Jan. 10, 2003
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GAME DAY QUICK FACTS
The Teams: Massachusetts (6-7, 0-1 A-1) vs. St. Joseph's (10-1, 2-0 A-10)
Date: Saturday, Jan. 11, 2003
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Place: Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse (3,200), Philadelphia, Pa.
Television: A-10 Network, carried on NESN in New England; Scott Graham, play-by-play; John Griffin, color
UMass Sports Radio: Bob Behler, play-by-play; Jack Leaman, color; WRNX 100.9 FM, Holyoke, flagship
UMass Student Radio: WMUA 91.1 FM in Amherst, Mass.
Probable Massachusetts Starters
Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr.
F 2 Jackie Rogers 6-8 217 Sr.
F 22 Jeff Viggiano 6-6 210 Fr.
C 40 Micah Brand 6-11 262 Sr.
G 1 Michael Lasme 6-1 185 Fr.
G 12 Anthony Anderson 5-11 164 Jr.
Probable St. Joseph's Starters
Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr.
F 33 Pat Carroll 6-5 190 So.
F 40 Dave Mallon 6-10 230 Fr.
C 51 Alexandre Sazonov 7-1 235 Sr.
G 14 Jameer Nelson 6-0 190 Sr.
G 15 Delonte West 6-4 180 So.
The Game: The Atlantic 10 Conference's top two defensive teams face off on Hawk Hill before a regional television audience, as a red-hot St. Joseph's squad knocking on the Top 25 door hosts a Massachusetts team hoping to reach the .500 mark for the first time this season both overall and in league play.
The Minutemen stand 6-7 after Thursday's 66-47 homecourt victory over Columbia, but are 0-1 in the A-10 following Sunday's 80-67 loss at Fordham. UMass, hoping to avoid its second consecutive 0-2 league start, is 5-1 on the Mullins Center hardwood this season, but is 1-6 outside the Amherst city limits.
Defense continues to drive Massachusetts' fortunes in 2002-03, as the Minutemen rank second in the Atlantic 10 and 35th nationally in scoring defense, giving up just 61.8 ppg, a school-record low pace. UMass has allowed 62 or fewer points nine times this season, going 6-3 in those contests, but is 0-4 when its opponent has put 69 or more points on the scoreboard.
Defending A-10 East Division regular-season co-champion St. Joseph's is 10-1 overall, 2-0 in league play, and off to its best start since opening the 1964-65 campaign at 26-1 en route to a 26-3 finish. Coach Phil Martelli's team began the season with seven consecutive victories, then dropped a 62-50 decision at Pacific two weeks ago tonight, but has since rebounded to with wins at Gonzaga (79-78 in overtime) and St. Bonaventure (75-58) sandwiched around last Sunday's 76-56 homecourt victory over Duquesne.
The Hawks' early-season success has come courtesy of a suffocating defensive attack that leads the league in scoring defense at 57.2 ppg, as well as both field goal (.360) and three-point (.297) percentage defense, and blocked shots (5.36 bpg). SJU, which has held 10 of 11 foes to 63 or fewer points, ranks seventh nationally in scoring defense and fourth in field goal percentage defense.
St. Joseph's, 9-0 on the season when scoring 63 or more points, and Massachusetts share one common non-conference opponent in Boston College. The Hawks opened their season with an 85-58 victory over the Eagles at Conte Forum, while BC scored an 80-62 win over the Minutemen in Amherst.
Minute-Matters: An inside look at Massachusetts as it aims to avoid its first three-game losing streak to St. Joseph's since dropping two meetings during the 1988-89 campaign and the first game between the teams the following season. Since that three-game series losing string, the Minutemen have won 21 of 27 contests against the Hawks.
Today's game begins a six-game stretch for Massachusetts against Atlantic 10 teams with .500 or better overall records heading into today's action, with four of those contests set to be played outside Amherst. UMass' next three foes (St. Joseph's, Rhode Island, Xavier) take a combined 27-9 (.750) record into play today.
