AMHERST — Four games.
Those are the only chances guaranteed to UMass for the rest of the season. The final opportunities for the Minutemen to build hope for a future during an otherwise miserable season.
This year has not lived up to anybody’s expectations as UMass languishes near the bottom of the Atlantic 10 with a 3-12 record in conference games and a 10-18 mark overall. It has been a season defined by the same group showcasing a lack of effort at times and tremendous resiliency at others.
Tuesday’s loss to Dayton was another low point in the season, but it’s not the end of the season, either. Leading the charge on that optimism train is sophomore Carl Pierre, the smooth-shooting guard who has started all 28 games this year for the Minutemen.
“I’m just trying to stay in everybody’s ears and keep them believing we can turn the season around,” Pierre said. “There’s still plenty of time left. Of course there’s a tournament, everybody makes the tournament and there’s always an opportunity as long as there are games left on the schedule.”
The next chance to complete the 180-degree turn in the season comes Saturday at Duquesne (18-10, 9-6 Atlantic 10). Coach Matt McCall said UMass returned to practice after Tuesday’s loss with the right mindset, although he said it has been a challenge with the lack of healthy bodies available.
Those who have been participating have focused on finetuning the UMass offense, which sputtered against the Flyers. McCall said the Minutemen are making a lot of passes, but not doing as much to create space and find quality shots for themselves.
“We’ve done a lot of tightening up and executing,” McCall said. “I look at our offense and so many times, the ball is just moving around the perimeter. But are we executing pick and rolls the way we’re supposed to be executing them? The ball just hops, we just really haven’t been able to execute the way I want to.”
Pierre was one of the many players who struggled on Tuesday, making just two of his 12 attempts from the field after shooting 54.5 percent in his previous five games. McCall chalked up the misses to the sophomore being fatigued from the pressure being applied on him with Luwane Pipkins out of the lineup.
After playing 34 minutes in a game just four times in UMass’ first 21 games, Pierre’s reached that mark five times in his past seven games. His average playing time went from 27.9 minutes per game in the first three months of the season to 35.3 minutes per game in seven February games.
Pierre said whatever he is feeling right now is par for the course in March of a college basketball season.
“All I’m going to say is it’s a long season,” Pierre said after chuckling. “I’ve been playing a lot of minutes, but it’s all part of the grind.”
Pierre should expect another heavy load of minutes, especially given the lack of depth UMass will have Saturday. The Minutemen will be without Curtis Cobb (foot) and Khalea Turner-Morris (knee) again, and Luwane Pipkins (hamstring) will almost certainly be sidelined. Freshman Samba Diallo hasn’t practiced this week, but remains day-to-day with his knee injury.
Rashaan Holloway practiced with glasses on the past few days and he will likely be available off the bench after missing Tuesday’s loss with an eye infection. The training staff was working on creating an NCAA-approved solution to securing Holloway’s glasses to his head for the game.
Either way, McCall said his plan for dividing minutes is about finding the players who will play with the right energy level. He said the conversation about who is truly bought into the program can wait until after the season and he is focused on finding the players who will play with maximum effort.
“Right now, it’s about who’s going to go out there and compete and compete at a high level,” McCall said. “To me, that’s the most important thing and finding those guys to do that.”