University of Massachusets Athletics
Men's Hoops Travels to Providence
December 28, 1999 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 28, 1999
Amherst, Mass. - Today?s Game UMass comes into the game with an overall record of 6-5, while Providence stands at 6-5. The game will mark the first meeting between the two schools in nearly 20 years, as the teams last met on November 29, 1980. The Minutemen will begin their Atlantic 10 Conference schedule following today?s game, while the Friars have one more game before starting their Big East slate (against Fordham on Sunday).
Good Start With a 6-5 record after 11 games this year the Minutemen are in a much better situation than they were last season at this time of the year. After the first 11 games of 1998, UMass was 4-7 and wouldn?t win its fifth game until January 7. UMass also entered last year?s conference season with a 3-6 non-league record. The 6-5 start equals the best start in the four years Bruiser Flint has been the UMass head coach, as the 1997-98 squad also started 6-5 before heading into league play. If UMass defeats Providence, it will record seven wins before starting its conference schedule for the first time in Flint?s tenure.
Shooting Well After 11 games the Minutemen are shooting 42.1 percent from the field while averaging 68.5 points a game. Both marks are better than last years 34.4 percent and 64.3 ppg averages at the end of the season. In fact, UMass has shot better from the field than its opponent in all but three games in this young season. Only defending national champion UConn, Florida State and Boston College have outshot the Minutemen. UMass is 5-3 on the year when it shoots better than its opponent.
The Series with Providence This will be the 26th meeting between the Minutemen and the Friars, with Providence leading the all-time series 20-5. The two schools have not met since the 1980-81 season, when the Friars posted a 56-43 victory in Providence. For games played in Providence, the Friars hold a 9-2 advantage, having won five of the last six. Series Quick Facts Overall Series 5-20 Bruiser Flint vs. Providence 0-0
Last Meeting Providence (56-43) on 11/29/80 at PC
Last Five Meetings Providence, 4-1
Most UMass Points 90, (90-85) on 12/2/69 at UMass
Fewest UMass Points 21, (21-36) on 3/1/32 at UMass
Largest UMass Margin 13, (75-62) on 1/25/69 at PC
Most Providence Points 102, (102-75) on 3/2/65 at PC
Fewest Providence Points 36, (36-21) on 3/1/32 at UMass
Largest Providence Margin 34, (79-45) on 1/8/62 at UMass
In Overtime UMass, 1-0
Against the Big East UMass is a long-time member of the Atlantic 10, but the Minutemen always play a number of strong teams from the Big East. Providence will be the last of five Big East teams the Minutemen will face this year, with UMass currently standing 2-2 against Big East foes this season. UMass has split a pair of games with Boston College, winning 74-67 on Dec. 4 at Conte Forum in the Commonwealth Classic, and falling 83-59 on Dec. 23 in the Puerto Rico Holiday Classic. On Dec. 6, the Minutemen rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit to post a 52-51 victory over Villanova at the Mullins Center. In its first game against a Big East team this year, UMass gave No. 7 UConn all it could handle before falling to the defending national champions 79-65 at Gample Pavilion on Nov. 22. As a head coach Bruiser Flint is 6-8 against the Big East in his four years at UMass.
Climbing the Charts Senior Monty Mack is attacking the UMass career leader boards for three-point shooting. His 86 three-pointers made last season were the third best single season performance in UMass history. He has 33 three-pointers on the season and currently sits fourth all-time for three-pointers made at UMass. At his current pace, he will pass Carmelo Travieso as the all-time leader in three-pointers made.
