Ron Chimelis of the Springfield Republican recaps Thursday night's men's basketball victory at home over NJIT that improved the Minutemen to 3-0 on the season. UMass benefited from nine first-half 3-pointers on its way to a 79-58 victory. Chimelis also points out the emergence of Cady Lalanne inside, who had a career-high 14 rebounds in just 15 minutes.
"I don't know yet if Cady always knows what he's doing or where he's going,'' Derek Kellogg said.
"It's nice to see him accidentally bump into 14 rebounds in 15 minutes, though. That shows he can be a big-time rebounder here someday.''
Ron Chimelis of the Springfield Republican previews tonight's men's basketball game against NJIT at the Mullins Center at 7 p.m. Chimelis points out how turnovers and fouls made Monday's victory over Northeastern more difficult and how Derek Kellogg and the Minutemen are looking to improve those areas against the Highlanders tonight.
The men's basketball team improved to 2-0 on Monday night with a 83-67 win over Northeastern at the Mullins Center. Sophomore point guard Chaz Williams led the way again for the Minutemen, recording the first double-double of his career with 20 points and 10 assists, both tying career-highs. Terrell Vinson (14) and Sampson Carter (12) both reached double-figures for the second game in a row. Check out coverage of the game below.
Ron Chimelis of the Springfield Republican previews tonight's men's basketball season opener at the Cage in today's issue. Chimelis points out how this season's opener is different than Derek Kellogg's previous three as head coach, as the team is comprised mostly of his players now and they are playing a new style offensively and defensively.
Chimelis also mentions the signing of Tyler Bergantino to a NLI on Thursday.
Ron Chimelis of the Springfield Republican has a story on the Minutemen using this week as a final tune-up as they adjust to a new up-tempo style of play. UMass opens the season on Friday at 9 p.m. against Elon at the Curry Hicks Cage.
"We're trying to instill in our guys that they have to be the aggressors from the minute they get off the bus,'' head coach Derek Kellogg said.
Ron Chimelis of the Springfield Republican wrote over the weekend on the men's basketball team being a totally new look, or "brand", in 2011-12. He writes how the Minutemen have a new offense, new point guard, and new post player, combined with two closed scrimmages rather than open exhibition games, make what to expect from the Minutemen this season a bit of a mystery.
Well, the mystery will be revealed on Friday when Derek Kellogg's Minutemen host Elon in the season opener at the Curry Hicks Cage at 9 p.m.
Congratulations to former UMass basketball star Anthony Gurley, who was selected by the Los Angeles D-Fenders in the second round of the NBA D-League Draft on Wednesday. The 6-3 shooting guard led the Minutemen with 18.7 points per game last season.
Ron Chimelis of the Springfield Republican and MassLive.com covers the announcement of changes to Derek Kellogg's men's basketball staff. With the departure of Vance Walberg, Shyrone Chatman becomes an assistant coach, Tom Doherty has been added as assistant operations coordinator, and Richard Hogans is the strength & conditioning coach.
Jeff Thomas of the Springfield Republican has a story on the UMass football team flying into Boston, and staying the night there, after their game in Richmond, Va. Thomas also has some notebook topics on Perry McIntyre being honored for leading the Minutemen in tackles, runner defense, kicking change, etc.
Ron Chimelis of the Springfield Republican has a nice story in Monday's edition and on MassLive.com on redshirt sophomore Chaz Williams moving into the point guard role for the Minutemen this season. Chimelis points out how Williams will be relied upon by Derek Kellogg to run the team's new offense, based more on transition and playing up-tempo.
"Everything coach tells me, I try to take into consideration and instill into my own game," said Williams, a redshirt sophomore from Brooklyn, N.Y., who sat out last season after transferring from Hofstra.
The first State of Massachusetts Basketball Media Day was held at Boston University's Case Gym on Tuesday. UMass head coach Derek Kellogg and senior bigman Sean Carter were there representing the Minutemen as head coaches and select players from all six Division I men's basketball teams in the Commonwealth were there. Dozens of local regional, and national media members came out to cover the event with the start of official practices coming on Friday. Check out some of the coverage below.
Dick Baker of the Springfield Republican has a story today on UMass field hockey's 4-1 loss at home to No. 3 Maryland on Sunday. Baker points out in the story that, despite the loss, the Minutewomen played the National Champs tough, outplaying them for much of the first half. Baker says UMass has shown much improvement under first-year coach Carla Tagliente since the beginning of the season.
"It was two different games," Tagliente said. "I was proud of the way we stepped up in the first half. The second half was a little different story. But this is a game of momentum. If we had scored the first goal in the second half, or had the first corner, things might have been different."
