Game 18, 2018-19: at VCU (1/19)

[Slapthefloor93]

Everyone talks about Pip not wanting to be here. Where is that really coming from? Looks to me like he is still playing hard and trying to lead/get his teammates involved. Just not hitting shots. I feel like every time I try to find out where the him leaving rumor is coming from people say “well he made an Instagram post about Amherst being boring,” or “he wants to be closer to Chicago,” or “A guy I trust told me so.” Just seems like a whole bunch of speculation to me unless someone can point me towards a significantly stronger piece of hard evidence, and I’m just getting tired of people acting like it’s already written in ink.

[78]

At least one guy on this board, TheOFFseason, who in the past has proven he knows a lot about what's going on with the team, posted in the Buggs thread that Pip is gone. Of course, he could be wrong, but he's been right often in the past.

On another note, I saw none of the game, but I notice several comments along the lines of, " if we could just start making open shots we could win some of these games." While that is likely true, tonight's box shows 10 assists and 19 turnovers. That is absolutely putrid and no team is going to win many games with numbers like this.

[Slapthefloor93]

Okay that is fair enough, I just feel like people have been acting like it’s a done deal instead of looking at it as a possibility.

[Badger13]

Everyone talks about Pip not wanting to be here. Where is that really coming from? Looks to me like he is still playing hard and trying to lead/get his teammates involved. Just not hitting shots. I feel like every time I try to find out where the him leaving rumor is coming from people say “well he made an Instagram post about Amherst being boring,” or “he wants to be closer to Chicago,” or “A guy I trust told me so.” Just seems like a whole bunch of speculation to me unless someone can point me towards a significantly stronger piece of hard evidence, and I’m just getting tired of people acting like it’s already written in ink.

I agree...he goes 100%all of the time. They are just in a shooting slump that has frustrated them and us!! I see total dedication on Pip behalf

[Floyd]

Yeah, whether Pip leaves or not, you cant question his effort. He's playing hard, trying to lead the team.
The team is just not making shots, but the effort is there. There's no evidence these guys have quit in my eyes, i actually thought they played very hard last night. Guys are trying to make things happen, maybe trying too hard to be that spark, but for some reason, the shots arent falling. Kind of feel bad because you can see they're busting their arse but not getting the results. Gotta just keep working

[LS71]

Unless Pip has committed to another school unofficially, it’s fair to say that the lousier he plays, the fewer good options will make themselves available to him.

[UMass1927]

To me, the notion that they haven't quit and are busting their butts is even scarier than the idea that they've checked out.

There just isn't much talent here and it's legitimate to think they may not win more than 1 or 2 games in the A10 all year. Its not like they have any highly regarded prospects coming in either.

I wonder how much leash McCall has? I still think he gets this season and 2 more but I don't see anything that would make me expect results will improve in that time. All I have is blind hope.

[bunkerhill87]

Last several games is about making shots limiting turnovers and rebounding. Umass has been shooting horribly. The turnovers come at crucial times. We have all weighed in about the rotations. Still confused about some of the line ups out there. On a positive note love Baptiste. Hopefully umass can salvage some season.

[gui98]

To me, the notion that they haven't quit and are busting their butts is even scarier than the idea that they've checked out.

There just isn't much talent here and it's legitimate to think they may not win more than 1 or 2 games in the A10 all year. Its not like they have any highly regarded prospects coming in either.

I wonder how much leash McCall has? I still think he gets this season and 2 more but I don't see anything that would make me expect results will improve in that time. All I have is blind hope.

I agree. Blind hope is fine I guess as that’s all we really have. We can debate all day long about the Coach can’t make shots for the players but it’s year two of a rebuild. I don’t know that you can afford to give 4. Next year needs to be top 4 I league I’d say. It’s been 5 long years since we made the tournament and 10 ish since the success of the Ford years. The fact that we haven’t been able to build on our modicum of successes over the past 10 years to sustain anything is what bugs me the most. From a macro level. UMass Basketball, Groundhog Day.

[uz2b-len]

On another note, I saw none of the game, but I notice several comments along the lines of, " if we could just start making open shots we could win some of these games." While that is likely true, tonight's box shows 10 assists and 19 turnovers. That is absolutely putrid and no team is going to win many games with numbers like this.

If you don't make shots you don't have assists

[NilesGold]

On another note, I saw none of the game, but I notice several comments along the lines of, " if we could just start making open shots we could win some of these games." While that is likely true, tonight's box shows 10 assists and 19 turnovers. That is absolutely putrid and no team is going to win many games with numbers like this.

If you don't make shots you don't have assists

Len is right, and to expound on that, VCU also had 19 turnovers and 12 assists shooting 45% from the field and 46% from 3. When the guys who are supposed to be excellent 3pt shooters, Carl Pierre, Cobb, Laurent, are missing wide open catch & shoot 3s, and VCU is making step back or dribble-pull-up 3's, you probably aren't winning. I didn't understand why Hayward was glued to the bench in the 2nd half, but last night wasn't a coaching problem, it was an offensive execution problem. The players can't seem to finish plays. I'm starting to think the loss of C.J. is far more substantial than I expected, and the transfers/freshmen have been unable to make up for it.

[NilesGold]

Where is Niles? Do we have any recruit coming in next year that might be able to shoot 30% or more from the floor?

We're in trouble if not.

I suspect John Buggs & Preston Santos might be capable of contributing early, as both have an extra year of prep under their belts than a typical HS grad, and both are playing for really good prep programs... but I'm just speculating.

[stevemaz]

That was horrific offensive basketball at its finest. I would be shocked if Pip stays (he would have left two years ago if he could have I suspect).

Too bad Baptiste is a stumble bum offensively (not even serviceable). He should have scored 14-16 pts last night, but he does give them good defense.

I am not going to give up on Diallo or Chatman as they could both develop into solid contributors as upper classmen but this year both are shaky at best.

Cobb blows. Laurent not much better.. Clergot seems awkward at times.. Hayward hasn't really been given shot.. basically the transfer route was a dismal failure and may spell doom for McCall. He could be canned at the end of the year if this keeps up.

Pierre is having soph slump but I think he can turn it around.

I would play 4 guards for 20-25 mins including McLean at the 4..

[uz2b-len]

I only tuned into the game in the second half. Why didn't Holloway play?

[Not Trigger]

Because he couldn't keep up with the pace of the game.