According to Collegiate Basketball News, UMass has played the nation's 105th-toughest schedule in 2002-03, as five of the seven teams that have beaten the Minutemen appeared in the 2002 NCAA Tournament.
The Minutemen check in at No. 172 in the RPI Report as of Jan. 10, 2003, while St. Joseph's has played the nation's 45th-hardest slate and owns an RPI of No. 5 by the same publication.
Two of Massachusetts' setbacks this season have been by a combined total of three points (two points to Lafayette, one point to Central Connecticut State), and six of the seven have come away from the Mullins Center.
UMass' 68-56 homecourt win over No. 24 (USA Today/ESPN coaches poll) North Carolina State was its first over a ranked opponent since beating No. 21 St. Joseph's, 75-70, in the semifinals of the 2001 Atlantic 10 Tournament at Philadelphia, and its first over a rated foe in Amherst since a 57-49 victory No. 24 Temple, Feb. 28, 1999.
Nine times in the last 11 seasons Massachusetts has turned in a winning Atlantic 10 road worksheet, as it has posted a 56-32 (.636) conference mark away from home over that stretch. The Minutemen were 1-7 on the road against league foes a year ago, scoring their lone win at St. Bonaventure, 67-65, and have dropped nine of their last 10 regular-season A-10 road tilts.
In winning four of their last five outings, the Minutemen have averaged 71.6 ppg, while shooting 47.9 percent from the field, 36.8 percent from three-point range and 69.6 percent at the free throw line. Those marks show significant improvement from the season's first eight games, when Massachusetts was 2-6, averaged 58.4 ppg, and hit 40.6 percent from the field, 26.5 percent from three-point range and 62.6 percent at the stripe.
UMass has scored 66 or more points in six of its last seven games after reaching that mark on just two occasions over the season's first six contests.
While Massachusetts' play at the offensive end of the floor has picked up steam, its defensive work has continued to impress. The Minutemen have allowed 59.0 ppg over their last five games, while holding foes to 58 or fewer points four times.
In six Mullins Center appearances this season, Massachusetts has averaged 70.0 ppg en route to a 5-1 record, while shooting 47.2 percent from the field, 41.2 percent from three-point range and 69.6 percent at the free throw line. However, in dropping six of seven games outside Amherst, the Minutemen have averaged 57.9 ppg, and hit 40.4 percent from the floor, 22.6 percent from three-point range and 60.7 percent at the line.
UMass has shot 48.8 percent from the field in its six victories this year, 41.2 percent from three-point range and 71.7 percent at the free throw line, while outrebounding its foes by 3.4 rpg and averaging 71.2 points. But, in seven losses, the Minutemen have averaged 56.9 ppg and connected on 39.3 percent of their field goals, 22.6 percent of their triples and 57.3 percent of their free throws, while being outrebounded by 1.3 boards per game.
Massachusetts has out-shot its opponent from the field in 18 of 19 wins (the Temple victory in Amherst a year ago was the lone exception) and 23 times all-told with Steve Lappas on the sideline. In each of its six victories this season, UMass has out-shot its foe from the floor.
The Minutemen are 3-0 this season and 10-2 over the last two years when shooting 48.0 percent or better from the floor, with six of those efforts coming outside the Mullins Center.
Massachusetts has won 22 of its last 23 games when shooting 50.0 percent or better from the field, including a 2-0 mark this year and a 4-1 record in Steve Lappas' tenure in Amherst. A year ago on this floor, the Minutemen shot 51.0 percent from the field, but dropped a 72-67 decision to St. Joseph's.
Both of the Minutemen's 50.0 percent shooting efforts this year were in the Mullins Center.
UMass' 57.8 percent performance from the floor against Marshall was its best shooting game since a sizzling 65.8 percent outing versus George Washington in the 2000 Atlantic 10 Tournament.
The Minutemen own a 27-8 (.771) record over the last three-plus seasons when scoring 70 or more points, including a 2-1 mark this season when reaching that plateau.
Massachusetts is 6-2 this season when putting 66 or more points on the scoreboard, 0-5 when scoring 65 or fewer points.
