MASSACHUSETTS - NONCON FORECAST
W- NOV. 13 HARVARD
W- Nov. 15 Providence (Puerto Rico Tip-Off Classic)
L - Nov. 16 vs. NC State/Penn State (Puerto Rico Tip-Off Classic)
W- Nov. 18 at Puerto Rico Tip-Off Classic
W- Nov. 28 at Siena
L - DEC. 1 MIAMI (FLA.)
W - Dec. 4 at Northeastern
W- DEC. 15 ELON
L- DEC. 19 OHIO
W - DEC. 22 EAST CAROLINA
W- Dec. 29 at Northern Illinois
W- Jan. 2 at Miami (Ohio)
W- JAN. 5 EASTERN MICHIGAN
NONCON FORECAST: 10-3
A-10 FORECAST: 11-5
OVERALL PREDICTION: 21-8
The Minutemen do not have an especially strong sked and have to take advantage of all opportunities.
Harvard lost three key players from a terrific team and doesnt have the talent to match UMass in Amherst.
Providence has a trio of excellent wing players, including sophomore senation LaDontae Henton, an All-Rookie Big East pick who originally signed with Dayton. Yet the Friars only have seven scholarship players and UMass should be able to wear them down in Puerto Rico.
NC State is likely next. The Wolfpack are more talented, just as athletic, plenty of size and arguably the best point guard in the ACC. Tall order and I predict a loss, but a win would be huge.
Oklahoma State or Tennessee would probably be next, and in a fitting episode of irony, UMass gets OSU and former Minutemen coach Travis Ford. OSU is young and on the smallish side but they have some talented wings. But Umass HAS to win this game. Karma, man!
Ten days later, Umass travels to Albany for a date with Siena. Tough game historically for A-10 teams, but UMass gets the W.
Back home, Miami and Jim Larranaga visit. The Canes are a senior-dominated team playing for a discipline coach (and a guy Kellogg used to work for). UMass really needs this game for its NCAA profile, but I go conservative and call it a loss.
Northeastern is young and athletic but they like to play at UMass' pace and that is not a good thing. Elon is not talented enough to score a road upset.
Ohio brings back all five starters from a 29-win team including stellar guard DJ Cooper. This is the kind of game an experienced UMass team should win, but I sense a letdown to a very good Bobcats squad. Ohio does have a new coach, but he's the experienced Jim christian (URI grad), back to the MAc after a sojourn to TCU.
East Carolina has some shooters, but the ball-handling is suspect and its big frontcourt has virtually no experience. UMass runs them out of the gym. NIU had 26 losses last season and a big rebuilding job awaits.
Miami Ohio has a good new coach, but he likes to run! i like the Minutemen's chances in this one. Miami has a solid starting rotation but little depth or experience.
Finishing up, UMass faces an Eastern Michigan team that has a bunch of BCS transfers suiting up and a young coach who vastly overachieved in his first season at the helm to win coach of the Year honors in the MAC. This game could be more difficult than it seems, but UMass won't lose twice at home to MAC foes
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