AMHERST — The specter of COVID-19-related postponements and cancellations is lurking around college basketball.
Two Syracuse games have been canceled outright, while contests involving some of the nation’s premier programs in Kentucky, Duke, UCLA and North Carolina have been postponed.
It’s a reminder to the UMass men’s basketball team to remain vigilant playing amidst an ongoing pandemic.
“I know, me personally, I kind of forgot about it. We hadn’t seen a pause in a long time,” UMass point guard Rich Kelly said. “(Wednesday) was the first day I thought ‘that could happen to us.’ You never know.”
The Minutemen are dealing with a wave of flu in the team this week. No one has tested positive for COVID, but it will leave coach Matt McCall with a bevy of game-time decisions for Sunday’s 1 p.m. matchup against Fairfield at the Mullins Center.
“Obviously there’s not a quarantine time with that, but it knocks you down pretty good,” McCall said. “We give our guys constant reminders that this thing is not going anywhere. It’s still here, and we’ve got to be mindful of that.”
Even though the Minutemen haven’t dealt with any positive COVID tests this season, facing the flu in the team has shown them how quickly a virus can spread among people who spend so much time close together.
“There’s definitely a newfound awareness around here that this thing is still around and we’ve got to take extra precautions,” Kelly said. “I think there’s definitely a fatigue going around the country with all of the masks and the COVID. Nobody wants to wear them, but I think we’ve all see the damage the virus can do. We’re definitely ready if we do have to ramp up.”
STAGS CHARGING INTO AMHERST – Fairfield has won its past five games and held its last three opponents under 60 points.
The Stags defense allows just 65.5 points per game, in the top third of the country.
“They take a lot of pride on the defensive end of the floor,” McCall said. “It’s going to be a difficult game. It’s going to be a war.”
Guard Taj Benning leads Fairfield averaging 11.7 points per game, while Jake Wojcik scores 10.5 per contest. There are four other players that score at least 7.5 points a game.
“They play a similar style to Rutgers with two bigs, and they’re going to try to defend and rebound and out tough you,” Kelly said. “We’re going to have to answer the call and continue to play our game.”
This season, that game has been predicated on offensive efficiency. The Minutemen are one of the country’s 50 highest scoring teams at 79.8 points per game. They’re hitting 11.5 3-pointers per game (tied for the seventh most in the nation) at a 41.2 percent clip (sixth in the country).
That offense faltered for the first time all season last game out against North Texas. The Minutemen put up a season-low 57 points in Fort Worth, Texas, but kept their opponent under 70 for the first time since Nov. 15 against Penn State.
“When we are unselfish, we’re a really good team. When the ball sticks and we hold on to it too long, we become easier to guard,” McCall said.
DOUBLEHEADER – UMass’ game against Fairfield on Sunday is the first in a doubleheader. The UMass women’s basketball team will host Vermont at 3:30, providing a perfect opportunity for basketball fans to see the Minutewomen who haven’t yet.
They’re 3-1 in their past four games and currently lead the nation in rebounding.
“I don’t know who wouldn’t want to come see coach (Tory) Verdi’s team,” McCall said. “The job that he has done with a program that historically has not had a ton of success is truly remarkable. He gets his team to play extremely hard, they play with a level of passion. Come see us, then turn around and watch one of the better teams in the Atlantic 10, and by the way things are going, best teams in the country.”
INDEFENSIBLE – UMass is giving up 78.5 points per game, one of the worst marks in the country (No. 328/350). Opponents are shooting 37.7 percent against the Minutemen from 3.
“I think our initial coverage pick and roll wise has been good. I think our protecting and tagging behind pick and rolls have been bad,” McCall said. “Teams the last two games have made some tough, timely (3s). We’ve got to improve.”
McCall and his coaching staff have poured over every field goal the team has given up on film in recent days to determine why they’re giving up so many 3s and where the baskets are coming from. They’ve emphasized a need for better effort and more communication, which can sound like coach speak or empty platitudes, but the Minutemen have been receptive and took the messages seriously.
“Sometimes you hear these words, and they’re just like key phrases,” Kelly said. “But when our coaches show us tangible examples of it on film, it becomes a lot more real. The more we play, and the more film we watch, the more we can learn and the more we can embody what the coaches want us to do.”