3-point Field Goals Made
Player 3FG 3FGA Pct. Years
1. Carmelo Travieso ?97 245 666 .368 1993-97
2. Rafer Giles ?91 221 592 .373 1987-91
3. Lorenzo Sutton ?88 178 424 .420 1984-88
4. Monty Mack ?00 173 471 .367 1997-
5. Derek Kellogg ?95 138 362 .381 1991-95
6. Edgar Padilla ?97 136 431 .316 1993-97
7. Mike Williams ?95 123 406 .303 1991-95
8. Tony Barbee ?93 116 341 .340 1989-93
9. Charlton Clarke ?99 113 339 .333 1995-99
10. Anton Brown ?92 92 218 .422 1988-92
3-point Field Goal Attempts
Player 3FG 3FGA Pct. Years
1. Carmelo Travieso ?97 245 666 .368 1993-97
2. Rafer Giles ?91 221 592 .373 1987-91
3. Monty Mack ?00 173 471 .367 1997-
4. Edgar Padilla ?97 136 431 .316 1993-97
5. Lorenzo Sutton ?88 178 424 .420 1984-88
6. Mike Williams ?95 123 406 .303 1991-95
7. Derek Kellogg ?95 138 362 .381 1991-95
8. Tony Barbee ?93 116 341 .340 1989-93
9. Charlton Clarke ?99 113 339 .333 1995-99
10. Anton Brown ?92 92 218 .422 1988-92
3-point Field Goal Percentage (min. 45 made)
Player 3FG 3FGA Pct. Years
1. Carl Smith ?87 54 122 .443 1983-87
2. Anton Brown ?92 92 218 .422 1988-92
3. Lorenzo Sutton ?88 178 424 .420 1984-88
4. Jerome Malloy ?95 86 215 .400 1991-93
5. Derek Kellogg ?95 138 362 .381 1991-95
6. Rafer Giles ?91 221 592 .373 1987-91
7. Carmelo Travieso ?97 245 666 .368 1993-97
8. Monty Mack ?00 173 471 .367 1997-
9. Tony Barbee ?93 116 341 .340 1989-93
10. Charlton Clarke ?99 113 339 .333 1995-99
Any Time, Any Place, Any Team This season, UMass will have 10 teams on its schedule which appeared in the 1999 NCAA Tournament and two teams that competed in last year?s NIT. This schedule includes a game against defending national champion Connecticut, to go along with games against perennial national powers Texas and Villanova, 1999 NCAA Tourney participants Detroit, Rhode Island, Temple and George Washington, and NIT participants Xavier and Providence. The Minutemen will appear on television at least 20 times this year, including seven national telecasts.
Rhymer Continues Strong Play Junior Kitwana Rhymer has taken on the starting role at center and flourished so far in this young season. Rhymer played big against Boston College last Thursday, scoring a career-high 13 points on six of nine shooting, to go along with four rebounds and three blocked shots. He also had a strong game in the victory over Florida State, totaling nine points, eight rebounds and four blocks. Earlier in the season against Boston University, Rhymer had 11 rebounds while hitting six of six free throws from the charity stripe. Rhymer registered his first double-double on November 29 against Marshall with 10 points and 10 rebounds. He also established a career high with six blocked shots, five coming in the first half. The last time a Minuteman had six or more blocked shots in a game was in the Rock ?N? Roll Shootout in Cleveland against Cincinnati when Ajmal Basit had six at Gund Arena on Dec. 12, 1997. The last time a Minuteman had six or more blocked shots at the Mullins Center was January 27, 1996, when Marcus Camby had nine against St. Bonaventure. Rhymer?s most impressive game of all may have come against No. 7 Connecticut, when he totaled 17 rebounds against a front court which included three players over 6-10. Rhymer currently ranks second in the Atlantic 10 Conference with an average of 8.1 rebounds per game, while scoring 6.9 points per contest.
Kirkland Keeps Hot Hand Senior co-captain Chris Kirkland has been on of the top offensive threats for the Minutemen all season long. He has led the team in scoring three times this year, while reaching double figures in nine out of 11 games. Kirkland?s best game so far came against Boston University of Dec. 2, when he scored a season-high 23 points on 10 of 15 shooting. He also exploded for 22 points and nine rebounds in the come-from-behind victory over Villanova. Some of Kirkland?s other big games this season have come against Southern Illinois (18 points and seven rebounds), Detroit (17 points and six boards) and Florida State (16 points and six rebounds). For the season, Kirkland is averaging 14.7 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. Dating back to last season, Kirkland has now scored in double figures 16 times in his last 18 games.
The Stopper Senior Mike Babul is known nationally as one of the best defensive players in the country. In the season opener he picked up right where he left off with a lock-down on MAAC preseason player of the year, Tarik Kirksay. Babul, who had been nursing a lower back strain the previous three weeks, did not draw the assignment at the beginning of the game and Kirksay would score 15 first half points. The high scoring Gael would fail to register a field goal in the second half after Babul took over on the coverage. Kirksay would not score until 19 seconds remained in the game with the final verdict already decided. Babul then clamped down on No. 7 UConn?s Kevin Freeman. Freeman was 1-8 from the field and scored two points in 37 minutes of action. Last year against the Huskies, Babul held All-America Richard Hamilton to 11 points on 3-11 shooting from the field.
