2024-25 Season

[m626t]

^
I think Frank will learn from this past season and adjust accordingly. He appears self-aware and accountable. Looking for better results in the future.

[Juice Stand]

Yeah, I agree. I thought that was a really good and candid interview from Frank. I've wondered if he's capable of adapting or just digging his heels in, and it definitely sounds like he learned a lot and is embarrassed by his performance.

[eldonabe]

Yeah, I agree. I thought that was a really good and candid interview from Frank. I've wondered if he's capable of adapting or just digging his heels in, and it definitely sounds like he learned a lot and is embarrassed by his performance.

Frank's fundamental style is not changing... he is a "program developer" and that means he needs 3 and 4 year players to build his program with.

[m626t]

We'll see. Maybe this old dog can learn new tricks.

[Juice Stand]

He's old school, no two ways about it. But he's not a dummy. Listen to the interview and take what you want from it. My takeaway was that he felt tremendous embarrassment and a sense of responsibility to do much much better. Not only that, but he knows that all coaches in college basketball are dealing with the current issues in the game, he's not the only one. So he's been reflective of that and trying to adapt. Will it work? No clue. But he's aware of his shortcomings in the last year and working his tail off to do better

[devildawg3010]

Frank is 59, age of coaches in the sweet 16:

Barnes 70
Izzo 70
Sampson 69
Cal 66
Pearl 65
Painter 54
Pope 52
Beard 52
Oat 50
Loyd 50
Willard 49
May 48
McCasland 48
Young 43
Goldman 38
Scheyer 37

Notables Pitino 72, Altman 66, McDermott 60, Few 62


UMass was in the bottom half of the A10 in NIL this year. NIL and the portal has streamlined the process for coaches. You no longer need to recruit a guy for years to come to your program. You look in the portal and with the money you have, you buy your team. This is pay for play. And a player is as good as someone is willing to pay them. The less $ you have the less talented players you will attract.

If you have a lot of NIL $ you have a great chance of winning. If you have a little NIL you have a chance, and no NIL means no chance.

If our NIL next year is in the top half of the league, than that is where I'd expect we end up. If it's in the bottom half of the league, then that is where I expect us to end up. Just like this year.

I still have faith in Frank. If this past season happened before the portal and NIL, I would be worried. But our NIL could not compete with the top half of the A10. I wish NIL numbers were transparent but unfortunately they are not.

[NilesGold]

UMass was in the bottom half of the A10 in NIL this year.

What is your source for this assertion?

[umasscollective]

Frank is 59, age of coaches in the sweet 16:

Barnes 70
Izzo 70
Sampson 69
Cal 66
Pearl 65
Painter 54
Pope 52
Beard 52
Oat 50
Loyd 50
Willard 49
May 48
McCasland 48
Young 43
Goldman 38
Scheyer 37

Notables Pitino 72, Altman 66, McDermott 60, Few 62


UMass was in the bottom half of the A10 in NIL this year. NIL and the portal has streamlined the process for coaches. You no longer need to recruit a guy for years to come to your program. You look in the portal and with the money you have, you buy your team. This is pay for play. And a player is as good as someone is willing to pay them. The less $ you have the less talented players you will attract.

If you have a lot of NIL $ you have a great chance of winning. If you have a little NIL you have a chance, and no NIL means no chance.

If our NIL next year is in the top half of the league, than that is where I'd expect we end up. If it's in the bottom half of the league, then that is where I expect us to end up. Just like this year.

I still have faith in Frank. If this past season happened before the portal and NIL, I would be worried. But our NIL could not compete with the top half of the A10. I wish NIL numbers were transparent but unfortunately they are not.

Last season, our NIL budget reached $500,000, a number I fought hard to hit and shared transparently in multiple member meetings. I personally contributed a significant portion of that total, and I spent more time working on the Massachusetts Collective than I did on my own business. That’s how much this matters to me.

There are plenty of people with opinions; critics, complainers, and self-proclaimed experts. But what we truly need are more doers and contributors. People who are willing to invest their time, energy, and resources.

If you believe in this team and what we’re trying to accomplish, now’s the time to step up. Its the price of fandom and success these days.

https://buy.stripe.com/eVadRvbGS2dF1eU9CC

[DanaDingle3]

Don't know how much more juice the Collective is going to squeeze from the average fan. Hopefully UMass or the Collective can uncover some new big number folks who want to be involved.

Don't know what our NIL was compared to other A10 teams, but as one of, if not the biggest school in that league, it's too bad more big monied folks aren't involved for us.

[umasscollective]

Don't know how much more juice the Collective is going to squeeze from the average fan. Hopefully UMass or the Collective can uncover some new big number folks who want to be involved.

Don't know what our NIL was compared to other A10 teams, but as one of, if not the biggest school in that league, it's too bad more big monied folks aren't involved for us.

I get it and we’re adapting our strategy as best we can. Winning definitely helps, but you can’t put the chicken before the egg. The reality is, we need NIL support before the success happens if we want to retain and attract the kind of talent that makes winning sustainable.

We’ve pushed hard to engage high-level supporters and continue to do so, but it's a grind. The average fan has stepped up in a big way, and we’re incredibly grateful, but we know we can’t keep going back to the same well. The next phase has to include more top-end investment, and we're working every angle to make that happen.

[devildawg3010]

^ UMassCollective, I 100% agree with everything you said. This was by no means directed at you, UMassCollective, UMass, or anyone affiliated.

Niles asked and I assume what you were referring to, was a statement I made. I relistened to The Coach JB Show and I misinterpreted what Coach Martin said.

Coach Martin said, "Having NIL don't guarantee you gonna win, but if you don't have it, no chance. We got some, we got people working their hearts out. But we're not with the upper half of the league."

I misspoke, I do not know what he means by league.

My apologies to everyone. I will delete my prior post.

[devildawg3010]

I cant figure out how to delete my post. If someone can delete it, please do. Thank you and my apologies.

[inthescoop]

Don't know how much more juice the Collective is going to squeeze from the average fan. Hopefully UMass or the Collective can uncover some new big number folks who want to be involved.

Don't know what our NIL was compared to other A10 teams, but as one of, if not the biggest school in that league, it's too bad more big monied folks aren't involved for us.

I get it and we’re adapting our strategy as best we can. Winning definitely helps, but you can’t put the chicken before the egg. The reality is, we need NIL support before the success happens if we want to retain and attract the kind of talent that makes winning sustainable.

We’ve pushed hard to engage high-level supporters and continue to do so, but it's a grind. The average fan has stepped up in a big way, and we’re incredibly grateful, but we know we can’t keep going back to the same well. The next phase has to include more top-end investment, and we're working every angle to make that happen.

Is it possible to let us know what X amount of money is needed to get a specific recruit to come to UMass because maybe then we’ll donate to that cause. People want to donate with incentives - essentially we want to know what we’re paying for. If possible of course.

[Uminuteman]

Here's what VCU is doing. Good thing they're not in the MAC:

https://commonwealthtimes.org/2025/01/2 ... x-figures/

[doubledribble]

Here's what VCU is doing. Good thing they're not in the MAC:

https://commonwealthtimes.org/2025/01/2 ... x-figures/

One difference between VCU and UMass
“ If you’ve ever been to a men’s basketball game at the Siegel Center, you’ll notice one thing, the seats are always full”