====== 2026-27 Season ====== The 2026-27 UMass Minutemen men's basketball team will represent the University of Massachusetts, the flagship campus in Amherst. The Head Coach will be [[Frank Martin]]. The team will play its home games in the [[Mullins Center]] in Amherst, Massachusetts, and is a member of the [[mac|Mid-American Conference (MAC)]]. The season will represent the 118th season of basketball in the school's history, and will be UM's second as a member of the MAC. ^ Previous Season ^ Next Season ^ | [[season_2025-26|2025-26]] | [[season_2027-28|2027-28]] | ===== Schedule ===== The Non-Conference schedule was announced on July 27. The Conference schedule is expected in mid/late August.\\ All times Eastern PM and are subject to change. ^ Date ^ Day ^ Time ^ Opponent ^ Site ^ Event ^ TV ^ Streaming Video ^ | 11/2 | Mon | TBA | at [[opponent_troy|Troy]] | [[wp>Trojan Arena]], Troy AL | MAC - [[wp>Sun Belt Conference|Sun Belt]] Challenge((https://getsomemaction.com/news/2026/6/29/mens-basketball-november-matchups-announced-for-2026-27-mac-sbc-challenge.aspx))((https://umassathletics.com/news/2026/7/2/mens-basketball-minutemen-to-face-troy-on-nov-2-in-mac-sbc-challenge))((https://getsomemaction.com/news/2024/11/4/mens-basketball-mac-sbc-extend-basketball-challenge-series-through-2026-27.aspx)) | TBA | TBA | | 11/6 | Fri | TBA | vs [[opponent_boston_college|Boston College]] | [[wp>TD Garden]], Boston MA | Hall of Fame Series Boston double-header((UM/BC followed by [[opponent_connecticut|UConn]]/[[opponent_michigan|Michigan]] https://www.hofseries.com/2026-boston-first-stop)) | TNT?((TNT Sports is affiliated with the event. Details TBA.)) | TBA | | 11/11 | Wed | 7:00 | [[opponent_lowell|UMass Lowell]] | [[Mullins Center]] | Home opener | TBA | [[https://plus.espn.com/|ESPN+]] | | 11/17 | Tue | 7:00 | [[opponent_bryant|Bryant]] | [[Mullins Center]] | | TBA | [[https://plus.espn.com/|ESPN+]] | | 11/21 | Sat | 7:00 | [[opponent_maine|Maine]] | [[Mullins Center]] | | TBA | [[https://plus.espn.com/|ESPN+]] | | 11/25 | Wed | TBA | at [[opponent_northeastern|Northeastern]] | [[wp>Cabot Center]], Boston MA | | TBA | TBA | | 12/6 | Sun | TBA((Double-header with [[opponent_central_connecticut|CCSU]] versus [[opponent_brown|Brown]] as the undercard))((Bills vs Patriots that day, at 4:25.)) | vs [[opponent_wake_forest|Wake Forest]] | [[springfield_civic_center|MassMutual Center]], Springfield MA | Hoop Hall Classic | TBA | TBA | | 12/19 | Sat | 7:00 | [[opponent_stonehill|Stonehill]] | [[Mullins Center]] | | TBA | [[https://plus.espn.com/|ESPN+]] | | 12/21 | Mon | 7:00 | [[opponent_umass_boston|UMass Boston]] | [[Mullins Center]] | | none | [[https://plus.espn.com/|ESPN+]] | | 2/6 | Sat | TBA | Sun Belt Opponent((To be announced on January 12)) | [[Mullins Center]] | MAC - [[wp>Sun Belt Conference|Sun Belt]] Challenge((https://getsomemaction.com/news/2026/6/29/mens-basketball-november-matchups-announced-for-2026-27-mac-sbc-challenge.aspx))((https://umassathletics.com/news/2026/7/27/mens-basketball-minutemen-announce-nonconference-schedule)) | TBA | [[https://plus.espn.com/|ESPN+]] | Notes * The MAC is expected to increase the number of conference games from 18 to 22, where everyone will play each other twice.((https://bsky.app/profile/roccomiller8.bsky.social/post/3mmz3mrvadc2j))((https://miamihawktalk.fans/t/mac-basketball-moving-to-22-conference-games-next-season/5815/11)) Mid-major [[wp>Southland Conference|Southland]] (#18 in 2025-26 NET) was the only other D-I conference to play 22 games in 2025-26. The [[wp>Big West Conference|Big West]] will also move to 22 games in 2026-27.((https://x.com/RoccoMiller8/status/2058641005021429846)) * Teams can play a 32-game total schedule.((https://x.com/RoccoMiller8/status/2058641005021429846)) * This will be the third straight year we host D-III's [[opponent_umass_boston|UMass Boston]], but playing D-III teams is now a common trend on men's D-I schedules. * [[opponent_arizona_state|Arizona State]] (Away) - We thought we might travel to ASU this season, in return for [[game20241221_arizona_state|their trip to Springfield in the 2024-25 season]].