Game 7: GMU (4-2 / 0-0) vs UMass (2-2 / 1-0) on Wednesday, December 30, at 6PM.

UMass is currently 2 - 2 on the season and 1 - 0 in A10 play.

History: Including tournament play DP is 8-2 against the Minutemen.

Wins: Northeastern (94-79), LaSalle (85-66)
Losses: Northeastern (78-75), Bryant ( 93-88)

Schedule: https://umassathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/schedule
Roster: https://umassathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster
Stats: https://umassathletics.com/documents/2020/12/11/Combined_Stats_2.pdf

UMass is led by Tre Mitchell (26.0 ppg & 8.0 reb), Javohn Garcia (15.0 ppg & 3.0 reb), Carl Pierre (11.3 ppg & 2.0 reb), and Noah Fernandes (10.3 ppg & 2.7 reb). The fifth starter is Ronnie Degray III who averages 6.7 ppg. T.J. Weeks, Cairo McCrory, and Dibaji Walker come off the bench and average 10+ minutes per game.

A10 POY candidate Tre Mitchell has been inconsistent thus far scoring 37 & 31 points in the two wins and 10 & 12 in the two losses. In the two wins he was 26 - 35 overall from the field. In the two losses he was 7 - 19 from the floor.

UMass averages 84.7 points per game while giving up 74.3. The Minutemen are shooting 46.8% from the floor and 38.0% from 3. Opponents are shooting 47.8% from the field and 37.7% from 3. They shoot 69.0% from the free throw line. The Minutemen have out rebounded their opponents by 1.3 boards per game. They average 11.7 turnovers per game.

The game is on ESPN+. The UMass schedule page has updated this to reflect the event being televised. As of 12/26 gomason.com had not. Typical.

My prediction: Captain Obvious says contain Tre Mitchell or hope he has an off night. If either happens you beat UMass. However, Tre Mitchell will dominate this game causing Oduro, Calixte, and Henry to all foul out. Mitchell will set an NCAA record by going 33 - 45 at the free throw line. UMass 77 - GMU 70.

This is a battle between two coaches who should be on the hot seat. Seeing McCall (40 - 60 at UMass) vs DP (39 - 51 in A10) will be like watching two one legged men in an ass kicking contest.

Discuss.

Have nobody to guard Fernandes or Mitchell. Thankfully Mitchell plays less defense than Oduro so we should have some chance to score. UMASS with a much more talented team with a similar shitty coach. Paulsen has McCall’s number and we win by 3 before going 0fer the rest of the way

Mason 68
Umass 65

Hoping for a loss for G Mas. Don’t let me down you DMD guzzling fool.

He’s going to win a bunch of a10 games and get off the hot seat just to spite you

I wish could see the humor in this.

I'd take that level of consistency over an AJ Wilson level of consistency.

Us 65
Them 75
OT

Umass 64
Mason 48

we get waxed as the negative momentum continues.

UMASS 65
Mason 63

We lose the lead late....and run an awesome play at the end that doesn't tie the game.

Mason by 4, enough to reel a few folks off the edge, then we drop our next 5 games in a row.

Deny me an overtime game. How cruel!

Kenpom: UMass by 4.

Line is UMASS -7

Might be one of my stupider plays to close out the year, but I might take Mason straight up. I think UMASS is going to throw up a stinker for some reason.

I know we don't deserve any respect, but being a 7 point dog to UMASS seems like a slap in the face.

Vegas usually isn’t too far off, I think we may just be that bad.

I know some might view this prediction as hyperbole, but it's entirely feasible after the UMass game that we could lose to Dayton, VCU, Richmond, LaSalle and Rhode Island. Although I am hopeful as a "fan" of the program that we can steal a few games in that brutal stretch, everyone here should brace themselves for the very real possibility that this 6-game stretch (including UMass) could get ugly fast .

Completely agree, and wasn't trying to be hyperbolic, there's a very real possibility we start off A-10 play 0-6. Based on what we've seen through our first 6 games, there are absolutely no gimmes in that first stretch of A-10 play.

Is a Mason "fan" really picking La Salle to win at the EBA in front of over 200 of our fans and cutouts?