Game 3: NM State (at Springfield)

Post by **MikeUMA** » Wed Nov 17, 2010 10:56 pm

A quadruple-header at the MassMutual Center on Saturday, capping off with UMass / New Mexico State at 7:30.

Aggies are 2-0 at the moment, having beaten Louisiana (road) and Western NM (home) so far. Both games scored in the 90s for NM State.

They play at Arizona tomorrow before flying up here. Here's to hoping they're still tired by Saturday night.

And in the TV department, UMass found out today that Fox College Sports will not be covering the game as first planned. UM is scrambling to try to get a new TV outlet to pick it up, but it's late in the game to be making different arrangements.

Roadtrip · Post by **Roadtrip** » Thu Nov 18, 2010 8:08 am

If UMass plays like they have been playing, NM State by 30.

Chris20 · Post by **Chris20** » Thu Nov 18, 2010 8:23 am

We'll play better. No idea where all the shock and outrage is coming from based on the Sacred Heart game. They played flat against a much inferior team, were never threatened, and won. Every team plays to it's competitions level to some extent. Playing in a morgue probably didn't help either.

Worried about our defense against NM State...and of course Carter and Vinson need to arrive.

uz2b-len · Post by **uz2b-len** » Thu Nov 18, 2010 8:31 am

Here's where the shock and outrage comes for me: I want the coach to be able to get this team to play intensely all the time. They really need to practice playing with intensity for 40 minutes and make it a habit if they want to have a good season. They didn't take the opportunity to do that and makes me worry that we're gonna see lots of games where they play flat in the first half and make an exciting but futile comeback in the second, as we did last year. And a few games where we don't even come back.

On the plus side, I want to say this: their conditioning is defintely improved. They are not looking worn out or depleted at the end of the games, as they did last year. The deep bench helps.

Chris20 · Post by **Chris20** » Thu Nov 18, 2010 8:45 am

I would love to see that too. But it's not happening. Teams can't play that way for 40 minutes against really bad comp. Duke plays in a banged out arena with more energy than any homefloor in the country....and they are flat sometimes against cupcakes. You're shocked and outraged that Kellogg hasn't solved a problem that plagues every coach in every sport.

Roadtrip · Post by **Roadtrip** » Thu Nov 18, 2010 9:26 am

Chris, UMass has no "cupcakes" and slow starts seem to be a conditioned reflex that DK must break for this team to be taken seriously. I don't give a rats azz what Duke does. We are not Duke. This team should want to flatten the "cupcakes" and they don't. They should want to intimidate in the Bill, and they don't. If they are 2-2 come Monday night, we will have met the "cupcake," and he is us, (tip of the hat to Pogo.)

InnervisionsUMASS · Post by **InnervisionsUMASS** » Thu Nov 18, 2010 9:28 am

NMS is an upgrade in opponent, so I anticipate the team will play at the level of the competition... we shall see!

Roadtrip · Post by **Roadtrip** » Thu Nov 18, 2010 9:59 am

I believe the guys who have been playing well will continue to play well. The current underperformers, (this includes 3 starters) need to pick it up a few notches for this team to be moving in the right direction.

LooneyGoon · Post by **LooneyGoon** » Thu Nov 18, 2010 10:32 am

Roadtrip wrote:If UMass plays like they have been playing, NM State by 30.

As some guy once said, the negativity in the town STINKS.

Pierce9999 · Post by **Pierce9999** » Thu Nov 18, 2010 10:36 am

Maybe the negativity will change if they play NM St. tough, and win one this weekend. Marcus Camby isn't walking through that door, though.

albaby · Post by **albaby** » Thu Nov 18, 2010 10:42 am

Chris20 wrote:We'll play better. No idea where all the shock and outrage is coming from based on the Sacred Heart game. They played flat against a much inferior team, were never threatened, and won. Every team plays to it's competitions level to some extent. Playing in a morgue probably didn't help either.

Worried about our defense against NM State...and of course Carter and Vinson need to arrive.

Agreed.

Woodenships · Post by **Woodenships** » Thu Nov 18, 2010 11:30 am

Umass by 10. DK knows what he is doing, look for a solid effort.

uz2b-len · Post by **uz2b-len** » Thu Nov 18, 2010 11:46 am

You could get a lot of action on that line.

Roadtrip · Post by **Roadtrip** » Thu Nov 18, 2010 11:54 am

Looney, what do you see in the teams current level of play that would lead you to believe that a loss by a wide margin to New Mexico State is not possible? I didn't mean to seem or be negative. I just think that the team is playing uninspired ball right now, and if they continue to do so, a lopsided loss is sure to follow.

shovelhd · Post by **shovelhd** » Thu Nov 18, 2010 11:59 am

uz2b-len wrote:You could get a lot of action on that line.

Which one?