University of Massachusets Athletics
Men's Basketball To Face Maine At The Mullins Center
December 20, 2001 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 20, 2001
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Game Day Quick Facts
Probable Massachusetts (5-3) Starters Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr. F 34 Raheim Lamb 6-5 190 So. F 40 Micah Brand 6-11 243 Jr. C 33 Kitwana Rhymer 6-10 256 Sr. G 12 Anthony Anderson 5-11 175 So. G 30 Shannon Crooks 6-2 222 Sr.
Probable Maine (2-7) Starters Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr. F 32 Joe Campell 6-6 185 Fr. F 43 Rickey White 6-4 185 Jr. C 44 Justin Rowe 7-0 235 Jr. G 14 Freddy Petkus 6-5 200 Fr. G 30 Errick Greene 6-3 210 Sr.
The Game: After an eight-day break for final exams, the Massachusetts basketball team returns to the court against former Yankee Conference rival Maine. The Minutemen and Black Bears, who first squared off on the hardwood Feb. 24, 1909, meet for the 56th time, but it's the first meeting between the schools since a 76-63 Maine victory at Orono, Feb. 16, 1980. The Minutemen improved to 5-3 on the season with a 64-49 victory over Central Connecticut State eight days ago at the Mohegan Sun Arena. UMass opened its season with four-straight victories for the first time since the 1995-96 campaign (when it raced to a 26-0 start), then lost three straight before beating the Blue Devils. A win today would give the Minutemen their best record after nine games (6-3) since the 1997-98 season, with they won six of their first nine games. Under first-year coach Steve Lappas, Massachusetts has enjoyed a complete reversal in fortune from a year ago when it stood 2-6 eight games into the season. The Minutemen went 2-9 in the non-conference season a year ago and didn't pick up their fifth win until the season's 15th game (a 62-57 homecourt victory over Dayton, Jan. 18, 2001). Against Maine, UMass will also be looking to avoid its first three-game homecourt losing streak since the 1985-86 campaign when it dropped its final three home games of the season. The Minutemen are 2-2 in the Mullins Center this season (3-2 overall at home, including the Oregon victory in the friendly confines of the Springfield Civic Center), but have dropped their last two games here to Holy Cross and Connecticut, marking just their fifth, two-game losing streak in the building's 10-year history. Maine, meanwhile, stands 2-7 on the year (2-5 outside of Orono), but has won two of its last three outings after opening its season with six-straight losses. The Black Bears, 18-11 a year ago and picked to finish second in this year's America East preseason poll, have been idle since an 84-81 overtime loss at Norfolk State, Dec. 11. That setback followed Maine victories over Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne (73-65) in the consolation game of Michigan State's Coca-Cola Spartan Classic, Dec. 1, and at Sacred Heart, Dec. 9 (67-61).
Minute-Matters: Trends to consider as Massachusetts looks to end a two-game homecourt losing streak against a Maine team that has won two of its last three games . . .
The Coaches: A new chapter in UMass basketball history began on March 26, 2001, when athletic director Bob Marcum introduced Steve Lappas (City College of New York, 1977) as the school's 19th basketball coach. In his 14th season as a head coach, Lappas owns a 235-175 (.573) record, including a 5-3 (.625) mark in his first year on the Minuteman sideline. Just the third rookie UMass coach to start his career in Amherst 4-0, and first since Johnny Orr in 1963-64, Lappas is 0-0 against Maine. Lappas joined the UMass staff after spending nine highly-successful years at Villanova (1993-2001), where he guided the Wildcats to a 174-110 (.613) record and seven postseason appearances (four NCAA, three NIT). He ranked as the sixth-winningest coach in Big East history (and the third-winningest among active league coaches) at the time he left the Main Line with 97 league victories. At Manhattan (1988-92), Lappas improved the Jasper win total every year, going from seven in 1988-89, to 11 the following year, 13 in his third season and 25 in his fourth and final campaign (1991-92) en route to a 56-62 (.475) four-year mark and one postseason (NIT) appearance. Equally impressive as Lappas' on-court record is the classroom performance of his players, as all of his seniors at both Villanova and Manhattan graduated. Prior to moving to Manhattan, Lappas spent four seasons as an assistant to Rollie Massimino at Villanova, and was a member of the Wildcats' 1985 national championship staff. Maine's Dr. John Giannini (North Central College, 1984) owns an 81-74 (.523) record in his sixth season with the Black Bears, and a 249-112 (.690) mark in his 13th season overall. He began the season ranked as Maine's winningest coach by percentage and stood fourth in total victories. Giannini's best season at Orono came in 1999-2000, when he led the Black Bears a school-record 24 victories. The 1996 Division III national coach of the year, Giannini led Rowan College to the national title that season. He served as an assistant at Illinois and North Texas before taking the Rowan post in 1989. Giannini is coaching against Massachusetts for the first time.
