Bright Out Night is here! Be sure to show up early at the Mullins Center for tonight's T-shirt give away for the UMass-Maine hockey game at 7 p.m. Friday is also a big day for the nationally-ranked UMass softball team as the Minutewomen take on NC State and No. 9 Tennessee on Friday out in California. This weekend shapes up as a big one with the A-10 Swimming & Diving Championships concluding. The No. 20 men's lacrosse team faces No. 13 Hofstra on Saturday. The women's lax team takes on No. 6 Maryland in College Park. On Sunday, the women's basketball hosts URI at 1 p.m. Finally, the men's hoop team travels to the Palestra to face St. Joe's on Sunday.
UMass alum Andrew Merritt has his weekly Hockey East Journal notebook. He mentions: It's been a long, sometimes rocky season for the Minutemen, who enter this weekend holding onto a tie for seventh place with Maine, but they do have one feather in their tri-corner hats: They're the only Hockey East team to win a season series against Northeastern after splitting last weekend's two-game set.
In case you missed it in Atlantic 10 men's action, Xavier fell on the road at Charlotte 65-60.
The Daily Collegian has a preview of the women's basketball game on Sunday where UMass and Rhode Island rematch in a game that will be televised nationally on CBS College Sports.
The UMass women's lacrosse team will be in Maryland where head coach Alexis Venechanos takes on her alma mater on Saturday. The game will be played in the shadows of the Comcast Center where at 3:30 p.m. the Terps men's basketball team host No. 3 North Carolina on ABC.
The Daily Collegian previews the women's tennis team and the start of the Minutewomen's stretch of road matches starting at Syracuse on Friday.
UMassAthletics.com Feature To Check Out: UMass Athletics has launched a You Tube Channel which has several videos from the UMass Hoops Insider as well as the 100 Seasons of Basketball Check it out.
Don't miss this: Which game to pick? How about all of them. You can spend the next three days the Mullins Center starting with a pair of hockey games against Maine tonight and Saturday. Then Sunday, the women's basketball team hosts Rhode Island in a game that airs nationally on CBS College Sports TV.
Thursday, Feb. 19
It was a tough night for the men's basketball team, but what a great showing at the Mullins Center. Thank you for making the atmosphere at Black Out Night sensational! Remember to come out for the team's final two games of the season, vs. Duquesne, and George Washington. Speaking of GW, the Minutewomen hung tough with the Colonials for most of last night's game before falling in the nation's capital. Thursday is highlighted by the Bud Light UMass Basketball Coaches Show, so be sure to join us at the Hangar at 7 p.m. This JTAM includes just about everything - news on men's and women's basketball, hockey, lacrosse, football, and softball!
Ron Chimelis of the Republican also writes this piece on Chris Lowe, who had five assists to tie Carl Smith for first on the UMass all-time list.
With the softball team set for its second tournament of the season this weekend, the Springfield Republican writes how pitcher Brandice Balschmiter looks even more overpowering this season than ever before.
Inside Lacrosse is running the UMass men's lacrosse preview for Saturday's clash at Hofstra.
The Maine Press Herald has a preview of the upcoming weekend series with the Minutemen. It talks about how crucial the weekend is for both teams and how the Olympic size ice sheet at the Mullins Center will force the Black Bears to make adjustments. The Maine Campus and Daily Collegian also have previews.
Check out the Collegian's season preview for women's lacrosse.
Be sure to watch Mass Attack alum Jon Quick and the Los Angeles Kings in action against the top team in the Western Conference, the San Jose Sharks, tonight at 10:30 p.m. et. Just click here and scroll down to the Los Angeles game, and click watch live! Last night, he made 28 saves in a 4-3 win over Anaheim.
Speaking of San Jose, how about the season UMass alum Jeff Zywicki is having for the National Lacrosse League's Stealth? In only six games, he has recorded 29 points on 14 goals and 15 assists. He is been one of the best NLL players of all time, recording 237 points (129g, 108a) in only 52 career games! Mark Feb. 28 on your calendar as Zywicki is in the area (at the TD Banknorth Garden in Boston) to face former UMass teammates Sean Morris and Jack Reid.
UMassAthletics.com Feature To Check Out: With the winter season winding down, be sure to catch your favorite UMass teams before it's too late! No better time than now. Last night's MBB game was the first of six games at the Mullins Center in a span of 10 days. This weekend is hockey on Friday and Saturday and women's basketball on Sunday. Then men's basketball returns home vs. Duquesne next Wednesday and hockey hosts Boston University on Friday. Be sure to check out the ticket center!
Don't miss this: Tonight at 7 p.m. at the Hangar is the Bud Light UMass Basketball Show. Be there for another great show, or listen live!
