Transfer Update

After Tre Mitchell announced he was entering the transfer portal, UMass fans had a day full of rumors, which basically all filtered down to this: As many as four more players would be entering the portal as well.

The Collegian even reported it (although the headline goes quite a bit farther than the actual article), citing sources with knowledge: https://dailycollegian.com/2021/03/sources-three-to-five-more-players-set-to-join-tre-mitchell-in-the-transfer-portal/

The Collegian says 3-5 players and named Ronnie DeGray III, Javohn Garcia, Cairo McCrory, Dyondre Dominguez, and Kolton Mitchell, which matches the rumor mill (with the possible exception of Cairo McCrory)

Here’s the projected roster as of right now:

Here:
Noah Fernandes
Dijabi Walker
TJ Weeks

Here?:
Preston Santos
Cairo McCrory
Brian Matthews (incoming)

¯\_(ツ)_/¯:
Ronnie DeGray III
Javohn Garcia
Dyondre Dominguez
Kolton Mitchell

There is the expectation that Carl Pierre will not be returning, although he does have another year of eligibility and could stay and add to his Bachelors and Masters, as well as continue to climb up the all time lists. He would not count against the 13 scholarship limit.

So, best case scenario: 10 returning players (maybe + Carl Pierre) and 3 open scholarships with which to replace Tre Mitchell’s production

Worst case scenario: 3 returning players and 10 open scholarships and the third complete roster rebuild since Matt McCall was hired four years ago.

(The medium case scenario is … not awful? 5 returning players + Brian Matthews and a considerable amount of talent, but its a short bench and Matthews will be a true freshman – its thin up front and 7 scholarships is a lot of scholarships (that’s just science).)

Who is going to recruit between 3-10 new players? Great question.

Late last night Matt Vautour reported that, despite Tre leaving, Tony Bergeron is expecting to stay: https://www.masslive.com/umassbasketball/2021/03/tre-mitchell-transferring-from-umass-assistant-coach-tony-bergeron-says-he-expects-to-stay-with-minutemen-in-2021-22.html. Which would be great, the guy can clearly recruit. Buuuuuuut, this is not generally language that one uses when they love coming into work every day and their coworkers and bosses also love for them to come to work, and it’s a great team, and everyone is happy, let’s get to work:

“Matt (McCall) and I spoke and I’m good at UMass for next season, as per my contract. I’m attached to the whole roster and incoming players as well, not just Tre,” he said. “My contract allows me to be back and Coach McCall has said I’m good for next season.”

No statement from either the head coach or the AD.

For the sake of argument, let’s say this is accurate and not bluster – can Matt McCall and Tony Bergeron even coexist? Does Bergeron staying mean that the roster exodus is cancelled? Is Tre definitely leaving? Is Bergeron definitely staying? Is McCall? Am I?

(Yes to that last one.)

Curry Hicks Sage will have more on his pod dropping today, already billed 9by him) as the best they’ve ever done: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-umass-basketball-podcast/id1217553470