Central Connecticut in Review: After falling behind by six midway through the first half at 14-8, UMass used a 17-7 run to take a 25-21 halftime lead, then dominated the second half to post a 64-49 victory over Central Connecticut State at Mohegan Sun Arena, Dec. 15. The Minutemen opened the second half with 20-3 run that gave them a 45-24 lead with 11:58 to play, and the closest the Blue Devils would get the rest of the way would be 12 twice. UMass shot 63.0 percent from the field in the final half (and finished with a season-high 51.9 percent mark), and limited Central Connecticut to 32.1 percent marksmanship in the final 20 minutes. The Minutemen also enjoyed a 41-26 advantage on the glass. Senior center Kitwana Rhymer had season-highs of 24 points and 15 rebounds to lead the UMass attack, while sophomore swingman Jameel Pugh came off the bench to score a career-high 11 points and grab a career-high-tying five rebounds in a career-long 18-minute stint.
The Series vs. Maine: The game with the Black Bears marks the 56th meeting between these former Yankee Conference rivals, but first since a 76-63 Maine victory at Orono, Feb. 16, 1980. UMass leads the all-time series, 39-16, and has won 28 of the last 34 meetings between the schools, but Maine has won each of the last three meetings. The Minutemen enjoy a 25-4 series advantage in games played at Amherst, but Maine won on its last trip here, 85-67, Feb. 12, 1979, at Curry Hicks Cage. UMass' last series victory was a 96-85 decision in Amherst, Feb. 2, 1977. Despite not playing in over two decades, this series ranks as the sixth-most played in Massachusetts history between Rhode Island (116 games), Connecticut (104), New Hampshire (92), Boston U. (66) and Vermont (64). UMass owns an all-time record of 222-108 vs. current members of the America East Conference, and most recently beat Boston U., 68-52, Dec. 14, 2000.
Fans Returning to Mullins Center: In four games played at the Mullins Center this season, the Minutemen have averaged 6,759 fans, an increase of 1,280 per game over last year's 10-game average of 5,479. A season-high crowd of 8,894 was on hand for the UConn game. UMass last averaged more than 6,000 fans at the Mullins Center during the 1998-99 season, when it averaged 6,723 over its 14-game home slate. Tickets for all remaining UMass home games may be purchased either through TicketMaster outlets around the Commonwealth or by calling the Athletic Ticket Office at 1-866-UMASS-TIX or (413) 545-0810. Fans may also order tickets on line at www.ticketmaster.com.
The Minutemen at Mullins: Massachusetts, 2-2 at the Mullins Center this season (3-2 overall at home, including a win over Oregon at the Springfield Civic Center), stands 78-25 (.757) in its 10th season of play in the building, including a 24-10 (.706) mark vs. non-league foes. The Minutemen have posted a .500 or better homecourt record for 19-straight seasons, including each of the nine seasons they have called the Mullins Center home. UMass needs a victory over the Black Bears to avoid its first three-game losing streak in the building's history.
