Atlantic 10 Basketball: Biggest 2022 offseason needs for each team

UMass (10th)

Returning: G Noah Fernandes (14.9 ppg, 5.3 apg), W CJ Kelly (10.9 ppg, 4.1 rpg), W TJ Weeks Jr (9.6 ppg, 4.8 rpg), F Greg Jones (5.8 ppg, 4.0 rpg), F Dibaji Walker (5.4 ppg, 3.3 rpg), F Dyondre Dominguez (3.0 ppg, 2.2 rpg)

Leaving: G Rich Kelly (12.5 ppg, 3.2 apg/Graduate), F Trent Buttrick (10.7 ppg, 6.4 rpg/Graduate), C Micheal Steadman (7.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg/Graduate), G Javohn Garcia (6.9 ppg, 2.2 rpg/Transfer)

UMass began the Frank Martin era by keeping a strong offensive, perimeter trio of Noah Fernandes (finally healthy by season’s end), the sharpshooter TJ Weeks and the Minutemen’s best slasher, CJ Kelly, while returning Dibaji Walker from injury.  But the roster is short on centers and impact defenders, so the new coaching staff will need to mold a new roster alongside the desire to utilize the returning impact players.

Needs

1. Defenders!!:

In three of the four full years that Matt McCall was at the helm, UMass was in the bottom 100 nationally in Kenpom’s Defensive Efficiency (their best year was 2020-21 when UMass only played ten different opponents).  All of the returning Minutemen are anywhere from slightly above average to downright bad on defensive, save for Preston Santos, who has played just 37 minutes over the last two seasons.

Fixing this program starts with putting out a competent defense and the new staff should strive to find a player or two who is capable of at least being in the All-Defensive Team discussion. UMass hasn’t had an All-Defensive team player since Tony Gaffney in 2008-09 but one potential candidate followed Martin up from South Carolina, the Gamecocks starting center Wildens Leveque.

2. Physical Guard

Ideally, UMass can find a replacement for the departing Javohn Garcia, who was an excellent complement to the speed and shooting of Fernandes and Weeks, by guarding the best opposing guard and getting downhill offensively.  If UMass continues to rely on their shooters to power the offense, then a slash and kick guard is essential, unless Kelly starts to add the kick part.

Perfect Addition: C Tre Mitchell, Texas

Mitchell struggled in his lone year at Texas, as his scoring dropped by more than half and he left the team midseason. He’ll likely now need to slide down to the mid-major level and would provide the Minutemen with a great interior scorer. Mitchell also went to prep school in New England, where he played with Fernandes and Weeks.

And if UMass hadn’t fired his stepfather from an assistant coaching role last season, a return to Amherst would have been a great fit for both parties, although it may be impossible now.

Rhode Island (11th)

Returning: G Ishmael Leggett (8.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg), F Malik Martin (7.6 ppg, 5.4 rpg), G Jalen Carey (5.6 ppg), G Sebastian Thomas (2.7 ppg, 2.0 apg)

Leaving: C Makhel Mitchell (10.7 ppg, 5.6 rpg/Transfer-Arkansas), G Jeremy Sheppard (9.9 ppg, 3.1 apg/Graduate), C Makhi Mitchell (9.9 ppg, 7.3 rpg/Transfer-Arkansas), F Antwan Walker (7.5 ppg, 4.7 rpg/Transfer-Bryant), G Ishmael El-Amin (6.5 ppg/Graduate)

Archie Miller started off his return to the A-10 by pulling two key players back from the transfer portal, the versatile Ishmael Leggett will be able to play alongside any guards that join this offseason, and Malik Martin leaves behind a piece of Rhode Island’s terrific interior defense.  The Rams have already made one major pickup, filling the point guard spot with GW sharpshooter Brayon Freeman, the central building block for the start of the Miller Era.

Needs

1. Complementary Shooter

Freeman and Leggett are an interesting combination, with Leggett being capable of handling the top defensive assignment, while Freeman can captain the offense. But offensively, save for Leggett’s three-point shooting making a jump or the addition of another point guard to push Freeman to the wing, it would be ideal for Rhode Island to add a top notch shooter at the forward spot to really perfect the perimeter group.

2. Rim Protectors

Last season, the lone identity for the Rams was their shot-blocking prowess but the exit of the Mitchell twins leaves the frontcourt basically empty.  The current Rhode Island roster has yet to look like it will be known for any segment of excellence so the worst case is to completely lose the one element that was a previous strength.

Perfect Addition: G Femi Odukale, Pitt

Odukale doesn’t specifically fill a need for the Rams but they are in his final five schools and he is talented enough that you just ignore the imperfect fit to get him.  A Freeman/Odukale/Leggett backcourt looks clunky on paper but like Archie Miller’s best Dayton teams, it would feature playmakers all over the floor. Getting Odukale could push Freeman off the ball and turn him into Rhode Island’s go-to shooter since he’d know he’ll actually get the ball back if he gives it up next year.