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2021-22 Season

The 2021-22 UMass Minutemen men's basketball team represented the University of Massachusetts, the flagship campus in Amherst. The Head Coach was Matt McCall. The team played its home games in the Mullins Center in Amherst, Massachusetts, and was a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference.

The season represented the 113th season of basketball in the school's history.

  • Final Record: 15-17
  • Final Conference Record: 7-11 (10th place)
  • Final NET: 1781)
  • Final BPI: 1882)
RecordOverallA-10
All games15-177-11
Home10-54-5
Away3-83-6
Neutral2-4
Overtime3-01-0
Previous Season Next Season
2020-21 2022-23

Scoreboard

Game Record Rank Notes
Date Opponent Game Results UM High Scorer UM High Rebounder Overall A10 UM Opp
11/9 UMBC W 77-60 Buttrick & Weeks (16 each) Buttrick & Weeks (7 each) 1-0 UM flat to start, falling behind 15-2. Trailing 36-27 late in the first, UM finally wakes up with a 13-2 run over the break, and never looks back. Buttrick finds it in the second half, scoring 15 of his 16. Dibaji and Kolton provide sparks off the bench. Steadman and CJ sit out with injuries.
11/12 at Yale L 91-71 Fernandes (13) Jones (10) 1-1 Yale shoots 54% to UM's 35%, and Bulldogs rack up 42 points in the paint. Jones tallies 9 points and 10 boards in 20 minutes. Buttrick 11 & 4 in 17 foul-limited minutes. CJ Kelly 8 points off the bench in his debut.
11/15 Penn State W 81-56 Buttrick (19) Buttrick (9) 2-1 UM goes on a 20-4 run to begin the second half. Buttrick sets new career highs, also tallies 6 assists and 3 steals. CJ & Rich each score 17, Noah 13, Dibaji 10 & 4. UM's second-ever win over a Big Ten school (Nebraska 2013).
11/18 vs Weber State L 88-73 Fernandes (21) CJ Kelly & Walker (5 each) 2-2 Two point game at the half, then Weber shoots 69% in the second. Fernandes (new career high) tries to keep pace with 17 in the second, but no other Minuteman joins him in double-figure scoring.
11/19 vs UNC-Greensboro W 93-90 (OT) Fernandes (25) Weeks (7) 3-2 UM falls behind 13-0 to start, then goes up 13 themselves with 8:02 left, only to let UNCG come back to tie it, but UM finally prevails thanks to a new career best from Noah. UM gets smoked on the glass (43-21), but 26-28 from the line saves it.
11/21 vs Ball State L 89-86 Buttrick, CJ Kelly, Weeks (19 each) Weeks (8) 3-3 Ball builds a 17-pt lead with 10:45 to play, and UM can't finish the comeback after cutting it to just one. UM defense suspect again, losing the glass and allowing 51% overall, 56% from 3.
11/24 UMass-Lowell W 92-81 Garcia (18) Dominguez (7) 4-3 Minutemen build a 24 point lead, Lowell cuts it to 8, but M'men hang on. Garcia steps up as Noah sits out (leg injury), shoots 4-5 from the floor and 9-11 from the stripe. Steadman debuts and tallies 10 & 4 in 12 minutes.
11/27 Rutgers W 85-83 CJ Kelly (24) Jones (6) 5-3 UM claws back from an early second half 17-point deficit, with Noah's buzzer beating 3 to win it. UM doesn't miss in the final 2:05 (Buttrick 3 and 2 FTs, Noah 3 and 4 FTs). Noah dishes 11 (new career high.) New UM high for CJ. UM -12 on the glass but goes 16-32 from 3.
12/4 Harvard W 87-77 Fernandes (24) CJ Kelly & Weeks (8 each) 6-3 Harvard sprints to a 33-16 lead early, but UM regroups. Noah 24-7-9 in 37 minutes, Weeks 21 pts on 7-13 shooting, CJ 16 & 8. UM 16-18 from the stripe and a refreshing +14 on the glass. Career win #100 for Matt McCall as a head coach.