Rogers Wears Redshirt: Massachusetts senior forward Jackie Rogers, who averaged 6.6 points and 3.9 rebounds per game a year ago, has elected to take a redshirt season in 2001-02 and play his final year in a Maroon and White uniform next year. He was slowed by nagging injuries during much of the preseason, and had not played in a game this season prior to making his Nov. 26 announcement. Rogers' decision will also allow him to finish his degree during the same year that he completes his athletic eligibility.
Getting it Done with Defense: A key to UMass' 5-3 start has been its play at the defensive end of the floor, a trademark of the Minuteman program that has continued under coach Steve Lappas. Massachusetts continues to lead the A-10 in field goal percentage defense at 38.2 percent, ranks second in scoring defense (63.0 ppg) and fourth in three-point field goal percentage defense (.318). A year ago, Massachusetts ranked fourth in the A-10 in scoring defense for all games (68.2 ppg, which marked the 10th-straight season the Minutemen held their foe to a season mark below 70.0 ppg) and third in field goal percentage defense (.413, the 10th-straight year UMass held its opponent below .420 for the season). Here's a look at some of the early-season defensive gems turned in by the UMass defense:
The SWAT Team is Back: Led by 2001 Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year Kitwana Rhymer, the Minutemen continue to rank among the league's leaders in blocked shots. Rhymer leads the A-10 in blocks (3.00 bpg), while the UMass team is third in the league at 4.38 bpg, and has had at least four rejections in six of eight outings. UMass led the A-10 in blocks a year ago at 5.07 bpg (a league-best 152 on the season, the ninth-best single-season mark in school history), and recorded five more snuffs 17 times. Rhymer led the Minutemen and ranked second in the A-10 with 2.10 bpg, Micah Brand was second on the team and seventh in the A-10 (1.1 bpg) and Ronell Blizzard was third on the squad and 11th in the league (0.9 bpg). Those three players had more blocks (123) than nine other A-10 schools recorded for the entire season, and Rhymer's total by itself stood ahead of one team.
Crashing the Glass: Going into the season, rebounding was expected to be a strength for the 2001-02 Minutemen, and through eight games, they've done nothing to dispel that notion. UMass has outrebounded six of its first eight opponents, and holds a +6.1 margin (second-best in the A-10) over its opponents (38.4 rpg-32.2 rpg) on the glass. Over its last two games UMass is a +33 on the glass, as it outrebounded UConn, 46-28, and Central Connecticut State by a 41-26 count. The effort versus the Huskies marked the Minutemen's largest advantage on the boards since outrebounding Rhode Island by 23 (45-22), Jan. 30, 2001. For the season, senior center Kitwana Rhymer leads the team and ranks eighth in the A-10 in rebounding (7.2 rpg), while junior forward Micah Brand and senior forward Eric Williams are tied for second (4.9 rpg). Five UMass players, including the starting backcourt duo of senior Shannon Crooks and sophomore Anthony Anderson, are averaging at least 4.0 rpg.
Halftime Speech: Whatever coach Steve Lappas and his staff have said to the Minutemen at halftime this season appears to be working. UMass has averaged just 28.8 ppg in the first half of its games, but after hearing the halftime talk, has put 36.3 ppg on the board in the second stanza. The Minutemen have outscored their opponents six times in the second half this season, but have only led at intermission four times.
Another Tough Slate: After playing one of the toughest schedules in school history a year ago (College RPI.com and Jeff Sagarin ranked the 2000-01 schedule as the 17th-toughest, while Collegiate Basketball News ranked it 18th), the Minutemen are tackling another challenging slate in 2001-02. But that's really nothing new, as over the last eight seasons, only once has the Massachusetts strength of schedule been ranked lower than 56th in degree of difficulty among Division I institutions, and four times in that stretch it has had an SOS ranked among the nation's top 20. Twenty of UMass' 30 games last season were against 2001 postseason tournament entrants, and the Minutemen fashioned a 7-13 record in those games (5-8 vs. 2001 NCAA Tournament field, 2-5 vs. 2001 NIT entrants). UMass, 0-3 this season against teams which went to postseason play a year ago, has six games left against 2001 NCAA Tournament entrants (Ohio State, Xavier, Temple-2 and St. Joseph's-2) and four contests left against teams that participated in the 2001 NIT (Dayton, Richmond and St. Bonaventure-2). Through games of Dec. 18, 2001, UMass was ranked No. 5 in the RPI calculated by CollegeRPI.com and had the nation's third-toughest schedule, as its first eight opponents have posted an impressive 52-18 (.743) record. The records and RPI's of the Minutemen's 2001-02 opponents can be found on page 4 of this notes package.
