Tre Mitchell announced on Monday he has entered the transfer portal which may NOT be the most significant news of the day for the program. A LOT happened on Monday, so let’s break it all down:
9:55 AM: Tre Mitchell Enters Transfer Portal
After extensive thought and conversations with family I’ve decided that at this juncture I’m going to weigh every option and have entered my name into the transfer portal. 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/bBmtE06chp
— ™ (@tre_mitch33) March 15, 2021
Starting the work week off with seismic program changing news as Tre Mitchell, UMass’ best player since Marcus Camby, announces he’s entered the transfer portal. Although Mitchell has only “entered his name” in the portal, it is expected that his time in Amherst has come to an end.
According to sources, Tre Mitchell has already been contacted by “dozens of teams” looking to land his talents.
The former A10 Rookie of the Year, First Team All-Conference selection, and A10 All-Academic Team selection, re-energized the UMass program with his spectacular play and was an outstanding ambassador for the university. Although most fans are disappointed in Mitchell’s likely departure, keeping a talent such as Tre Mitchell at UMass for more than two seasons seemed like a difficult task to begin with if you had asked any fan when he joined the program.
12:59 PM: Matt McCall Remaining Head Coach, As Expected
Sources: Tre Mitchell’s decision to enter the transfer portal isn’t changing Matt McCall’s status. He’ll still be the coach in 2021-22
— Matt Vautour (@MattVautour424) March 15, 2021
There has been speculation that Head Coach Matt McCall’s job security may be impacted by his ability to retain key players on the roster such as Tre Mitchell. Although previously confirmed McCall would indeed be back next season, this further indicates nothing has changed regarding his job status despite Tre Mitchell entering the transfer portal.
3:22 PM: Daily Collegian Reports 3-5 More Players Will Transfer
Sources tell the Collegian three to five more players will join Tre Mitchell in the transfer portal. @JosephAliberti1 has the report. https://t.co/qPX162tToE
— Daily Collegian Sports (@MDC_Sports) March 15, 2021
The UMass student newspaper reports that at least several more players “will join Tre Mitchell in the transfer portal.”
“Ronnie DeGray III, Javohn Garcia, Cairo McCrory, Dyondre Dominguez and Kolton Mitchell were named as players that have a chance of joining T. Mitchell in the transfer portal.”
The team declined to comment on this story, and the legitimacy of the source mentioned is now coming into question after the fact that the same night it was learned that Tony Bergeron is expected to remain at UMass despite Tre Mitchell’s likely departure.
8:33 PM: MassLive Reports AC Bergeron Expected To Stay
UMass AC Tony Bergeron is expected to stay at UMass next season:
“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…” https://t.co/TS8qQMvOnv
— Michael Bergman (@MLBergman_) March 16, 2021
Monday night, Matt Vautour of MassLive.com reported that Assistant Coach Tony Bergeron is expected to stay at UMass despite his former recruit and Woodstock player Tre Mitchell announcing he’s entered the transfer portal.
“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. My contract allows me to be back and Coach McCall has said I’m good for next season.”
The UMass Men’s Basketball program declined to comment on this story.
This may be the most important news of the day regarding the long term future of UMass’ Men’s Basketball program. Bergeron, now two years into his UMass tenure, was the former Head Coach at Woodstock Prep and has brought in many players, with seven Woodstock players currently on UMass’ roster including Noah Fernandes, Ronnie DeGray, TJ Weeks, Dibaji Walker, Cairo McCrory, Dyondre Dominguez, and Preston Santos.
Although Bergeron is expected to remain on staff next season, this does not mean no players will transfer from the program. Including Tre Mitchell, UMass has now had 16 players transfer out of the program in the four seasons McCall has been Head Coach. Still expect the number to increase, but if Bergeron is actually staying that number should be on the lower end.
Stay tuned for more updates on this story as the situation continues to develop.
8:44: Women’s Basketball Headed To NIT
For the first time since 1998, 𝙬𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙩𝙨𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙‼️@WomensNIT, here we come! Full bracket to follow later this evening.
📰 https://t.co/ab9FjvtxCX#Flagship🚩 pic.twitter.com/5zry64t8PT
— UMass Women’s Basketball (@UMassWBB) March 16, 2021
The Women’s Basketball team makes the NIT for the first time since 1998. A terrific ending to a crazy day of news for the school. UMass (14-7) has been placed in the Charlotte Region and will take on Villanova on Fri., March 19 at 8 PM. The Minutewomen are one of four Atlantic 10 teams to make the NIT:
Fordham vs Delaware | Fri 11 AM
Dayton vs Northern Iowa | Fri 12 PM
Saint Louis vs DePaul | Fri 6 PM
UMass vs Villanova | Fri 8 PM
For more coverage of UMass Basketball, follow @MLBergman_ on Twitter.
