Welcome to the Atlantic 10 Women’s Basketball Tipoff for the 2018-19 Season. Today, we feature the Massachusetts Minutewomen.
Massachusetts (Predicted A-10 Finish: 9th)
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Tory Verdi talked of building a championship program at UMass when he was hired three years ago.
The Minutewomen are not there yet, but the foundation is set for a winning future.
UMass improved in 17 statistical categories last season in a year when it recorded 14 wins, the most for the program since 2006-07.
“We’re not where I want us to be, but I still think we’ll have that upward trajectory,” said Verdi, who led Eastern Michigan to three straight postseason berths before taking over in Amherst. “We need some more depth, but what I love about this team is we feel we have turned the corner as far as changing the culture of the program and understanding our expectations. I finally have all the players in our program who love the University of Massachusetts and expect to do something special.”
Sophomore Bre Hampton-Bey and junior Hailey Leidel are the catalyst for this bunch that has brought in an influx of talent and expects five more newcomers to join UMass for 2019-20.
Championship ambitions remain for this program on the rise. Said Verdi, “Anything’s possible when you believe as one.”
A look at the Minutewomen:
Coach: Tory Verdi, 3rd season at UMass (23-37) and 7th season overall (98-105)
Last year: 14-16, 6-10; (Lost 70-64 to Saint Louis in the first round of the conference championship); UMass improved in 17 statistical categories and won the most games since the 2006-07 season. The Minutewomen won three of their final four games. Bre-Hampton-Bey grabbed A-10 All-Rookie team honors.
They’ll miss: Maggie Mulligan, who averaged a double-double 11.3 ppg and 10.6 rpg.
Impact returners: 5-6 sophomore guard Bre Hampton-Bey 11.2 ppg, 5-11 junior guard/forward Hailey Leidel, 15.5 ppg, program-record 83 3-pointers made.
Reasons to be optimistic: UMass returns the young dynamic duo in Hampton-Bey and Leidel, both with their best ball likely in front of them.
Point guard Hampton-Bey returns with an improved jump shot and will be even more versatile given a year in Verdi’s system.
“I look for her to do some unbelievable things for us,” Verdi said.
Leidel, who ranked fourth nationally in freshmen scoring, is a better ballhandler, Verdi said. “Instead of just being a catch-and-shoot type of player, she’s putting the ball on the deck and getting to the rim and pulling up and shooting dribble j’s. Her ability to score and navigate one-on-one is great to see.”
Guard Genesis Rivera promises to play a bigger role in her senior year along with sophomore guard Paige McCormick. Both struggled with consistency a year ago, but Verdi saw glimpses of the players they can be. McCormick knocked down the 3 as time expired that lifted the Minutewomen to a 64-61 victory over Liberty in the inaugural UMass Thanksgiving Classic last season. Rivera scored 19 in that one.
Verdi expects all his perimeter players to be capable 3-point shooters, and he’s high on a plethora of young talent on the roster. Destiny Philoxy, a 5-7 guard from Queens, N.Y., is a dynamic and ultra-athletic addition who should see early and often minutes. Freshman Madison Lowery, a 6-2 wing player from Virginia Beach, gives UMass some much-needed size and range.
During recruiting, Verdi watched Lowery bury 10 3-pointers for her club, BWSL Richmond, alongside Sam Brunelle, the top recruit in the class of 2019 who signed with Notre Dame. “She outscored her several times throughout the summer,” Verdi said. “She can score in bunches because she can shoot the 3”.
X-factor: UMass’s lack of depth at the post will likely impact the Minutewomen on the boards, particularly with the graduation of leading rebounder Mulligan. Recently cleared center Anil Soysal will help once she is back to full strength, but an overreliance on the 3 can be dangerous on a night when the shots don’t fall.
Circle the date(s): UMass faces Bucknell in its first game in the Brown University Turkey Tip-off on Nov. 23 in Providence. “That’s a great test on a neutral court,” Verdi said. On Nov. 28, UMass hosts North Dakota and on Dec. 21 Marist is on tap; both were teams that won by substantial margins over the Minutewomen last year. Verdi is eager to learn how much his team has improved since then.
Bottom line: Young and building, expect UMass to keep moving in the right direction in 2018-19.