Consistent Success: The Minutemen, who have posted 12-straight winning A-10 records (after posting no winning marks, just two .500 records and 56 victories in their first 13 seasons in the league) since a 5-13 mark in 1988-89, own a 138-56 (.711) record in regular-season league play since then and have captured 10 league titles (five regular season, five tournament) in that time frame. Last year, after a 2-9 non-conference start, Massachusetts went 11-5 in the A-10 (its eighth 11-win league mark in the last 12 seasons), good for fourth place in the standings, and advanced to the title game of the Verizon Atlantic 10 Tournament for the first time since 1995-96, but dropped a 76-65 decision to Temple. Over the last 12-plus seasons, UMass owns a 274-128 (.682) overall record (includes 2001-02 record, too), an average of 22.4 wins per season, and has posted seven 20-win seasons, 11, .500 or better campaigns, and made 10 postseason appearances (seven NCAA, three NIT). The A-10 is one of only six conferences to send at least two teams to the NCAA Tournament every year since 1991, joining the ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Pac-10 and SEC. Temple is the only league team with more NCAA appearances (11) than UMass (seven) over that 11-year stretch.
The Comeback Kids: It really shouldn't have come as much of a surprise that UMass overcame double-digit deficits to beat both Oregon and Arkansas-Little Rock earlier this year, as those type of comebacks have happened before in Amherst. Including those comebacks, the Minutemen have now recorded 19 double-digit comebacks to win over the last eight seasons, including a pair last year. In the Oregon game, the Minutemen were down by as many as 11 points on two occasions in the first half, but came back to score a 62-58 victory over the Ducks at the Springfield Civic Center. Against Arkansas-Little Rock, UMass trailed by 10 points, 37-27, with 19:31 left in the game, only to rally for a 66-60 victory. In last year's game against George Washington in Amherst, UMass overcame a 15-point deficit with 1:07 left in the first half to beat the Colonials, 76-60. That deficit was the largest the Minutemen had overcome to win since rallying from 16 down to beat Maryland, 50-47, Dec. 2, 1995.
The Greek Experience: The UMass basketball team got a head start on the 2001-02 season when it traveled to Greece, Aug. 12-23, 2001. The Minutemen, who traveled overseas for just the second time ever and for the first time since a mid-season excursion to France and Germany for the Buckler Christmas Classic in December, 1994, finished 1-3 on the trip to Athens, Kavouri and Mykonos. UMass was one of two A-10 institutions (St. Bonaventure was the other) to take a foreign trip last summer with their first-year coaches at the helm. Two seniors, forward Eric Williams and guard Shannon Crooks, paced the UMass offensive attack. Williams posted team-leading marks of 10.8 ppg and 8.5 rpg, while Crooks averaged 10.3 ppg and led the team in both assists (16) and steals (13), while committing just seven turnovers.