BUY TICKETS TO BRIGHT OUT WEEKEND VS. MAINE, FEB. 20-21
Black Out Night Is Back! Be sure to dress in all black as you head to the Mullins Center for tonight's UMass-URI basketball game. Thousands of special black T-shirts will be given out to fans at the game as well. Wednesday also bring the weekly sports luncheon where tennis' Magdalena Ploch will be honored as the Athlete of the Week. The luncheon will be action packed as the speakers include hoop coach Derek Kellogg, hockey head man Toot Cahoon and football's Kevin Morris, who will speak about the new recruits for 2009. Join us at Noon in the Campus Center, Room 1009.
In the nation's longest running column, the Springfield Republican's Garry Brown has two UMass mentions in his "Hitting To All Field": Rhody-UMass wakes up echoes of the Yankee Conference and Where's the UMass softball team? Try Fontana, Calif.
If you happen to catch the Knicks-Spurs game last night, a UMass connection was mentioned by Knicks color analyst Kelly Tripucka. The father of UMass lacrosse and football player Travis Tripucka spoke about the Spurs' Matt Bonner, pointing out his brother Luke plays basketball for UMass. Kelly's brother Mark was a quarterback at UMass from 1971-74 as well.
The Collegian takes a look at the women's basketball team's offense as the Minutewomen head to George Washington on Wednesday.
The women's lacrosse opener at Holy Cross is covered in the Daily Collegian as UMass fell, 11-7.
In his weekly blog on Inside Lacrosse, Quint Kessenich has UMass ranked No. 19 saying: Goalie `Doc' Schneider is one of my favorite players. The Minutemen are out to prove that last season was an aberration.
UMassAthletics.com Feature To Check Out: Ever wonder is you are coming to the Mullins Center the fastest way? Check out the directions page online.
Don't miss this: Dress in black and cheer the Minutemen tonight as UMass hosts Rhode Island at the Mullins Center on Black Out Night. A big crowd is expected, but you can still get tickets here.
Tuesday, Feb. 17
Welcome back to Just Take A Minute on a wonderful Tuesday. Do you smell spring in the air? The women's lacrosse team opens its season on Tuesday at Holy Cross. The men's lacrosse team is back in the USILA poll at No. 20 after beating Sacred Heart in the season-opener last Saturday. JTAM also has stories on the hockey, basketball, swimming and track & field teams. There is also a nice feature on swimmer Dan Backler.
The UMass men's lacrosse team is back in the USILA Coaches Poll at No. 20 in the second poll of the season. Many UMass opponents are in the top 20 as well including this Saturday's foe No. 13 Hofstra. Also ranked on the UMass slate in 2009 are No. 1 Syracuse, No. 9 Georgetown, No. 14 Brown, No. 16 Loyola and No. 17 Albany.
Also in men's lacrosse news, the UMass vs. Syracuse game on April 25 will be televised nationally on CBS College Sports from McGuirk Alumni Stadium. The game has been moved to a 1:30 p.m. start. Here is the complete CBS College lacrosse schedule.
The Daily Collegian has a story on the track and field teams performing strong in the early going of the indoor season.
UMassAthletics.com Feature To Check Out: UMass newest Online Auctions end on Tuesday. Be sure to bid on three items signed by members of the 1990s UMass basketball teams and a chance to experience a hockey game with the newly-engaged Matty G.
Don't miss this: The new softball polls come out on Tuesday. Be sure to check back for the latest rankings for the Minutewomen, who were #18 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Poll and broke into the USA Today/NFCA Poll with a #22 ranking last week.
Monday, Feb. 16
Happy President's Day! UMass teams had an up and down weekend, highlighted by the Mass Attack's 4-1 win at No. 2 Northeastern on Saturday night as well as men's lacrosse dominating of Sacred Heart, 15-6. This edition of JTAM has all the recaps, sidebars, and more, on all the action.
Check out this feature from the Lower Hudson Journal News (N.Y.) on UMass point guard Chris Lowe
. Lowe returned home last Wednesday in UMass' romp over Fordham.
Former UMass star Gary Fobes recently reunited with old coach Travis Ford. As
News OK wrote, Forbes attended Oklahoma State practice for a few days and stayed for its game against Texas Tech.
The NBA All-Star Game wasn't the only showcase this weekend. Forbes participated in the NBDL 3-point contest on Friday as part of its All-Star festivities. He had a solid showing with 18 points, but did not advance.
The Springfield Republican had a nice roundup on Saturday which included stories on UMass men's lacrosse and hockey.
The Republican also had this wrap, including women's basketball's 75-61 defeat at the hands of Duquesne.
UMassAthletics.com Feature To Check Out: Men's lacrosse is back! If you couldn't make it out to Garber Field on Saturday, then check out the photo gallery of the impressive nine goal victory. The Minutemen return home on Saturday, Feb. 28 against Yale.
Don't miss this:Derek Kellogg is scheduled to have his weekly Atlantic 10 Teleconference on Monday. Look for the announcement of the UMass Athlete of the Week and other conference honors during the day.
