Northeastern Strong Start to the Season, UMass Battling Through Inconsistency
Northeastern Huskies vs UMass Minutemen: 2024 College Basketball Showdown at the Mullins Center
The Northeastern Huskies (8-3 SU, 7-4 ATS) travel to Amherst, Massachusetts to face off against the UMass Minutemen (4-7 SU, 3-7 ATS) on Wednesday night at 7 PM ET at the Mullins Center. This matchup marks the second meeting of the season between these two teams, following the Huskies’ 82-76 victory over UMass on December 21.
Northeastern Huskies: Riding High After a Strong Start
The Northeastern Huskies have been in impressive form recently, winning three consecutive games after suffering losses to Santa Barbara and Vermont. Since falling to the Catamounts, the Huskies have defeated La Salle (82-68), Colgate (82-69), and Old Dominion (75-71), showing consistent offensive and defensive balance in each contest. Their win against ODU this past Sunday was especially significant, with Rashad King leading the charge with 21 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists. LA Pratt also contributed significantly with 15 points and 6 rebounds.
This marks the Huskies’ best start since the 1985-86 season, when they finished 9-2, led by the legendary Reggie Lewis. As of now, Northeastern is averaging 28.2 points per game on 48% shooting from the field. They are also hitting 33.5% of their three-pointers and 66.3% from the free-throw line. Rashad King, a senior guard, has been a key performer for the Huskies, averaging 17.5 points per game on 53.4% shooting and contributing 4.2 assists per game. Harold Woods, a junior, has been another standout, averaging 14.5 points and 8.4 rebounds on 51.1% shooting.
However, the Huskies’ overall strength of schedule is a concern. They rank 306th nationally according to KenPom, which means they haven’t faced the toughest competition thus far. Despite this, their solid defensive performance (allowing 66.1 points per game on 41.5% shooting) and strong rebounding numbers (led by Woods) give them confidence as they head into this matchup.
UMass Minutemen: Struggling Through an Inconsistent Season
The UMass Minutemen have endured a difficult season thus far, posting a 4-7 record and struggling both offensively and defensively. Their most recent victory came after a disappointing loss to UMass Lowell, a Division II team, with a dominant 86-52 win over Massachusetts-Boston. Despite the win, UMass has had a rocky start, opening the season 0-5 before managing to secure their only two Division I victories—against Harvard and NJIT.
KenPom ranks UMass 243rd in Strength of Schedule and 204th overall, reflecting their struggles. The Minutemen are averaging 75.3 points per game on 43.1% shooting, but their three-point shooting has been dismal at 25.4% (362nd in the nation), and their free-throw shooting is also concerning at just 62.8% (347th). Defensively, they allow 74.8 points per game, giving up 42.8% shooting from opponents, and are vulnerable to the three-pointer, allowing 33.2% shooting from deep.
Sophomore guard Jaylen Curry has been UMass’ offensive leader, averaging 13.4 points per game and 4.8 assists, but his shooting has been inconsistent at 37.3% from the field and 30.2% from beyond the arc. Rahsool Diggins, another guard, chips in with 11 points per game but has also struggled from long range at just 25.3% shooting from three-point territory.
With key players such as Caleb Weaver (86 rebounds) and Chris Murray (5.5 sacks) no longer with the team after entering the transfer portal, the Minutemen are depleted on both ends of the floor. This absence could prove costly in their quest to stay competitive against a talented Huskies squad.
Conclusion
Given their stronger overall play and superior efficiency on both ends of the floor, Northeastern comes into this game as the clear favorite. While UMass has shown flashes of potential, their inconsistent play and lack of depth due to the transfer portal will likely hinder their efforts against a talented Huskies squad.
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