2016-17 Season

[Swampy]

Yeah, but except for Clark, Coleman, Anderson, Berger and Lewis they'll be young and inexperienced.

[uz2b-len]

I think Hines and Holloway will be plenty experienced after this year.

[Swampy]

^ Guess I should have added a smiley face, eh?

[njumass08]

This is going to be a really weird season isn't it?

[69MG]

I think Hines and Holloway will be plenty experienced after this year.

I'm hoping LP does what he needs to so that he can practice 2nd semester. That will give us 6 guys who played this year and 2 who practiced, leaving 4 new guys.

Of course, the 4 new guys are so talented they won't need experience. Seriously, would it shock anyone if one or two of them ended up as starters next year?

[uz2b-len]

I certainly expect Jarreau to start

[Marty Peretz]

This isn't going to be the joyous season some people expect. Surely one of the new guys will be ineligible and Pipkins will be a freshman too. So you have a tremendous amount of talent, but huge amounts of inexperience. I also think people are overlooking Lewis. All accounts are that he can shoot the hell out of the ball and will contribute right away. This team won't have a single senior and won't have a point guard who's played regular minutes. But by year's end they could be dangerous. I just wouldn't get carried away (unless Hines, Berger, and Coleman all really come into their own in 2015-2016).

[69MG]

^ Marty, you are probably right, but it may depend on which recruit isn't eligible. If it's McLean (and I think he is the most likely due to his changing schools so often) it isn't a big deal. Jarreau and the 2 bigs are key. I saw Lewis at practice this week and he was one of the best players on the floor. You could tell he had 2 years of D1 experience. His shot looked great and I think he'll be fine as long as he isn't the #1 option. That's what caused his % to go down as a soph at Canisius.

If either Gresham or Baldwin wins a starting spot, we can play really big with H or H at the 5, Gresham or Baldwin at the 4 and Coleman or Berger at the 3, with Clark at the 2 and Jarreau/Pipkins at the 1. Or we could go smaller with H or H at the 5, Gresham, Baldwin, Coleman, Berger or Coleman at the 4, Clark at the 3, Lewis at the 2 and Jarreau/Pipkins at the 1.

DK will have lots of options and can run and press as much as he wants. How fast everyone comes along is obviously a question, but the potential improvement from the start of the season to the end is awesome.

[mlaconte459]

Ya 16-17 will def have some growing pains but we will have the best (talent wise) roster in the Atlantic 10.. I hate looking tooooo far ahead but 17-18 has a chance to be something really really really special.. Having seniors like Berger and Coleman could possibly be the 7-9th guys on the court. That is an absurd depth and the future is looking nothing but bright

[NilesGold]

This team won't have a single senior and won't have a point guard who's played regular minutes.

CJ Anderson is a PG, or close to one. Anderson, Clark, Berger, Coleman, Hines and Holloway are all going to play major minutes this year. Add in Lewis and that's 5 upperclassmen and 7 guys who will have a fair amount of experience. Next year might be rocky at the start, but maybe not.

[LS71]

Next year's roster and 2017-18's will essentially be the same. There will be NO seniors on next years' squad.

5 juniors - Anderson, Berger, Clark, Coleman and Lewis
2 sophs - Hines and Holloway
5 freshmen - Baldwin, Gresham, Jarreau, McLean and Pipkins.

...plus one scholarship left to give.

[fenway617]

^^
You have to think someone will transfer after this season. That seems to be the norm. I wouldn't be surprised if Holloway transfers.

[mlaconte459]

^^ Holloway is a starting center as a freshman currently.. Why the hell would he transfer? He is a talented big man that will improve greatly over the course of the year as he gets into game shape. I truly hope that he does not transfer at all.

But in all honestly I just HATE the talk about well maybe XXX will transfer next year. I know it happens but these kids have decided to play their college basketball at Umass. I expect them and us to hold our ends of the bargain on that 4-5 year relationship. Just really don't like the talk of who will be transferring especially when it is purely guesswork.

[MJatUM]

^ +1

[chlaur1]

Can anyone update me on the status of our big 4 recruiting class for next year (Mclean + Bawldwin + 2 New Orleans studs) -- call me paranoid, but I have a worry in the back of my head that if we really sux it up this year (which is certainly a possibility givin DK's subpar ability as an 'in-game' coach and the disappointing news regarding Pinpkins) that these recruits may get cold-feet and jump ship (literally)...

Did they all sign the 'official' Letter of Intent -- is there another more formal signing period deadline that will essentially lock them in for next year?

Hopefully my concern is unfounded, but I would LOVE for Umass to return to powerhouse standards and I am nervous that we may just be getting teased for lack of a better word...