((https://x.com/DeanWende1/status/1909658511048396885)) With the lack of inclusion of this game on the announced schedule, it looks like this trip may dissolve entirely, similar to [[opponent_penn_state|Penn State]] after their 2021 visit. * [[frank_martin|Coach Martin]] has advocated for more games against in-state schools.((https://youtu.be/AT1o2cfj7WU?si=3OdxNBlSuxXB80im&t=1145)) [[opponent_lowell|UM Lowell]], [[opponent_northeastern|Northeastern]], [[opponent_stonehill|Stonehill]], and [[opponent_umass_boston|UM Boston]] fit that agenda, but we won't see fairly-regular opponent [[opponent_harvard|Harvard]] this season. ===== Roster ===== The transfer portal was open from April 7-21, 2026.((https://247sports.com/college/basketball/recruiting/article/college-basketball-2026-transfer-portal-primer-key-dates-new-rules-what-to-expect-277056584/)) Once in, players have time to choose their next destination, so we are waiting to see who else may be inbound. We'll track it all here. ==== Incoming players ==== ^Name^Height^Weight^Exp.^Pos.^Status^Notes^ |Ahmed, Abdullah|6-10|220|1 yr((1 previous year of college, but also 2 years of G League. How much NCAA eligibility he'll have remains to be seen. BYU (in 2025-26) classified him as a Sophomore.))|C|Signed((https://umassathletics.com/news/2026/5/1/mens-basketball-mens-basketball-announces-signing-of-transfer-abdullah-ahmed))|Egypt native played in the G League from 2023-25 before a year at BYU.((https://www.umasshoops.com/newboard/viewtopic.php?t=17510))| |Clayton, Jordan|6-2|185|3 yrs|G|Signed((https://umassathletics.com/news/2026/4/16/mens-basketball-minutemen-announce-signing-of-transfer-jordan-clayton))((https://x.com/Jclayton_13/status/2044505541523771660))((https://x.com/UMassMBB/status/2044781196844892578))|Medford MA native played his first 3 at [[wp>Northwestern Wildcats men's basketball|Northwestern]].((https://nusports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/jordan-clayton/12686))((https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/jordan-clayton-1.html))((https://basketball.realgm.com/player/Jordan-Clayton/Bests/202201))| |Hailey, Cam|5-11|155|HS|G|Signed((https://x.com/UMassMBB/status/1991225032593309862))|Verbally committed on 9/26/25.((https://x.com/CamHailey2/status/1971744005462675863))((https://x.com/GoodmanHoops/status/1971755569674703045))((https://x.com/AdamFinkelstein/status/1971938267596837376)) Signed on 11/19/25.((https://x.com/UMassMBB/status/1991225032593309862))| |Helgason, Heimir|6-9|180|HS|F|Signed((https://x.com/UMassMBB/status/1988731299092422985))|Verbally committed on 10/2/25.((https://x.com/AdamZagoria/status/1973838745553285462))((https://x.com/franfraschilla/status/1973842856331682129))((https://x.com/BryantKasey3/status/1973841602540941459))((https://www.minutemancommand.com/p/2026-forward-heimir-gamliel-helgason)) Signed on 11/12/25.((https://x.com/UMassMBB/status/1988731299092422985))| |Martin, Christian|6-5|?|HS|G|Signed((https://x.com/UMassMBB/status/1989794085968986362))|Verbally committed on 10/23/25.((https://x.com/christnmartin/status/1981397764048060917))((https://x.com/DylanThayer0/status/1981405451502965195))((https://x.com/WMA_Basketball/status/1981398701466931415))((https://x.com/Coach_Mannix/status/1981399717507715332))((https://www.minutemancommand.com/p/christian-martin-talks-dad-umass)) Signed on 11/15/25.((https://x.com/UMassMBB/status/1989794085968986362)) [[frank_martin|Frank's]] son and half-brother of [[brandon_martin|Brandon]].| |Sylla, Cheick|6-10|240|HS|C|Verbal|Verbally committed on 9/11/25.((https://x.com/tobias_bass/status/1966248328011854027))((https://x.com/steve_hewitt/status/1966262339264721064))((https://x.com/AdamFinkelstein/status/1966257250055631160))| |Wang, Junjie|6-9|240|3 yrs|F|Signed((https://umassathletics.com/news/2026/5/8/mens-basketball-junjie-wang-joins-mens-basketball-program-as-transfer))|China native played 3 seasons at San Francisco. In '25-26, averaged 8.5 points and 3.0 rebs.