UMass freshman forward Alec Hughes has made an immediate impact. (UMass Athletics)
After the 2019 season, UMass head coach Fran O’Leary knew they had to improve their front six.
The Minutemen had endured a seven-game midseason stretch of failing to score, resulting in missing the Atlantic 10 tournament for the first time since O’Leary took over in 2015.
Injuries were largely to blame – Yosuke Hanya broke his collarbone and James McPherson (Danvers, Mass.) was hampered by a knee issue, most notably – resulting in an anomaly for the 2017 A-10 champs. Diagnosing the problem, they prioritized finding a resolution.