Check out Dick Baker's great preview of the UMass field hockey season from over the weekend in the Springfield Republican and MassLive.com. Baker looks at how new head coach Carla Tagliente is taking over a program that has had recent success, but is implementing a new system and the squad must adjust to the loss of three key senior starters from last season's team. Baker also points out that senior All-American goalie Alesha Widdall will play an integral role for the Minutewomen in 2011.
UMass, after dropping its opener on Saturday to Boston College, looks to rebound today with a 2 p.m. game at Vermont. There will be free live video of the game online.
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame officially announced on Monday the lineup for the inaugural Hall of Fame Holiday Showcase. The event, which will be a tripleheader spanning all three NCAA Divisions, will be played at the MassMutual Center on Dec. 9 with the Minutemen taking on Siena in the 8 p.m. nightcap.
Springfield College and Trinity will lead things off with a 4 p.m. Division III game before American International and Philadelphia University meet in a 6 p.m. Division II game, all leading up to the UMass/Siena game.
Dick Baker of the Springfield Republican in his Local College Notebook talks about UMass field hockey getting ready to begin its first preseason under new head coach Carla Tagliente. Baker points out that the A-10 regular season title could come down to the final conference game of the year, an Oct. 28 meeting between the Minutewomen and Richmond at Garber Field.
The 2011 UMass football season officially began on Friday with the first day of preseason practices for the Minutemen. Check out the stories below covering the first day of practice.
Jeff Thomas of the Springfield Republican reports this morning on the Philadelphia Eagles signing former UMass defensive tackle Brandon Collier. The Eagles, who have made plenty of news with big free agent signings in the last couple weeks, have seen their defensive line decimated by injuries already in training camp, creating a good opportunity for Collier, who last played at UMass in 2009.
Jeff Thomas of the Springfield Republican touches on a variety of UMass football topics in today's edition. He covers John Griffin catching his coach's eye at Bengals training camp, James Ihedigbo reported nearing a deal with the Jets, Chris Koepplin at Patriots camp, and tickets going on sale for the Colonial Clash on Oct. 22 at Gillette Stadium.
Dick Baker of the Springfield Republican has a story on MassLive.com today about rising senior hockey player T.J. Syner impressing top brass at the Washington Capitals Development Camp. The Longmeadown native, who has not been drafted by a NHL team, took the opportunity to show off his terrific speed and skating ability to top executives.
Syner had 27 points on nine goals and 18 assists in 2010-11 and will serve as co-captain for the Minutemen in the 2011-12 season.
On Tuesday, UMass Athletic Director John McCutcheon attended Mid-American Conference Media Day at Ford Field in Detroit. The Minutemen begin the transition to the Bowl Subdivision this season, play a full FBS and MAC schedule in 2012, and will be eligible for post-season play in 2013.
The Colonial Athletic Association held its annual Football Media Day on Wednesday at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. UMass Head Coach Kevin Morris, senior linebacker Tyler Holmes, and senior wide receiver Julian Talley all took part in the festivities. Two hours of Media Day was broadcasted live online at ESPN3.com.
Both UMass and Indiana announced on Wednesday that the two football programs will meet on Sept. 8, 2012 in what will be the home opener for the Minutemen at Gillette Stadium that season. It will be UMass' first season of playing a full FBS and MAC schedule and be the first time it hosts a FBS team at Gillette. UMass will make a return trip to Bloomington in 2017.
Hampshire Gazette: Minutemen line up Indiana for first Bow Subdivision game at Gillette
Former UMass football players John Griffin and Greg Niland benefitted quickly from the NFL lockout ending as both signed contracts as undrafted free agents on Tuesday. Griffin, a running back, signed with the Cincinnati Bengals, the same team former Minuteman Jeromy Miles plays for, while Niland, a guard, signed with the Arizona Cardinals. Below is coverage of their signings.
Hampshire Gazette: Lockout's end opens door for ex-Minutemen Niland, Griffin
MassLive.com: UMass football players Niland & Griffin signed by NFL teams
The Springfield Republican wrapped up its high school sports coverage for the academic year by naming its 2010-11 Athletes of the Year. Taking the Female Athlete of the Year honor is Amherst Regional High School star and soon-to-be UMass softball player Quianna Diaz-Patterson.
The shortstop and leadoff batter led the Hurricanes softball team to the Massachusetts Division 1 State Finals by batting .559 in her senior season with a .604 on-base percentage, eight homers, and 21 RBIs. She stole 105 bases in her three-year career without being thrown out a single time.
