Closing in on another big weekend of action for the UMass teams. The hockey team is at No 7 Vemont for pair of games starting tonight. The women's basketball team takes to the air against for a trip to Richmond for a Saturday matchup in Virginia. The men's team looks to move to 3-0 in home conference games as the Minutemen host La Salle on Saturday at 4 p.m. That game will be the backdrop for the 1980s Celebration as we continue to honor the 100 Seasons Of UMass Basketball. The campus will be buzzing as classes resume for the spring semester on Monday as students will be moving back in over the weekend.
Add Matt Anderson to the list for the 1980s. Here is the list of other attendees for that game which honors the decade of the 1980s: Bob Braun, Tony DePina, Kurt Funk, Bill Hampton, Cary Herer, Dennis Jackson (assistant coach), Sean Nelen, Horace Neysmith, Hal Shaw, Jack Sheehan, Fitzhugh Tarry, Keith Whitt and Ron Young. More are expected!
Head coach Derek Kellogg is expected to take part in an Empty Bowls Dinner next Tuesday serving as a waiter for the Amherst Survival Center as it calls on the community to help close its budget gap at a fundraising meal.
Interesting result from A-10 basketball last night in Philly. Temple, who UMass beat last week by four, crushed Saint Louis, 65-40. That's the SLU team UMass lost to by five. Check out the story from the Philadelphia Inqurier as Temple coach Fran Dunphy says: "I was probably better this time than some of the other losses," he said of the UMass loss. "I think UMass played really well."
The Sports Network has a notebook on FCS football mentioning UMass' hiring os Kevin Morris as head coach It cites: With Don Brown moving to Maryland as Ralph Friedgen's defensive coordinator, the Minutemen moved quickly to keep some stability in the program.
UMass soccer alum Ptah Myers and his pro team the Philadelphia KiXX hosts the Monterrey La RaZa this weekend. Myers is well on his way to becoming Philadelphia's Ironman. The Columbus, Ohio native appeared in his 100th consecutive regular-season game versus Baltimore on January 17 and has now appeared in 106 consecutive contests including playoffs. The UMass product has played in every game each of the last three seasons and last missed an outing when he did not participate in the team's contest versus the Milwaukee Wave on February 9, 2005. Scott Henderson holds the team's all-time mark with 147 consecutive outings.
UMassAthletics.com Feature To Check Out: Today is the final day for three big auctions as UMass. Check out your chance to win a John Calipari 100 Seasons of Basketball autographed T-Shirt or a Stephane Lasme autographed shooting warm-up shirt. Bidding closes tonight around 8 p.m.
Don't miss this: Saturday, the place to be is the Mullins Center. Buy Your Tickets Now! UMass hosts La Salle at 4 p.m. for 1980s Celebration Night. Big crowd similar to the Temple game is expected so don't be left out.
Thursday, Jan. 22
Tough games for the hoopsters last night. The men lost a heartbreaker in OT while the women fell to a nationally ranked squad. Thursday means another Bud Light UMass Basketball show, so be sure to join us at 7 p.m. at the Hangar as we look back at Wednesday's games and look ahead to another crucial weekend. Expected men's basketball guests are David Gibbs and Oregon State transfter Sean Carter. Check out JTAM for a variety of stories on basketball, hockey, and much more.
Check out this story from the Republican about Springfield's bid to host the 2010 A-10 Men's Basketball Tournament. Ron Chimelis delves into a number of positives that Springfield has to offer.
Here is the initial list of attendees for that game which honors the decade of the 1980s: Bob Braun, Tony DePina, Kurt Funk, Bill Hampton, Cary Herer, Dennis Jackson (assistant coach), Sean Nelen, Horace Neysmith, Hal Shaw, Jack Sheehan, Fitzhugh Tarry, Keith Whitt and Ron Young. More are expected!
These Hockey East power rankings have the Mass Attack at six, with a tough weekend at Vermont (ranked #2) ahead.
The New England Hockey Journal includes a goalie note from UMass, mentioning the addition of freshman Kevin Moore so Matt Gedman can focus on the upcoming baseball season for the Minutemen.
This interesting read features former UMass football coach Mark Whipple, weighing the possibility of him becoming the offensive coordinator at the University of Miami.
UMassAthletics.com Feature To Check Out: Be sure to submit your questions for both coaches Derek Kellogg and Marnie Dacko by clicking here. They could answer them as part of Thursday's coach's show!
Don't miss this: Of course, the Hangar is the place to be at 7 p.m., so don't miss it!
