UMass Preview and Game Thread -- 02-14-2023

[Mudville21]

We are getting mugged last 2 minutes so far.

[Boooom!]

Not positive but I think we scored 8 points in the final 10 minutes?

[natetheskate]

3 points in the last 9 minutes!!!!!!!! 17 turnovers

[Mudville21]

It's a win, but terrible 2nd half. We scored 41 points in 1st half and only 23 in the 2nd half. We almost blew a 18 pt lead. We shot 3-7 from the line the last 3 minutes of the game. Ended up with 17 turnovers. This team is frustrating to watch.

[Boooom!]

This team is the hardest Loyola team I’ve ever had to watch and I’ve watched some real bad Loyola teams!

‘

[goramblers2011]

If we would have blown that one, it might have been the straw the broke the camel's back this year for me. Even still, we were up 61-43! 18 points!!! And finished the game on the wrong end of a 19-3 scoring run. The offense was just atrocious the final 10 minutes or so. Turnovers, missed open shots, MISSED FREE THROWS.

With its injuries, UMass, in my opinion, is the worst team in the league. And just adding Cross' injury to the mix today. This should have been a comfortable win.

See ya Friday, I guess.

[jdubs]

An ugly win is better than a beautiful loss. I will take what I can get

[Mudville21]

Something to chew on. We are now 3-10 in the conference and our fans are still filling the Joe. Oklahoma is 2-10 in conference entering tonight and playing Number 12 K-State and a lot of empty seats.

So, who's having a rougher go. Drew or Porter? Who's seat is hotter? I don't think Drew's in trouble. Porter, maybe.

[Cruyff]

The announcers said it best at one point, “Loyola really struggles to get baskets on key possessions.” In my opinion this sums up the team’s real issue.

[natetheskate]

There is no doubt we struggle to score when the other team amps it up a little and gets a little idea of what we are running. Our last made basket was at the 9:51 mark. We had NO baskets in the last 9:51. I will give credit to the coaching staff that kind of realizing our two best scoring threats are Norris outside and Alston inside...but after awhile they deny Brandon as much as possible and Phil Alston just takes some crazy, maybe they will go in baskets. For the most part they are still running that zoom action which everyone is running, even the Women's team..but my point is that it often ends up with a guard coming around the corner or along the baseline and we are usually outmanned by taller defenders...get surrounded, call for the cavalry and sometimes they dont arrive and turns in to turnovers. I like that we fast break as often as we can and call some good plays off of dead balls but they really do struggle to score. Part of this I believe is that Marquis is not a full 100%. Remember when he was a freshman? He just blew by guys and elevated....But they may be getting as much as they are capable of from this roster. I am wondering how Ty Johnson would have effected this line up? He is averaging 17 ppg at UCal-Davis.
Hoping Dayton is tired coming off a one day layoff. But I love a Rambler win.