Player(school) fg-fga 3fg-3fga Pts Avg.
Tarik Kirksay (Iona)* 0-2 0-0 5 13.8
Kevin Freeman (UConn) 1-8 0-0 2 13.3
*second half only
A Visit with Providence Providence enters the game with an overall record of 6-5 on the season. Junior forward Erron Maxey leads the team with averages of 16.7 points and 9.9 rebounds per game, while freshman guard Abdul Mills has averaged 9.6 points per game with a team-best 15 three-pointers made. Just becoming eligible since the end of finals is 7-2 Karim Shabazz. In his first two games he is averaging 21.5 points and 12.0 rebounds a game. The Friars and Minutemen have faced two common opponents so far this season in Boston University and American-Puerto Rico. Providence beat Boston University at home 85-70 on Nov. 30, while UMass downed the Terriers at home 70-51 on Dec. 2. The Friars beat American-Puerto Rico on the road 120-60 on Nov. 27, while the Minutemen posted a 102-65 road victory over the Pirates on Dec. 22.
Brand Contributes off the Bench Freshman center Micah Brand has contributed some key minutes off the bench along the UMass front line so far this season. Against American-Puerto Rico he scored 11 points on five of six shooting, while also bringing down five rebounds. In the Detroit game, Brand scored 11 points on five of eight shooting and pulled down four rebounds, while tying his career-high for minutes played with 22. A week earlier at Boston College, he scored nine points on four of six shooting, in addition to recording four rebounds. In the first game of his collegiate career at Iona, Brand tied for the team lead by pulling down a career-high seven rebounds. Through his first 11 games as a Minuteman, Brand has averaged 4.7 points and 2.9 rebounds per contest. The only freshman on the UMass roster, Brand has played 13.1 minutes per game, while hitting on 52.3 percent of his field goal attempts.
Crooks plays Big in Puerto Rico Sophomore guard Shannon Crooks had some big games for the Minutemen during the Puerto Rico Holiday Classic, scoring in double-figures in each of UMass? three contests. Crooks began the tournament with 13 points and six rebounds against Southern Illinois, then recorded a career-high 17 points and three assists against American-Puerto Rico. In the final game, he totaled 11 points and three rebounds against Boston College. For the week, Crooks averaged 13.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game, while hitting on five of eight three-point attempts. For the season, Crooks has now reached double figures in scoring six times. He previously scored 13 points at Detroit, had 11 points at Iona in the season opener, and scored 10 points against Boston University. On the year, Crooks ranks third on the team in scoring with 9.6 points per game, while ranking second on the team in assists with 29 and in steals with 18.
Nice Shooting, Tex! The shooting performance against the host team at the Puerto Rico Holiday Classic, American-PR, was the best of the season and one of the best under head coach Bruiser Flint. The Minutemen hit over 59 percent of their attempts from the field and better than 56 percent from beyond the three point line. UMass has twice shot better from the field for coach Flint shooting 61.5 percent from the field (1/6/98) at Fordham in a 73-55 victory and 60.0 percent against Dayton in February that same year in a 85-69 win.
Love Those Cameras ESPN and UMass have gotten to know each other pretty well over the years. The upcoming Rhode Island game will be the 55th time ESPN has televised a UMass basketball game since the ?90s began. UMass posts a 34-20 (.630) record on ESPN and 73-39 (.652) record overall in the 1990?s on the national networks. The Villanova game was UMass? 21st appearance on ESPN2 where the Minutemen have posted a record of 13-8 (.619).
Coaching Debut Associate head coach Geoff Arnold made his UMass head coaching debut on Dec. 2 in the 70-51 victory over Boston University. Head coach Bruiser Flint served a self-imposed one game suspension following the use of an expletive on his post-game radio show in the aftermath of UMass? 65-55 loss to Marshall Monday night. ?I always tell my players that when they do something wrong, there is a price to pay,? said Flint. ?Obviously, my language on the radio the other night was inappropriate. I caught it right away and apologized on the air, but after thinking about it and talking it over with Bob Marcum, sitting out for a game is the right thing to do.?
