This preview is part of the Atlantic 10's 2020-21 Men's Basketball Tipoff, which also includes A-10 media day, the preseason poll and awards and the 2020-21 schedule. The previews, written by Patrick Stevens, began on Nov. 10 and will continue through the week. Once released, each preview can be found here.
MASSACHUSETTS ESSENTIALS
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There was a lot to like about Tre Mitchell’s freshman season at Massachusetts. He was the Atlantic 10’s Rookie of the Year, the Minutemen’s first since 2004. He landed on the All-Conference Second Team, the first UMass freshman to do so since Marcus Camby in 1994.
The Minutemen anticipated Mitchell would make an immediate impact. He more than lived up to expectations.
“The year he had as a freshman, night in and night out getting triple-teamed and the numbers he was putting up every single night was astronomical,” coach Matt McCall said. “For him to do that at such a young age was pretty remarkable.”
And after averaging 17.7 points and 7.2 rebounds, Mitchell got to work on plenty in the offseason.
The 6-9, 240-pounder isn’t simply an interior force. He averaged a steal a game, ranked second on the team in made 3-pointers with 37 and gave opponents little incentive to just send him to the foul line while making 72.8 percent of his free throws.
Even if taking care of the ball is an area he could improve, Massachusetts wouldn’t have doubled its Atlantic 10 victory total from four to eight without him.
“I wouldn’t say I’d go in the gym and focus on one aspect particularly or work on one aspect more than another,” Mitchell said. “Whatever I needed to work on that day was what I worked on. I think I’ve added a lot to my game over the summer and I think people are going to be excited.”
Enough, perhaps, for the Minutemen to make a stealth run at a spot in the top third of the league.
“He’s improved across the board,” senior guard Carl Pierre said. “He’s added pieces to his post game. He still shoots the ball really well, and he’s been going off the dribble a lot this year. I think he’s going to be special to watch.”
A LOOK AT THE MINUTEMEN:
Coach: Matt McCall, fourth season at Massachusetts, 38-57 with the Minutemen and 86-76 overall in five seasons
Last year: The Minutemen went 14-17 overall, but won seven of 11 at one point late in the season to finish 8-10 in the conference and tie VCU for eighth place. It was Massachusetts’ best Atlantic 10 record since 2014-15.
They’ll miss: Two of UMass’ regular starters from a season ago opted to transfer, leaving a lot of minutes up for grabs this winter. The most prominent departures include Sean East (9.3 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 4.9 apg), who led the Minutemen in assists and steals last season, as well as Samba Diallo (6.7 ppg, 5.9 rpg).
Impact returners: In addition to forward Tre Mitchell, guard Carl Pierre should again be one of UMass’ mainstays. The senior, who has been a part of McCall’s entire tenure, averaged 12.1 points and 3.4 rebounds last season while making 75 three-pointers.
Newbies of note: McCall is eager to see how 6-7 freshman Ronnie DeGray III’s strong practice performance translates into games. DeGray is a high-assist, low-turnover forward who will give the Minutemen plenty of options.
“That position for us is so valuable, both on offense and on defense,” McCall said. “To have a guy at that spot who is able to dribble, pass and shoot
and make decisions [is vital]. I think one of Ronnie’s greatest attributes is his ability to think out there on the floor. He knows the right play to make, and he makes it. He’s unselfish.”
Reasons to be optimistic: After struggling to get traction in McCall’s first 2 ½ seasons, the Minutemen won seven of their last 12 games a year ago to provide some hope of turning a corner.
That stretch included victories over Duquesne, Saint Louis and VCU, and it gave Massachusetts the hope of building on something heading into 2020-21.
“I would say it’s been interesting,” Pierre said of his first three seasons. “There’s been a lot of ups, lots of downs, a lot of building and a lot of eyes toward progressing. I think we’re starting to do that. We’ve been working tirelessly for three years to progress to where we want to get to.”
X factor: Hernia surgery cut short T.J. Weeks’ first season at Massachusetts, but the son of former Minutemen star Tyrone Weeks left an indelible impression. He averaged 14.7 points and shot 48.5 percent from 3-point range.
McCall was every bit as impressed with the discipline Weeks and his parents demonstrated while rehabbing during the pandemic. Now full go, McCall said managing expectations is as important as anything for the redshirt freshman.
“Fifty percent from 3 through 10 games is a ridiculous percentage,” McCall said. “He doesn’t have to go out and do that or think he has to do that. We want him to focus on shooting good reps every single time, being an extremely reliable defender, playing with that energy and motor that he brings.”
Circle the date: Mitchell might have enjoyed playing Rhode Island more than any other A-10 team as a freshman, dropping 30 points on the Rams on the road before closing out the season with a 34-point, 12-rebound showing at home. He’ll get two more shots at Rhode Island as a sophomore. The Minutemen visit Kingston on Feb. 6, then welcome their New England rival to Amherst on Feb. 27.
Bottom line: Even with some of the offseason defections, Mitchell is an excellent place for the Minutemen to start. He provides a frontcourt presence much of the league will struggle to counter. If Massachusetts takes a step forward defensively for the second season in a row, it should be one of the more interesting teams in the A-10.
Patrick Stevens is a veteran freelance college basketball writer. A former sports reporter for the Washington Times, he has been a contributor to Atlantic10.com for the past seven years. Follow him on Twitter at @D1scourse.