Kacey Schmitt, the Amherst Regional Head Coach had this to say about Diaz-Patterson: "Softball is her passion and it shows in the way she plays. Her athleticism is off the charts and that really stands out. She has quick hands and quick feet, and it's that kind of quickness that really sets her apart from any other player in Western Mass. And as a senior captain, she cared about everybody on the team. We're going to miss her on so many levels, but we look forward to seeing her play at UMass."
It was a matchup of soon-to-be Minutewomen in the Massachusetts Division 1 State Softball Championship on Saturday as Anna Kelley (pictured, far left) and King Philip High School of Wrentham edged out Quianna Diaz-Patterson and Amherst Regional High School, 1-0 at Worcester State's Rockwood Field. The Warrriors, also the alma mater of current UMass player Maggie Quealy, finish the season with a perfect 26-0 record, while the Hurricanes finish 2011 with a 23-2 mark.
The terrific game received lots of media attention. Check out the coverage below, including a pair of features on Kelley.
Now that the decision has been made, it's time for the selling to begin.
Dubbed the Together We're One Tour, UMass football is hitting the road to talk up its move to the Football Bowl Subdivision and the Mid-American Conference, beginning Tuesday at the Colonnade Hotel in Boston.
Other stops include New York City (May 26), Cape Cod (June 17), Boston again (June 223) and Providence, R.I. (June 27).
Speaking of the MAC, the Minutemen have faced just three of the 13 teams in the MAC the way it is currently structured.
UMass is 1-1 against Ball State, the 1984 victory the last win for the Minutemen over an FBS opponent.
UMass is 5-4 against Buffalo but all those wins came before the Bulls made the jump to FBS.
The Minutemen are 1-2 against Toledo, last playing the Rockets in 1999, the year after winning the national championship.
Check out this fine story on Kent State's new coach Darrell Hazell from the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Sounds as if the former Ohio State wide receivers coach has his work cut out for him.
One interesting note is is the guarantee the Golden Flashes will receive for facing Alabama this season - a mouth-watering $1.2 million.
Check out Dick Baker's coverage in the Springfield Republican from what he calls the greatest day in college lacrosse in Western Massachusetts history.
It's May Madness for local college lacrosse teams with conference titles and potential NCAA playoff berths at stake on home turf.
Both the men's and women's teams at the University of Massachusetts and Western New England College along with the men's team at Springfield College highlight a Saturday slate that is composed of arguably the largest number of championship-type lacrosse matches ever to be played by Western Massachusetts college teams at home on the same day.
In addition to the Saturday night Colonial Athletic Association men's title showdown between UMass and Delaware at Garber Field at 7, the UMass women, already Atlantic 10 champions, have a 1 p.m. NCAA play-in contest with Canisius at McGurk Stadium. In both contests, a UMass victory results in a berth in the NCAA tournament.
Welcome to the new UMass football headquarters, located on the campus of the University of Massachusetts near McGuirk Stadium where the team currently plays its home games.
Upon the announcement of the university's plans to upgrade it's football program to the Football Bowl Subdivision, it was revealed that the team would --- for the foreseeable future --- play its home games at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro when things became official in 2012.
The Minutemen's home in between those games will be the new HQ, which you can take a virtual tour of in the gallery below.
Check out these game recaps from UMass' 11-5 win over Delaware on Friday night at Garber Field. The Minutemen will play at Penn State on Wednesday night at 7 p.m., in the CAA Semifinals.
In the Springfield Republican, Ron Chimelis has a story on the upgrades to McGuirk Stadium and how UMass will return to play several games at McGuirk Stadium starting in 2014. "We are in a transitional period. By 2014, the plan is to have an upgraded campus facility that could host some games,'' Athletic Director John McCutcheon said.
"It's an unbelievable opportunity to go against some of the top teams of the country and to be together as a family, as a basketball family, on Thanksgiving," said UMass coach Derek Kellogg. "It's a perfect opportunity. The setup they have down there rivals some of the best tournaments that are going, which is really the Maui tournament."
In the Springfield Republican, Ron Chimelis has a feature on new quarterback Kellen Pagel, who has performed well in spring football. Pagel came to UMass after a season at Bowling Green.
After a disappointing month of March, the University of Massachusetts men's lacrosse team needed to turn the page, so coach Greg Cannella held his own version of show and tell.
"He ripped up the March page off the calendar and told us there were five games left in the season," recalled sophomore attack Kyle Smith of Longmeadow, who scored the game-winning goal in overtime in last Saturday's 9-8 win at Towson.
And now it's a three-game season for the Minutemen, who are 7-3 and 2-1 in the Colonial Athletic Association entering Saturday's huge conference clash against Drexel (6-5, 2-2) at Garber Field at 1 p.m.