To Catch a Crook(s): The lone Massachusetts backcourt veteran, senior guard and tri-captain Shannon Crooks, has gotten his final season in a Maroon and White uniform off to a solid start. The first UMass player since Edgar Padilla in 1996-97 to lead the Minutemen in both assists (95) and steals (47) in the same season, a feat Crooks accomplished a year ago, he leads this year's squad in scoring (14.2 ppg/13th in the A-10), three-point goals made (14) and attempted (41), steals (12/tie-13th) and minutes played (286), while ranking second in three-point percentage (.341) and assists (31/tie-12th). His scoring is up because of the improvement in his field goal and three-point percentages. Crooks shot 36.2 percent from the field a year ago, including 24.3 percent from beyond the arc, but has shot 43.0 percent from the field and 34.1 from the three-point line over the season's first eight games after being moved from the point to his natural two-guard position by coach Lappas. Crooks, who has produced a team-high seven double-digit scoring games, had seven points, three rebounds and two assists in 35 minutes against Central Connecticut State. He had recorded nine-straight double figure scoring games (a career-long streak) until being held under 10 by the Blue Devils. Crooks recorded a season-high 20 points at North Carolina State--his fifth career 20-point effort (and first since last year's season-opening 20-point effort against Iona), and the Minutemen are 5-0 in those games. The fifth-year senior is 192 points shy of 1,000 for his collegiate career (and 235 points shy of that plateau in his UMass career). Crooks needs 76 assists to crack the UMass career list (he has 225) and 17 steals (he has collected 117) to make the school's career theft chart. One of four former Bay State preps on this year's roster, Crooks has had at least one assist in 45-straight games and in 69 of 71 career games as a Minuteman. After averaging 15.8 ppg and shooting 50.0 percent both overall and from three-point range over UMass' first four games this season, he has averaged just 12.8 ppg, while shooting 37.0 percent from the floor and 21.7 percent from behind the arc his last four outings.
Kit's Hits: Fifth-year senior and tri-captain Kitwana Rhymer averaged 18.0 ppg and 13.5 rpg in UMass' games last week against UConn and Central Connecticut State, and was rewarded with Atlantic 10 Player of the Week honors for his efforts. He hit 57.8 percent from the field and 75.0 percent at the free throw line for the week. Against Central Connecticut State, Rhymer turned in his second double-double of the season, a 24-point, 15-rebound performance. Both marks were season highs. Rhymer leads the A-10 and ranks 13th nationally in blocks (3.00 bpg) this season, and has had at least two blocks in six of eight outings. He ranks fifth on the school's all-time block chart with 161 rejections, 29 behind No. 4 Edwin Green's (1980-84) total of 190. While first-place Marcus Camby's 336 career blocks are well out of Rhymer's reach, he needs just 62 rejections to climb into second place on the UMass career list. Having improved his scoring average every season he has been in Amherst, Rhymer needs 291 points (he enters today's game with 709) to reach the 1,000-point plateau, and 184 rebounds (has 577 in career) to crack the UMass top 10 in that category, too. He has three double-figure scoring games to his credit this season and has grabbed five or more rebounds in six of eight outings. In addition to leading the A-10 in blocks, Rhymer ranks sixth in the league in rebounding (7.2 rpg). He ranks second on the team in field goal percentage (.538) and third in scoring (10.4 ppg). Rhymer was a second team 2001-2002 preseason All-Atlantic 10 pick by the league's coaches and media, the only Minuteman named to the early-season honor squad, and was one of five players selected to Dick Vitale's All-Velcro (nation's top defensive players) unit. He was also named to the A-10's preseason all-defensive team, after garnering the league's Defensive Player of the Year award a year ago. Rhymer's selection to the 2001 A-10 all-defensive team marked the fifth-straight season a Minuteman had been named to that squad.
Minuteman Foes Get Branded: No Atlantic 10 player stepped up his game more in 2000-01 than UMass' Micah Brand, who shared the league's 2001 Chris Daniels Most Improved Player honor with teammate Kitwana Rhymer, and his junior season is off to a strong start, too. Brand has scored in double figures five times this season, including a career-high-tying 23-point effort against Arkansas-Little Rock in the season-opener. He also reached twin-digits against Marist (10), N.C. State (14), Holy Cross (15) and Boston College (12). Against Central Connecticut, Brand had six points, a career-high four assists, three rebounds and a pair of blocks in 31 minutes of work. UMass' second-leading scorer (11.6 ppg) and second-best rebounder (4.9 rpg) after eight games, Brand also ranks third on the team in field goal shooting (.513) and fourth in free throw percentage (.684). He stands fourth in the A-10 in field goal percentage, tied for 20th in scoring. After playing 30 or more minutes just four times in 59 games over his first two seasons in a UMass uniform and averaging 17.5 minutes per game (21.8 a year ago), Brand already has six, 30-plus minute playing stints to his credit this season while averaging 31.2 minutes of work.