12/7 at Northeastern L 82-76 Rich Kelly (25) Buttrick (9) 6-4 UM has an 11-point lead with 11:37 left, then the defense collapses as NU goes on a 27-8 run. UM cuts it back to 2 with a minute left but miss their last 2 shots. NU shoots 56% overall (previously 43%), 53% from 3 (previously 30%). Season high for Rich, Noah adds 24-4-7, Trent 15 points.
12/11 vs North Texas L 66-57 Fernandes and CJ Kelly (13 each) Jones (8) 6-5 Basketball Hall of Fame Classic, at Dickies Arena, Fort Worth TX. UNT slows us down to our lowest points of the season, by far. 49 FGAs is UM's lowest, and 16 3FGAs ties lowest. Jones starts and tallies 12 & 8. Noah 8 assists. Dominguez 7 points off the bench, rest of bench 0 points.
12/19 Fairfield W 77-73 (OT) Steadman (20) Jones & Rich Kelly (6 each) 7-5 Trailing 65-60 with 1:44 left, CJ scores 5 unanswered to force OT. Steadman sets a new season/UMass high, his points crucial as team struggles with season-low from 3 (3-17, .176). CJ & Garcia score 13, Rich 12.
1/5 at Richmond L 80-72 Rich Kelly (20) Steadman (9) 7-6 0-1 Garcia and Weeks out (COVID protocols), UM plays with just 8. UR shoots 65% and scores 50 in the first. UM falls behind by 23, manages to trim it to just 6 late, but can't close the deal. CJ and Trent 16 pts.
1/8 Duquesne L 78-74 CJ Kelly (19) Buttrick (10) 7-7 0-2 UM starts on the right note, up 20-8, but then allows Duq a 23-9 run. One-point game with two minutes left, but UM's defense lets them down again. First home loss of season. Rich 16 pts, Noah 14, Steadman 13. TJ back but Garcia remains out.
1/11 at Davidson L 77-67 Weeks (21) Buttrick (10) 7-8 0-3 UM has a little 12-0 run early to take a 23-11 lead, but Davidson chips away, then scores 46 in the second half to pull away. Cats careful with just 3 turnovers, lowest since 3/16/2019. Noah 19-5-9. Weeks adds 7 boards. CJ Kelly out with knee swelling.
1/15 Rhode Island L 81-68 Fernandes (18) Buttrick (8) 7-9 0-4 Rhody destroys UM in the paint, scoring 46 to UM's 8. UM hits 13 threes, but can't keep pace, and offense held below 70 again. CJ (knee) remains out.
1/20 Saint Louis W 91-85 Fernandes (24) CJ Kelly (9) 8-9 1-4 UM's offense clicks again, scoring 54 on 67% shooting in the second half, and closes the game on a 9-2 run. UM also scores 36 in the paint, and gets to the line 33 times (matching season high). Garcia 15 pts, Jones 13, Buttrick & Rich 10 each.
1/23 at Saint Louis L 90-59 Buttrick (17) Buttrick, Dominguez, Weeks (5 each) 8-10 1-5 SLU leads by just 26-24 with 4:31 left in the first, wakes up with an 11-2 run, then shoots 57% and scores 53 on us in the second. UM hits a season-low 18 FGs, and -20 on the glass. Jimerson scores a career-high 31 for SLU. Garcia 14 pts. Noah's day ends early after a big collision with Buttrick, tallies just 3 pts.
1/26 at La Salle W 77-71 Rich Kelly (21) CJ Kelly & Weeks (10 each) 9-10 2-5 UM wakes up after falling behind 50-34, goes +17 on the glass, gets first true away game win on the season. Trent 16 & 6, TJ and Garcia 11 pts, CJ 9 & 10. Noah out, concussion protocol.
1/30 George Mason L 72-62 Garcia & Rich Kelly (13 each) Buttrick & Garcia (6 each) 9-11 2-6 UM offense stalls with just 19 FGs and 31.7% shooting. Noah still in concussion protocol, and Mason defense locks in on Rich, holding him to 4-11 from the field.
2/5 at Rhode Island W 78-67 Weeks (30) CJ Kelly (11) 10-11 3-6 Career days: Weeks 30 pts (12-17 shooting, 6-9 from 3), CJ 11 boards, 7 assists, 4 steals (tie). UM turns an 8-point first-half gap into a 16-point lead late in the second. Rhody sloppy with 20 turnovers. UM cleans up the interior defense, just -6 instead of the -38 in the last Rhody match. Jones out (COVID protocol).
