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UMass Basketball: Expectations for the Minutemen in 2018-19

By Stu Luddecke

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 8: Members of the Massachusetts Minutemen walk off the floor after losing to the George Mason Patriots during the second round of the Atlantic 10 Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 8, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 8: Members of the Massachusetts Minutemen walk off the floor after losing to the George Mason Patriots during the second round of the Atlantic 10 Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 8, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 8: The Massachusetts Minutemen mascot dances with the pep band against the George Mason Patriots during the second round of the Atlantic 10 Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 8, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 8: The Massachusetts Minutemen mascot dances with the pep band against the George Mason Patriots during the second round of the Atlantic 10 Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 8, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

The Ceiling for the Minutemen in 2018-19

The Minutemen have a legitimate shot to win the A10 this season. There are several factors in their favor: they have one of the two best players in the conference (a lot of people would give that honor to Davidson’s Kellan Grady), they are incredibly deep, and they have a good coach. Whatever question marks are left surrounding the team, those are all key boxes that they can check off.

Perhaps the most important thing the Minutemen have going for them, however, is the parity of the conference. There are no obvious juggernauts that block their path to the A10 trophy. Yes, there are a lot of solid teams, but none of them are incredible. It won’t be like last season’s A10, which was a top-heaviness followed by mediocrity. This year will see 8 or 9 teams fighting tooth and nail, and the Minutemen should be right in the mix. If a few things break their way, it’s not far-fetched to think they come out on top.

If Pipkins continues to be the player he showed himself to be last season, if the transfers and freshman are satisfied with playing the rolls McCall assigns them (whether big or small), and if big men like Rashaan Holloway and Djery Baptiste can produce consistently, this is an NCAA tournament team. Of course, things don’t always go so swimmingly. UMass fans know this all too well. Sure, this could be a tournament team, but the more important question is, what kind of team are they most likely to be?

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