AMHERST — After a fifth straight loss to open Atlantic 10 play, Matt McCall spoke with a person who knew exactly what he was going through in the moment.
Billy Donovan might not be able to watch many UMass basketball games, but he has experience in rebuilding programs at the collegiate level. The current Oklahoma City Thunder coach recorded losing seasons in his first two year at Florida, but had the Gators playing for a national championship in his fourth year at the helm. The conversation between McCall and his mentor served to re-affirm the work McCall has put in with the Minutemen thus far.
“It sounds like we’re close, it sounds like we’re right there, just continue to try to give your guys confidence,” McCall said Donovan told him. “He watched our Dayton game and thought we played really, really hard and to keep at it. It’s not something that happens at the snap of your fingers, you got to just keep believing in what we’re doing and what we’re trying to build and take it one step at a time.”
The overall six-game losing streak has been rough on McCall, and it shows in many aspects of his life. The day after last week’s loss to George Mason, the second-year coach was in his office at 5:30 a.m. watching film and preparing for the next game. He is constantly tinkering and looking at ways he can improve himself and discover different methods of imparting his message on the team.
McCall said it is difficult as a coach to separate himself from UMass’ record, but he also needs to be a leader for the team during these rough patches and exhibit the type of attitude he expects from the players.
“Being a coach in this profession, … you live and die with wins and losses, and it can’t be that way,” McCall said. “It’s hard, but the players will feed off my energy. If I come in here down in the dumps, dragging my head and not being positive and upbeat, almost with a quitting mentality, how can I expect them to fight? Adversity is the greatest opportunity to grow and there’s been a tremendous amount of adversity (this season).”
On an individual level, McCall’s outward expressions of effort and energy might not be a strong motivational tool, but as a collective, the Minutemen clearly notice their coach. Redshirt junior Curtis Cobb said McCall’s messages have more gravitas because the players see and respect the time McCall is putting into the program. He said it is easier to accept McCall’s critique about effort when he sees how hard his coach is trying to make the team one percent better each day.
“As a group, he brings that energy,” Cobb said. “He makes sure that he brings the most energy so he’s able to comment on other people’s effort and energy because he’s bringing it more than anybody.”
Although the Minutemen (7-11, 0-5 Atlantic 10) have struggled in conference play, they have also faced four of the top teams in the league already. Their last four losses have come against teams with a combined league record of 18-3, and UMass had chances to win three of those four games in the final two minutes.
The slate gets a tad bit easier beginning Wednesday at 7 p.m. against St. Bonaventure (6-12, 2-3 A-10) at home. Over the next five games, UMass will face four opponents with losing records in A-10 play, including three teams with one conference win or fewer.
Cobb said the conversations in the locker room among the players have stressed the need not to panic, but also understanding that the pressure is starting to build after a slow start to 2019.
“We’ve definitely talked about a sense of urgency, especially with how we’ve been in the league so far,” Cobb said. “We’ve talked a lot about how it’s not over, we have 13 more league games left guaranteed, so just make sure we’re ready for the next game and move forward.”
The easy pill for McCall to swallow about this losing streak is that the Minutemen are still giving it their all on the court. He said the team’s effort has been fantastic in the five conference games, it has just been a lack of execution at crucial times that has doomed UMass. He said that same determination and competitive streak has come through in practice and he is confident in his team having the right mindset against the Bonnies.
“These guys are playing hard and they’re competing and they’ve brought great attitudes every single day for the most part,” McCall said. “I keep talking about a record as being an indicator of what’s in the past and we have to stay in the present moment.”
INJURY REPORT – Freshman Tre Wood did some light shooting by himself Tuesday, but he has not been cleared yet for more strenuous exercise. The point guard will miss his sixth straight game Wednesday with a concussion. The Minutemen might also be without fifth-year big man Rashaan Holloway, who was battling flu-like symptoms this week. McCall said the center will be a game-time decision.