Double A Please: No, not batteries, but UMass sophomore point guard Anthony Anderson, who has earned a pair of Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week citations this year. He had another strong all-around game against Central Connecticut State, with four points, four rebounds, six assists and a steal in 30 minutes of work. He currently leads the Atlantic 10 in assist/turnover ratio (2.54/1), is tied for 13th in the league in three-point percentage (.361) and stands eighth in assists (4.12 apg). Anderson leads the Minutemen in three-point percentage (.361) and assists (33), ranks second on the squad in minutes played (267), three-point goals made (13) and attempted (36) and steals (seven), fourth in both scoring (9.0 ppg) and rebounding (4.6 rpg). Anderson has averaged 6.0 ppg and 4.8 rpg, with 20 assists and just seven turnovers, in UMass' five victories, but has averaged 14.0 ppg and 4.3 rpg in its three losses, with 13 assists and eight miscues. Anderson has had at least three assists in every game this season and has recorded four double-figure scoring games (UMass, though, is 1-3 in those games).
Three Spot Has Three Heads: Heading into the 2001-02 season, one of coach Lappas' biggest concerns was the small forward position. However, a trio of sophomores, Willie Jenkins, Raheim Lamb and Jameel Pugh, who played a combined total of 120 minutes a year ago, have stepped up big in the early-going, averaging a combined 14.5 ppg and 8.9 rpg. Jenkins, who has not scored in his last four appearances, had career-highs of 12 points and three assists, while grabbing six rebounds in 23 minutes at North Carolina State. He has already scored more points (31) and grabbed more rebounds (25) than he did in limited playing time last year. Jenkins started the first six games of the season, but has come off the bench the last two. While Jenkins has not shot the ball well from the field this season (.235, on eight-of-34 shooting), he's 12-of-12 at the free throw line, with every attempt coming in the game's final 4:50, while averaging 3.9 ppg and 3.1 rpg. Jenkins would lead the A-10 in free throw percentage (1.000) if he met the league's standard of 2.5 made per game. Lamb, who sat out the 2001-02 season due to academics, has gotten his rookie season off to a strong start, too. After coming off the bench in each of the season's first six games, he earned his first career start against UConn, and responded with four points and five rebounds in 21 minutes of action. He came back against Central Connecticut State to tally two points and a rebound in 17 minutes. For the season, Lamb has averaged 5.6 ppg and 3.5 rpg, while shooting 45.5 percent from the floor (fourth-best on the team). He has tallied six or more points four times, including a career-high 12-point, seven-board performance in 23 minutes of work at Boston College. Pugh played a career-high nine minutes against UConn, with two points and one rebound, then recorded a career-high 11 points and a career-high-tying five rebounds, two assists and a steal in a career-long 18 minute stint against Central Connecticut. He is averaging 5.0 ppg and 3.5 rpg in three appearances this season.
Williams is a Super-Sub: Senior forward and tri-captain Eric Williams has been a reliable player for coach Steve Lappas off the bench in the early going. Over the last four games, he has averaged 7.0 ppg and 6.0 rpg, while making 68.8 percent of his field goals and all six free throw attempts. Against Central Connecticut State, Williams had four points and eight rebounds. For the season, he has contributed six or more points five times, while grabbing six or more rebounds in four games. Williams, who made his first UMass career start against Marist in place of Kitwana Rhymer, is UMass' fifth-leading scorer (and tops off the bench) at 6.1 ppg and second-leading rebounder (4.9 rpg). He also leads the team in field goal percentage (.581) and ranks second in free throw percentage (.833).