UMass has made at least one trey in 135-consecutive games (its opponents have a string of 79-straight games with at least one bonus basket) and in 511 of 518 games it has played since the arc was added to the college game in 1986-87.
Massachusetts had a season-low-tying two three-point goals (in 16 attempts) against Lafayette, but has drained 32 three-point buckets (in 87 attempts) the past five games. The Minutemen have nailed a season-best eight three balls five times this season, going 3-2 in those contests.
UMass has made five or more trifectas in 16 of its 19 victories (and 32 of 42 starts all-told) in the Steve Lappas Era. The Minutemen are 16-16 under Lappas when making five or more three-point baskets, including a 6-3 mark this season.
Massachusetts, which averaged 7.0 made three-pointers a year ago to set a school single-season record with 204 treys, has averaged 5.5 made triples this year while draining 71 trifectas through 13 games (compared to 68 three's after 13 games a year ago).
The Minutemen hit 34.8 percent from three-point range last season (the program's eighth-best one-year mark), but have connected on 30.3 percent of their treys this year. But, over their last five games, they've shot 36.8 percent (32-for-87) from behind the arc.
In its 59-48 loss to Connecticut, Massachusetts shot a season-low 41.2 percent from the free throw line to drop its season mark to 58.0 percent, but in the seven games since then it has connected on 70.6 percent (103-of-146) of its charity tosses to raise its season percentage to .661.
The Minutemen averaged 14.4 free throws and converted on 62.6 percent of their charity tosses over the season's first eight games (and were outscored 103-72 at the stripe as a result), but they've averaged 22.4 trips and shot 69.6 percent at the line over the last five games while outscoring their foes, 78-47, from the foul line.
How important is getting to the foul line to UMass? In Massachusetts' six victories, it has averaged 23.0 free throw attempts and outscored its opponents, 99-55, at the line. But, in its seven losses, it has made just 12.7 trips to the stripe and been outscored, 95-51, by its foes from the line.
The UMass bench has outscored its opponent's men of pine in six of 13 outings this year, while providing an average of 15.9 ppg (compared to 15.0 ppg for its foe). The Minutemen have posted a 3-3 mark this season when their bench outscores the opponent's reserves, however, the past four games the Massachusetts bench has been outscored every time.
The Minutemen had a season-low nine turnovers against Rider and for the season are averaging 14.1 turnovers per game. A year ago here, UMass had just eight turnovers against the Hawks.
Massachusetts has forced 15 or more turnovers seven times, with a high of 19 against both Indiana and FIU. For the year, Minuteman foes are averaging 14.5 miscues per game.
After being outrebounded in four of its first five games, UMass has won the battle on the glass in six of its last eight outings. The Minutemen owned a -6.2 rebound margin after five games, but are a +5.1 over their last eight games and for the year hold a +0.1 edge on the glass, 33.9-33.8.
Seven different players have led the Minutemen in rebounding at least once this season, with Jackie Rogers, Micah Brand, Anthony Anderson and Michael Lasme having paced the team's rebound effort more than once. The trio ranks 1-4 on the squad in rebounding, with Brand and Rogers each averaging 5.9 rpg, Anderson grabbing 4.2 rpg and Lasme 3.3 rpg. Brand and Rogers have each led the squad in rebounding three times, while Anderson and Lasme have accomplished that feat twice.
A guard has led the UMass rebounding effort in each of the past four games, with Anthony Anderson pulling down a team-best and career-high nine boards against both Marshall and North Carolina State, and Michael Lasme snagging a team- and then-career-high six caroms at Fordham, before leading the team with a career-best nine boards against Columbia.
Under Steve Lappas, Massachusetts is 17-4 when allowing 62 or fewer points (6-3 in 2002-03), 2-19 when giving up 63 or more points (0-4 in 2002-03). UMass has yielded 57.4 ppg in its victories during Lappas' tenure, 70.6 ppg in its losses.
