The University of Massachusetts basketball team looks to win its fifth straight game Wednesday when the Minutemen head west to face St. Bonaventure in the second of two games this season against the Bonnies. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at the Reilly Center.
UMass (14-9, 7-3 Atlantic 10 Conference) has fared well historically against St. Bonaventure (13-8, 6-4), but not on the road. Though, as then then-No. 18 VCU Rams can attest after losing in Olean this past weekend, it's not exactly an easy place to play.
Let's take a look at the matchup.
Things to know
Next-level challenge: During its current winning streak, UMass has its strong home win (vs. Dayton) and has its road wins over lesser opponents (at Saint Louis and Fordham). Now the team will the up the ante for the first of what will be several very challenging matchups away from the Mullins Center. St. Bonaventure, without question, is on the same footing as the Minutemen. For one, the Bonnies embarrassed UMass 69-55 in the Atlantic 10 Conference opener in Amherst. Talent-wise, St. Bonaventure has the right mix of guard guard with Marcus Posley (more on him in a moment) and Jaylen Adams to give the UMass backcourt trouble, while also possessing a front court led by 7-footer Youssou Ndoye and Dion Wright that has already proven it can have its way with UMass' bigs. Add in the Reilly Center's cramped, intimidating court setting and the fact that the Bonnies are playing well (having just beaten Davidson on the road and VCU coming in) and you have the makings for a "next-level challenge" for UMass. This is a game the Minutemen need to win to validate much of what we've seen over their current winning stretch.
"This would be a huge step for us going on the road to play a team that's obviously playing very well," coach Derek Kellogg said. "They're probably as high as they've been coming off their last two victories. I'm sure they're feeling as confident as they've felt in a long time. It's an opportunity for us to go on the road and play a team that's playing about as well as anyone in the conference right now."
When last we met: Let's talk a little bit more about last year's game at St. Bonaventure (even if the team might rather forget about it forever), because it was the blueprint of how a game can go wrong on the road there. A little over a year ago, the Bonnies handed the 21st-ranked Minutemen their third loss of the season. Fans rushed the court not once, but twice.
"It's a statement for our program," St. Bonaventure coach Mark Schmidt said after the game. "I tell our guys all the time, if you want to get respect, then you go out and beat a team of the talent that UMass has. And that's how you get respect."
Led by solid guard play and a pounding front court (sound familiar?) the Bonnies earned their respect and helped UMass into the second-half tailspin that derailed the 2013-14 season. Was it a game that UMass could have (and maybe should have) won? Probably. But the Minutemen allowed things to say neck-and-neck for far too long. Down just two points with 8:47 left to play, the Bonnies went on an 11-3 run to pull away. That's what happens when you give a talented team an opening. UMass can't afford to do the same Wednesday.
Opponent spotlight
G Marcus Posley: The junior guard was named Monday the national player of the week by CBSSports after he sank the buzzer-beating game-winners against Davidson and VCU. Not a bad week.
UMass wins if...
... it takes the crowd out of the game early with a hot start and shoots well enough from outside to quell any Bonnie scoring-run comebacks. It feels like the team has been waiting for a monster night out of Maxie Esho, too.
UMass loses if...
... it allows Posley to make another game-winner. Too obvious? Ok, but limiting Posley, who scored a game-high 16 in the matchup with UMass five weeks ago, will go a long way towards a Minutemen win. UMass also can't afford to have Cady Lalanne in foul trouble against Ndoye like last time, either.
Predictions
Kenpom: St. Bonaventure 70, UMass 66
UMass (14-9, 7-3 Atlantic 10 Conference) has fared well historically against St. Bonaventure (13-8, 6-4), but not on the road. Though, as then then-No. 18 VCU Rams can attest after losing in Olean this past weekend, it's not exactly an easy place to play.
Let's take a look at the matchup.
Things to know
Next-level challenge: During its current winning streak, UMass has its strong home win (vs. Dayton) and has its road wins over lesser opponents (at Saint Louis and Fordham). Now the team will the up the ante for the first of what will be several very challenging matchups away from the Mullins Center. St. Bonaventure, without question, is on the same footing as the Minutemen. For one, the Bonnies embarrassed UMass 69-55 in the Atlantic 10 Conference opener in Amherst. Talent-wise, St. Bonaventure has the right mix of guard guard with Marcus Posley (more on him in a moment) and Jaylen Adams to give the UMass backcourt trouble, while also possessing a front court led by 7-footer Youssou Ndoye and Dion Wright that has already proven it can have its way with UMass' bigs. Add in the Reilly Center's cramped, intimidating court setting and the fact that the Bonnies are playing well (having just beaten Davidson on the road and VCU coming in) and you have the makings for a "next-level challenge" for UMass. This is a game the Minutemen need to win to validate much of what we've seen over their current winning stretch.
"This would be a huge step for us going on the road to play a team that's obviously playing very well," coach Derek Kellogg said. "They're probably as high as they've been coming off their last two victories. I'm sure they're feeling as confident as they've felt in a long time. It's an opportunity for us to go on the road and play a team that's playing about as well as anyone in the conference right now."
When last we met: Let's talk a little bit more about last year's game at St. Bonaventure (even if the team might rather forget about it forever), because it was the blueprint of how a game can go wrong on the road there. A little over a year ago, the Bonnies handed the 21st-ranked Minutemen their third loss of the season. Fans rushed the court not once, but twice.
"It's a statement for our program," St. Bonaventure coach Mark Schmidt said after the game. "I tell our guys all the time, if you want to get respect, then you go out and beat a team of the talent that UMass has. And that's how you get respect."
Led by solid guard play and a pounding front court (sound familiar?) the Bonnies earned their respect and helped UMass into the second-half tailspin that derailed the 2013-14 season. Was it a game that UMass could have (and maybe should have) won? Probably. But the Minutemen allowed things to say neck-and-neck for far too long. Down just two points with 8:47 left to play, the Bonnies went on an 11-3 run to pull away. That's what happens when you give a talented team an opening. UMass can't afford to do the same Wednesday.
Opponent spotlight
G Marcus Posley: The junior guard was named Monday the national player of the week by CBSSports after he sank the buzzer-beating game-winners against Davidson and VCU. Not a bad week.
UMass wins if...
... it takes the crowd out of the game early with a hot start and shoots well enough from outside to quell any Bonnie scoring-run comebacks. It feels like the team has been waiting for a monster night out of Maxie Esho, too.
UMass loses if...
... it allows Posley to make another game-winner. Too obvious? Ok, but limiting Posley, who scored a game-high 16 in the matchup with UMass five weeks ago, will go a long way towards a Minutemen win. UMass also can't afford to have Cady Lalanne in foul trouble against Ndoye like last time, either.
Predictions
Kenpom: St. Bonaventure 70, UMass 66
