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====== 2020-21 Season ======
The 2020-21 UMass Minutemen men's basketball team represented the University of Massachusetts, the flagship campus in Amherst. The Head Coach was [[mccall_matt|Matt McCall]]. The team played its home games in the [[Mullins Center]] in Amherst, Massachusetts, and was a member of the [[atlantic_10|Atlantic 10 Conference]].

The 2020-21 season represented the 112th season of basketball in the school's history.

Due to the [[wp>COVID-19 pandemic in the United States|COVID-19 pandemic]], this season was mired in disruption.  Games started more than a month later than normal, and numerous games were cancelled.  The team also went on multiple pauses due to COVID protocols, as did several of their scheduled opponents.

UMass also lost a game due to the [[wp>2021 United States Capitol attack|January 6 attack on the US Capitol]] and resulting city lockdown.

All in all, UMass played less than half the typical total amount of games, and only three non-conference games, two of which game on an unusual back-to-back against the same team.

  * **Final Record:** 8-7
  * **Final Conference Record:** 6-4 (Tied for 4th place, 5th after tiebreaker, out of 14)
  * **Final NET:** 119((https://www.ncaa.com/rankings/basketball-men/d1/ncaa-mens-basketball-net-rankings))
  * **Final BPI:** 113((https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/bpi))
<!-- Deleted the RPI and SOS numbers from RealTimeRPI.com as they have errors that are likely impacting our rankings.-->

^Record^Overall^A-10^
|All games|8-7|6-4|
|Home|4-3|3-2|
|Away|3-3|3-2|
|Neutral|1-1|--|
|Overtime|1-1|1-1|

^  Previous Season  ^  Next Season  ^
|  [[season_2019-20|2019-20]]  |  [[season_2021-22|2021-22]]  |