In 10 of 13 outings this season, the Minutemen have held their opponent to 69 or fewer points, including eight games when they've limited their foe to 59 or fewer points. For the year, Massachusetts ranks second in the Atlantic 10 and 35th nationally in scoring defense, yielding 61.8 ppg.
In its seven setbacks, UMass has yielded 67.4 ppg, while watching foes hit 44.8 percent of their field goals and 36.2 percent from three-point range. But, in their six victories, the Minutemen have given up 55.3 ppg, while holding the opposition to 37.5 percent field goal shooting, including 25.7 percent from beyond the arc.
When UMass held UConn to nine first-half points Dec. 10 in Hartford, it marked the fewest points allowed by the Minutemen in a half since Trinity's eight-point effort on Feb. 5, 1958, and the lowest ever in a half for a Jim Calhoun-coached Husky team.
Massachusetts has won 30 of its last 31 games when holding its opponent to 49 or fewer points. On the flip side, the Minutemen have lost 28-straight games when they've allowed 80 or more points since scoring a 93-89 win at Duquesne, Jan. 20, 1996.
In Steve Lappas' tenure, Massachusetts is 13-5 when holding its opponent to a field goal percentage mark below 38.0 percent, 6-18 when its foe has shot 38.0 percent or better.
UMass is 94-11 (.895) since the start of the 1996-97 season when leading after 35 minutes, including 6-1 this year and 16-2 under Steve Lappas.
Over the last eight years, the Minutemen have produced 21 double-digit comeback to win efforts, including their performance against Rider when they overcame a 13-point first-half deficit for a 76-54 victory. Four of those 21 comeback victories have come with Steve Lappas on the bench.
The Rider win was the largest UMass comeback victory ever under Steve Lappas (wiping out an 11-point come-from-behind win over Oregon last year) and the biggest for the program since rallying from 15 down in the first half to beat George Washington in Amherst, 76-60, Jan. 6, 2001.
Massachusetts has led by as many as four points in 12 of 13 starts (and by five or more points in 11 games) this season. However, in nine of 13 outings, it has also found itself down by at least six points at some point in the game, only to rally for wins in three of those contests. UMass overcame a nine-point first-half deficit to beat North Carolina State, never led at Fordham and never trailed against Columbia.
Five Minutemen are contributing 5.6 points or more per game, but only two, Jackie Rogers (13.6 ppg) and Anthony Anderson (10.5 ppg), own double-digit averages. Nine different players have produced at least one double-figure scoring game this season.
Massachusetts' season scoring average has risen from 58.4 ppg to 63.5 ppg since Jeff Viggiano moved into the starting five for the Rider game. In Viggiano's five starts, the Minutemen have averaged 71.6 ppg, while they've averaged 70.5 ppg in the four games Viggiano and Micahel Lasme have started together.
First-year scholarship Minutemen Marcus Cox, Alassane Kouyate, Michael Lasme, Gabe Lee and Jeff Viggiano have combined to average 23.1 points and 11.8 rebounds per outing. In UMass' six victories, they've contributed 28.1 ppg and 15.1 rpg, compared to 18.5 points and 9.2 rebounds in its seven setbacks.
2002 Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year and preseason All-Atlantic 10 selection Anthony Anderson (Lynn, Mass.) shared A-10 Player of the Week honors with St. Joseph's Jameer Nelson after his career-high 25-point, nine-rebound, 40-minute effort against No. 24 North Carolina State in Amherst. He was 5-for-10 from the field, including 4-for-5 from three-point range, and 11-of-13 at the line against the Wolfpack.
Anderson's scoring outburst against North Carolina State marked the best one-game total for a Minuteman since Monty Mack's 27-point effort against St. Joseph's in the 2001 A-10 tournament semifinals, as he scored 17 of the team's final 24 points in the upset of the Wolfpack.
In the two games since his career performance against the Wolfpack, Anderson has averaged 6.0 ppg and shot 26.7 percent (4-for-15) from both the field and the three-point line.
