 "Photo: Ryan Fung/Collegian")
Massachusetts men's basketball coach Derek Kellogg made clear his intentions after the Minutemen lost 75-74 to Jacksonville State on Nov. 24.
"Let's play intense basketball for 40 minutes, let's go out there and compete on every play and every possession," he said.
It is how UMass plays the final 20 minutes of its games that has Kellogg particularly worried. The Minutemen have been outscored in the second half in four straight games, all of which were losses.
Nov. 12 against Southern Illinois, the Minutemen (1-4) jumped out to an early 15-point lead and ended the half up 39-29. Yet the Saluki's won 80-73 and put away UMass with a 10-0 run in the final three minutes. UMass was outscored 52-34 in the second half.
In its game against No. 13 Memphis on Nov.17, UMass was able to keep it close and trailed by 33-25 at the half. In the second half they were outscored 47-33 in the 80-58 loss.
The loss in their home opener to Jacksonville State highlighted the Minutemen's problems to closing out games. Leading 74-69 with 30 seconds left, UMass allowed a 6-0 run in 22 seconds and lost 75-74. During that span, the Minutemen missed two free throws that could have sealed the game.
Last Saturday, in the Minutemen's 84-67 loss to Green Bay, they entered the half on top 39-37, but were dominated over the next 20 minutes and were outscored 47-28.
It's not just Kellogg who sees the problems in the second half. Shooting guard Ricky Harris echoed the sentiment following the loss to Green Bay.
"[Finishing games] has been our problem all season long," Harris said. "We come out in the first half and play really well and in the second half we just die. It just has to all come together and we have to figure out what it is we want out of this season."
Size isn't everything
There has been a lot of discussion concerning the Minutemen's lack of size in the frontcourt. Injuries to 7-foot-1 Luke Bonner and 6-foot-7 Matt Hill have left the Minutemen with only four players taller than 6-foot-7.
Despite being at a height disadvantage against nearly every team they have played, the Minutemen have out-rebounded their opponents 39.6-36.6. Much of this is due to the play of forward Tony Gaffney. Gaffney has averaged 13.2 rebound per game, including a career-best 19 against Memphis. His play has been a bright spot in an otherwise difficult start to the season.
"I wish there were 12 of [Gaffney] on the roster because he does everything you ask him to do," Kellogg said on Nov. 24 following the loss against Jacksonville State.
Harris, Chris Lowe and Anthony Gurley - the three starting guards for the Maroon and White - each average more than three boards per game, which minimizes the impact the team's lack of size has on the boards.
Gaffney also helps make up for the lack of the team's overall size by providing interior defense. UMass averages 6.8 blocks per game almost solely due to Gaffney, who accounts for 25 of the 34 shots UMass has blocked this season.
The importance of ball security
Turnovers have been a major problem for the Minutemen all season, and are one of the biggest reasons for the team's 1-4 start. UMass has averaged 19.2 turnovers per game and forced 13.2 turnovers from opponents.
Point guard Lowe leads the team with 29 turnovers, but he is not the only player having trouble with ball security. No active player on the roster has a positive assist-to-turnover ratio.
A likely explanation for the turnover woes is the growing pains the team is going through trying to adjust to Kellogg's new dribble-drive offense. Players need to feel comfortable with their role in a scheme and the unfamiliarity can result in miscommunications, leading to turnovers.
Adam Miller contributed to this report.
Scott Feldman can be reached at sfeldman@student.umass.edu.
Be the first to comment on this article!