Game 30, 2024-25: at St. Bonaventure (3/5)

[MikeUMA]

Last Atlantic 10 away game coming up this week, in a trip to Olean. Kind of feels like that was a setup by the league, to send us to a place that's been a house of horrors for us for a long time.

Since our last matchup a couple weeks ago, Bona has climbed out of pillow fight territory, currently holding onto the last bye spot at #9. We're currently at #10, the highest pillow fight seed. There are a couple of A10 games on Tuesday but wouldn't affect either of us.

We have not won at Bonaventure in over 10 years now. Last was 2/11/2015 when Jabarie Hinds saved our bacon with a game-winning 3 with 8 seconds left. https://umassathletics.com/news/2015/2/ ... ture_55_53

This will be our 12th trip to the Reilly Center to face Mark Schmidt's team, where we're 2-9. Our other win was in 2011. https://umasshoops.com/wiki/doku.php?id ... onaventure

Bona currently has a 7-9 record, their last being a 75-64 at Saint Joe's. https://gobonnies.com/news/2025/2/26/me ... -half.aspx
Problem for us: Bona got rest with the bye this weekend.

Good news for us, Curry and Ndjigue are both back, when they weren't available for the last one, and it seems like the team has gotten over the bug that was going around. We clearly struggled without Curry running the point, and the defense could disrupt Diggins. That last one: https://umasshoops.com/wiki/doku.php?id ... onaventure

Wednesday at 7 on ESPN+. Jay and Adam will be on the audio stream if you don't wanna listen to Bona's guys.

[69MG]

SBU is similar to URI in their physical makeup. They have a large center (Also named Brown, same as URI, who is 6-11, 255). They also have two good 3-point shooters in Jones (42%) and Hinton (37%). The first game was our illness game. We had to start Foster and Worthy. DHS played center and as expected, fouled out in 21 minutes trying to guard Brown while battling the flu. I'll trade not having Rivera and Watson for having Curry and Jayden and for the rest of the team being healthy. I know we don't win up there, but I think we have a shot. Maybe last Saturday has me overly optimistic.

They were going 8 deep, but Thompson (6-8) has not played since our last game against them on 2/15. Their points come from the starters, as all 5 are between 9.7 and 15.6 per game. Without Thompson, the 2 guys off the bench (6-8 and 6-10) give them 3.9 and 2.1. They are in worse shape than we are as far as guard depth goes.

From a size standpoint, they are similar to URI. They start:
6-11, 255 - Brown (12.6)
6-7 - Jones (11.9)
6-6 - Moore (10.6)
6-4 - Council @ 15.6 is their leading scorer, but only 23% from 3.
6-3 - Hinton (9.7)

This looks like another game where Luka should get decent minutes. SBU Brown is more of an offensive threat than URI Brown. He's at 12.6 per game, mostly near the basket. He has taken 8 3s in 16 A10 games, but he made 4 of them. Still, I'll take my chances with him shooting from outside.

[inthescoop]

Trust is a big thing for Frank and I think that Luka now has Frank's trust. I expect Luka to play 25+ minutes in this game. Frank knows that he doesn't need scoring from Luka, what he needs is consistent disruption on defense and rebounding.. always make it tough for the other big guy and bully him around - Frank might think that Luka does that best for this team right now if he wants to continue having DHS in the whole game at the 4

[Floyd]

Last trip- big win. Minutemen by 4

[inthescoop]

UMass are +7.5 point underdogs
Over/Under is 139.5

[MikeUMA]

Bona preview article: https://www.oleantimesherald.com/sports ... d886b.html

[MakeMullinsGreatAgain]

I know playing at St Bonaventure has kinda been our house of horrors but have we really lost 15/16? if thats true, which I assume the writer of that article researched - did we really go 6+ seasons without winning a game vs them - home or away? That is really bad/surprising.

[Juice Stand]

By my count, we lost 13 out of the last 14 games against St Bonaventure, not 15 of 16 (but really, what's the difference at that point). And the losing streak was actually 8 years without a win against them. We won on 2/11/2015 in Olean on the Jabarie Hinds game and didn't win again until 8 years later in Frank Martin's first year on senior day, 3/4/2023. We did not play them at all in 2021, however, so that's 8 years, 7 seasons.

https://umasshoops.com/wiki/doku.php?id ... onaventure

[MikeUMA]

We did not play them at all in 2021, however, so that's 8 years, 7 seasons.

Looking back at that COVID season, it's amazing we even played half a schedule.
https://umasshoops.com/wiki/doku.php?id ... oned_games

[palm14]

My biggest takeaway through 5 minutes....

No crazy Bonnies student section on the sideline? I don't even see a student section anywhere. As much as I HATED their students, it's what made the games there interesting. Sad times in college athletics. I don't know if we'll ever get back to the way it was.

[inthescoop]

My biggest takeaway through 5 minutes....

No crazy Bonnies student section on the sideline? I don't even see a student section anywhere. As much as I HATED their students, it's what made the games there interesting. Sad times in college athletics. I don't know if we'll ever get back to the way it was.

It’s spring break

[Steve81]

39 UMass Bonnie's 38

[DanaDingle3]

Not a bad half. The zone worked wonders.

A little too much hero ball on offense. Things look much better when the ball's hitting the paint and being swung.

A little surprised Sool was benched after that T. It was a pretty weak technical.

[Floyd]

Can't even believe that was a T. Lame call

Offense looks a little more fluid. Quicker passes, more movement.

Nate with a nice play on the steal after his missed 3 to end the half. Hit the floor hard & still found Curry for the layup

[amyz25]

Rahsool postures like that every game at least once. That was his first technical ever in college. I can’t believe Frank benched him for that. I hope Frank gets over it because we need him in the second half.