Here are a few stories on the end of the men's basketball season. UMass wraps up 2010-11 with a 15-15 record and will not participate in postseason play.
UMass basketball battled the three-time defending A-10 Champions, but lost 73-67 in overtime on Wednesday. Still, the Minutemen hold fate in their own hands when it comes to hosting a first-round A-10 Tournament game. A win on Saturday at Fordham OR several other scenarios would result in a home game to start the postseason. Read about the Temple game and the postseason situation here:
UMass basketball faces perhaps its stiffest test of the season as the three-time defending A-10 Champion Temple Owls comes to the Mullins Center for a huge contest on Wednesday night. Here are the previews.
With this weekend's matchup with No. 2 Boston College fast approaching, Dick Baker has another entry in his UMass Hockey Blog, this time focusing on senior captain Paul Dainton, who needs just 19 saves to tie the all-time program record held by Brian Regan.
Check out today's article by clicking here, or read previous entries here.
Morgan and Putney are offering new life to this roller-coaster ride of a University of Massachusetts men's basketball season.
What they lack in experience, they are overcoming with their energy level, jarring a team that had seemed to be turning stale.
"They are bringing a freshness with their play and demeanor,'' UMass coach Derek Kellogg said as the Minutemen got ready for Wednesday's home game against Saint Joseph's.
"Their eyes are always on me, saying 'Put me in.' I like that.''
Here are the stories leading into Wednesday's game A-10 game for UMass, against Duquesne at the Mullins Center. Both teams are looking to end losing streaks: UMass, three in a row and the Dukes, two in a row after an 8-0 A-10 start.
The University of Massachusetts football program will hope that Elgin Long is faster than the mail.
Snow in Texas last week slowed the journey of the National Letter of Intent from UMass to Long, a 5-foot-10, 180-pound wide receiver from Arlington, Texas, and back to UMass. But it arrived Tuesday, completing the Minutemen's recruiting class.
The game will go on. Both the Saint Louis University and UMass campuses are closed today due to the weather, but the UMass at SLU basketball game will be played tonight at 8 p.m. ET. Watch it on CSN NE. Here are preview stories on the game.
As we prepare for the 135th meeting between old-time rivals UMass and URI, here are all the previews you need to be informed for the game at 4 p.m. Remember, doors open at 2 p.m., at the Mullins Center for Kid's Day with games, activities and rides on the concourse at the arena.
Here are the previews on the UMass-URI basketball game slated for Sunday at 4 p.m., Its Kid's Day so doors will open at 2 p.m., with festivities on the concourse at the Mullins Center.
The Springfield Republican has a story on the football team adding five players for spring ball.
Five mid-year transfers have joined the University of Massachusetts football team and will be eligible for the 2011 season whether the program moves up in status or not.
The new players could address needs at quarterback, wide receiver and running back, where key players from last year's 6-5 team will be lost through graduation.
UMass coach Kevin Morris announced that three of the five newcomers arrive from programs in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) - tailback Chris Burns from Pittsburgh, defensive back Ryan Campbell from Mississippi and quarterback Kellen Pagel from Bowling Green.
Ron Chimelis of the Springfield Republican has a story on the men's hoop team and how the Minutemen are playing better and moving in the right direction.
In many respects, it was their best game of the year.
First, the University of Massachusetts men's basketball team put aside the unsettling nature of an emergency landing on the way to Olean, N.Y.
The Minutemen then turned in a complete effort, winning 78-69 at St. Bonaventure Wednesday night in a game they controlled for most of the 40 minutes.
"I wouldn't say it was the best we could play, but maybe almost,'' UMass coach Derek Kellogg said.
Sampson Carter remembers flying on a faulty airplane that was spitting smoke in the cockpit as it cruised above the clouds.
"Your brain becomes a collage, thinking of good times and bad times,'' the University of Massachusetts men's basketball player said.
"Looking down ... that's a hard fall.''
Carter and the rest of the UMass entourage made an emergency landing Tuesday in Albany, N.Y. Thus ended a harrowing 15 minutes that, according to UMass personnel, saw flight attendants running through the aisles and thumbing through procedural manuels, after smoke was detected in the cockpit.
As he waits patiently each game, hoping for a few minutes of playing time. One month into Morgan's men's basketball career, the impact expected of the 6-foot-5 guard is yet to be in evidence.
Morgan became eligible in late December, when the second semester began. He was preceded by his reputation as one of the best high school players in Philadelpia, a scoring talent good enough to be signed to a letter of intent by Seton Hall, a Big East program.