===== Scoreboard =====
^   Game   ^^^^^   Record   ^^   Rank   ^^   Notes   ^ 
^   Date   ^   Opponent   ^   Game Results   ^   High Scorer   ^   High Rebounder   ^   Overall   ^   A10   ^   UM   ^   Opp   ^   :::   ^
|   12/11  |   [[opponent_northeastern|Northeastern]]   |   @#ddffdd:[[game20201211_northeastern|W 94-79]]   |   [[mitchell_tre|Tre Mitchell]] (31)   |   Tre Mitchell (11)   |   1-0   |   --   |   --   |   --   |Tre dominates early and often, including 19 & 6 in the first half.  [[garcia_javohn|Garcia]] impressive with 23 in his debut, including 9-13 FG.  [[pierre_carl|Pierre]] 14, [[weeks_tj|Weeks]] 11.  NU led by Walker's 29.|
|   12/13  |   at [[opponent_northeastern|Northeastern]]   |   @#ffdddd:[[game20201213_northeastern|L 78-75]]   |   [[garcia_javohn|Garcia]] (18)   |   [[mitchell_tre|Tre Mitchell]] (8)   |   1-1   |   --   |   --   |   --   |At [[wp>Cabot Center]]. NU goes on an 11-2 run in the second half, and holds a 10 point edge with 46 seconds to play.  UM scrambles but the comeback attempt falls short.  Husky defense limits Tre to 10 points and 3-10 shooting.  Walker 20 for NU.|
|   12/16  |   at [[opponent_la_salle|La Salle]]   |   @#ddffdd:[[game20201216_la_salle|W 85-66]]   |   [[mitchell_tre|Tre Mitchell]] (37)   |   [[mccrory_cairo|McCrory]] (9)   |   2-1   |   1-0   |   --   |   --   |Tre shoots 13-17 overall and racks up 37 points for a new career high, shredding the Explorer defense.  [[pierre_carl|Pierre]] adds 14 points.  [[fernandes_noah|Fernandes]] 11 pts, 9 assists, just 1 turnover.|
|   12/21  |   [[opponent_bryant|Bryant]]   |   @#ffdddd:[[game20201221_bryant|L 93-88]]   |   [[pierre_carl|Pierre]] (23)   |   [[fernandes_noah|Fernandes]], [[mccrory_cairo|McCrory]], Pierre (5 each)   |   2-2   |   --   |   --   |   --   |Bryant's fast offense and hot shooting puts UM on their heels.  Bulldogs' 22 turnovers lets UM hang around, but Bryant's zone neutralizes [[mitchell_tre|Tre]] (4 field goals, 3 rebounds), and UM settles for threes that won't fall (9-34 / .265).|
|   12/30  |   [[opponent_george_mason|George Mason]]   |   @#ffdddd:[[game20201230_george_mason|L 93-92 (2OT)]]   |   [[mitchell_tre|Tre Mitchell]] (23)   |   [[degray_ronnie|DeGray]], [[fernandes_noah|Fernandes]], Tre Mitchell (8 each)   |   2-3   |   1-1   |   --   |   --   |Demoralizing loss as UM blows three late leads: up 8 with 1:08 left in regulation, up 7 with 3:00 left in OT1, up 6 with 1:30 left in OT2.  Mason's zone defense frustrates UM, Tre stuck on 7 points until 4:30 left in regulation. Fernandes & [[pierre_carl|Pierre]] with 19 pts each, [[weeks_tj|Weeks]] 14.|
|   1/9  |   [[opponent_la_salle|La Salle]]   |   @#ddffdd:[[game20210109_la_salle|W 83-67]]   |   [[mccrory_cairo|McCrory]] & [[pierre_carl|Pierre]] (15 each)   |   [[mitchell_tre|Tre Mitchell]] (8)   |   3-3   |   2-1   |   --   |   --   |Balanced attack with 4 M'men in double figures.  [[fernandes_noah|Fernandes]] 13/7/7:1.  Tre (11 points) relaxes a little with teammates carrying more load.  [[degray_ronnie|DeGray]] 9/3/5, [[garcia_javohn|Garcia]] 8.|
|   1/13  |   [[opponent_rhode_island|Rhode Island]]   |   @#ddffdd:[[game20210113_rhode_island|W 80-78 (OT)]]   |   [[degray_ronnie|DeGray]] (21)   |   [[fernandes_noah|Fernandes]] (8)   |   4-3   |   3-1   |   --   |   --   |UM uses a 17-3 second half run to go up 15, only to lose it and go into OT.  [[mitchell_tre|Tre]] fights through 4 fouls and scores 4 critical points in OT, but star of the game was DeGray (7-9 FG, 6-8 FT, 6 boards, 3 assists, 2 steals).|
|   1/17  |   at [[opponent_fordham|Fordham]]   |   @#ddffdd:[[game20210117_fordham|W 65-46]]   |   [[mitchell_tre|Tre Mitchell]] (24)   |   [[degray_ronnie|DeGray]] (10)   |   5-3   |   4-1   |   --   |   --   |UM throttled Fordham in the first, 44-17, and built it to 52-17, then offensively stalled, but it was enough.  Tre 24 & 8, [[weeks_tj|Weeks]] 11 pts, [[pierre_carl|Pierre]] 9, DeGray 8 & 10.|
|   1/24  |   [[opponent_davidson|Davidson]]   |   @#ffdddd:[[game20210124_davidson|L 69-60]]   |   [[mitchell_tre|Tre Mitchell]] & [[weeks_tj|Weeks]] (16 each)   |   [[mitchell_tre|Tre Mitchell]] (9)   |   5-4   |   4-2   |   --   |   --   |UM went ahead 38-31 with 17:33 to play, and Grady stuck on 2 points.  Davidson went on a 38-16 run after that, with Grady scoring 20.  Tre leaves game with a shoulder injury.  [[fernandes_noah|Fernandes]] 15 pts, but rest of UM just 13 combined.|
|   2/3  |   [[opponent_fordham|Fordham]]   |   @#ddffdd:[[game20210203_fordham|W 60-54]]   |   [[garcia_javohn|Garcia]] (14)   |   [[weeks_tj|Weeks]] (12)   |   6-4   |   5-2   |   --   |   --   |[[mitchell_tre|Tre]] and [[fernandes_noah|Noah]] sit out with injuries.  [[gasperini_mark|Gasperini]] (9 & 5) and Garcia (14/3/5) start in their spot.  TJ tallies a double-double with 13 & 12.  Fordham misses with 21% from 3, 50% from the line.|
|   2/6  |   at [[opponent_rhode_island|Rhode Island]]   |   @#ddffdd:[[game20210206_rhode_island|W 75-63]]   |   [[pierre_carl|Pierre]] (19)   |   [[mccrory_cairo|McCrory]] (11)   |   7-4   |   6-2   |   --   |   --   |With [[mitchell_tre|Tre]] and [[fernandes_noah|Noah]] still out, UM shoves their 10-point underdog status down Rhody's throat.  Pierre hits a season-high 5 threes.  [[gasperini_mark|Gasperini]] gets his breakout game: 11 pts, 5 boards, 4 assists, 2 steals, and his first UM three-pointer.  [[mccrory_cairo|McCrory]] 11 & 11 off the bench.  [[degray_ronnie|DeGray]] 11 & 6, [[garcia_javohn|Garcia]] 8 points before leaving after an elbow to the eye.  URI doesn't hit a three, first time since 2011.|
|   2/23  |   at [[opponent_richmond|Richmond]]   |   @#ffdddd:[[game20210223_richmond|L 79-65]]   |   [[dominguez_dyondre|Dominguez]] (15)   |   [[degray_ronnie|DeGray]] and [[weeks_tj|Weeks]] (5 each)   |   7-5   |   6-3   |   --   |   --   |New high for DD with 15, but rest of team looks rusty after the long layoff, and has trouble stopping the UR flow and back-door cuts.  Weeks scores 11 early, but only 3 over the final 27+ minutes.  [[mitchell_tre|Tre]] limited to 9 & 4 in 22 foul-plagued minutes, [[fernandes_noah|Noah]] 3 & 3 in 20 minutes, both off the bench.|
|   3/1  |   at [[opponent_st_louis|Saint Louis]]   |   @#ffdddd:[[game20210301_st_louis|L 78-57]]   |   [[fernandes_noah|Fernandes]] (16)   |   [[mitchell_tre|Tre Mitchell]] (5)   |   7-6   |   **6-4**   |   --   |   --   |UM flubs their chance to get a double-bye, getting crushed on the boards (-13).  Tre limited to 10 pts on 2-7 FG as SLU plays him tough.  [[pierre_carl|Pierre]] 12 pts.  SLU gets 5 in double figures.|
|   3/4  |   vs [[opponent_saint_josephs_pa|Saint Joseph's]]   |   @#ddffdd:[[game20210304_saint_josephs|W 100-66]]   |   [[degray_ronnie|DeGray]] (19)   |   [[mitchell_tre|Tre Mitchell]] (11)   |   8-6   |   --   |   --   |   --   |[[conference_tournaments|A-10 Tournament]], Second Round.  Seeds: UM 5, SJU 13.  UM absolutely on fire early, scoring 74 points with 17:33 left in the game.  UM shot 66% in the first, including 60% from 3, 56% overall in the game.  Six M'Men in double figures.  UM holds SJU to 34% overall, 30% from 3, Daly just 2-10.|
|   3/5  |   vs [[opponent_st_louis|Saint Louis]]   |   @#ffdddd:[[game20210305_st_louis|L 86-72]]   |   [[mitchell_tre|Tre Mitchell]] (30)   |   Tre Mitchell (6)   |   **8-7**   |   --   |   --   |   --   |[[conference_tournaments|A-10 Tournament]] Quarter-Final.  SLU seeded 4.  SLU imposes their physicality, dominating the glass 45-22.  Great shooting from Tre (10-16 / 2-3 / 8-8), but not enough from rest of UM.  [[garcia_javohn|Garcia]] 11, [[mccrory_cairo|McCrory]] 9, [[pierre_carl|Pierre]] 8.  Perkins 25 pts for SLU (+8 over his average).  UM leaves Collins open on double-teams and he ties his career high with 17 (+12 vs average).  Goodwin 18 & 14, French 8 & 11.|

