BC’s Donald Hand Jr. looks to step up, UMass enters the MAC, and other men’s college basketball storylines to watch

Now, everyone in the ACC knows about Boston College guard Donald Hand Jr., who has predicted his Eagles will finish top five in the conference this season. Chris Seward/AP Photo

By Trevor Hass, The Boston Globe

November 3, 2025

4 minutes to read

Boston College guard Donald Hand Jr. was still relatively unknown and unproven prior to last year.

He knew deep down he was capable of more, and he vowed to show the world when he got the opportunity.

This season, with an Atlantic Coast Conference most improved player award on his resume, Hand Jr. won’t be sneaking up on anyone. For some, making the jump from the shadows to the spotlight can be daunting. For Hand Jr., it’s a role he’s built toward his whole life.

“I dreamed about this moment,” Hand Jr. said. “I envisioned it.”

Coach Earl Grant said Hand Jr. is “wired to score.” The next step, Grant said, is for Hand Jr. to stay aggressive while also making his teammates better.

On a roster that should have more offensive firepower than last year’s group, Hand Jr.’s playmaking ability could help BC find more consistency and fluidity.

“Use his magnetic force to get our big guys some shots at the rim, his teammates some open 3s,” Grant said. “I would like to see him round his game out and be a complete player.”

The 6-foot, 5-inch guard predicted at ACC Media Day that the Eagles — who open the season Monday at Florida Atlantic — will finish top-five in the conference this season. When asked at local media day if he’s sticking with that claim, Hand Jr. didn’t hesitate.

“We fear nobody,” Hand Jr. said. “I believe in all my guys.”

Along with Hand Jr., guard Fred Payne and forward Jayden Hastings return as key contributors. Boden Kapke (6-11 forward/center from Butler), Chase Forte (6-4 guard from South Dakota), Aidan Shaw (6-9 forward from Missouri), and Jason Asemota (6-8 forward from Baylor, Lynn native) are key transfers.

The Eagles are used to entering the season as underdogs. It’s a role they embrace.

“They voted us last, and I just don’t believe that,” Forte said. “I don’t think we’re last in the ACC.”

UMass shooting for the stars

Frank Martin’s Kansas State Elite Eight team in 2010 and Final Four team at South Carolina in 2017 both led the NCAA Tournament in scoring.

He believes this UMass team might be the best shooting team he’s ever had.

“I don’t mean to jinx them,” Martin said, “but we’ve done it enough in the preseason.”

A season ago, the Minutemen finished last in the Atlantic 10 in 3-point percentage (28.1) and first in rebounding (39.7). This year, while Martin certainly hopes the rebounding will improve, the identity of the group has shifted.

UMBC transfer Marcus Banks Jr. has 247 career 3-pointers and shot 41.8 percent from distance last year. Leonardo Bettiol averaged 13.5 PPG for Abilene Christian. Veterans Daniel Hankins-Sanford and Ayer native Jayden Ndjigue should both make another leap.

After a dizzying offseason — in which he had to retool nearly his entire roster and lean into the ever-expanding Division 2 and junior college pool of talent — Martin is encouraged by his team’s passing and playmaking. As the Minutemen enter a new era in a wide-open Mid-American Conference, Martin is cautiously optimistic.

“This team’s been fun to be around right now, the way they go about their business,” Martin said.

Piggé party

Harvard coach Tommy Amaker said it’s rare for one person to be the most valuable, most important, and most versatile player on a roster, but senior Chandler Piggé checks each of those boxes.

“He’s as good of a leader as we’ve ever had here,” Amaker said. “I’m very, very proud of his development as a player. He’s our heart and soul. We follow his lead, as players and as coaches.”

Piggé (13.1 ppg) will join returning junior Thomas Batties III (11 ppg) and returning sophomores Robert Hinton (14.6 ppg, unanimous Ivy rookie of the year), Marlborough’s Austin Hunt, and Tey Barbour in a core eager to help the Crimson ascend.

“We have to go from potential to production now,” Amaker said.

New crews

The night before Merrimack’s first scrimmage, coach Joe Gallo lost sleep as he tried to figure out how to find playing time for 10 guys.

Gallo, unaccustomed to going that deep into his bench, had to search for tips on rotations via ChatGPT.

“That was a starting point,” Gallo said. “It got my brain going a little bit. That’s all I needed.”

The Warriors are hoping to play fast, turn defense into offense, and create organized chaos on both ends this year. Tye Dorset, Malik Edmead, Southborough’s Todd Brogna, Ernest Shelton, Aliou Cisse, Andrés Marrero, Malden Catholic’s KC Ugwuakazi, Kevair Kennedy, Dylan Veillette, and Jaylen Stinson should all play a role.

“I might talk to you Dec. 1 and tell you we’re walking the ball up every time. But right now, I’d like to get out and capitalize on some of our stops,” Gallo said.

UMass Lowell has even more new faces and will start fresh with a completely different group.

“We lost everything,” said coach Pat Duquette. “We don’t return a single point, rebound, assist — nothing. It’s unlike any experience I’ve ever had in my 30 years of coaching.”

In a scrimmage against Northeastern, Xavier Spencer, Jared Frey, Isaiah Walter, Austin Green, and Shawn Simmons III started, and Dracut native Darrel Yepdo brought energy off the bench.

The roster has changed, but the standard hasn’t.

“I want to break through,” Duquette said. “I want to bring UMass Lowell to an NCAA Tournament.”

And-1

Quincy native Mike Loughnane, the son of former Northeastern player Bill Loughnane, transferred to NU after averaging 5.1 PPG for Davidson last year … Berkley native Joe Nugent, who ranked 14th in the NCAA in 3-point percentage (42.9), is back for Holy Cross … Boston University coach Joe Jones has 234 wins and is 14 away from setting a program record. His son, Jay, is a freshman at Penn, and his daughter, Sydney, is an assistant at Stonehill … Former Holy Cross guard Will Batchelder, a Newburyport native, now plays for Stonehill.

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