Did You Know? The 85-77 win at Iona was the first time UMass has opened a season in an opponent?s home gym with a victory in 22 years. Not since the Minutemen defeated Harvard in Cambridge by a score of 73-66 to open the 1977-78 season under coach Jack Leaman had they accomplished it.
Keep it Going, Little Man With All-America candidate Monty Mack out for most of the preseason, head coach Bruiser Flint has had to go down his bench and look for someone to step up. At 5-9 you may not have noticed it but junior Jonathan DePina has stepped up his game and more. After 11 games he is averaging 4.0 points with five three-pointers in 11 tries. Last season DePina totaled five three-pointers in 26 games. A more confident player in UMass? uptempo game, DePina is making the smart plays this season and should continue to get minutes even now that Mack is back at 100 percent after a stress fracture in his left foot sustained in the preseason.
Blizzard Picks Up Key Minutes Sophomore forward Ronell Blizzard continues to see more and more action for the Minutemen, and has started each of UMass? last four games. Since becoming a starter, Blizzard has totaled 10 points, six rebounds, three assists, four steals and two blocks. Earlier in the year against Villanova, he tied his career-high of six points while hitting on three of four field goal attempts in 11 minutes of action. Blizzard also scored five points at Connecticut and pulled down a season-best five rebounds at Iona. For the season, Blizzard has totaled 26 points and 20 rebounds, seeing action in all 11 games.
Exhibition Season The Minutemen wrapped up a challenging exhibition season with an overtime victory, downing the Converse All-Stars 97-88 at the Mullins Center. Senior forward Chris Kirkland led the Minutemen with 23 points and eight rebounds, while junior center Kitwana Rhymer added 15 points and 17 rebounds. UMass trailed by as many as 15 points in the first half before cutting the deficit to seven at the half. The Minutemen registered their first lead with 3:59 left in regulation when junior JoVann Johnson hit both of his free throws to put UMass up 71-70. After 40 minutes of play the game was knotted at 78 a piece. In overtime UMass jumped out to an early lead but fell behind by two after five consecutive points by Converse. The Minutemen put the game away with a 12-2 run in the final 2:16 of play for the nine point victory. Junior Jonathan DePina posted one of the best games of his UMass career with 17 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Also scoring in double figures was sophomore Shannon Crooks with 17 points while Johnson added 15 points and seven rebounds. UMass opened the exhibition season with an impressive offensive showing, beating the California All-Stars 103-97 at the Mullins Center. Crooks led the Minutemen with 24 points, seven assists, while Kirkland added 26 points and six rebounds. UMass opened the game with a 17-8 run and never trailed in the contest, behind its potent fast-break offense. The Minutemen saw their lead grow as large as 14 points with just under five minutes remaining in the game, before a late spurt by the All-Stars made the final score look close. UMass scored 30 fast break points on the evening, while also totaling 72 points in the paint. Freshman forward Micah Brand, playing his first game in a UMass uniform, totaled 16 points and eight rebounds, including an impressive 10 for 10 performance at the free throw line. DePina had 13 points, six assists, while Rhymer added 10 points and nine boards.
Captains of the Ship Senior leadership has always played an important part of UMass basketball and this year should be a banner year in that department. Seniors Mike Babul and Chris Kirkland were named co-captains this year not only because of their improved play but because of their leadership skills and poise under fire.
Successful Debuts Three UMass players made their collegiate debuts as a Minuteman in a regular season game at Iona. Junior JoVann Johnson, sophomore Shannon Crooks and freshman Micah Brand all saw game time in their first opportunity in the maroon & white. Crooks started at shooting guard and finished the game with 11 points on 50 percent shooting from the field. For Crooks it was his first regular season game after sitting out a year last season after transferring from St. John?s University. Brand, the only freshman on the squad, had a team high seven rebounds coming off the bench in 22 minutes of action. Johnson, a junior college transfer from Wabash Valley College in Mt. Carmel, Ill., did not score in two minutes of play.