===== Statistics =====
Category leaders highlighted.  Clear leaders in yellow.  Blue indicates leaders with differing minimum thresholds.
^Player^G^GS^MP^MPG^FG^FGA^FG%^2P^2PA^2P%^3P^3PA^3P%^FT^FTA^FT%^PTS^PPG^ORB^DRB^TRB^RPG^AST^TOV^STL^BLK^PF^FO^
|Tre Mitchell|13|12|419|32.2|@#FFFFB7:83|160|.519|@#FFFFB7:68|@#FFFFB7:120|.567|15|40|.375|@#FFFFB7:63|@#FFFFB7:82|.768|@#FFFFB7:244|@#FFFFB7:18.8|18|@#FFFFB7:75|@#FFFFB7:93|@#FFFFB7:7.2|29|28|16|@#FFFFB7:20|35|0|
|Carl Pierre|@#FFFFB7:15|@#FFFFB7:15|@#FFFFB7:507|@#FFFFB7:33.8|62|@#FFFFB7:171|.363|25|60|.417|@#FFFFB7:37|@#FFFFB7:111|.333|29|41|.707|190|12.7|7|50|57|3.8|24|12|13|1|27|0|
|Noah Fernandes|13|12|399|30.7|43|101|.426|19|40|.475|24|61|@#66ffff:.393|34|42|@#66ffff:.810|144|11.1|7|48|55|4.2|@#FFFFB7:57|26|@#FFFFB7:21|5|32|1|
|Javohn Garcia|@#FFFFB7:15|10|388|25.9|53|120|.442|40|80|.500|13|40|.325|37|49|.755|156|10.4|5|32|37|2.5|39|33|23|10|37|1|
|TJ Weeks|@#FFFFB7:15|3|306|20.4|51|138|.370|28|62|.452|23|76|.303|21|29|.724|146|9.7|13|39|52|3.5|17|17|13|4|17|0|
|Ronnie Degray|@#FFFFB7:15|14|411|27.4|51|94|@#FFFFB7:.543|41|67|@#FFFFB7:.612|10|27|.370|19|31|.613|131|8.7|@#FFFFB7:20|49|69|4.6|21|22|5|4|35|2|
|Cairo McCrory|11|0|186|16.9|21|39|.538|17|32|.531|4|7|@#66ffff:.571|5|10|.500|51|4.6|19|30|49|4.5|9|13|6|7|26|1|
|Dyondre Dominguez|11|0|93|8.5|8|22|.364|5|9|.556|3|13|.231|8|11|.727|27|2.5|3|9|12|1.1|3|6|1|3|7|0|
|Dibaji Walker|12|5|143|11.9|8|33|.242|6|12|.500|2|21|.095|7|8|@#66ffff:.875|25|2.1|9|12|21|1.8|10|8|4|4|16|0|
|Mark Gasperini|@#FFFFB7:15|3|141|9.4|12|34|.353|11|28|.393|1|6|.167|5|6|@#66ffff:.833|30|2.0|11|14|25|1.7|9|8|7|3|16|0|
|Kolton Mitchell|11|1|72|6.5|2|5|.400|2|5|.400|0|0|--|3|6|.500|7|0.6|5|5|10|0.9|6|4|1|0|11|0|
|Ryan Marcus|5|0|7|1.4|0|2|.000|0|0|--|0|2|.000|0|0|--|0|0.0|1|1|2|0.4|0|0|0|0|2|0|
|Brady Antonopoulos|3|0|3|1.0|0|1|.000|0|0|--|0|1|.000|0|0|--|0|0.0|0|0|0|--|0|1|0|0|0|0|
|UMass Totals|15| |3075| |394|920|.428|262|515|.509|132|405|.326|231|315|.733|1151|76.7|136|381|517|34.5|224|181|110|61|261|0|
|Opp Totals|15| |3075| |403|880|.458|313|614|.510|90|266|.338|199|294|.677|1095|73.0|131|424|555|37.0|230|221|105|53|280|?|

Additional sources: [[https://umassathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/stats/2020-21|UMass Athletics]], [[https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/massachusetts/2021.html|Sports Reference]], [[https://basketball.realgm.com/ncaa/conferences/Atlantic-10-Conference/10/Massachusetts/21/stats/2021/Averages/All/All/Season/All/points/desc/1/|Real GM]]

===== A-10 Lists & Honors =====
==== Post-Season ====
[[mitchell_tre|Tre Mitchell]] was named to the First Team, and the Academic Team.((https://atlantic10.com/news/2021/3/10/mens-basketball-hyland-named-atlantic-10-player-of-the-year-schmidt-osunniyi-earn-top-honors.aspx))

==== Player of the Week ====
  * [[mitchell_tre|Tre Mitchell]], week ending 12/20((https://umassathletics.com/news/2020/12/21/mens-basketball-tre-mitchell-named-atlantic-10-player-of-the-week.aspx))

