2024-25 Season

[Roadtrip]

You tell him, Old Cage.

[MikeUMA]

Going forward (as far as I know), the MAC tournament is in Cleveland every year.

Yes. MAC Tourney is contracted in Cleveland thru 2030, and has been there since 2000.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mid-Ameri ... tournament

[fenway617]

^
Temple and Charlotte were allowed to play in it when they left. I don't imagine it would be different for us.

Remind me, who eliminated Temple in their last A10 Tournament appearance?

[Juice Stand]

I haven't listened yet, but I just saw that there's a Collective podcast interview with Daniel Hankins-Sanford: https://www.podserve.fm/series/website/ ... 101/153628

I'm expecting a big year from DHS. I absolutely love his game. He's kind of old school, has a nice mid range jumper, and likes to rebound. He's also one of the nicest, most engaging basketball players I've interacted with. If you get a chance to meet him, he's fun to talk to. I'm looking forward to listening to the episode and seeing him play this season.

The previous episode was with Akil Watson, who I found to be very well spoken and thoughtful in the interview, and I'm intrigued by what he'll bring to the team this year.

[umasscollective]

I haven't listened yet, but I just saw that there's a Collective podcast interview with Daniel Hankins-Sanford: https://www.podserve.fm/series/website/ ... 101/153628

I'm expecting a big year from DHS. I absolutely love his game. He's kind of old school, has a nice mid range jumper, and likes to rebound. He's also one of the nicest, most engaging basketball players I've interacted with. If you get a chance to meet him, he's fun to talk to. I'm looking forward to listening to the episode and seeing him play this season.

The previous episode was with Akil Watson, who I found to be very well spoken and thoughtful in the interview, and I'm intrigued by what he'll bring to the team this year.

Thanks for listening. Great episode with DHS. So far this year we have had on:

Rivera
Sool
Jayden
Jaylen
Akil
DHS

Look forward to having them back each a couple more times throughout the year.

We are lining up guests for the season (our goal is to release one episode before each game) and would love some feedback on who folks would like to hear from. Folks weve had on in the past are:

Jason Germain
Jim Hunt
Rashaun Freeman
Matt Vogel
Sam Breen
Paul Manganaro
John Kennedy
Melissa Seigler
Matt Goldstein
Chris Tucci
Jay Burnham
Mike Mannix
Marcus Camby
Josh Cohen
Tom McGlaughlin
Bill Taylor
Mike Fetterer
Matt Vautour
Ed Rubin
Eli Slovin
Evelin Simmions
George Miller
Josh Maurer
Dave Maclutsky
Matt Collier
Warren Hayden
Matt Cross
Nathan Mook
John Tate
Dan Cutler
Lakita Gantz
Robert Davis Jr.
Lilly Taulelei
Jake Hayden
Horace Neysmith
Chad O'Rourke
Monty Mack
Bob Behler
Tim Collins
Mike Leflar
Daniel Rivera
Rahsool Diggins
Jayden Ndjigue
Allie Palmieri
Jaylen Curry
Aleah Sorrentino
Akil Watson
Daniel Hankins-Sanford

Old episodes can be found here: https://www.podserve.fm/series/website/ ... tive,8101/

[69MG]

I haven't listened yet, but I just saw that there's a Collective podcast interview with Daniel Hankins-Sanford: https://www.podserve.fm/series/website/ ... 101/153628

I'm expecting a big year from DHS. I absolutely love his game. He's kind of old school, has a nice mid range jumper, and likes to rebound. He's also one of the nicest, most engaging basketball players I've interacted with. If you get a chance to meet him, he's fun to talk to. I'm looking forward to listening to the episode and seeing him play this season.

The previous episode was with Akil Watson, who I found to be very well spoken and thoughtful in the interview, and I'm intrigued by what he'll bring to the team this year.

Just had a chance to listen to it. DHS is a very down to earth, almost humble young guy. I am also expecting big things from him this year. He attended several Collective post-game events last year and he was very easy to talk to, as were most of the guys. I remember talking to him after a game that he got the start because Cross was injured. He admitted that he was a little nervous before the game because "I never started a college game before today". He'll get a lot more starts this year.

[Juice Stand]

Preseason KenPom rankings are out and UMass is at 117. We know that preseason computer rankings are seriously flawed and unreliable, more true now than ever since there is so much transferring going on. For reference, we finished at 92 in KenPom last year.

UMass 117th in KenPom Preseason Rankings. For context, they'd be 2nd in the MAC.

League rankings: A10 (7th). MAC (21st).

116. Ohio
129. Akron
137. Kent St.
177. Toledo
211. Miami OH
240. Ball St.
262. Bowling Green
268. Central Michigan
293. Eastern Michigan
313. Western Michigan
317. N Illinois
347. Buffalo

https://x.com/MLBergman_/status/1845680534086725814

[minutefanjsf]

Preseason KenPom rankings are out and UMass is at 117. We know that preseason computer rankings are seriously flawed and unreliable, more true now than ever since there is so much transferring going on. For reference, we finished at 92 in KenPom last year.

UMass 117th in KenPom Preseason Rankings. For context, they'd be 2nd in the MAC.

League rankings: A10 (7th). MAC (21st).

