Bombs Away

In the 2003 Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament, UMass set their single-season record for most three-pointers attempted by putting up 31 against George Washington. On November 1, 2007, the first exhibition game of the season, the Minutemen chucked up 35 from behind the arc. Terrifying? A little bit, especially because last season, the most successful in recent years, UMass only put it up more than 20 times in eight games, never even hitting the 30 attempts mark. Then again, UMass hit a season high 11 threes against Temple last season…three less than they knocked down against AIC on Thursday’s opener.

“Why the sudden change?” – You ask? Start by looking on the hardwood. What you’ll find are two Century 21 For Sale signs below the basket where Stephane Lasme and Rashaun Freeman used to live…any buyers? Not on this roster. Trying to bring back a low post game with Luke Bonner and Papa Lo is like trying to squeeze cranberry juice from an orange. It’s just not going to happen. Lo will get his blocks, and Bonner will continue his career of meandering up and down the court looking confused, every once in a while chucking one up from down town, only to make the fans cheer and at the same time yell, “What the f***?”.

Have no fear, though. In Travis Ford we trust. We’ve known since he arrived three years ago that this was his style of play, he was just biding his time. So forget about those long 18-22 second possessions, kiss goodbye those dish inside, post up, hook shot finish plays, and start looking forward to the Battle of Normandy attack UMass will attempt game after game from beyond the perimeter. Coach Ford referred to the three-point shot as “demoralizing” in Thursday’s post game press conference. Let’s just hope our long ranged weapons don’t backfire, spitting demoralization all over us.