==== Rookie of the Week ====
  * [[garcia_javohn|Javohn Garcia]], week ending 12/13((https://umassathletics.com/news/2020/12/14/mens-basketball-javohn-garcia-named-atlantic-10-rookie-of-the-week.aspx))
  * [[degray_ronnie|Ronnie DeGray]], week ending 1/17((https://umassathletics.com/news/2021/1/18/mens-basketball-degray-iii-named-atlantic-10-rookie-of-the-week.aspx))

==== Pre-Season ====
In the Atlantic 10 Pre-Season poll, UMass was picked to finish 8th out of the 14 teams.  [[mitchell_tre|Tre Mitchell]] was named to the First Team.((https://atlantic10.com/news/2020/11/9/mens-basketball-release-poll.aspx))

===== Roster =====
[[https://umassathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster|UM official roster]], [[http://umassathletics.com/coaches.aspx?path=mbball|Coaching staff]]

<sortable 3>
^ ^#^Name^Height^Weight^Class^Pos.^Hometown / HS / Prep / College Transfer^Status^
|{{:Antonopoulos_Brady_roster_photo_2020-21.jpg?nolink&60|}}|00|[[Antonopoulos, Brady]]|6-1|165|Sr.|G|West Brookfield, MA / Quaboag Regional HS|@#ddffdd:Active, walk-on((https://twitter.com/UMassBasketball/status/1319402867632017412))|
|{{:degray_ronnie_roster_photo_2020-21.jpg?nolink&60|}}|13|[[DeGray, Ronnie]]|6-7|220|Fr.|F|Parker, CO / Woodstock Academy|@#ddffdd:Active|
|{{:dominguez_dyondre_roster_photo_2020-21.jpg?nolink&60|}}|4|[[Dominguez, Dyondre]]|6-8|195|Fr.|F|Providence, RI / Woodstock Academy|@#ddffdd:Active|
|{{:fernandes_noah_roster_photo_2020-21.jpg?nolink&60|}}|11|[[Fernandes, Noah]]|5-11|172|So.|G|Mattapoisett, MA / Woodstock Academy / Wichita State|@#ddffdd:Active|
|{{:garcia_javohn_roster_photo_2020-21.jpg?nolink&60|}}|1|[[Garcia, Javohn]]|6-2|175|Fr.|PG|Pickerington, OH / Brewster Academy|@#ddffdd:Active|
|{{:gasperini_mark_roster_photo_2020-21.jpg?nolink&60|}}|10|[[Gasperini, Mark]]|6-10|245|Gr.|F/C|Moscow, Russia / Brimmer and May School / American Univ.|@#ddffdd:Active|
|{{:marcus_ryan_roster_photo_2020-21.jpg?nolink&60|}}|20|[[Marcus, Ryan]]|6-3|175|Fr.|G|Wakefield, MA / Wakefield HS|@#ddffdd:Active, preferred walk-on((https://www.localheadlinenews.com/next-level-wakefield-warriors-ryan-marcus-to-umass-amherst/))((https://twitter.com/UmassCoachB/status/1308912042112360452))|
|{{:mccrory_cairo_roster_photo_2020-21.jpg?nolink&60|}}|5|[[McCrory, Cairo]]|6-5|185|Fr.|SG|Hartford, CT / Masters/Northwest Catholic / Woodstock Academy|@#ddffdd:Active|
|{{:mitchell_kolton_roster_photo_2020-21.jpg?nolink&60|}}|3|[[Mitchell, Kolton]]|6-3|175|So.|G|Fort Myers, FL / Victory Rock Prep|@#ddffdd:Active|
|{{:mitchell_tre_roster_photo_2020-21.jpg?nolink&60|}}|33|[[Mitchell, Tre]]|6-9|235|So.|F/C|Pittsburgh, PA / Woodstock Academy|@#ddffdd:Active|
|{{:pierre_carl_roster_photo_2020-21.jpg?nolink&60|}}|12|[[Pierre, Carl]]|6-4|190|Sr.|G|Boston, MA / Boston College HS|@#ddffdd:Active, team captain((https://umassathletics.com/news/2020/10/30/mens-basketball-umass-basketball-to-play-in-bubbleville-at-mohegan-sun.aspx))|
|{{:santos_preston_roster_photo_2019-20.jpg?nolink&40|}}|2|[[Santos, Preston]]|6-6|180|So.|G/F|Warwick, RI / Woodstock Academy|@#ffdddd:Inactive. Opted out of the season for personal reasons.|
|{{:walker_dibaji_roster_photo_2020-21.jpg?nolink&60|}}|24|[[Walker, Dibaji]]|6-7|190|Jr.|F|Columbus, OH / Woodstock Academy / [[opponent_cleveland_state|Cleveland State]]|@#ddffdd:Active|
|{{:weeks_tj_roster_photo_2020-21.jpg?nolink&60|}}|23|[[Weeks, TJ]]|6-4|185|Fr.*|G|Warwick, RI / Woodstock Academy|@#ddffdd:Active|
</sortable>

* Eligibility difference.

