AMHERST
Back-to-back wins over brand-name programs has UMass heading into its final week of nonconference games with increasing expectations.
But despite beating Providence and Georgia, UMass still has some questions that need answering and problems that need solving if it’s going to compete to be in the top half of the Atlantic 10 as league play begins on Dec. 30.
Can UMass get enough scoring if Luwane Pipkins is off his game? — During the Minutemen’s losing streak to Minnesota, BYU and Quinnipiac, Pipkins shot a combined 10-for-42. Another reliable perimeter scoring option might have been the difference between two-point losses to the Cougars and Bobcats.
Pipkins is a much more reliable shooter and scorer than he was a year ago and is playing like an all-conference caliber guard. But it’s unrealistic to think he’s not going to have some off nights.
Can the Minutemen win away from the Mullins Center? — The fact that UMass has been as good as it has at home is a good first step. But it hasn’t won a road or neutral game yet, despite coming close at Harvard and South Carolina, and against BYU in New York.
The first two A-10 road games are at St. Bonaventure and Dayton, two of the league’s toughest locations, and should test the Minutemen quickly. But beating struggling teams like George Mason, Fordham and Richmond on the road will be what really determines where UMass lands.
Is the Atlantic 10 as conquerable as it looks? — Success in the conference doesn’t look as hard to come by as it might have been in some seasons.
Saint Louis, which was expected to be better, has had problems on and off the court. Health problems have limited Saint Joseph’s, and VCU is on its third coach in four seasons and hasn’t come together yet.
Richmond, which has always been reliably competitive, has been bad at 2-8.
Dayton is just 5-5, but after losing several key pieces as well as coach Archie Miller, the Flyers may have overscheduled. They could be a team other teams don’t want to face as the season progresses.
Can UMass stay healthy? — With the exception of Rashaan Holloway’s preseason injury, the Minutemen have been remarkably injury free. If they lose anybody for a game or two, they could be in trouble given their lack of depth.
Does Carl Pierre hit a wall? — The Minuteman freshman has been everything coach Matt McCall could hope for so far.
His contributions have made it seem unfathomable that he had no Division I interest at this time last year.
Can he keep it up as the grind of the season continues? UMass needs him to.
MY TOP 10 — 1. Arizona State, 2. Villanova, 3. Michigan State, 4. North Carolina, 5. Miami, 6. Xavier, 7. Kentucky, 8. Gonzaga, 9. Texas A&M 10.West Virginia.
GAME OF THE WEEK: Texas at Alabama, Friday, 9 p.m., ESPN2 — Both of these teams have been ranked at one point or another this season and both feature almost certain lottery picks in Texas big man Mo Bamba and Alabama point guard Collin Sexton.
This could serve as a springboard for the winner heading into conference play.
ATLANTIC 10 GAME OF THE WEEK: St. Bonaventure at Syracuse, Friday 7 p.m. — The Bonnies, who are finally healthy, are lurking around NCAA at-large consideration. This is a huge opportunity for their at-large chances as well as bragging rights in New York state.
BUZZER BEATER — This is annually one of the scariest weeks for good teams. Practice schedules are inconsistent with finals, and players are understandably eager to go home and see their families for Christmas, after months away in many cases.
There’s almost always a power conference school that gets knocked off by a mid-major for not taking the game seriously enough.
This year’s top candidates for upset games could be Northern Iowa, which hosts No. 13 Xavier, Friday, and Grand Canyon at Louisville Saturday.
Matt Vautour can be reached at mvautour@gazettenet.com. Get UMass coverage delivered in your Facebook news feed at www.facebook.com/GazetteUMassCoverage