Game 5, 2025-26: Charleston (Paradise Jam 11/21)

[MikeUMA]

ESPN+ will have Friday's game. Looks like it won't be on one of the ESPN cable channels.
https://www.espn.com/watch/schedule/_/t ... e/20251121

[Floyd]

Wasn't Kit Rhymer originally from the Virgin Islands?

Yes. He played with their national team for a while.

My old school page for Kit: https://umasshoops.com/people/rhymer_kitwana/

He was a pretty good player. Big athletic kid.

[stevemaz]

This game is huge in my eyes. If they win, they may run the table at Paradise then take two next week..8-1 heading into BC game where i think they can win.

[MakeMullinsGreatAgain]

Random question but does the team fly private or commercial? I see pictures on X and other social media outlets of them walking on the tarmac and up steps onto plane rather than in airports. I also thought I saw them flying out of Barnes in Westfield and unless I'm wrong, I don't believe Delta or any other major airlines fly out of Barnes?

anyone else remember when Cal was somehow able to fly the team to France or somewhere in Europe on the Concorde?

[Berkman]

I understand that when they fly out of Barnes it is a charter flight,

[InnervisionsUMASS]

Random question but does the team fly private or commercial? I see pictures on X and other social media outlets of them walking on the tarmac and up steps onto plane rather than in airports. I also thought I saw them flying out of Barnes in Westfield and unless I'm wrong, I don't believe Delta or any other major airlines fly out of Barnes?

Usually charter out of Barnes.

[doubledribble]

Nice summary of tourney

https://dailycollegian.com/2025/11/umas ... adise-jam/

[Juice Stand]

^ Look at how strong Jayden has become in that Collegian picture. Do you think any opponents are excited about seeing that freight train coming their way with how hard and aggressive he plays? His limitations are what they are, but I'm so stoked that he's still here. He makes so many winning plays.

[MikeUMA]

Random question but does the team fly private or commercial?

The team has been chartering for several years now, and Bamford specifically said that's going to continue as road trips to MAC destinations are definitely flights, versus a few A10 destinations could go bus.

[MikeUMA]

The official account shared a few pictures so far. A little sightseeing but also at least one practice.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14TTsrM7rA2/

[bobolink]

^ Look at how strong Jayden has become in that Collegian picture. Do you think any opponents are excited about seeing that freight train coming their way with how hard and aggressive he plays? His limitations are what they are, but I'm so stoked that he's still here. He makes so many winning plays.

Exactly right, Juice. Stats like those in Evan Miya (link below) are with you on Jayden. I think his shooting %s will rise somewhat, and make him even more valuable.
https://evanmiya.com/?team_breakdown_ov ... sachusetts

[69MG]

This game is huge in my eyes. If they win, they may run the table at Paradise then take two next week..8-1 heading into BC game where i think they can win.

I'm not as high on them as you are. On their best day they can probably beat anyone in the field, but the other side of the bracket is tough, with Akron, Oregon State and a 4-0 Iona team that has beaten Hofstra, Fordham and Princeton. Those aren't powerhouses, but they're as good as the teams we've beaten.

Let's get past Charleston first, with their size being a factor.

[Juice Stand]

^ Look at how strong Jayden has become in that Collegian picture. Do you think any opponents are excited about seeing that freight train coming their way with how hard and aggressive he plays? His limitations are what they are, but I'm so stoked that he's still here. He makes so many winning plays.

Exactly right, Juice. Stats like those in Evan Miya (link below) are with you on Jayden. I think his shooting %s will rise somewhat, and make him even more valuable.
https://evanmiya.com/?team_breakdown_ov ... sachusetts

I don't want this to turn into a Jayden thread, but holy cow. Jayden is an "eyeball test" kind of player, so I'm surprised that the stats reinforce how valuable he is. I'm not a statistician, but to see that his combined BPR (overall value) is more than 2x higher than the next closest player (DHS) is interesting.

[MikeUMA]

New batch of pictures
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1F22Z6ykSd/

[MikeUMA]

UM showing as 2.5 point 'dogs