  * TJ Weeks requested and received a medical redshirt for the 2019-20 season, having only played in the first 10 games before sitting out the rest of the season.((https://twitter.com/JoshWalfishDHG/status/1237921561191100416))((https://www.berkshireeagle.com/stories/matt-mccall-umass-mens-basketball-has-title-aspirations-when-season-gets-going-oct-14,614325))

All student-athletes from the [[season_2020-21|2020-21 season]] have an option to play a fifth year, via a policy based on special circumstances coming from the [[wp>COVID-19 pandemic in the United States|COVID-19 pandemic]].((https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/10/14/ncaa-winter-sports-extra-eligibility/))

2019-20 players lost:\\
[[baptiste_djery|Baptiste, Djery]] - Eligibility exhausted.\\
[[Buggs, John]] - Opted to transfer during the off-season.((https://twitter.com/charleyneisner/status/1291098032499564546))((https://twitter.com/VerbalCommits/status/1291096373371310083))\\
[[chatman_sy|Chatman, Sy]] - Transferred out after the Fall 2019 semester.((https://twitter.com/VerbalCommits/status/1207760594851389440))((https://www.gazettenet.com/UMass-down-two-for-Maine-as-Weeks-(health)-gets-shelved-Chatman-enters-transfer-portal-31452068))  Ultimately chose Illinois State.((https://twitter.com/Redbird_MBB/status/1270102345855258624))\\
[[Clergeot, Keon]] - Expected to graduate in Spring 2020, and has opted to transfer and play elsewhere as a grad student.((https://twitter.com/Keonhumble/status/1240347614941511681))  Ultimately chose Southeastern Louisiana.((https://twitter.com/Keonhumble/status/1248400039430377477))\\
[[Diallo, Samba]] - Opted to transfer after the end of the season, will continue to play at Manhattan College.((https://twitter.com/sdiallo04/status/1247937960953118721))((https://gojaspers.com/news/2020/4/17/mens-basketball-masiello-adds-pair-of-transfers.aspx))\\
[[East, Sean]] - Opted to transfer after the end of the season, will continue to play at Bradley.((https://247sports.com/college/basketball/recruiting/Article/Basketball-recruiting-transfer-Sean-East-Bradley-Braves-UMass-Minutemen-145665832/))((https://www.bradleyscout.com/sports/bradley-lands-transfer-guard-sean-east/))\\
[[Higginbottom, Davonte]] - expected to graduate in Spring 2020, would have college athletics eligibility left, but not expected to return.\\
[[Jackson, CJ]] - Opted to transfer after the end of the season.((https://twitter.com/ChrisJack1_/status/1240010295613014029))  Ultimately chose Florida Southwestern State (JuCo)((https://twitter.com/ChrisJack1_/status/1257823747664379905))((https://twitter.com/ChrisJack1_/status/1258930355794579456))\\
[[west_randall|West, Randall]] - Eligibility exhausted.

==== Team photo ====
{{::2020-21_team_photo.jpg?direct&800|}}
\\
Back row (L to R): Ronnie DeGray (13), Dibaji Walker (24), Tre Mitchell (33), Mark Gasperini (10), Dyondre Dominguez (4), Cairo McCrory (5)\\
Front row (L to R): Brady Antonopoulos (00), Noah Fernandes (11), TJ Weeks (23), Carl Pierre (12), Kolton Mitchell (3), Javohn Garcia (1), Ryan Marcus (20)\\
Not available at time of photo: Preston Santos

===== General team news =====
  * 1/7/21 Reaction to the UM/GW game getting postponed due to the events at the US Capitol: [[https://www.masslive.com/umassbasketball/2021/01/us-capitol-insurrection-umass-coach-matt-mccall-couldnt-wait-to-get-his-team-out-of-washington-dc-as-events-escalated-matt-vautour.html|MassLive]], [[https://theathletic.com/2307141/2021/01/06/umass-basketball-dc-riots/|The Athletic Boston]], [[https://dailycollegian.com/2021/01/umass-mens-basketball-has-unforgettable-washington-d-c-experience/|Collegian]]
  * 12/10/20 DHG: [[https://www.gazettenet.com/UMass-basketball-keeps-tabs-on-each-other-during-quarantine-37717758|UMass basketball keeps tabs on each other during 18-day quarantine]]
  * 11/12/20 MDC: [[https://dailycollegian.com/2020/11/minutemen-are-eager-to-get-back-on-the-court-to-start-their-2020-2021-campaign/|Minutemen are eager to get back on the court to start their 2020-2021 campaign]]
  * 11/11/20 DHG: [[https://www.gazettenet.com/Motivated-UMass-out-to-prove-preseason-conference-ranking-wrong-37275086|Motivated UMass out to prove preseason conference ranking wrong]]

===== Schedule =====
All times Eastern PM, unless otherwise noted.  Boldface opponents indicates an [[atlantic_10|Atlantic 10 Conference]] game.\\
[[https://umassathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/schedule/2020-21?&print=true|Printable schedule]]\\
[[https://umassathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/schedule/2020-21|UMass master schedule]]