Over the last seven games, Anderson has averaged 12.4 ppg, 3.8 rpg and 3.1 apg. In that stretch, he's shooting 47.2 percent from the field (25-for-53), 45.9 percent from three-point range (17-for-37) and 83.3 percent (20-for-24) at the foul line.
Anderson has five double-figure scoring games to his credit this season, including three 20-point or better performances. In addition to his career-high 25-point outing against North Carolina State, he tallied 22 against FIU and 20 versus Chaminade.
The Minutemen are 3-0 this season when Anderson scores 20 or more points, 4-1 when he records a double-figure scoring performance.
Against Columbia, Anderson tallied six points and three rebounds in 24 minutes, but for the first time this season he did not have an assist as his 22-game assist streak ended.
In UMass' six victories this season, Anderson has averaged 15.7 ppg, 5.0 rpg and 3.7 apg, while shooting 57.4 percent (27-for-47) from the field, 56.3 percent (18-for-32) from three-point range and 81.5 percent (22-for-27) at the foul line. But, in the Minutemen's seven losses, he has averaged 6.0 ppg and hit 22.2 percent from the field, including 20.4 percent from three-point range.
Within the friendly confines of the Mullins Center, Anderson has averaged 12.7 ppg, while connecting on 51.2 percent of his field goals, 50.0 percent of his three-pointers and 81.8 percent of his free throws. Away from Amherst, though, he's averaging 8.6 ppg, but is shooting just 28.4 percent from the floor, including 26.4 percent from behind the three-point arc.
Anderson leads the team in minutes (454), three-point goals made (28) and attempted (81), free throw percentage (.813), assists (41) and steals (21), while ranking second in scoring (10.5 ppg), three-point percentage (.346) and defensive rebounds (51), third in rebounding (4.2 rpg).
In 42 career games, Anderson has 34 multiple-assist contests and has been credited with two or fewer turnovers 27 times. In 12 games this year, he has 41 assists, 21 steals and 20 miscues, and is one of two Minutemen to record more steals (21) than turnovers (20).
After shooting just 45.3 percent at the free throw line a year ago, Anderson has hit a team-high 81.3 percent (26-for-32) from the stripe this season. He was 11-of-13 at the line against North Carolina State, but hasn't attempted a foul shot in the two games since.
Anderson has 99 made career three-point goals, good for 10th on the all-time UMass list.
Anderson has grabbed six or more rebounds four times, including a career-high and team-best nine boards against both North Carolina State and Marshall. He has also handed out at least one assist in 12 of 13 games, three or more eight times, and a high of nine against Chaminade.
Senior center Micah Brand (Middletown, N.Y.) had five points, four rebounds and three blocked shots in 17 minutes of work against Columbia.
Brand will make his 61st start in his 100th career game as a Minuteman today.
Brand has hit 14-of-16 free throws over the last six games to move his season mark from .286 to .696, which ranks fifth on the team.
Brand has recorded a team-high three double-doubles this season, which ranks fifth in the Atlantic 10. His three double-double efforts this year equal the number he recorded over his first 86 games as a Minuteman.
Brand's double-doubles this year have come against Lafayette (17/13), UConn (12 points, 13 rebounds) and Central Connecticut State (11/10) to give him six for his career.
Over the last five games, Brand has averaged 10.0 ppg and 6.0 rpg. He has connected on 47.8 percent of his field goals and 87.5 percent of his free throws over that stretch, while recording a pair of double-figure scoring games.
For the season, Brand leads Massachusetts in rebounding (5.9 rpg, tied) and defensive rebounds (52), while ranking second in blocked shots (13), offensive boards (25) and steals (14, tied), third in field goal (.454) percentage and scoring (9.1 ppg), fourth in three-point percentage (.308) and minutes (335), fifth in assists (19) and free throw percentge (.696).
Brand has six double-digit scoring games to his credit this season, as 83 of his 118 points on the season have come in the game's first 20 minutes.
A 2002-03 co-captain, Brand is 52nd on the school's all-time scoring chart with 749 career points, and needs 17 to overtake No. 51 Mike Mole (1959-62) on the list. He has 88 career blocks, which ranks 10th on the school's all-time chart, three behind No. 9 Duane Chase (1985-89).
