A-10 Basketball: Way-Too-Early 2019-2020 Power Rankings

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 13: Maceo Jack #14 of the George Washington Colonials handles the ball against Carl Pierre #12 of the Massachusetts Minutemen in the second half during the first round of the 2019 Atlantic 10 men's basketball tournament at Barclays Center on March 13, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images) /

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 13: Carl Pierre #12 of the Massachusetts Minutemen huddles with teammates against the George Washington Colonials during the first round of the 2019 Atlantic 10 men’s basketball tournament at Barclays Center on March 13, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images) /

10. UMass Minutemen (Tier-4)

Although UMass is losing quite a lot on paper moving into next season, I expect to see an improved product compared to the basketball (or lack thereof) that was displayed in ‘18-19. It’s true, Luwane Pipkins and Rashaan Holloway were two of UMass’ three most talented players – the other being Carl Pierre, who fortunately will still be around – and yes, Jonathan Laurent was an important role player, but it became more and more clear as the season wore on that something was very wrong with the culture of the program. Talent was not the issue – chemistry and the attitudes in the locker room were, and they were the reasons that some of UMass’ best games were sans their “star” players.

2019-20 will be a fresh start for Matt McCall and co., and it will be a chance to clear the air of all the negative energy from last season. McCall was able to reel in what’s currently rated as the best recruiting class in the conference – one that includes the only top 100 player committed to an A10 school in big man Tre Mitchell (81st on 247Sports). Mitchell will be joining the program with two (and possibly more) of his comrades from Woodstock Academy, both of whom are three-star wings that should see significant playing time immediately.

Combine the Woodstock crew with the rest of their class and returning talents like Pierre, Samba Diallo, Sy Chatman, and Keon Clergeot, and that’s a decent roster – one that should be good enough to take the Minutemen out of the bottom-four for the first time in three seasons. If they can acquire a true point-guard (right now their only position of need), then they could easily rise a few more spots. The bottom line is that this certainly won’t be the year that UMass gets back in the mix for a conference title, but it should be a sign of hope and a stepping stone for what’s to come.

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