^   Date   ^   Day   ^   Time   ^   Opponent   ^   Site   ^   Event   ^   TV   ^   Streaming Video   ^
|   12/11   |   Fri   |   1:30   |   [[opponent_northeastern|Northeastern]]   |   [[Mullins Center]]   |   --   |   [[https://nesn.com/|NESN]]   |   [[https://nesn.com/watch-nesn-live/|NESN]], [[https://www.espn.com/watch/espnplus/|ESPN+]]   |
|   12/13   |   Sun   |   Noon   |   at [[opponent_northeastern|Northeastern]]   |   at [[https://nuhuskies.com/sports/2013/4/3/GEN_0403130440.aspx?id=2511|Cabot Center]], Boston MA   |   --   |   [[https://nesn.com/|NESN]]   |   [[https://nesn.com/watch-nesn-live/|NESN]]   |
|   12/16((Moved from 12/9. https://goexplorers.com/news/2020/12/7/mens-basketball-game-vs-massachusetts-postponed.aspx))   |   Wed   |   Noon   |   at **[[opponent_la_salle|La Salle]]**   |   at [[wp>Tom Gola Arena]], Philadelphia PA   |   --   |   none   |   [[https://www.espn.com/watch/espnplus/|ESPN+]]   |
|   12/21   |   Mon   |   4:00   |   [[opponent_bryant|Bryant]]   |   [[mullins_center|Mullins Center]]   |   --   |   [[https://nesn.com/|NESN]]   |   [[https://nesn.com/watch-nesn-live/|NESN]], [[https://www.espn.com/watch/espnplus/|ESPN+]]   |
|   12/30   |   Wed   |   6:00   |   **[[opponent_george_mason|George Mason]]**   |   [[mullins_center|Mullins Center]]   |   --   |   [[https://nesn.com/|NESN]]   |   [[https://nesn.com/watch-nesn-live/|NESN]], [[https://www.espn.com/watch/espnplus/|ESPN+]]   |
|   1/9   |   Sat   |   4:00   |   **[[opponent_la_salle|La Salle]]**   |   [[mullins_center|Mullins Center]]   |   --   |   [[https://www.nbcsports.com/live|NBC Sports]]   |   [[https://www.nbcsports.com/live|NBC Sports]]   |
|   1/13((1/7: Announcement that the 2/27 game would move up to 1/13 https://twitter.com/UMassBasketball/status/1347247000329322497))   |   Wed   |   7:00   |   **[[opponent_rhode_island|Rhode Island]]**   |   [[mullins_center|Mullins Center]]   |   --   |   [[https://nesn.com/|NESN]]   |   [[https://nesn.com/watch-nesn-live/|NESN]], [[https://www.espn.com/watch/espnplus/|ESPN+]]   |
|   1/17   |   Sun   |   2:30((1/12: Announcement that the time would move up, to 2:30 from 4:30 https://twitter.com/UMassBasketball/status/1349151675773198336))   |   at **[[opponent_fordham|Fordham]]**   |   at [[wp>Rose Hill Gym]], Bronx NY   |   --   |   [[https://www.nbcsports.com/live|NBC Sports]]   |   [[https://www.nbcsports.com/live|NBC Sports]]   |
|   1/24   |   Sun   |   Noon   |   **[[opponent_davidson|Davidson]]**   |   [[mullins_center|Mullins Center]]   |   --   |   [[https://www.cbssports.com/cbs-sports-network/|CBSSN]]   |   [[https://www.cbssports.com/cbs-sports-network/|CBSSN]]   |
|   2/3   |   Wed   |   6:00   |   **[[opponent_fordham|Fordham]]**   |   [[mullins_center|Mullins Center]]   |   --   |   [[https://nesn.com/|NESN]]   |   [[https://nesn.com/watch-nesn-live/|NESN]], [[https://www.espn.com/watch/espnplus/|ESPN+]]   |
|   2/6   |   Sat   |   8:00   |   at **[[opponent_rhode_island|Rhode Island]]**   |   at the [[wp>Ryan Center]], Kingston RI   |   --   |   [[https://www.espn.com/watch/|ESPN2]]   |   [[https://www.espn.com/watch/espnplus/|ESPN+]]   |
|   2/23   |   Tue   |   6:00   |   at **[[opponent_richmond|Richmond]]**   |   at the [[wp>Robins Center]], Richmond VA   |   --   |   [[https://www.nbcsports.com/washington|NBC Sports Washington+]]   |   [[https://www.nbcsports.com/washington/stream|NBCSW]], [[https://www.espn.com/watch/espnplus/|ESPN+]]   |
|   3/1((Postponed from 1/2 as SLU went into COVID-19 protocols https://twitter.com/A10MBB/status/1344323621326565385))   |   Mon   |   6:00   |   at **[[opponent_st_louis|Saint Louis]]**   |   at [[wp>Chaifetz Arena]], St. Louis MO   |   --   |   [[https://www.cbssports.com/cbs-sports-network/|CBSSN]]   |   [[https://www.cbssports.com/cbs-sports-network/|CBSSN]]   |
|   3/4   |   Thu   |   1:00   |   [[opponent_saint_josephs_pa|Saint Joseph's]]   |   at the [[wp>Robins Center]], Richmond VA   |   [[conference_tournaments|A-10 Tournament]] Second Round   |   [[https://www.nbcsports.com/live|NBC Sports]]   |   [[https://www.nbcsports.com/live|NBC Sports]]   |
|   3/5   |   Fri   |   1:00   |   [[opponent_st_louis|Saint Louis]]   |   at the [[wp>Robins Center]], Richmond VA   |   [[conference_tournaments|A-10 Tournament]] Quarter-Final   |   [[https://www.nbcsports.com/live|NBC Sports]]   |   [[https://www.nbcsports.com/live|NBC Sports]]   |

==== COVID-19 Impacts ====
Everything this season was dependent on how the men's basketball program, the the University, the Atlantic 10 Conference, and the NCAA reacted to the threat of [[wp>COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_United_States|COVID-19]] on health for all involved.

  * Season start: The NCAA had previously said teams could start play on November 10, that start date was pushed to November 25.((https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2020-10-19/when-does-2020-21-college-basketball-season-start))
  * November pause: UMass announced on November 17 that there was at least one positive COVID test within the program, and that they would go on pause.  At the time, a return date was not specified.((https://umassathletics.com/news/2020/11/17/umass-mens-basketball-pauses-team-activities.aspx))  A subsequent report said UMass was aiming to return to practice on November 26,((https://twitter.com/JonRothstein/status/1330877089051013120)) but that was not entirely clear as UMass said on 11/29 that some members of the program were still "in quarantine for the next 5-6 days."((https://twitter.com/UMassBasketball/status/1333212632673906690))
  * Mohegan Sun games cancelled.  Because of the positive COVID test(s) on 11/17, UMass said they "will not participate in the Multiple Team Event at Mohegan Sun."((https://umassathletics.com/news/2020/11/17/umass-mens-basketball-pauses-team-activities.aspx))
  * January pause: We went back on pause on 1/26, postponed two games.((https://twitter.com/UMassBasketball/status/1354157376618831872))
  * February pause for minimum of two weeks.((https://umassathletics.com/news/2021/2/7/athletics-department-campus-covid-19-risk-level-raised-from-elevated-to-high.aspx))
  * A-10 Tournament was revamped: pushed up one week, except for the Final, moved from Brooklyn to Richmond/Dayton, and seeding procedure was changed to account for teams with few games played.((https://atlantic10.com/news/2021/2/18/atlantic-10-adjusts-mens-womens-basketball-championship-dates.aspx))

