University of Massachusets Athletics
Anderson Named Preseason All-Atlantic 10
October 31, 2002 | Men's Basketball
Oct. 31, 2002
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - University of Massachusetts junior guard Anthony Anderson (Lynn, Mass.) has been named a preseason third team All-Atlantic 10 Conference selection, as selected by the leagues coaches and media. In addition, freshman guard Michael Lasme (Abidjan, Ivory Coast) was named to the Atlantic 10 preseason All-Rookie team.
As a team, UMass was predicted to finish in third place of the East Division in the 2002-2003 Atlantic 10 preseason poll, also voted on by the league's coaches and media. Temple placed first in the poll and collected 27 out of 34 first place votes, with St. Bonaventure coming in second. Following the Minutemen, St. Joseph's was ranked fourth, Rhode Island fifth and Fordham sixth. Xavier was picked to win the West Division with 32 of 34 first place votes, followed by Dayton (second), Richmond (third), La Salle (fourth), George Washington (fifth) and Duquesne (sixth).
Anderson averaged 10.0 points, 3.4 assists and 3.4 rebounds per game last season, while hitting 71 out of 183 (.388) three-point attempts. He was named the Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year, after leading the team in three-point goals made (71) and three-point percentage (.388), and standing second in scoring average (10.0), assists (100), minutes played (985) and steals (31). Anderson stepped up his game against Atlantic 10 foes, averaging 11.1 points, 3.3 assists and 3.0 rebounds in 16 conference games, while connecting on 49 of 117 (.419) three-pointers.
Lasme comes to UMass from Burlington (N.J.) Life Center Academy, where he averaged 24 points, eight assists, six rebounds and three steals per game last year. Ranked among the nation's top 70 high school seniors in 2002 by both ESPN.com (No. 64) and Hoop Scoop (No. 70), Lasme led his team to a 21-7 record and a Penn-New Jersey League title in 2001-2002. Over the course of his career, he averaged 21 points, seven assists, seven rebounds and two steals per game.
UMass is set to open the 2002-2003 season with an exhibition game against the Nike All-Stars at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 7, at the Mullins Center. The regular season opener for the Minutemen comes on Monday, Nov. 25, when they face Indiana at the Maui Invitational.
For a complete list of the 2002-2003 preseason All-Atlantic 10 teams, click here.