AMHERST — Derek Kellogg’s internal preseason tug-of-war continued at Saturday’s closed scrimmage with Albany.
The UMass coach wants to be patient with his newcomer-filled basketball team. But, at the same time, he’s sees his team’s talent and its potential and wants the Minutemen to progress on the court faster than they have so far.
“I saw some really good stuff at different junctures, and I saw some really bad stuff at different junctures. I think that’s the way it’s going to go for a little while with this young group. I’m trying to be patient. I feel like we have a chance to be a pretty good team. I’m hoping we’re a really good team by the time conference play starts,” said Kellogg, whose team hosts UMass-Lowell on Friday at 4 p.m. in both teams’ season opener. “That gives us some time to continue to play and improve. I’m hoping we can play good basketball out of conference but continue to get better and have a little more of an identity as the season goes on.”
Kellogg isn’t allowed to reveal the winner or even release any statistics from the scrimmage per NCAA rules. He said their biggest help came in alerting his younger players to the level of intensity required.
“The biggest thing that these games have helped our guys realize is that it’s a 40-minute game not a 12-minute game,” Kellogg said. “You have to play smart, good basketball at a high level for 40 minutes or you’re going to lose a basketball game no matter who you’re playing against.”
Kellogg said he’s still learning how to bring out the best in his new players in game scenarios.
“I’m not as far a long as I would like because there’s still a lot of new guys, and I’m trying to figure out new buttons. When you’re trying to push buttons for six or seven new guys and guys in new roles, it’s a little more difficult than when you’ve got two or three,” he said. “We’re still pushing buttons with some of the guys who have been here like Rashaan Holloway and Donte (Clark) to get them to take their games to the next level. But it’s coming along.”
While the River Hawks loom less than a week away, Kellogg said the Minutemen are still focused more on their own improvement than getting ready for Lowell.
“Our halfcourt offense and even our transition offense isn’t very good right now. That needs to be rectified pretty quickly,” Kellogg said. “We’re not where we need to be defensively, but our offense could be an Achilles heel if it doesn’t get better pretty quickly. We’re going to spend some time adding some stuff.”
MALIK HINES HURTING – In addition to freshman Brison Gresham, who is waiting for the NCAA to determine his academic status, sophomore big man Malik Hines wasn’t active for the scrimmage with a knee injury.
Hines missed the second half of last season with a foot injury.
“He’s sat for a few days. He’s got a little patella tendonitis in his knee,” Kellogg said. “He might be a guy who needs a little more rest. He was great at last week’s scrimmage. I want to make sure he’s in good enough shape, but at the same time I want him to be healthy and bouncy and athletic.”
Kellogg thought Hines would be available for Lowell.
“I think he will. That’s the game plan,” Kellogg said.
The Minutemen make a rare trip to Hines’ home state of Mississippi on Nov. 14. when they face Ole Miss.
Kellogg said the Minutemen have been especially cautious early with Zach Coleman, whose career has been slowed by knee injuries.
“Last year Zach was really good early, and he faded off as his knee got sore,” Kellogg said. “I’m going to be really cautious to make sure he’s not overusing it so we can us him in different spurts.”
STARTING LINEUP STILL A MYSTERY – Kellogg has ideas about which five Minutemen will be on the floor when the Minutemen and Lowell tip off, but he wasn’t sure.
“I’m not sure with this group that the starting lineup is going to be the group that’s going to finish. I’m still debating what the best lineup is for us to get off to the best start and make sure we have the best rotation coming off the bench,” Kellogg said. “I don’t want to leave all freshmen on the court at the same time because they don’t know how to win at the level we need to win at. I’m pretty conscious of trying to make sure there’s a good mix of a couple older guys with some freshmen while those guys come along and get better. But for this team to continue to grow, I think the young guys do have to improve as the season goes on. That’s how teams that get really good at the end of the year become better.”
Matt Vautour can be reached at mvautour@gazettenet.com. Get UMass coverage delivered in your Facebook news feed at www.facebook.com/GazetteUMassCoverage