116. Ohio
129. Akron
137. Kent St.
177. Toledo
211. Miami OH
240. Ball St.
262. Bowling Green
268. Central Michigan
293. Eastern Michigan
313. Western Michigan
317. N Illinois
347. Buffalo

https://x.com/MLBergman_/status/1845680534086725814

And started at 209….

[Juice Stand]

^Absolutely. I'm hopeful that we can see another rise this year. Obviously a jump like last years would be impossible, but if we can have a strong OOC against teams like West Virginia, ASU, and FSU, maybe we find ourselves in the 70s or somewhere in that range. I don't know if we have to win all those power conference games, but to play the computer ranking game, we have to keep them close and can't get blown out. I'll be at the FSU game at Mohegan Sun, should be a blast!

[inthescoop]

Lowest ranked team in the A10 is 167. MAC has 9 teams ranked above 167.

We moved to the MAC just for our football team who is looking absolutely horrendous yet again.

YAY.

[minutefanjsf]

Lowest ranked team in the A10 is 167. MAC has 9 teams ranked above 167.

We moved to the MAC just for our football team who is looking absolutely horrendous yet again.

YAY.

Nothing we didn’t know going into it. Should allow us to in the top of the MAC each year in hoops. No one ever said MAC hoops was better. Let’s hope we help raise the profile of the league.

[Floyd]

I haven't listened yet, but I just saw that there's a Collective podcast interview with Daniel Hankins-Sanford: https://www.podserve.fm/series/website/ ... 101/153628

I'm expecting a big year from DHS. I absolutely love his game. He's kind of old school, has a nice mid range jumper, and likes to rebound. He's also one of the nicest, most engaging basketball players I've interacted with. If you get a chance to meet him, he's fun to talk to. I'm looking forward to listening to the episode and seeing him play this season.

The previous episode was with Akil Watson, who I found to be very well spoken and thoughtful in the interview, and I'm intrigued by what he'll bring to the team this year.

Thanks for listening. Great episode with DHS. So far this year we have had on:

Rivera
Sool
Jayden
Jaylen
Akil
DHS

Look forward to having them back each a couple more times throughout the year.

We are lining up guests for the season (our goal is to release one episode before each game) and would love some feedback on who folks would like to hear from. Folks weve had on in the past are:

Jason Germain
Jim Hunt
Rashaun Freeman
Matt Vogel
Sam Breen
Paul Manganaro
John Kennedy
Melissa Seigler
Matt Goldstein
Chris Tucci
Jay Burnham
Mike Mannix
Marcus Camby
Josh Cohen
Tom McGlaughlin
Bill Taylor
Mike Fetterer
Matt Vautour
Ed Rubin
Eli Slovin
Evelin Simmions
George Miller
Josh Maurer
Dave Maclutsky
Matt Collier
Warren Hayden
Matt Cross
Nathan Mook
John Tate
Dan Cutler
Lakita Gantz
Robert Davis Jr.
Lilly Taulelei
Jake Hayden
Horace Neysmith
Chad O'Rourke
Monty Mack
Bob Behler
Tim Collins
Mike Leflar
Daniel Rivera
Rahsool Diggins
Jayden Ndjigue
Allie Palmieri
Jaylen Curry
Aleah Sorrentino
Akil Watson
Daniel Hankins-Sanford

Old episodes can be found here: https://www.podserve.fm/series/website/ ... tive,8101/

Edwin Greene. He was a pretty good center back in the day of the old Eastern 8. Think he even got drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks. Havent heard a peep about him

[eldonabe]

For absolutely no reason at all, I am strangely optimistic about this season. Just kind of a gut feeling.

If they can get 8 or 9 wins in the Non-Con (and I think they will), they have a solid shot at the NIT. Given the lack of post season appearances, that would be a huge win for this program.

If they can do that, and then keep the non-senior nucleus for MAC year 1, they could roll over that conference in Year 1 and that should hopefully allow even more build up?

Jesus H.... I must be dizzy or something.

[umasscollective]

New Episode of Commonwealth Conversations with Mike Minyard, the newly appointed Senior Associate Athletics Director for Marketing, Sales, and Fan Experience at the University of Massachusetts. With over a decade of senior-level leadership in athletics, Mike has a wealth of experience in external operations, marketing, and fan engagement.

Listen https://www.podserve.fm/series/website/ ... 101/154864

[69MG]

^^ I'm with you about being perhaps a bit too optimistic about this year. I posted in a football thread about going to a meet and greet with the BB team.
After seeing them in person, we have a much taller team, and I think a physically stronger team. Shaheed and Rivera look like warriors. Nate and Walker are solid, and the guys that are back have all hit the weight room.

My guess is that 3 of the new bigs will see a lot of minutes. Shaheed and Malek will split time at the 5 and Akil will back up DHS at the 4. I asked Akil about his shooting and he says he can hit the outside shot. He didn't get much PT at AZ State, but he did go 11/12 from the free throw line.

The other players raved about Shaheed's athleticism. They said it was no surprise that he blocked 3.5 shots a game last year (JUCO) and that you can throw a lob up for him, it can be off target, but he can still get it and put it in.

We have a lot of depth, except at PG. Frank says all the right things about Worthy but we'll see. I found it interesting that Sool has asked to get some practice time at PG. If Curry gets his 28-30 minutes and Sool plays 10 at the 1, he'll play 20 at the 2 and Nate might get 15 as Sool's backup.

Big questions - how fast can the new guys learn Frank's system and can they mesh as a team?