Coach Frank Martin

[NilesGold]

13 players competing for playing time sounds like he has no clue what the talent is, Frnk hopes he can find 8 guys who can play.

I suppose that’s possible, but that’s not what he said and in this case he explained the logic and I believe him.

He wants to foster an environment of competition, he noted how last season he did not do this, he sort of coddled the top 8-10 guys. He’s trying to intentionally do the opposite this time.

[DoctorJ]

I'm not sure I'd go that far about having no clue at the talent coming in. He commented about the quality of the leagues that the Jucos played in.

[Floyd]

He wants to foster an environment of competition, he noted how last season he did not do this, he sort of coddled the top 8-10 guys. He’s trying to intentionally do the opposite this time.

Seems like a funny thing to say for someone who has been coaching as long as he has.

[eldonabe]

If any of us have learned anything by now it is the following:

- HS highlight videos are meaningless.
- Most college highlight reels do not reveal much (especially when the player is stepping up in weight class).
- Offseason commentary from coaches or other observers is meaningless.
- Maroon colored glasses are always tinted positively and usually farther away from reality in the offseason.

It's great that Frank has a new approach - that means nothing. I recall his excitement over last year's roster before the season started too.



There is almost nothing to glean from anything until they play games that count.... that includes scrimmages and intra-squad stuff. We will not truly know much until 3-5 games into the season.

Approaching this with any more than a .500% expectation is crazy. At one point not long ago, I mentioned that just qualifying for the conference post season next was a step in the right direction, and I got chewed out by one or two people. There is no discernable way to justify a 20 win season prediction with all the turnover (everywhere not just with us) not to mention Franks [very] poor performance last year.

Last year was terrible - it was on the coach at least as much as it was on the players (more IMO). If the game has passed Frank by, as some have speculated, we are in deep shit next year. I do think Frank is better than that, but with all the inconsistent variables out there who really knows?

[Juice Stand]

- Maroon colored glasses are always tinted positively and usually farther away from reality in the offseason.

I just got my new pair in the mail yesterday! Perfect fit, everything looks great through them.

There is almost nothing to glean from anything until they play games that count...

But that won't stop any of us from talking and speculating. It's fun and helps pass the time until next season. What else would we talk about, how shitty Ryan Bamford's entire tenure has been for football and men's basketball? Boring.

[Juice Stand]

Coach said we could expect announcement in the "next 48 hours" so likely we'll know more by Thursday evening. He thinks the players should announce, not him

Interesting. Is this an indication that some of the new recruits are not social media addicts and haven't bothered to post their "Robert Davis-style" 1000% committed™ tweets?

*1000% committed™ is a registered trademark of RD4 enterprises. Any unauthorized use of 1000% committed™ is subject to legal recourse.

[69MG]

^^^ 13 are signed? I count 9

DHS, JINGUE, LUKA,CARBUCCIA, BROWN, CLERC, OSMAN,PARKER AND OUTLAW

who are the other 4??? unless your counting Rollie - but I don't think he is on a scholarship?

So far, you are right. The 9 you named are what we know. Maybe Frank is aware of 4 more that have signed but he can't comment until the paperwork is done. Players can immediately announce they have committed, but the school cannot. I think the 2 walk-ons will be #'s 14 and 15 and under the new legislation they will get scholarships. It doesn't seem logical to have 15 guys fighting for playing time.

[wmmmfan]

^^^ 13 are signed? I count 9

DHS, JINGUE, LUKA,CARBUCCIA, BROWN, CLERC, OSMAN,PARKER AND OUTLAW

who are the other 4??? unless your counting Rollie - but I don't think he is on a scholarship?

So far, you are right. The 9 you named are what we know. Maybe Frank is aware of 4 more that have signed but he can't comment until the paperwork is done. Players can immediately announce they have committed, but the school cannot. I think the 2 walk-ons will be #'s 14 and 15 and under the new legislation they will get scholarships. It doesn't seem logical to have 15 guys fighting for playing time.

Frank said the other 4 have signed their paperwork but it’s their moment so no announcements from UMass until they announce themselves. They have committed.

[NilesGold]

He wants to foster an environment of competition, he noted how last season he did not do this, he sort of coddled the top 8-10 guys. He’s trying to intentionally do the opposite this time.

Seems like a funny thing to say for someone who has been coaching as long as he has.

Trying to think back on this and I may have remembered incorrectly. He didn’t coddle the players, but he planned it to have a few developmental guys who would sit out or play limited minutes… Frank opined about how they weren’t happy, so this season he’s just going to use more of his roster slots with guys who can compete for playing time instead of stashing players to develop who will just become unhappy and transfer.

[Floyd]

Well, kids are gonna move around anyway if they want to, so the priority should be to put the best guys on the floor in order to win every game. Better play for the wins or he'll be looking for a new job. The days of the 4 year student athlete is gone so developing guys over their college careers is a multi program proposition now.

[inthescoop]

Long line to get a graphic designer to make a commitment banner for social media during this years transfer portal, official announcements are delayed everywhere

[69MG]

OK, so Frank says the last 4 have signed. What type of players are we hoping for? For me:
1. A center to compete with Clerc for playing time.
2. A PG who can shoot from 3, and maybe 6'3 or taller.
3. A back-up for DHS who can give us 6 and 4 in 15 minutes.
4. A wing who can play the same role as Rivera, only with a lot fewer mistakes.

Probably way too much to ask for, but that's what this time of year is all about. Also, no freshmen need apply. I want each player to have at least 1 year of starting experience. I'll live with JoCo or DII if their stats are very good.

[Floyd]

At least 2 bonafide scorers, whether they're 3 pt shooters, low post dominant, or a dynamic pg ala Chazz

[Steve81]

Really like the last 2 post, except for no freshman need to apply. With a roster of 15, think there is room to pickup a couple of freshman. There are only 5 on the court and rotation rarely go beyond 11.

[NilesGold]

OK, so Frank says the last 4 have signed. What type of players are we hoping for?

I don't want a 3rd string C or some other similar deep bench player if they kind of suck and all we get is someone who plays 3 minutes a game and we hold our breath hoping they don't hurt us too much on the rare occasion they play in a game that isn't already decided.

At this point I think we have 5 respectable starters, so I really just hope Frank can add a few more players at any position who are good enough to move the needle and push for a starting spot or be in the 8-man rotation.

Of the players that I've heard connected to UMass these three are probably the ones I'm most hoping for.
Marcus Banks
Lateef Patrick (if we can't get Banks)
Dwayne Wimbley

I think Jace Howard is one of the two that might be deciding this week.