AMHERST – UMass men’s basketball 3.0 should drop soon.

The Minutemen are discovering a new version of themselves for already the third time this season 24 games in ahead of Saturday’s visit to La Salle (2 p.m. ESPN-Plus). They’ve lost their last three games trying to figure out how to play down their top three guards: Noah Fernandes (ankle), RJ Luis (concussion) and Rahsool Diggins (leg) for the third game in a row.

“We’re trying to reinvent ourselves, again, in the middle of season. It’s hard to reinvent yourself and prepare for someone else but that’s the challenge. That’s what we have to do,” UMass coach Frank Martin said.

UMass has rarely been able to settle into what the team can be. Fernandes missed most of the preseason, and freshman forward Tafara Gapare didn’t arrive until the season began. Luis dealt with an early wrist injury. Matt Cross was away from the team for more than a week with an illness. Diggins took time away from the team for the birth of his daughter then returned before his injury. 

Only six Minutemen played double-digit minutes in a loss at Fordham on Wednesday after UMass established its bench as one of the nation’s most productive throughout the season. 

“You have to change what you’re doing to fit the talent of your players, but there’s a foundation of who you are. At times over the last seven, eight days, we’ve played that way, and then other times during the games we have not,” Martin said. “We lost the identity of defending and fighting. This team’s challenge all year has been leadership. Right now when we’re in difficult moments, we become a very quiet team. We’re looking around to see who wants to take that moment. Unfortunately, nobody has. It’s not that they don’t want to. They don’t know how to.”

Martin didn’t have a timetable for any of the players’ potential returns. He wants them to feel at peace with their bodies so it’s not hanging over them when they compete.

“You see me walk. Nobody protected me from myself. When I was at that age, I thought the right thing to do was go play so now I can barely freaking walk. As adults, we have to protect these young people,” Martin said. “In life, you call in sick too much, you get fired. You’ve got to do your job, and if not you’re not dependable. That’s the challenge because we have to prepare people for that moment. But at the same time, it’s not right for us to try to pressure a young person to play a game if they’re not physically and mentally at peace.”

Their absence has created opportunities for younger players. Freshman Keon Thompson has started the past three games and averaged nearly 10 points and six assists per game. Cross has reached double figures in the past seven games he’s played and scored over 20 points twice.

“It’s frustrating when you’re in it. It’s frustrating when you’re going through it because losing hurts confidence, but at the same time if you handle it the right way, everybody’s better because of it. I’ve got to become a better coach,” Martin said. “The player that’s now being given the opportunity has to embrace the moment.”

The Minutemen (13-11, 4-8 Atlantic 10) will have to figure out how to halt La Salle’s three-game winning streak. The Explorers (11-13, 5-6) are riding road wins against Saint Bonaventure and Saint Joseph’s in their last two games.

It’s the first repeat opponent in conference play for UMass, which fell 78-77 in their previous meeting at the Mullins Center on Jan. 11.

“It’s a matter of going in there preparing the players for what La Salle tried to do the first time. So now you can make adjustments for them. They tried to do some of the same things and obviously, you know, (La Salle coach Fran Dunphy has) won a couple of games in his career. He’s not going to just sit there and throw stuff against the wall,” Martin said. “He’s going to know that I’m going to adjust, and I’m sure he’s got some other stuff based on what he thought.”

MINUTEWOMEN AIMING FOR DOUBLE DIGITS – The UMass women’s basketball program can win its 10th straight game if it beats George Mason on the road Sunday (3 p.m. ESPN-Plus).

Despite their recent run of success, the Minutewomen (20-4, 10-1 A-10) haven’t managed a double-digit winning streak since the 2019-20 season when they won a program-record 11 in a row.

The Patriots (12-13, 5-7) won for just the second time in their last six games Wednesday at Saint Bonaventure. George Mason boasts the A-10’s fourth-best defense (61.3 points per game) to match up with UMass’ conference-leading offense (75.5).

Taylor Jameson leads the Patriots averaging 12.4 points per game and has hit 43 3s.

UMass was ranked No. 63 in the NCAA’s most recent NET Rankings. George Mason clocks in at No. 202.

If the Minutewomen can handle their business on Sunday, it would set up a battle for first place in the league on Thursday at Rhode Island (20-3, 11-0). The Rams are No. 69 in the most recent NET Rankings.

Kyle Grabowski can be reached at kgrabowski@gazettenet.com. Follow him on Twitter @kylegrbwsk.