Ranking Men's Basketball's Nonconference Opponents: No. 9

In a series that began on Sunday and will continue through the Crimson’s season opener on Nov. 10 against MIT, men’s basketball beat writer Stephen Gleason will look at Harvard’s 13 nonconference opponents. Coming in at No. 9 is UMass.

No. 13: MIT

No. 12: Holy Cross

No. 11: Fordham

No. 10: Manhattan

Massachusetts

2017-2018 Matchup: Sunday, November 12 at Lavietes Pavilion (2:00 p.m.)

2016-2017 Record: 15-18 overall, 4-14 Atlantic Ten

2016-2017 Matchup: UMass, 70, Harvard, 66

Head Coach: Matt McCall (1st season)

Key Returning Players: Jr. C Rashaan Holloway (averaged 10.4 points per game to go along with 5.8 rebounds); So. G Luwane Pipkins (led the team’s returning six players in minutes a season ago, averaged 10.2 points and made 71 three-pointers)

Stat to Watch: 43.3: UMass returns just 43.3 percent of its scoring from last season. For context, the Crimson returns 75 percent.

Overview: The Minutemen will look very different from the squad that topped Harvard a season ago. First-year coach Matt McCall returns just six players from last season’s team. This year’s roster features four transfers who will have to sit out this season per NCAA rules, two true freshmen, one redshirt freshman, a graduate transfer, and a walk-on.

—Staff writer Stephen J. Gleason can be reached at stephen.gleason@thecrimson.com.