2/9 George Washington L 77-68 Buttrick (17) Buttrick (11) 10-12 3-7 UM flubs a chance to gain ground in the standings, <30% from 3 and -12 on the glass. Rich 15 pts (6-8 FG). Off night for Noah, 1-11 FG and 4 pts. GW scores 11 over their average, and five Colonials combine for 75 pts.
2/12 Saint Joseph's W 69-67 Steadman (19) Buttrick (9) 11-12 4-7 Close one throughout: 21 lead changes and largest was 6. Fouls fairly even (13 called on SJU, 11 on UM), but UM turned them into FT chances, converting 14-19 versus 1-3 for SJU. Steadman scores 11 in first 5½ minutes. Noah 9:1 A:TO. UM <30% again from 3, but scores 28 in the paint.
2/16 at St. Bonaventure L 83-71 Weeks (19) Buttrick (11) 11-13 4-8 UM leads 37-36 at the half, but Bona shoots 69% in the second to pull away. Noah & Rich each score 14, Noah dishes a career high 12. UM hits 16 threes (16-33), one off the season high (UNCG).
2/19 La Salle W 80-74 CJ Kelly (18) CJ Kelly (8) 12-13 5-8 CJ steps up with 6-8 shooting off the bench. Rich 17 pts & 5 assists, Steady 12 & 7, Noah & Greg 10 each. UM holds off the Explorers with 23-27 at the line.
2/23 at Dayton L 82-61 Steadman (14) Garcia & Weeks (4 each) 12-14 5-9 Flyers shoot 20-29 (69%) and score 30 in the paint in the first half alone. UM hits 22 FGs all game. Flyers build 31 point lead and coast to easy W. Noah scoreless in 22 foul-plagued minutes.
2/26 Virginia Commonwealth L 77-62 Buttrick (12) Buttrick & Steadman (8 each) 12-15 5-10 UM falls behind 41-23 by halftime, shooting 26% to VCU's 58%, Rams cruise from there. Season worsts for UM in threes (3-19 .158) and turnovers (22). Rich scoreless for first time in 132 career games. John Kelly sees first action.
2/28 at Fordham L 85-73 Fernandes & Steadman (13 each) Buttrick (7) 12-16 5-11 1-point game early in the second, UM went over four minutes without a field goal, and Rams go on a 14-2 run to pull away for good. UM dies by the 3 again, shooting 6-29 (.207). Rams' 85 points are their most in an A-10 game in 3+ years (UM 2/6/2019). Ohams scores career high 23.
3/1: UMass announces that McCall will be dismissed as Head Coach at the end of the season.3)
3/2 Fordham W 81-73 Weeks (17) Weeks (10) 13-16 6-11 McCall graciously continues to coach. Senior Night for Buttrick (11 & 8), Jones (5 & 2), Rich Kelly (15-2-3), Steadman (4 & 3). Weeks tallies his 3rd career double-double, 2nd this season. UM builds a 13-point lead early in the second, Rams manage to chip away and tie it, but UM defense holds them off after that.
3/5 at George Mason W 83-80 (OT) Fernandes (28) Jones (9) 14-16 7-11 Noah's 28 a new career high. Rich adds 20. UM falls behind by 4 in OT but pulls ahead on an 8-0 run. UM's first win at Mason since 2015. UM tallies 9 assists, a season low in a win.
3/10 George Washington W 99-88 Fernandes (29) Buttrick (16) 15-16 A-10 Tournament, Second Round. Seeds: GW 7, UM 10. Noah improves on his recent career high, Trent's 16 boards bests his previous by 5. UM only plays 7 (no Steady). UM converts 18 GW turnovers into 31 points. CJ & TJ 15 each, Rich & Trent 13 each.
3/11 Dayton L 75-72 Fernandes (26) Buttrick & Weeks (6 each) 15-17 A-10 Tournament Quarterfinal. Seed: UD 2. UM built a 36-26 lead, but Dayton chipped away, and held off UM in a second half battle. Noah carries team on his back again. A10 RotY DaRon Holmes scores a career high 28.

