is lacking. but a couple games ago, he practically beat Northeastern single-handed, and the talent is there. Today he had 6 assists, 3 steals, zero turnovers. Very bad shooting day. But played way better than the back-up guards.
Can't use the word "content" with anything about this year's team. I hate to see things like that difficult shot near the end of the first half that put UMass down 4 at the half when it should have been down 2 or tied. Can't the coach get them to hold for a last shot?

I agree with this take on Curry. He's not a perfect player by any stretch, but definitely the best option we have and he's improved over last season.

2023: 18.0 mpg, 7.4 pts, 2.1 ast, 1.7 ast:TO ratio, 1.6 rpg, 0.8 stl, .373 FG%, .247 3pt%, .690 FT%
2024: 29.4 mpg, 12.6 pts, 4.6 ast, 3.1 ast:TO ratio, 3.8 rpg, 1.5 stl, .355 FG%, .321 3pt%, .635 FT%

With 63% more playing time, he's increased his points, assists, ast:to ratio, rebounds and steals by more than 63% while his shooting percentages are pretty close to last year. If his shooting improves slightly, he'll be very good. I'm particularly impressed with his ast:TO ratio improvement.

DanaDingle3 wrote: Tue Dec 31, 2024 4:31 pm This season is so painful. What happened? People around the program, including the coach, were talking about winning the A10 on the way out. We'll probably beat McCall's 2nd year league win total of 4, but not by much.

For once UMass isn't skimping - we have a well paid head coach and a seemingly well-resourced collective. What is going to change?

I was pleased with last year, thought we had turned the corner & had high hopes for this year but….

You are right Umass is not skimping & collective is doling out $$ to players. Starting to wonder if those NIL players should be paying us to watch them!?!

Currently on a cross-country road trip so I missed this one but looking at the box score. Go Diggins! Also... you know it's coming... so where's the Daniel Rivera sucks crew now? Hopefully at basketball camp learning how to dribble a basketball on this fine New Year's Eve day.

I swear I'll say be nicer in the New Year since I'm moving from NYC to California.. I'm going to soften up.

Sucks that we lost but Happy New Year's to all from Santa Fe