AMHERST — It’s almost an entirely new-look UMass men’s basketball team this season, but the Minutemen exhibited many of the same problems they encountered a year ago during Monday’s season opener against Marshall.
UMass shot just 27.8 percent from 3-point range and 58.3 percent from the free throw line. Those numbers, combined with 20 turnovers, added up to a 78-72 loss at the Mullins Center in the MAC-Sun Belt Challenge that served as the Minutemen’s first game as an official member of the Mid-American Conference.
The Minutemen ranked 362nd in the country last year shooting 3-pointers (28%), and Monday’s opener saw them finish right around that number against the Thundering Herd. Still, it was the free throws that perplexed UMass coach Frank Martin, whose team attempted almost twice as many from the charity stripe as Marshall (36-19).
“I can’t believe we just kept missing free throws,” said Martin. “Everyone thinks the game’s about the three-point line. The game’s about the rim. If you can’t score at the rim, teams defend the three-point line. … If we can get the ball in the paint, we’ve got a plethora of people that can make shots. Today we got [a lot of ] free throws, and you got to make your free throws.”
UMass cut the Marshall lead to 69-67 with four minutes, 13 seconds remaining in the second half on a Leonardo Bettiol layup. But the Minutemen made just one field goal the rest of the way, failing to execute offensively in crunch time.
Marcus Banks Jr. led UMass (0-1) with a team-high 18 points in his debut. The UMBC transfer was brought in for his shooting acumen, and he finished 4-for-10 from behind the three-point line, drilling four of the team’s five 3s (5-for-18 overall).
“It feels great, to be in a new place,” Banks Jr. said of making his debut. “Here the crowd when you score, it just felt electrifying. Obviously you want to score more and shoot more, but yeah, for the most part, it was pretty good.”
Marshall 29-16 in the first half, taking advantage of some hot shooting of its own as the Thundering Herd made seven of the first 13 3s they attempted, often taking advantage of eight UMass turnovers in the game’s first eight minutes.
Martin said the task of playing a veteran team like Marshall was difficult, and the Minutemen drew a challenge in the MAC-Sun Belt event as a newcomer to their conference.
“Who’s the new team in the new league? Who’s the new school in the new league? UMass. You think we got Marshall by mistake?” Martin offered. “Ain’t nobody else in the league want to play Marshall. They gave us Marshall [as an opponent in the event] for a reason. Marshall is coming off a 21-22 win season, whatever they won last year. They’ve always had really good players there. We had a great opportunity, and we let it get away from us, but we’ll learn from it.”
Bettiol scored 15 points in his debut for UMass, while K’Jei Parker tossed in 13 points as the Minutemen showcased a roster that features 10 newcomers, including seven transfers.
The Minutemen settled into the flow of the game after falling into the early double-digit hole. A late first-half flurry, capped by a 3 from Banks Jr. at the halftime buzzer pulled UMass within 38-37 at intermission.
Poor execution and shooting down the stretch thwarted any chances of an opening-night win however.
Veterans Jayden Ndjigue and Daniel Hankins-Sanford combined for 14 points and nine rebounds in the loss. While Martin praised the hustle and effort of Ndjigue, he said he was disappointed in what he got from Hankins-Sanford in the post.
“I was really disappointed with the energy, strength and toughness that he played with today,” said Martin. “We need more. If we’re going to be good, like real good, we need a lot more from him.”
Marshall (1-0) had four players score in double figures, led by Wyatt Fricks’ team-high 16 points.
“These guys have been unbelievable the way they’ve prepared and the competitiveness they bring every day in the gym,” Martin said of his team. “…Coming down the stretch, we had two really bad turnovers and a bad three-point attempt that, you know, that’s part of having a bunch of new guys, You’ve got to take those moments and learn from it. But I don’t suspect us to do anything other than come in here on Wednesday, ‘cause we’re off [Tuesday], and compete the way they’ve competed all preseason.”
UMass is back in action Saturday when Albany comes to the Mullins Center for a 6 p.m. start.
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