Pre-season: UMass chose to play two unofficial scrimmages, at home versus Holy Cross and Boston University.4) No details of the results became available.

Statistics

Category leaders highlighted. Clear leaders in yellow. Blue indicates leaders with differing minimum thresholds.

PlayerGGSMPMPGFGFGAFG%2P2PA2P%3P3PA3P%FTFTAFT%PTSPPGORBDRBTRBRPGASTSTLBLKTOVPFFO
Noah Fernandes282894133.6145333.435100208.48145125.36083105.79041814.91364772.814740172791
Rich Kelly3232100031.3129283.45665142.45864141.4547795.81139912.51050601.910121160530
Trent Buttrick323290228.2113256.44163122.51650134.3736789.75334310.7501562066.439312359742
C.J. Kelly291472925.196242.39751115.44345127.3545570.78629210.122961184.14625859642
T.J. Weeks302275625.293223.4174593.48448130.3695373.7262879.650951454.826261018481
Michael Steadman251442417.075170.44173162.45128.2503648.7501887.53659953.8108631422
Greg Jones31963620.562137.4534190.4562147.4473541.8541805.850731234.01714819601
Javohn Garcia25050820.359132.4474994.5211038.2634464.6881726.91738552.224241315641
Dyondre Dominguez22726312.02568.3681529.5171039.256612.500663.01336492.2102812220
Dibaji Walker8011614.51526.577810.800716.438614.429435.4818263.32432200
Kolton Mitchell1611267.9614.429612.50002.00034.750150.967130.8131009120
Preston Santos100383.8412.333331.00019.11100 90.91230.3102150
Cairo McCrory31279.012.50001.000111.00034.75062.01231.0010130
Ryan Marcus5071.402.00000 02.000441.00040.81010.2110100
John Kelly2021.001.00001.00000 00 00.00000.0000000
TOTALS32 6475 8231901.4335191082.480304819.371472623.758242275.7335744107933.743720783371546

Additional sources: UMass Athletics, Sports Reference, Real GM

A-10 Lists & Honors

No Minuteman was named to any of the Atlantic 10 honors (Post-Season, Player of the Week, Rookie of the Week), the first time that has happened since the 1979-80 season.

Pre-Season Poll

UMass was picked to finish 9th out of the 14 teams in the A-10. No Minuteman was named to the All-Conference teams.5)

Roster

Official roster

#NameHeightWeightClassPos.Hometown / HS / Prep / College TransferStatus
0Buttrick, Trent6-8240Gr.FBloomsburg PA / Bloomsburg HS / Community School of Naples / Penn StateActive
45Dominguez, Dyondre6-9205So.FProvidence, RI / Woodstock AcademyActive
11Fernandes, Noah5-11175Jr.GMattapoisett, MA / Woodstock Academy / Wichita StateActive
1Garcia, Javohn6-2180So.PGColumbus, OH / Brewster AcademyActive
10Jones, Greg6-7225Jr.FBronx, NY / John Marshall HS / James Madison / Southern CTActive
12Kelly, CJ6-5190Jr.GLong Island, NY / Queens High School of Teaching / Norfolk State / AlbanyActive
44Kelly, John6-7215Fr.FShelton, CT / Willison Northampton School / FairfieldActive
22Kelly, Rich6-1175Gr.GShelton, CT / Fairfield Prep / Quinnipiac / Boston CollegeActive
20Marcus, Ryan6-3185So.GWakefield, MA / Wakefield HSActive
5McCrory, Cairo6-5190So.SGHartford, CT / Masters/Northwest Catholic / Woodstock AcademyInactive. Out for season with a back injury.
3Mitchell, Kolton6-3185Jr.GFort Myers, FL / Victory Rock PrepActive
2Santos, Preston6-6185Jr.*G/FWarwick, RI / Woodstock AcademyActive
24Steadman, Michael6-10231Sr.FUnion City, CA / City College of San Francisco / San Jose State / MontanaActive
35Walker, Dibaji6-9200Sr.FColumbus, OH / Woodstock Academy / Cleveland StateInactive. Out for season with a leg injury.
23Weeks, TJ6-4185So.*GWarwick, RI / Woodstock AcademyActive