==== Cancelled / Postponed games ====
  * Nov 26 - [[opponent_siena|Siena]].  Siena went on COVID pause on 11/13, they were unlikely to be able to meet the 11/26 date.((https://sienasaints.com/news/2020/11/13/siena-pauses-mens-basketball-activities.aspx))((https://www.timesunion.com/sports/article/Siena-men-s-basketball-on-pause-after-positive-15725462.php))  Irrelevant now due to the UMass pause/cancellation (11/17).
  * Nov 27 - [[opponent_delaware|Delaware]].  Delaware and UMass both went on COVID pause on 11/17, and both said they would not do Mohegan Sun games.((https://bluehens.com/news/2020/11/17/delaware-mens-basketball-pauses-team-activities.aspx))
  * Nov 29 - [[opponent_iona|Iona]].  Iona went on COVID pause on 11/12, and coach [[pitino_rick|Rick Pitino]] indicated that the team wouldn't be ready to play until after our planned 11/29 date.((https://www.lohud.com/story/sports/college/iona/2020/11/12/mens-basketball-iona-college-shut-down-covid-19/3762622001/))  Irrelevant now due to the UMass pause/cancellation (11/17).
  * Nov 30 - [[opponent_liberty|Liberty]].  On 11/16, Liberty said they would be playing us, but irrelevant now due to the UMass pause/cancellation (11/17).
  * Dec 1 - [[opponent_south_florida|South Florida]].  This game was reported on 11/9,((https://twitter.com/JonRothstein/status/1325829443223506946)) but irrelevant now due to the UMass pause/cancellation (11/17).
  * Dec 11 - [[opponent_maine|Maine]].  There was an unconfirmed report that we would host Maine on this date, but a WMUA report from McCall suggested this will not happen.((https://twitter.com/nathanpstrauss/status/1335993218664701952))
  * Dec 13 - at [[opponent_northeastern|Northeastern]].  This game was originally slated for 12/12((per CAA non-conference schedule from early November)), pushed to 12/13((https://twitter.com/UMassBasketball/status/1330930134157840384)), expected to be cancelled,((https://nuhuskies.com/news/2020/11/24/athletics-northeastern-postpones-winter-sports-until-dec-18.aspx)) but on 12/1 was announced to be back on the schedule.((https://nuhuskies.com/news/2020/12/1/athletics-northeastern-adjusts-winter-sports-competition-schedule.aspx))
  * Dec 23 - There was an unconfirmed report on December 2 that we might play [[opponent_lowell|UMass-Lowell]] on 12/23, but on 12/8 the America East moved UML's games versus Vermont to 12/21 and 12/22, so they may not want to play a third straight day.  As it turned out, this ended up not happening.
  * Jan 6 - at [[opponent_george_washington|George Washington]], due to the D.C. emergency curfew.((https://twitter.com/UMassBasketball/status/1346916040534417408))
  * Jan 20 - [[opponent_st_louis|Saint Louis]], due to their COVID pause.((https://twitter.com/UMassBasketball/status/1351560047617306627))
  * Jan 27 / Feb 12 - at [[opponent_vcu|VCU]], due to our COVID pauses.((https://twitter.com/UMassBasketball/status/1354157376618831872))((https://umassathletics.com/news/2021/2/7/athletics-department-campus-covid-19-risk-level-raised-from-elevated-to-high.aspx))
  * Jan 30 - at [[opponent_george_mason|George Mason]], due to our COVID pause.((https://twitter.com/UMassBasketball/status/1354485652847525890))
  * Feb 9 - [[opponent_dayton|Dayton]], due to our COVID pause.((https://umassathletics.com/news/2021/2/7/athletics-department-campus-covid-19-risk-level-raised-from-elevated-to-high.aspx))
  * Feb 14 - [[opponent_st_bonaventure|St. Bonaventure]], due to our COVID pause.((https://umassathletics.com/news/2021/2/7/athletics-department-campus-covid-19-risk-level-raised-from-elevated-to-high.aspx))
  * Feb 20 - at [[opponent_duquesne|Duquesne]], due to our COVID pause.((https://umassathletics.com/news/2021/2/7/athletics-department-campus-covid-19-risk-level-raised-from-elevated-to-high.aspx))
  * Feb 24 - at [[opponent_saint_josephs_pa|Saint Joseph's]].  The A-10, on 2/18, announced that they would move the conference tournament up one week, and reschedule teams' remaining games.((https://atlantic10.com/news/2021/2/18/atlantic-10-adjusts-mens-womens-basketball-championship-dates.aspx))  The planned UM/SJU game was cancelled as part of this.


