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The Zips get a nine day break for Christmas before the Minutemen of UMass visit the JAR on the 30th. UMass beat Maine on the 20th to snap a 6 game win streak and get to .500 at 6-6. From what I've read, UMass is very young, with their top talent being freshmen. They only returned 5 players for this season. They are coming off of an 11-21 season. The following Boston Globe article about them describes this game as a "dangerous trip to Akron." https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/colleges/2019/12/17/umass-has-lost-six-straight-but-minutemen-are/zUTjLnVquKOkqFgAh6l0UI/story.html Here's area couple of preseason previews- https://www.berkshireeagle.com/stories/mccall-feeling-different-energy-level-in-his-umass-basketball-program,586651 https://atlantic10.com/news/2019/10/28/211815182.aspx This is obviously not the UMass of Marcus Camby and John Calipari, but a win over an A-10 opponent would be nice coming into MAC play.

I was going to wait until after the season to dive into this, but I've got the itch this morning. There is no denying the coaching doesn't have room for improvement, but really trying to limit this discussion to players. Without a doubt, many holes need filled for this team to be competitive in the MAC again. My approach if I were the coach based on expectations to become bowl eligible next season without sacrificing the future: QB: I admire Kato's toughness and how he has seemed to grow as an individual throughout his career. However, his passing and decision making have not seemed to improve since he was a freshman and he seems to be less of a running threat now than ever. I don't believe he is a fit for the offense Arth is trying to install and I believe we've seen the last of him on the field. I propose a 3 way competition heading into camp - Gibson, Marousek, and a transfer QB (D. Clark maybe?). Another QB needs brought in to compete with Gibson. He could be the future, but I haven't seen enough to just hand him the job. RB: Tough to get a good read with the OL, but I believe Hayes-Patrick and Reese are pieces to work with. Still want to bring in a transfer for competition/depth, and at least 1 freshman. TE: We lose Junk, Johns, and Long after the season, leaving only Wofley on scholly. Need to bring in at least 1 transfer and true freshman. WR: Should be okay here for next year with Stewart, Scippio, Hicks, Knight, Morris, and Mathison. Need a few true freshman though to have guys ready after they are gone. OL: Council and Gray are building pieces. Another hole is opening up as we lose Brown. It will not bode well if the current starting C is starting next season. We have some true freshman who aren't playing this year, but if they aren't able to get on the field this year, will they be adequate next year? Bring in 2 transfers here...this is priority #1 with the team if you ask me, but there doesn't seem to be a lot out there in JUCO/transfer portal. Still bring in 3 freshman on top of that so this issue is hopefully fixed once and for all. DL: Cross has improved as the season has went on and I think Mitchell is adequate to plug the middle. We are bringing in one JUCO DL already for competition. The staffs current approach here is likely OK. Add 2 freshman. OLB: Scott, Sampson, Richardson, and Lawson are probably fine here. Really only one of these on the field most of the time with the use of the Nickel..add 1 freshman. ILB: Arslanian, Glover, and Watts are adequate I think. Need 2 freshman. CB: Hooks has developed well over the year. We have a few options to fill the other position, but I haven't seen enough to bank on natural development. 2 transfers and 2 freshman. Safety/Nickel: We are good with Watts and Thomas. There are a couple guys to step up and fill the other starting spot (Daranijo and Mack). I'd bring in 1 transfer and 1 freshman here. Scholarship breakdown based on the above: QB: (2) - 1 freshman, 1 transfer. RB: (2) - 1 freshman, 1 transfer. WR: (2) - 2 freshman. TE: (2) - 1 freshman, 1 transfer. OL: (5) - 3 freshman, 2 transfers. DL: (3) - 2 freshman, 1 transfer. OLB: (1) - 1 freshman. ILB: (2) - 2 freshman. CB: (4) - 2 freshman 2 transfers. Safety/Nickel: (2) - 1 freshman, 1 transfer. Total: 25 new additions. 16 freshman, 9 transfers. The biggest key for acceptable results next year is going to be the staff basically bringing attrition to a halt and have a very good hit rate on the transfers so we are getting immediate improvement. Go Zips..

Tulane played the same against Towson as they did against us. Missing lay ups and foul shots. Even though Zips weren't playing well they appeared to be having fun and fighting for every ball with Tulane. Against Liberty, they weren't as sharp mentally and Liberty is just a step above on the ability level. Cheese was still off and LCJ made some mistakes. X couldn't carry the team and they shut down Reece. Cheese and LCJ created the lanes but couldn't finish enough times.

It's pretty clear that Sayles' time is going to be determined by matchups. At this juncture, he's down the depth chart as a spare big man. We'll see him when they need an extra big body or Reece and Riak get in file trouble and he'll ride the pine when they don't.

They had Sayles in to defend against this "Big Dog" type player Liberty had. Sayles did great against him but when he was out Sayles was out.

Here's an important statistic: Layups. Liberty 14 Akron 6.