Quick Tips: When freshman guard Kyle Wilson was in the starting lineup against Arkansas-Little Rock, it marked the first time a freshman was in the UMass opening-day starting five since the 1996-97 season when Winston Smith debuted against Chaminade...Wilson, who has played in every game, has had at least one assist in seven games with a high of four twice (Minutemen are 3-0 when he collects two or more assists)...in 14 of its 15 wins last season, UMass out-shot its opponent (the lone exception was in the victory at Temple) from the floor, a trend that has continued in its five victories this season...over the last three years, Massachusetts owns a 21-6 record when scoring 70 or more points, including an 0-1 mark this year...UMass has won 19-straight games when reaching the 50.0 percent mark since an 88-83 loss to George Washington in the quarterfinals of the 1998 A-10 Tournament...UMass is 6-5 in games decided by five or fewer points the last two years (1-1 this season), after going just 1-6 in such games during the 1999-2000 season...the Minutemen have made at least one three-point goal in 101-straight games since a 1998 first-round NCAA Tournament loss to St. Louis, while their opponents have made at least one trey in 45-straight games...UMass, 4-0 this season when leading with 5:00 to play, has won 18-straight when leading at that juncture of the game and owns an 82-9 (.901) record since the start of the 1996-97 season when leading with 5:00 left...UMass has produced at least one all-conference performer for 18-straight seasons.
Fast Breaks: At Central Connecticut State (Minutemen, 64-49)--Playing in first men's collegiate basketball game ever at Mohegan Sun Arena, UMass overcame early six-point deficit to post win, Minutemen went scoreless for nearly eight minutes in first half, but used late run to take 25-21 halftime lead, then opened second half with 20-3 spurt to put game away, senior center Kitwana Rhymer had season-highs of 24 points and 15 rebounds, while sophomore swingman Jameel Pugh netted career-high 11 points as UMass snapped three-game losing streak. UConn (Huskies, 69-59)--For second-straight game, UMass found itself down by double-digits in the opening half, as the visiting Huskies owned 13-point halftime lead and went on to beat the Minutemen for the 11th-straight time, UMass cut Husky lead to four in the second half, but could get no closer, as visitors made seven of eight free throws in the final minute to hold on, senior guard Shannon Crooks led UMass attack with 14 points, while Rhymer turned in his first double-double of the season (12 points/12 rebounds) and sophomore guard Anthony Anderson was in double figures for the third-straight game (10 points), UMass hit season-low 32.9 percent from the field, made just one three-point attempt (in 18 tries), outrebounded Huskies, 46-28, but UConn hit 47.8 percent from the field and 57.1 percent from the three-point line to win. At Boston College (Eagles, 80-78)--No. 13 Eagles roared to 23-point halftime lead, led by as many as 26 early in second half, before Minutemen got back in game and nearly pulled off dramatic comeback, Anderson drained three treys in game's final 15.1 seconds but BC held on for the victory to capture second consecutive Commonwealth Classic title, Anderson had career-high 19 points, while Crooks added 18, as Minutemen had five double-figure scorers for first time since Dec. 7, 2000, game against Providence, Troy Bell poured in a career-high 34 points to lead Eagles, who were outscored 67-53 from the field, but hit 27-of-38 at the line (compared to UMass' 11-of-21) to secure the win. Holy Cross (Crusaders, 67-56)--Crusaders overcome four-point halftime deficit to beat Minutemen for second-straight season, junior forward Micah Brand led UMass scoring attack with 15 points, while Anderson added a then-career-best 13 points and a career-high seven assists in 39 minutes, Holy Cross shot 53.2 percent from the floor against UMass (including 61.9 percent in second half and hit 72.7 percent from beyond the arc), while Minutemen hit then-season-low 42.9 percent. At North Carolina State (Minutemen, 