UMass defeated Duquesne 79-66 at the Mullins Center to improve to 12-4 overall and 2-1 in Atlantic 10 play. The Minutemen closed the game on a 16-4 run as Chaz Williams led the squad with 22 points, nine assists, five rebounds and a season-high-tying four steals. Terrell Vinson had 17 points, five assists and four boards, while Cady Lalanne posted his third double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
After playing 10 of its first 15 games away from the Mullins Center, UMass returns to the 20-year-old facility for a three-game homestand over the next nine day. On Thursday, UMass will play host to Duquesne in game televised nationally by the CBS Sports Network (Channel Finder). The Dukes were the last Atlantic 10 opponent to play in Amherst when the Minutemen handed the visitors a 92-83 setback in the first round of the 2012 A-10 Championship.
UMass great Marcus Camby has been a popular interview request in the past week leading up to Saturday's big day as his #21 jersey will become the fifth to be retired in the Mullins Center. He will be a guest on Fox Sports Radio in his hometown of Hartford on Wednesday morning. You can hear the interview at 6:13 am and 8:13 am on 1410 AM. Click here to listen online.
This great piece of former UMass hockey captain Mike Kostka ran in the Toronto Star on Monday:
At 27, Toronto Marlies defenceman Mike Kostka might not be the "shiny new toy" as coach Dallas Eakins likes to call a hot rookie prospect.
But Eakins believes the Toronto-born Kostka is well deserving of his invite to the Maple Leafs training camp, one of six Marlies trying to make the big club this week at the MasterCard Centre.
"I don't know why (he has never made an NHL team) but if he had been in our organization, he would at least have gotten an audition," Eakins said. "He has been very, very good (with the Marlies). He's one of the top point-getters in the league from the back end. He has got ice in his veins when he has that puck. He's a good character and leader as well.
"The great thing about guys like him is it shows you that development doesn't stop at 22. For me, it has never been about a player's birthdate. Players are all prospects. Whoever can help the team is who can help the team."
While most observers raved about the play of defenceman Jake Gardiner before he was sidelined five weeks ago with a concussion, Kostka's play has been equally impressive. He initially was paired with Gardiner on the first-team power play unit with the Marlies but then played with former NHLer Paul Ranger and quarterbacked the power play.
With Gardiner still sidelined, Kostka is being given every chance to be one of the Leafs' prime puck-moving blueliners when the 48-game NHL season opens Saturday night in Montreal.
On Monday, Kostka primarily played with rookie hopeful Morgan Rielly. Both can skate and both know how to handle the puck. But it's doubtful both will make the team. Rielly can only play five games before he loses a year of junior eligibility and coach Randy Carlyle won't keep Leafs first round pick from last season unless he's one of their top-six blueliners.
When he joined the Leafs for an unofficial practice late last week, Kostka was tied with three players for fifth in AHL scoring with 34 points (six goals, 28 assists), including 15 power play assists (18 power play points) in 34 games.
Read more of - Maple Leafs training camp: Mike Kostka is a prospect despite his age
With the start of the NHL season just days away, teams have been providing coverage of their training camps on their web sites. Video updates from the LA Kings and the San Jose Sharks featured former Minutemen Jonathan Quick and Justin Braun.
Jonathan Quick Speaks To The Media On Day 1 Of Training Camp:
Sharks Second-Year Players Are Expected To Raise Performance Level (Braun at 2:27 mark):
Two more former UMass hockey players are also currently at NHL training camps as Matt Irwin is with the Sharks and Mike Kostka (pictured, middle) is with Toronto.
From MassLive.com:
"I had a sports editor in college that told me the best thing I could do was to get out of the press box.
So for Friday night's UMass-Providence hockey game, I traded in my perch at the top of Mullins Center for a spot in the 8 1/2-foot tall inflatable chair that sits in the southwest corner of the arena.
Normally, two or three "fans of the game" get the opportunity to sit in the chair, which is sponsored by the UMass Alumni Association, but Friday I had the spacious accommodations all to myself."
Read more of MassLive's Harry Plumer experiences a different view of UMass hockey game.
Dan Duggan (@dduggan21) of the Boston Herald caught up with Marcus Camby last week and spoke with the 1996 National Player of the year about having his jersey retired this Saturday at halftime of the UMass-Duquesne game.
UMass had four players score in double figures led by Brooklyn native Chaz Williams who finished with 22 points, seven assists, six rebounds and zero turnovers. The Minutemen are now 11-4 overall and 1-1 in Atlantic 10 play as they return to Amherst for a three-game homestand, beginning Thursday against Duquesne.
In the annual Major League Lacrosse draft, a trio of UMass men's lacrosse standouts were taken during the eight-round event on Friday evening. 2012 Tewaraaton Award finalist Will Manny was taken by Boston in the second round (14th overall) before teammate Jake Smith was picked by the Cannons as well, going two rounds later (30th). Colin Fleming was the final Minuteman picked, with the Ohio Machine taking the 6-foot-6 senior attack in the seventh round (49th). Below are a few links related to the draft results:
Boston Cannons draft roundup
Ohio Machine draft roundup
Inside Lacrosse's team-by-team draft grades
BostonLax.com: Local flavor prevalent in MLL Draft
Daily Collegian: Three former Minutemen taken 2013 MLL Draft
The Minutemen start their 2013 campaign and CAA regular season and tournament defense at home on Garber Field against Army at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 9.
Boston Cannons draft roundup
Ohio Machine draft roundup
Inside Lacrosse's team-by-team draft grades
BostonLax.com: Local flavor prevalent in MLL Draft
Daily Collegian: Three former Minutemen taken 2013 MLL Draft
The Minutemen start their 2013 campaign and CAA regular season and tournament defense at home on Garber Field against Army at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 9.
UMass will look to come away from its 2-game road trip with a split when it faces Fordham at Rose Hill Gym on Sunday afternoon. Following a 70-62 loss at Saint Louis that ended UMass' seven-game win streak, the Minutemen will take on a talented Rams squad that is 3-1 at home and won three-straight in the Bronx. The game will be televised by the YES Network (Channel Finder) with tip-off set for 1 p.m. Sunday's game will mark the end of a stretch of four of five games on the road for UMass. The Minutemen will open a three-game homestand on Thursday night against Duquesne.