Wednesday Jan. 21
You know what Wednesday means! Some big basketball games on tap for both the men and women. The Minutemen hit the road at Charlotte looking to ride the momentum from Saturday's win over Temple. Meanwhile, the Minutewomen have a huge challenge ahead, hosting 21st nationally ranked Xavier at the Mullins Center. Check out this JTAM for a ton of news, including plenty of basketball and an update of UMass hockey alumni in the pros.
The Springfield Republican has this preview of the men's game vs. Charlotte, focusing on revenge for last season's Atlantic 10 Tournament contest in which the 49ers ousted the Minutemen. The Gazette has a similair preview. Here's a preview from the Charlotte Observer with a focus on 49er Lamont Mack.
Garry Brown of the Republican has many UMass references in his piece "Hitting to all fields."
Former men's basketball star Gary Forbes was traded from the NBDL's Sioux Falls Skyhawks to the Tulsa 66ers on Tuesday. The Skyhawks are the affiliate of the Charlotte Bobcats and Minnesota Timberwolves while the 66ers are the affiliate of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Check out this podcast by Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, which talks about the possibility of bringing the A-10 men's basketball tournament to the Mass Mutual Center.
Saturday's women's basketball game at St. Bonaventure had extra significance. It was also win Bonnies head coach Jim Crowley's 100th win at the school. The Olean Times Herald has this story.
With the AHL All-Star Break upcoming after Saturday's games, let's check in with some Mass Attack alums: Matt Anderson (Chicago Wolves: 4g, 10a), Mike Kostka (Portland Pirates: 4g, 7a), Mark Matheson (Milwaukee Admirals: 2g, 11a), Greg Mauldin (Binghamton Senators: 7g, 13a), and Stephen Werner (Milwaukee Admirals: 7g, 8a).
UMass is well represented in the ECHL too: Chris Capraro (Charlotte Checkers: 1g), P.J. Fenton (Phoenix RoadRunners: 2g, 1a), and David Leaderer (Trenton Devils: 6g, 14a).
The L.A. Kings' Jon Quick won his fifth game of the season last night, beating the Minnesota Wild, 5-2 . He finished with 25 saves. The other UMass alum in the NHL is Thomas Pock who has a goal and two assists in 37 games with the N.Y. Islanders.
UMassAthletics.com Feature To Check Out: Hopefully you can make it to the Mullins Center to cheer on the Minutewomen against Xavier, but if you can't, then be sure to follow the action of both basketball games on UMassAthletics.com. You have the option of
watching or listening to both games, all from the comfort of your home!
Don't miss this: Of course, Wednesday includes two huge early season basketball games. Also, be sure to catch the weekly UMass Sports Luncheon.
Tuesday, Jan. 20
Of course today is a historic day for the United States as Barack Obama is sworn in as the 44th President. Monday was a historic day for UMass as Kevin Morris was named the new head coach of the football program. Check out extensive coverage of Morris' promotion from offensive coordinator to head coach in various news outlets. JTAM also has news on basketball.
On the day UMass got a new football coach, former UMass star James Ihedigbo got a new coach in the NFL as the New York Jets hired Rex Ryan.
Check the Miami Dolphins fan website for a wide receiver breakdown from the season where UMass alum Brandon London is mentioned extensively .
In the latest AP and ESPN/USA Today Coaches polls UMass opponent Xavier is up to No. 15 and No. 13, respectively while Memphis is back in the polls at No. 22 and No. 24. Dayton and Kansas, two teams UMass has beaten are included in "Others Receiving Votes."
UMassAthletics.com Feature To Check Out:: Check out the photo gallery and video press conference from Kevin Morris' hiring as the new UMass head coach in football.
Don't miss this: Check in for the UMass Athlete of the Week announced at midday today.
Monday, Jan. 19
Take a moment to celebrate the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. today. UMass' big win over the Temple Owls on Saturday before the largest crowd of the season at the Mullins Center dominates coverage in Monday's Just Take a Minute. UMass alum Steve Buckley has a wonderful column on all-time Minuteman great Mike Pyatt. JTAM also has news on the hockey team, which split games over the weekend and the women's basketball loss in Olean. UMass alum Terry McDonough, who was promoted in the Jacksonville Jaguars organization is also featured.
UMass alum, class of 1990, Terry McDonough is featured in the Boston Globe as he was recently promoted to the Jacksonville Jaguars Director of Player Personnel last week. The story was written by UMass alum Mike Reiss.
Don't miss this:Derek Kellogg will have his weekly Atlantic 10 Teleconference on Monday morning. Maybe there will be some news on the UMass football search.
