UMass Basketball: In-depth look at sophomore star center Tre Mitchell

Expectations for Mitchell in 2020-21

This is the best team that coach McCall has had in his brief tenure as the coach of the Minutemen. Coach McCall has turned the Woodstock Academy basketball team in Connecticut to a farm program. Outside of Mitchell, six other players come from Woodstock Academy. TJ Weeks, Preston Santos, transfer Noah Fernandes, and freshman Cairo McCrory and Dyondre Dominguez all were products of the prep school. Mitchell is going to get to play around players he is extremely familiar with and has won with before. That is what you would call a recruiting win for UMass.

Mitchell should enter the season as one of the favorites for the A10 Player of the Year and given the season that he had last year and with Toppin out of the league it would come as a huge shock if he didn’t win the award. It was mentioned earlier that Mitchell is likely in his last season at UMass. The big man is an undeniable talent and he has what it takes to play in the NBA. With a good season expect him to declare and likely stay in the NBA draft.

UMass has not made the NCAA tournament since the 2013-2014 season. They have not won a game in the NCAA tournament since 1995-1996 when they made the final four. As with everything UMass has to make the NCAA tournament first, which this year is their best chance to make it under McCall as was said he has his best roster and has surrounded his star with talent.

Even if the Minutemen don’t make the tournament the sophomore big man is going to be in the Minutemen record books for many reasons. He is on pace to become a 1,000 scorer in only two seasons and by making the NCAA tournament he can add his name next to the UMass legends. The fans in Amherst should be very excited about the prospects of their season this year.