* Eligibility difference.

  • Preston Santos is listed as a Junior on the official roster, but due to sitting out the 2020-21 season, has three years of playing eligibility remaining.
  • TJ Weeks requested and received a medical redshirt for the 2019-20 season, having only played in the first 10 games before sitting out the rest of the season.6)7)

All players and staff have been vaccinated against COVID-19.8)

All student-athletes from the 2020-21 season have an option to play a fifth year, via a policy based on special circumstances coming from the COVID-19 pandemic.9)

Team photo

Back row (L to R): Cairo McCrory (5), Preston Santos (2), Greg Jones (10), Dibaji Walker (35), Michael Steadman (24), Trent Buttrick (0), Dyondre Dominguez (45), John Kelly (44)
Front row (L to R): CJ Kelly (12), TJ Weeks (23), Noah Fernandes (11), Rich Kelly (22), Ryan Marcus (20), Javohn Garcia (1), Kolton Mitchell (3)

2020-21 players lost:

Brian Mathews (6-9 215 Center, Chicago IL / DePaul College Prep) had verbally committed in August 2020,21)22)23)24) and signed an NLI in November 2020,25) but it was announced he re-opened his recruiting on 4/17/21.26) He subsequently committed to North Dakota.27)

Coaching Staff

Head Coach: Matt McCall
Assistant Coaches: Lucious Jordan, Tyson Wheeler, Jacob Kurtz
Director of Basketball Operations: Ricky Harris
Director of Scouting & Video Ops: Dominic Manzi-Kynch

Tony Bergeron, lead assistant coach from 2019-21, had his contract bought out and he will not return, per reports in the Boston Globe28) and MassLive.29)
Brian Grossman, assistant coach in 2020-21, changed career paths and left the program.

General team news

Schedule

All times Eastern PM, unless otherwise noted. Boldface opponents indicates an Atlantic 10 Conference game.
Printable schedule
UMass master schedule

