Game 31, 2024-25: Loyola-Chicago (3/8, Senior Day)

[MikeUMA]

Senior Day at Mullins on Saturday. Diggins, Rivera, and Malek are our seniors. Not positive who they're going to honor.

MassCo said there's a chance Diggins could do a grad year. Rivera definitely has one more to play. I think Malek could do a grad year also, not certain.

Lo-Chi is minutes away from winning at home over Davidson, and moving into a 3-way tie for 3rd in the A15, at 11-6. They'll have strong incentive to win on Saturday in the hope of getting the double-bye. (I think) we have a chance to get a single bye, so there's motivation for us too.

Last home game as an Atlantic 10 member. New logos and banners coming to Mullins next season

Get to The Bill if you can. Honor Diggins for his hard work, and give him a reason to consider running it back. 12:30 tip. Stick around for hockey at 7:30, as they also have their Senior Day, and play #5 Maine, with motivation to prove ourselves worthy of post-season consideration.

USA Network / the NBC Sports app has it if you can't.

[doubledribble]

Yes a big weekend at the Bill ! I’ll be there for 3 hoping we can get W’s

[minutefanjsf]

Meet and greet with coach H for football STH, too.

[MikeUMA]

Curry Hicks Sage makes an appearance on the Talkin' Blers podcast
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c ... 0697193352

His segment starts at about the 36:30 mark.
Sounds like it was recorded prior to the Rhody game (3/1), but still a good listen.

[69MG]

This may be a game where we see Shahid get a lot of minutes. Their center, Rubin is quick and probably not a good matchup for Luka. Rubin is 6-10, 220 and blocks a lot of shots (42 in 17 conference games). Can anyone figure out why Malek starts most games and is yanked so quickly? Physically, he is a good match for Rubin, but It doesn't seem that Frank has any confidence in him.

[Juice Stand]

^ Malek is also listed at 6'10" 220, so this might be a good matchup for him. I seriously don't understand Malek at all. He has the physical tools, athleticism, nice looking shooting stroke, etc. He just doesn't seem to be able to put it all together, and I don't think it's just his inability to play in Frank Martin's system. I don't want to call a player soft, but he seems like he doesn't have the intensity that's needed to battle down low. If he was 6'7" and could play as a wing he'd probably be terrific, but he's 6'10" so his size dictates that he needs to battle in the paint.

If Malek and Shahid can't do the job on Rubin, maybe you get Amadou the wild man out there to create chaos and neutralize him.

[MikeUMA]

Can anyone figure out why Malek starts most games and is yanked so quickly? Physically, he is a good match for Rubin, but It doesn't seem that Frank has any confidence in him.

Yeah, it's clear that Malek has fallen out of favor. Why he continues to start is a head scratcher. There have been numerous instances in Frank's tenure of questionable starting 5 choices. But on the other hand, a starting role is kind of just token if you're subbed out at the first break.

That said, let's see who gets the starting center spot tomorrow.

[minutefanjsf]

Can anyone figure out why Malek starts most games and is yanked so quickly? Physically, he is a good match for Rubin, but It doesn't seem that Frank has any confidence in him.

Yeah, it's clear that Malek has fallen out of favor. Why he continues to start is a head scratcher. There have been numerous instances in Frank's tenure of questionable starting 5 choices. But on the other hand, a starting role is kind of just token if you're subbed out at the first break.

That said, let's see who gets the starting center spot tomorrow.

This is my point often. I don’t care who starts. What matters is who gets more minutes and who is tabbed to finish.

[inthescoop]

We are +2.5 point underdogs
Over/Under is 146.5

[TruBluMaroon]

Yes a big weekend at the Bill ! I’ll be there for 3 hoping we can get W’s

+. Heading out for game #2.

[inthescoop]

Lucky for us, Loyola Chicago also can’t shoot today.

On a side note: waking up, making a coffee, and watching UMass in bed at 930 feels incredible

[DanaDingle3]

DHS will be player of the year in MAC next year if he keeps this up.

[Floyd]

Boy, this is painful so far. Last A10 game in the Mullins one to remember

[DanaDingle3]

Shooting under 19% - probably not gonna get it done?

[GOODY]

Amazing how the two guards are 0 -9 from three yet sone games they shoot terrifically !