===== Appendix =====
//Keeping some notes here as details come together.//

==== Schedule planning with COVID ====
  * UMass has agreed to participate in bubbled pod games at the [[wp>Mohegan Sun Arena]] (Uncasville CT).  UM has been placed in a pod with [[opponent_delaware|Delaware]] and [[opponent_siena|Siena]], between Nov 25 and Dec 2, and may get more games beyond that.((https://umassathletics.com/news/2020/10/30/mens-basketball-umass-basketball-to-play-in-bubbleville-at-mohegan-sun.aspx))  Full details are to be announced.((https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-new-york-connecticut-basketball-casinos-095a4483484c946bb559e88651a63963))((https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/sports/more-than-30-college-teams-to-play-early-games-at-mohegan-sun/2349873/))  Fans will not be allowed to attend.((https://twitter.com/JonRothstein/status/1325823937054388224))
  * [[opponent_iona|Iona]] (at Mohegan Sun), November 29.((https://twitter.com/JonRothstein/status/1322246624735842305))  Unsure if this is a one-off or the start of a series, but all norms are off in this season of COVID.  Fans will not be allowed to attend.((https://twitter.com/JonRothstein/status/1325823937054388224))
  * [[opponent_south_florida|South Florida]] (at Mohegan Sun), December 1.((https://twitter.com/JonRothstein/status/1325829443223506946))  Unsure if this is a one-off or the start of a series, but all norms are off in this season of COVID.  Fans will not be allowed to attend.((https://twitter.com/JonRothstein/status/1325823937054388224))
  * [[opponent_northeastern|Northeastern]] (Away), December 12.((https://caasports.com/calendar.aspx?path=mbball))  This season's game will conclude a series.((https://twitter.com/steve_hewitt/status/1151246202811424774))
  * The Atlantic 10 Tournament will be at the [[wp>Barclays Center]] in Brooklyn NY, March 10-14.((https://atlantic10.com/news/2017/4/18/211564496.aspx))  Whether or not this will still happen, and if fans can attend in person, is all pending.
  * The A-10 / Mountain West Challenge Series, due to start this season, has been pushed a year.((https://atlantic10.com/news/2020/9/21/mens-basketball-mountain-west-atlantic-10-challenge-series-postponed-for-one-year.aspx))  UMass was not one of the teams slated to participate in 2020-21, regardless.((https://www.umasshoops.com/newboard/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=15623&p=496587#p496587))((http://www.atlantic10.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=31600&ATCLID=211814499))

==== Pre-COVID disruption ====
All of these possibilities were set before COVID hit.  These matchups may no longer happen, or delayed into future season.
  * The [[https://www.jamaicaclassic.com/|Jamaica Classic]] has been fully cancelled for 2020, per a note on their website.  UM was slated to participate.((https://umassathletics.com/news/2020/2/24/mens-basketball-umass-announces-participation-in-the-2020-jersey-mikes-jamaica-classic.aspx))((https://twitter.com/JoshWalfishDHG/status/1186419811728928769))((https://twitter.com/JonRothstein/status/1273961004532146176))((https://twitter.com/JonRothstein/status/1306630938101772289))  Organizers say they will try to resume the event in 2021, but not sure if any of the expected 2020 teams will participate.
  * [[opponent_akron|Akron]] (Home): A return game from Akron is expected, but not confirmed.((https://twitter.com/JoshWalfishDHG/status/1192904657632399362))  We played at Akron in the 2019-20 season.  A home-and-home basketball series may have been tied in with the UMass/Akron football games contract.((https://twitter.com/UMassADBamford/status/1151148254542925824))((https://fbschedules.com/akron-umass-schedule-2019-20-football-series/))
  * [[opponent_bryant|Bryant]] (Home): This will likely be a one-off game, but not certain.((https://twitter.com/JonRothstein/status/1270793654328852481))
  * [[opponent_central_florida|Central Florida]] (Away): This season's game starts a home-and-home series.  UMass will host UCF in the 2021-22 season.((https://twitter.com/JonRothstein/status/1271912699023241222))  The 2020 game was expected to take place in late November, as the team traveled back north from the Jamaica event.((https://twitter.com/UMassBasketball/status/1301665275956297733))
  * [[opponent_fairfield|Fairfield]] (Home): A return game from Fairfield was expected, given we travelled to them in 2019, but a return game was never confirmed.((https://twitter.com/JoshWalfishDHG/status/1192904657632399362))  Fairfield's 2020-21 non-conference schedule does not include us.((https://fairfieldstags.com/news/2020/11/13/mens-basketball-completes-non-conference-schedule.aspx))
  * [[opponent_harvard|Harvard]] (Home): This season's game was supposed to conclude a series.((https://twitter.com/steve_hewitt/status/1151245539146719234))  However, the Ivy League has decided to cancel all winter sports for 2020-21.((https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/ivy-league-cancels-basketball-season-for-2020-21-as-part-of-ban-on-winter-sports-due-to-covid-19/))  Whether or not this game gets pushed to 2021-22 remains to be seen.
  * [[opponent_rutgers|Rutgers]] (Home): This season's game will conclude a series.((https://www.facebook.com/UMassAthletics/videos/1197086020395016/))((http://www.gazettenet.com/Schedule-Notes-UMass-Harvard-series-extended-Minutemen-headed-to-Las-Vegas-Holiday-Invitational-16758633))
  * [[opponent_sacred_heart|Sacred Heart]] (Home): This will likely be a one-off game, but not certain.((https://twitter.com/JonRothstein/status/1260903806218506240))
  * [[opponent_lowell|UMass-Lowell]] (Home): We have hosted UML for our season opener for the past four seasons.  Assuming this will continue, but not confirmed.
  * Athletic Director Ryan Bamford has stated that he will continue to explore opportunities in conjunction with football and men's basketball scheduling, like what we've done with [[opponent_akron|Akron]], [[opponent_rutgers|Rutgers]], [[opponent_south_carolina|South Carolina]] and [[opponent_georgia|Georgia]].((https://www.gazettenet.com/UMass-athletic-director-Ryan-Bamford-stays-aggressive-in-scheduling-25045021))((https://www.facebook.com/UMassAthletics/videos/1197086020395016/))


{{tag>"2020-21 Season"}}