Preseason suspensions and evolving talent make for a work in progress.
Massachusetts' Chaz Williams (3) is a peerless point guard, but at the moment he has no backup.In the analysis of Saturday's University of Massachusetts men's basketball preseason game against American International College, several questions exist about the 2012-13 Minutemen.
Here are six:
Q: Who is the backup point guard to Chaz Williams?
A: At the moment, nobody. The obvious candidates are Jesse Morgan and Trey Davis, who were suspended along with forward Cady Lalanne for Saturday's 87-82 win.
Williams played 37 minutes, and coach Derek Kellogg said he had cramps at one point. As usual, he was the best player on the floor, but that was quite a workload for a practice game.
Shooting guard Freddie Riley played 38 minutes. That's also too much, but it's easier to find fill-ins at shooting guard than the point.
Q: Are the suspensions to be taken seriously?
A: Yes. Kellogg won't give the reason, but he won't guarantee the three players will be back for the Nov. 13 opener against Harvard.
Even if they are, this is an unsettling way to start a season. Davis just got here, and this is hardly the way for a freshman to make a first impression.
Q: Is Riley the answer from 3-point range?
A: Time will tell. Riley's 6-for-10 success rate Saturday was encouraging.
The senior has been a streak shooter for his entire college career. That probably won't change, but maybe this is the year the hot streaks become the rule, not the exception.
Q: Can freshman big men Tyler Bergantino and Izzy Freeman help this year?
A: Yes. The 6-foot-9 Bergantino and the 7-foot Freeman combined for eight rebounds in 23 minutes, and Freeman made both his shots.
At 205 pounds, Freeman looks awfully thin for Atlantic 10-style banging. Neither player is ready to assume the role of Sean Carter, who graduated after providing strength in the low post.
But there is talent here, and it should be fun to watch each player develop.
Q: If AIC can outrebound UMass (37-36), is there reason for concern?
A: There is reason to keep an eye on it. Raphiael Putney had eight boards, but he fouled out after 18 minutes.
Terrell Vinson will be a reliable rebounder. Lalanne could make the difference, but not if he's suspended.
Q: Kellogg was not satisfied with the intensity level, especially on defense. Are the Minutemen reading their positive press clippings too closely and losing their edge?
A: This is probably not an issue, even after UMass forced only a modest 12 turnovers against AIC, a Division II team.
Kellogg won't sit still for poor energy levels, and for that matter, neither will Williams. The histories of the returning players are quite good in this regard.
An early-season loss may not be the worst thing for this team, and the schedule makes that likely.
Despite the surprisingly close game Saturday, the reasons for optimism at UMass remain. This team is good, but fans should keep in mind that so are most of the teams the Minutemen will play.