69-62)--In first road game of season, Minutemen respond with victory, holding hometown Wolfpack to 33.9 percent shooting from the floor, Crooks scored season-high 20 points, Brand added 14 and sophomore forward Willie Jenkins a career-high 12 as UMass moved to 4-0 for 16th time in school history and made Steve Lappas the first rookie UMass mentor to start career 4-0 since Johnny Orr in 1963-64, Minutemen became only third non-ACC team to win in N.C. State's three-year-old Entertainment & Sports Arena. Oregon (Minutemen, 62-58)--Ducks jumped to an 11-point lead in game's first nine minutes, only to watch Minutemen storm back for win, Brand scored four points in game's final 1:16 as UMass posted 13th win in last 14 games played at the Springfield Civic Center, Crooks in double figures for third-straight game with 13 points, Minutemen held an Oregon team, which had scored 90 or more points in each of its first four games, to 58 points and 35.8 percent shooting from the field, while hitting 50.0 percent (seven-of-14) from three-point range. Marist (Minutemen, 66-59)--Minutemen raced to a 12-2 lead in game's opening minutes, held 19-point halftime advantage, but watched visiting Red Foxes get within three in second half, first 2-0 start for UMass since 1995-96 season, Rhymer came off bench, had 16 points, seven rebounds and four blocks, while Crooks added 14 and Brand 10. Arkansas-Little Rock (Minutemen, 66-60)--UMass overcame a 10-point second-half deficit to give coach Lappas a victory in his first game on the Minuteman bench, Brand netted a career-high-tying 23 points and Minutemen won season opener for eighth time in the last nine years, despite the Trojans' 10, three-point goals.
An Eye Toward the Future: University of Massachusetts men's basketball coach Steve Lappas has signed four players, 6-9 forward Stephen Briggs (Houston, Texas), 6-8 forward Rashaun Freeman (Schenectady, N.Y.), 6-1 guard Michel Lasme (York, Pa.) and 6-9 forward Alassane Kouyate (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio) to National Letters of Intent for the 2002-03 season. Briggs averaged 17 points, 10 rebounds and five blocked shots as a junior at Houston's Westside High School, and is considered a top 150 prospect by most recruiting services. An outstanding student, he plans on majoring in engineering at UMass. A tremendous all-around athlete, Lasme played at Crispus Attucks High School in York, Pa., last year, where he averaged 21 points and 10 assists per game. He is spending his senior year at Life Center Academy in Burlington, N.J. A native of the Ivory Coast, Lasme has a 45-inch vertical jump and was ranked as the nation's 30th-best player by ESPN.com. Kouyate, a 6-9 senior at Walsh Jesuit High School in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, is originally from Mali. As a sophomore at Medina Highland (Ohio) High School, he was a standout basketball and soccer player, earning all-Suburban honors in both sports and averaging 18 points on the hardwood for coach Fred Pollack. He then transferred to Walsh Jesuit, but had to sit out the season as a transfer student, although he was able to practice with coach Frank Lupica's team. As a junior at Schenectady (N.Y.) High School, Freeman averaged 15.1 points per game. He led Schenectady to the 2001 New York Class A state title, the school's second state crown in four years. The 6-8 Freeman tallied 18 points and nine rebounds as the Patriots beat Hempstead to claim the state title for coach Mark Sausville. He played his AAU ball for coach Jim Hart's Albany City Rocks, and led that team to the state's 2000 17's and 16's AAU championship. In addition, UConn transfer Marcus Cox (Bridgeport, Conn.), a 6-4 junior guard, is sitting out the 2001-02 season, and will have two years of eligibility remaining beginning with the 2002-03 season. Gabe Lee (Newton, Ga.), a 6-9 forward, is attending UMass this season and is expected to join Lappas' program next season, too.
From Here: UMass is idle until Saturday, Dec. 29, when it travels to Marshall for a 7:30 p.m. game against the Herd. Maine returns home to host Brown a week from today.