Atlantic 10 Commissioner?s Cup UMass sits atop the Atlantic 10 Commissioner?s Cup standings through the completion of the fall sports season. UMass earned 49.5 points during the fall season, six points better than second place Rhode Island. Massachusetts relied on a strong showing from its women?s programs, grabbing 32 of its points on that side of the ledger. The Minutewomen earned first-place finishes in field hockey and women?s cross country to catapult to the lead. Overall Men Women
1. UMass 49.5 17.5 32.0
2. Rhode Island 43.5 19.0 24.5
3. Virginia Tech 38.0 18.0 20.0
4. Dayton 35.5 11.0 24.5
5. Duquesne 32.0 17.0 15.0
6. La Salle 30.5 16.5 14.0
7. St. Joseph?s 28.0 13.0 15.0
8. Xavier 27.0 5.0 22.0
9. Temple 23.0 5.5 17.5
10. St. Bonaventure 20.5 10.5 10.0
11. George Washington 17.5 5.0 12.5
12. Fordham 13.0 6.0 7.0
Welcome to the Team Senior Dwayne Early is the latest addition to the UMass basketball family. Early is a 6-4, 205-pound walk-on guard from Springfield Central High School. Early will be wearing No. 24 this season. Joining him is C.W. Post transfer, Dale Menendez. Menendez is 5-8, 180 pound point guard who will not be eligible to play this season due to NCAA transfer rules. At Westhampton Beach high school, Menendez led his team to the New York State Class B Championship after posting a perfect 28-0 record. He pulled double duty for Westhampton scoring 1,000 points while also rushing for 1,000 yards in his career as a tailback.
Player Updates #0 Anthony Oates ? Had two points and a career-high three rebounds in a season-best 14 minutes of action against Southern Illinois? Scored two points, grabbed a pair of rebounds, garnered his first career steal and played solid defense in only six minutes of action against Iona?missed the Marshall game with a contusion in his left foot.
#1 Jonathan DePina ? Handed out a career-best nine assists against American-Puerto Rico, while also totaling seven points and three rebounds? Hit a career-best three for three from three-point land and finished with 10 points against No. 7 UConn? Scored 11 points in the season-opener at Iona? Currently fifth on the team with a 5.0 ppg scoring average? Grabbed a season-high four rebounds against Boston University.
#3 Ronell Blizzard ? Has started the last four games? Totaled five points and a career-high three steals against American-Puerto Rico? Equalled his career-high with six points and three rebounds in one-point victory over Villanova? Played well in the first two games with five points, six rebounds and three blocked shots in 20 minutes? Hit his first career three-pointer at No. 7 UConn to cut the Huskies lead to three with 8:46 left to go in the game? Added another three-pointer at Detroit, cutting the Titans? lead to three in the final minute of play.
#4 JoVann Johnson ? Totaled five points and three steals against American-Puerto Rico in 16 minutes of action? Had a pair of assists at Detroit? Registered his first career steal against Marshall.
#5 Monty Mack ? Has been the leading scorer for UMass eight times this season? In his career, Mack has scored 25 points or more in a game seven times, 20 points or more in a game 24 times and has scored in double figures 63 times out of 72 games? Named to the All-Tournament Team at the Puerto Rico Holiday Classic after leading all scorers with 61 points in three games...Scored 20 points on seven of 11 shooting against Boston College in the Puerto Rico Holiday Classic? Had 21 points on seven of 11 shooting against American-Puerto Rico (including five of six three-pointers), while playing only 15 minutes? Totaled 20 points on seven of 14 shooting against Southern Illinois? Scored a season-high 30 points in the win over Florida State, hitting four three-pointers and all 12 of his free throw attempts?Named game MVP after establishing a new single game scoring record in the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic... Named Atlantic 10 Player of the Week and WHMP / UMass Athlete of the Week following the Florida State game? Came off the bench and scored a season-high 26 points at No. 7 UConn? Knocked down another 26 points in front of friends and family in victory at Boston College? Equalled his career-high with six three-pointers at B.C?. Scored 21 points off the bench in the season-opener at Iona? Scored 22 against Marshall to give him three consecutive 20-point games for the first time in his career? Passed the 1,000 career points total in the Iona game, achieving the feat in only 63 contests.
#11 Darryl Denson ? Posted the best game of his UMass career against American-Puerto Rico in the puerto Rico Holiday Classic...scored five points, grabbed a pair of rebounds, blocked a pair of shots, dished out an assit and hit his first three-pointer ? all career-highs...Played in the final minute of the win over Boston University.