Date Day Time Opponent Site Event TV Streaming Video
10/23 Sat ? Holy Cross Mullins Center unofficial scrimmage30) none none
10/30 Sat ? Boston University Mullins Center unofficial scrimmage31) none none
11/9 Tue 7:30 UMBC Mullins Center NESN+ NESN Watch, ESPN+
11/12 Fri 8:00 at Yale Lee Amphitheater, New Haven CT none ESPN+
11/15 Mon 7:00 Penn State Mullins Center CBS Sports Network CBS Sports Network
11/18 Thu 5:3032) vs Weber State McArthur Center at Eckerd College, St. Petersburg FL Jersey Mike's Classic CBS Sports Network CBS Sports Network
11/19 Fri 3:00 vs UNC-Greensboro McArthur Center at Eckerd College, St. Petersburg FL Jersey Mike's Classic CBS Sports Network CBS Sports Network
11/21 Sun 2:3033) vs Ball State McArthur Center at Eckerd College, St. Petersburg FL Jersey Mike's Classic CBS Sports Network CBS Sports Network
11/24 Wed 7:00 UMass-Lowell Mullins Center NESN+ NESN Watch, ESPN+
11/27 Sat 2:00 Rutgers Mullins Center none NBC Sports app
12/4 Sat Noon Harvard Mullins Center NESN ESPN+
12/7 Tue 7:00 at Northeastern Matthews Arena, Boston MA NESN+ NESN Watch
12/11 Sat 4:30 vs North Texas Dickies Arena, Fort Worth TX Basketball Hall of Fame Classic none FloHoops34)
12/19 Sun 1:00 Fairfield Mullins Center NESN NESN Watch, ESPN+
12/22 Wed 1:00 NJIT CANCELLED35) Mullins Center NESN NESN Watch, ESPN+
1/5 Wed 7:00 at Richmond Robins Center, Richmond VA NBC Sports Wash + NBC Sports Wash +, ESPN+
1/8 Sat Noon Duquesne Mullins Center NESN+ NESN Watch, ESPN+
1/11 Tue 7:00 at Davidson Belk Arena, Davidson NC none ESPN+
1/15 Sat 4:30 Rhode Island Mullins Center USA USA, NBC Sports app
1/2036) Thu 7:0037) Saint Louis Mullins Center NESN+ NESN Watch, ESPN+
1/23 Sun 2:30 at Saint Louis Chaifetz Arena, St. Louis MO USA USA, NBC Sports app
1/26 Wed 7:00 at La Salle Tom Gola Arena, Philadelphia PA none ESPN+
1/30 Sun 2:00 George Mason Mullins Center USA USA, NBC Sports app
2/5 Sat 2:00 at Rhode Island Ryan Center, Kingston RI none ESPN+
2/9 Wed 7:00 George Washington Mullins Center NESN NESN Watch, ESPN+
2/12 Sat Noon Saint Joseph's Mullins Center NESN NESN Watch, ESPN+
2/16 Wed 7:00 at St. Bonaventure Reilly Center, St. Bonaventure NY none ESPN+
2/19 Sat Noon La Salle Mullins Center NESN+ NESN Watch, ESPN+
2/23 Wed 7:00 at Dayton UD Arena, Dayton OH Spectrum News 1 (Dayton) ESPN+
2/26 Sat 4:30 Virginia Commonwealth Mullins Center USA USA, NBC Sports app
2/2838) Mon 7:00 at Fordham Rose Hill Gym, Bronx NY none ESPN+
3/2 Wed 7:00 Fordham Mullins Center none ESPN+
3/5 Sat 4:00 at George Mason EagleBank Arena, Fairfax VA none ESPN+
3/10 Thu 6:00 George Washington Capital One Arena, Washington DC A-10 Tournament Second Round USA USA, NBC Sports app
3/11 Fri 6:00 Dayton Capital One Arena, Washington DC A-10 Tournament Quarterfinal USA USA, NBC Sports app

Notes:

  • Fairfield - This game concludes our series.39)
  • Harvard - This game concludes our series.40)41)42)
  • NJIT - Assumed that this is a one-off game. No indication of a new series.43)
  • Northeastern - This is the third-straight year we've played NU, but no indication of a longer-term series.44)
  • North Texas - Assumed that this is a one-off game. No indication of a new series.
  • Penn State - This season's game begins a home-and-home series, in conjunction with an agreement for UM/PSU football games.45)46)47)48)49)
  • Rutgers - This season's game returns our visit to Rutgers in November 2019.50)51)52)
  • UMass-Lowell - We've been playing them regularly over the past several years, but no indication that there's a contracted series.
  • UMBC - Unclear if this is a one-off or this begins a new series.53)
  • Yale - Unclear if this is a one-off or this begins a new series.54)
  • The Atlantic 10 and Mountain West conferences were expected to play 10 games this season, but a report says that has been postponed. As this series is yet to get off the ground, whether or not it eventually will remains to be seen.55)56)57)
  • Athletic Director Ryan Bamford has stated that he will continue to explore opportunities in conjunction with football and men's basketball scheduling, like what we've done with Akron, Penn State, Rutgers, South Carolina and Georgia.58)59)
32)
Could be delayed if the first game, at 3:00, runs long.
33)
Could be delayed if the first game, at 12:00, runs long.
season_2021-22.txt · Last modified: 2022/09/19 22:32 by mikeuma