The UMass basketball team, which was travelling to St. Bonaventure for a basketball game on Wednesday night, made an emergency landing with its charter plane in Albany, N.Y. The Minutemen had left Westover Air Force Base in Chicopee heading to Bradford, Pa., on its flight for the game against the Bonnies.
The flight was diverted after smoke was coming from the cockpit on the team's charter jet airplane. The plane landed safely around 4:30 p.m., in Albany and the team, coaches and support staff are safe and sound. The team boarded a new charter plane -- one that carried the Villanova basketball team to Providence earlier in the day -- at 11 p.m., and landed in Bradford at 12:10 a.m., before heading to the hotel for sleep.
The Springfield Republican has a feature story on UMass redshirt freshman Raphiael Putney.
Ron Chimelis writes: as UMass approaches Wednesday night's game at St. Bonaventure, Putney is not the best of the Minutemen. But he might be the most intriguing.
Kellogg likes to compare the styles of current players with familiar players of years past. He was asked if Putney's style reminds him of any previous Minutemen.
"Not yet. But I think he's a good example of the value of redshirting,'' said Kellogg, whose player used the inactive 2009-10 season to add strength to his still-willowy, 180-pound frame.
UMass takes an 11-7 record (3-2 Atlantic 10) to St. Bonaventure (10-8, 2-3).
Ron Chimelis has three stories on the men's basketball team including a column on Freddie Riley and all of the personal adversity he has dealt with since Tuesday. The Republican also has an update on the Daryl Traynham suspension.
The Springfield Republican has a story on former UMass head coach Mark Whipple, who was the runner-up for the UConn head coaching job.
"I knew it was between myself and Paul Pasqualoni,'' Whipple said by phone Monday night.
"I knew I had a good interview at UConn. But they told me they would not announce anything until (last) Thursday at the earliest, and that's what they did. I'm doing well. I just have to move forward.''
Maybe by the end of this men's basketball season, the University of Massachusetts will establish its true identity and skill level.
Then again, maybe not. The next stop on this roundabout journey is in Charlotte, where UMass has a chance to make some Atlantic 10 headway Wednesday night.
"Charlotte is like us. They have been very good at times, and struggled at other times,'' UMass coach Derek Kellogg said.
"But they're dangerous. They can fill it up (offensively).''
The University of Massachusetts men's basketball team has traditionally played well in Springfield.
This would be a good time to draw upon that karma now.
"We play again Saturday. It's not a football season We have to regroup and get ready for La Salle,'' coach Derek Kellogg said in response to Wednesday's 79-50 loss at Xavier.
On Friday, UMass announced the hiring of Carla Tagliente as field hockey head coach. Tagliente takes over a program that has won the Atlantic 10 title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament in three out of the last four years. Below is coverage:
It's not every day that a men's basketball team enters conference play with an 8-5 record, trying to convince its fans the sky isn't falling.
But that is what the University of Massachusetts will try to prove, starting with Sunday's Atlantic 10 opener against Dayton at the Mullins Center.
"Our backs are against the wall, but guys have been coming to practice with unbelievable intensity,'' UMass senior guard Anthony Gurley said.
"The chips are stacked against us, but we have to put the last game behind us. We're a family, we lose together and we win together.''
For the first time since December 4, 2004, the UMass women's basketball team played a game at the Curry Hicks Cage on Wednesday night and trounced Holy Cross, 75-50.
For the University of Massachusetts men's basketball team, November was busy and encouraging.
December was light on games, and sobering on results. But January will be serious and revealing.
"I think the guys are ready to start playing games and stop listening to me talking in practice,'' coach Derek Kellogg said.
"But the reality is, it's time to get into a regular schedule, play some games and see where we stand.''
Monday night's game at Central Connecticut State is the last non-conference test for UMass (8-4). The Minutemen have played only four games in the last four weeks.
In the Springfield Republican, Ron Chimelis has a story on how Derek Kellogg may use his lineup once the team reconvenes after a holiday break.
In the fall of 2009, University of Massachusetts men's basketball coach Derek Kellogg welcomed five freshmen, all of which are expected to play contributing roles now.
That list does not include his two primary low-post players, his leading scorer, his two pure point guards and a new player, Jesse Morgan, who became eligible last week.
The task facing Kellogg is one of sorting out a rotation where the problem is not a shortage of players, but perhaps too many.
"I would like a little separation between guys. Right now, there's not a lot of separation between the fourth guy and the ninth,'' he said Monday.
UMass takes a 7-4 record, but a four-game losing streak, into Friday afternoon's home game against Boston University (5-7). Kellogg had hoped to have his players back on campus Sunday night, but blizzard conditions will delay some until Tuesday at the earliest.