#20 Winston Smith ? Grabbed a team-high seven rebounds while also scoring a season-best six points against Boston College in the Puerto Rico Holiday Classic? Scored four points and grabbed two rebounds against Southern Illinois? Had four points against Florida State? Played a season-high 26 minutes at Boston College, scoring four points and grabbing three rebounds? Dished out a season-high three assists against Boston University? Had another three assist game against Villanova.
#22 Chris Kirkland ? Scored 14 points on six of six shooting against American-Puerto Rico, while also totaling six rebounds, two assists and two steals? Had 18 points, a team-high seven rebounds and four steals in the Southern Illinois game? Totaled 16 points, six rebounds and three assists in the victory over Florida State? Had team-highs of 17 points and six rebounds at Detroit? Nailed a career-high 10 field goals in 15 attempts posting a game-high 23 points against Boston University? Followed that game with 16 points, 12 in the second half, in victory at Boston College? Totaled 22 points, nine rebounds, four steals and three assists in one point victory over Villanova in front of a national TV audience on ESPN2? In the second half of the Villanova game, he had 18 points, seven rebounds and three steals? Registered nine points and five rebounds against the defending national champion UConn Huskies? Scored 15 points and grabbed another five boards in the season-opener at Iona? Registered 10 points, six rebounds and three blocked shots against Marshall.
#23 Mike Babul ? Scored six points against American-Puerto Rico? Shut down UConn?s Kevin Freeman holding him to two points on 1-8 shooting from the field? Shut down first team All-MAAC selection Tarik Kirksay, in the second half holding him to five points, all on free throws. Babul did not have the defensive coverage on Kirksay in the first half when the Gaels? leading scorer dropped in 15 points in the opening stanza.
#24 Dwayne Early ? Had two points and a rebound against American-Puerto Rico? Played in the final minute of the victory over Boston University registering his first career steal.
#30 Shannon Crooks ? Had 11 points against Boston College in the Puerto Rico Holiday Classic? Scored a career-high 17 points against American-Puerto Rico, to go along with three assists and two rebounds? Totaled 13 points and six rebounds against Southern Illinois, while hitting on two of three three-point attempts? Hit the game-winning three pointer from 25-feet with 14.7 seconds left in the game to give the Minutemen a one-point victory over Villanova? Posted a career-high six assists against the Wildcats? Scored a career-high 13 points and also recorded a career-high four steals at Detroit? Scored 11 points, grabbed five rebounds and handed out three assists in his first game as a Minuteman in the season-opener at Iona? Connected on his first career three-pointers as a Minuteman scoring 10 points, grabbing four rebounds and handing out four assists in 21 minutes in a 70-51 win over Boston University? Team leader in assists for the second consecutive game with four in the Commonwealth Classic victory at Boston College.
#33 Kitwana Rhymer ? Scored a career-high 13 points against Boston College in the Puerto Rico Holiday Classic, while also totaling four rebounds and three blocks? Had seven points, a team-high eight rebounds and two blocks against American-Puerto Rico? Totaled nine points, eight rebounds and four blocked shots in the victory over Florida State? Scored a career-high 12 points in the season-opener at Iona along with a team-high seven rebounds in only 11 minutes of play? Grabbed a career-high 17 rebounds at No. 7 UConn in Gampel Pavilion. The last UMass player to grab 17 or more rebounds was Ajmal Basit against Rhode Island in the 1997-98 season. Swatted away a career-high 6 blocked shots and registered his first career double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds against Marshall?was six for six from the free throw line while grabbing 11 rebounds against Boston University?grabbed eight rebounds and scored six points in 25 minutes before fouling out at Boston College?grabbed another eight rebounds and blocked four shots in victory over Villanova.
#40 Micah Brand ? Scored 11 points on five of six shooting at American-Puerto Rico, while also collecting five rebounds? Scored 11 points and pulled down four rebounds in 22 minutes of action at Detroit? In his collegiate debut, grabbed a team-high seven boards in the season-opener at Iona? Also registered four points and a blocked shot against the Gaels? Posted nine points at Boston College including a free throw with 24 seconds left in the game to give the Minutemen a four point lead.