((https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/junjie-wang-1.html))((https://usfdons.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/junjie-wang/6047))| |Zemljić, Noa|6-5|?|HS|G|Signed((https://x.com/UMassMBB/status/2000597364185436587))|Signed on 12/15/25.((https://x.com/UMassMBB/status/2000597364185436587))| ==== Potential returnees ==== These Minutemen have eligibility remaining. No reports of them entering the transfer portal, so we'll assume they're returning. ^Name^Height^Weight^'25-26 Class^Pos.^Hometown / HS / Prep / College Transfer^'25-26 Stats^ |[[danny_carbuccia|Carbuccia, Danny]]|5-11|177|Fr.|G|White Plains NY / Archbishop Stepinac|6.8 P, 1.8 R, 6.3 A| |[[rollie_castineyra|Castineyra, Rollie]]|6-2|187|R-So.|G|Marblehead MA / Phillips Exeter Academy (NH)|4 GP, 0 P/R/A| |[[dimitri_clerc|Clerc, Dimitri]]|6-10|270|Jr.|F/C|Geneva, Switzerland / Bella Vista Prep / Pensacola State|3.2 P, 2.7 R, 0.2 A| |[[luka_damjanac|Damjanac, Luka]]|6-10|260|So.|F|Bosnia & Herzegovina / Wilbraham & Monson|2.4 P, 2.5 R, 0.7 A| |[[josh_engel|Engel, Josh]]|6-0|169|R-Fr.|G|Manalapan NJ / Ranney School|Redshirt| |[[jayden_ndjigue|Ndjigue, Jayden]]|6-4|206|Jr.|G/F|Ayer MA / The Rivers School|6.5 P, 5.4 R, 1.9 A| |[[dwayne_wimbley|Wimbley, Dwayne Jr.]]|6-6|205|Fr.|F|Fort Lauderdale FL / St. Thomas Aquinas|2.3 P, 2.2 R, 0.5 A| | ||||| % of team production:|25.5% P, 40.8% R, 55.2% A| ==== Departing players ==== These Minutemen have either hit the portal, or their eligibility is assumed to be exhausted. ^Name^Height^Weight^'25-26 Class^Pos.^Hometown / HS / Prep / College Transfer^Status^'25-26 Stats^ |[[marcus_banks|Banks, Marcus Jr.]]|6-3|200|Gr.|G|Hampton VA / Fork Union Military Academy / [[opponent_western_carolina|Western Carolina]] / Odessa College / [[opponent_umbc|UMBC]]|Eligibility exhausted. Has since signed with a pro club in Slovakia.((https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1JeP2vMxJC/))|16.7 P, 2.6 R, 1.8 A| |[[leonardo_bettiol|Bettiol, Leonardo]]|6-9|238|Gr.|F|Roncade, Italy / Liceo Duca Degli Abruzzi / [[wp>Abilene Christian Wildcats men's basketball|Abilene Christian]]|Eligibility exhausted. Has since signed with a pro club in Italy.((https://pistoiabasket2000.com/pistoia-basket-leonardo-bettiol-e-un-nuovo-giocatore-biancorosso/))|18.1 P, 7.8 R, 2.1 A| |[[donovan_brown|Brown, Donovan]]|6-2|185|Sr.|G|Bolingbrook IL / Plainfield Central / Prairie State CC / Waubonsee CC / [[opponent_florida_tech|Florida Tech]]|Has entered the transfer portal and appealing for a fifth year.((https://x.com/acsamaha/status/2046611401179873354)) He appeared in 16 games and played a total of 89 minutes in '25-26.|0.8 P, 0.4 R, 0.4 A| |[[daniel_hankins-sanford|Hankins-Sanford, Daniel]]|6-8|236|Sr.|F|Charlotte NC / Julius L. Chambers / [[opponent_south_carolina|South Carolina]]|Eligibility should be exhausted, barring an appeal.|11.3 P, 7.1 R, 1.4 A| |[[bilal_osman|Osman, Bilal]]|6-7|190|Fr.|F|Stockholm, Sweden / Elite Sports Academy|Entered the transfer portal and has since committed to [[wp>Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College]] (JuCo).((https://x.com/BilalOsmanX/status/2042318341977551246))((https://x.com/BilalOsmanX/status/2075209907687628989))|DNP, redshirt?| |[[charles_outlaw|Outlaw, Charles]]|6-9|217|Jr.|F/C|Orlando FL / Mineral Area JC / Trinity Valley CC|Entered the transfer portal and has since committed to [[opponent_florida_gulf_coast|Florida Gulf Coast]].((https://x.com/FGCU_MBB/status/2062534841287983238))|1.5 P, 1.0 R, 0 A| |[[kjei_parker|Parker, K'Jei]]|6-2|190|Jr.|G|Lakeland FL / [[wp>Florida A&M Rattlers men's basketball|Florida A&M]] / Florida Southwestern|Entered the transfer portal and has since committed to [[opponent_ball_state|Ball State]].((https://x.com/KayserHoops/status/2043740238569238657))|10.7 P, 1.9 R, 2.0 A| |[[isaiah_placide|Placide, Isaiah]]|6-4|202|Gr.|G|Hampton GA / Dutchtown / Kankakee JC / Eckerd College|Eligibility should be exhausted, barring an appeal.|3.9 P, 1.0 R, 0.3 A| | |||||| % of team production:|74.5% P, 59.2% R, 44.8% A| {{tag>"2026-27 Season"}}