UMass > MAC for all sports in 2025-2026

[Vuce]

Their lack of winning is more of a detriment than conference. I’ve heard more talk about Miami OH than any A10 team this year. Fans here are generally casual. Win and they will come back.

Yeah and it takes a MAC team going undefeated into the last month of the regular season for anyone to talk about them and their power rating is 90. The casuals aren’t coming back for the MAC unless UMass wins really big like Calipari era big and that ain’t happening

 

[Kolumbo]

Yeah that’s why they have less season ticket holders by a lot and donors too. They will need to dominate the MAC like Gonzaga does the WCC and have multiple NCAA tournament appearances for people to buy in again. It won’t do the trick to beat Eastern Michigan and Bowling Green a few more times than they beat St Joe’s and VCU. I know someone in the admin there and they are giving away tickets to youth organizations this year to get people in the building so it doesn’t look as bad. It’s similar to what was going on the last two Ollie years in the AAC except the MAC is much much worse

If you don't believe UMass can dominate the MAC or bring 9,000 people to a game, you should probably find a new team to root for. I suppose that is why you are on the Boneyard rather than UMass Hoops. Those people are more optimistic. At least UMass should be able to dominate the MAC. It would still be a sub .500 team in the Atlantic 10 with no chance of digging out. Even St. Louis which is 21-1 and 9-0 in the Atlantic 10 isn't considered a lock for the dance. UMass's chances of making the dance in the next few years are far better in the MAC. The MAC is a gift horse.

 

[Vuce]

If you don't believe UMass can dominate the MAC or bring 9,000 people to a game, you should probably find a new team to root for. I suppose that is why you are on the Boneyard rather than UMass Hoops. Those people are more optimistic. At least UMass should be able to dominate the MAC. It would still be a sub .500 team in the Atlantic 10 with no chance of digging out. Even St. Louis which is 21-1 and 9-0 in the Atlantic 10 isn't considered a lock for the dance. UMass's chances of making the dance in the next few years are far better in the MAC. The MAC is a gift horse.

I never said I was a UMass fan. I’ve lived in western MA my whole life and my dad is a grad and I’ve been to a lot of games there over the years and also know a ton of UMass grads. They aren’t bringing anywhere near 9k for MAC games now or in the future because the league is horrendous. Regular season games don’t matter in the MAC save for qualifying for the postseason conference tournament. If the season ended today St Louis is a lock for the tournament with a NET of 16. But you are correct any program including UMass has a better chance in the MAC because it’s terrible

 

[Kolumbo]

I never said I was a UMass fan. I’ve lived in western MA my whole life and my dad is a grad and I’ve been to a lot of games there over the years and also know a ton of UMass grads. They aren’t bringing anywhere near 9k for MAC games now or in the future because the league is horrendous. Regular season games don’t matter in the MAC save for qualifying for the postseason conference tournament. If the season ended today St Louis is a lock for the tournament with a NET of 16. But you are correct any program including UMass has a better chance in the MAC because it’s terrible

That explains it then. UMass fans actually have an appreciation for the team despite your relying on your season ticket holder friends. I'll bet you even they are more interested than they let on, or they were never fans to begin with. It doesn't even make sense why you spend so much time bashing them. It's not like they're syracuse.

"Yesterday was big. Central Michigan has looked better lately, beating Eastern and Bowling Green in their last two. If we can get that one on Tuesday, and get to 6 wins with 6 conference games remaining, I'll feel a lot better about our place in the standings. It's starting to feel like we'll get the 6th or 7th spot, but I think we have a shot at 5th if we finish strong. It'll be tough with Akron, a Miami rematch, and Bowling Green on the road, but we're 5-2 since starting 0-4. As mediocre as things might feel right now, we've actually done pretty well since that terrible start."

2025-26 Season - Page 48 - UMassHoops.com

 

[Vuce]

That explains it then. UMass fans actually have an appreciation for the team despite your relying on your season ticket holder friends. I'll bet you even they are more interested than they let on, or they were never fans to begin with. It doesn't even make sense why you spend so much time bashing them. It's not like they're syracuse.

2025-26 Season - Page 48 - UMassHoops.com

They are so interested 6 of the guys I golf with gave up their season tickets just like many others did when they found out they chose to move into the MAC. Yeah they were never fans to begin with but went to games for decades before this. It doesn’t even make sense why you are twisting yourself into a pretzel defending this conference change for them. It’s not like they’re UConn.

 

[Bongo Fury]

What they were doing wasn’t working or sustainable. Gone are the glory days of battling Temple. A10 and MAC are both somewhat irrelevant. MAC is likely a better option for football. Imagine Some UConn fans would be disappointed if UConn were to leave the BE for the betterment of the program such as a P4 league.

 

[UConnJim]

What people forget is that during the season of UMass' Final Four run, UMass played a great out of conference schedule:

OOC with the opponent's ranking at the time:
1. Kentucky
19. Maryland
Florida
10. Wake Forest
BC
UNC Wilmington
21. Georgia Tech
NC State
USC
13. Syracuse
3. Memphis

Even though UMass is in the MAC, they can become relevant in basketball again if they invest in basketball and then play a tough OOC schedule. Time will tell.

 

[CL82]

Imagine Some UConn fans would be disappointed if UConn were to leave the BE for the betterment of the program such as a P4 league

Well maybe just one guy...