Junior guard Marcus Cox (Bridgeport, Conn.) was suspended for the Columbia game, but will return to active duty for the St. Joseph's game. He started the first nine games of the season, but came off the bench in his last three appearances and will do so again today. Cox did not score in three minutes against Fordham, but grabbed a reboound.
Cox had a collegiate career-high 14 points in his first game as a Minuteman against Indiana.
On the season, Cox ranks as UMass' seventh-leading scorer (4.2 ppg), and has contributed five or more points four times.
One of two former Connecticut High School Player of the Year winners on this year's UMass roster, Cox was 5-for-10 from the field in his Maroon & White debut against Indiana, but has hit just 13-for-56 (23.2 percent) from the floor over his last 11 games while averaging 3.3 ppg.
Cox, who ranks fourth on the team in assists with 20, has dropped at least one dime in 11 of 12 appearances, with a high of five against his former temmates at Connecticut.
Second-year walk-on Paco Kotaridis (Athens, Greece), a junior guard, has played in four games as a reserve (Boston College, Rider, Marshall and Columbia). He tallied his lone two points of the year on two free throws against the Eagles.
Freshman forward Alassane Kouyate (Bamako, Mali) has seen action in five games as a rookie (Columbia, Marshall, Rider, Boston College and Chaminade). He snagged a rebound in a career-long six-minute outing against Columbia.
Junior forward Raheim Lamb (Boston, Mass.) has come off the bench the past seven games after starting the season's first six games. He had eight points, four rebounds, an assist, a block and a steal in 18 minutes against Columbia. It was his best scoring game since the season-opener.
Lamb is third on the team in free throw percentage (.714) and offensive rebounds (20), fourth in steals (10, tied).
Lamb recorded his first career double-double, a 17-point, 12-rebound effort, against Indiana. His rebound total against IU was a career-high, while he just missed matching his career scoring best (18 vs. St. Bonaventure last year in Amherst).
Over the first three games of the season, Lamb averaged 8.3 ppg and 5.3 rpg, while shooting 57.1 percent from the field. But, the past 10 games he's averaged 2.7 ppg and 1.9 rpg, and hit 34.2 percent of his fielders.
Freshman guard Michael Lasme (Abidjan, Ivory Coast) just missed the school's first career triple-double in some 30 seasons, as he tallied 13 points, and career-highs of nine rebounds and 10 assists against Columbia in 32 minutes of play. His nine assists were the most by a UMass player since Charlton Clarke dropped 10 dimes at Fordham, Jan. 7, 1999.
Lasme's career-high 18-point outing at Fordham marked the best one-game scoring effort by a "true" freshman at Massachusetts since Marcus Camby's 32-point explosion against Maryland in a second-round 1994 NCAA Tournament game at Wichita, Kan.
In four games as a starter, Lasme has averaged 12.5 ppg, while producing three double-digit scoring efforts. He's hit 45.7 percent from the floor and 42.9 percent of his three-point goals since moving into the starting lineup.
Lasme's 8.5 ppg average ranks fourth on the team. The preseason Atlantic 10 All-Rookie team selection has scored five or more points in 11 of 13 appearances this season, including five double-digit outings.
Lasme's five double-figure scoring games are the most by a "true" UMass freshman since Marcus Camby tallied 14 double-digit performances en route to 1994 A-10 Freshman and Newcomer of the Year honors.
Lasme has hit at least one three-point goal in seven of 13 appearances, two or more five times.
Lasme stands second on the team in assists (32), as well as both three-pointers made (15) and attempted (47), while ranking third in three-point percentage (.319) and minutes played (339), fourth in scoring (8.5 ppg) and free throw percentage (.704).
Lasme has averaged 9.8 ppg and 3.5 rpg in UMass wins, while shooting 42.2 percent from the field. But, in its losses, he's averaged 7.3 ppg and 3.1 rpg, while hitting 33.3 percent from the floor.
Sophomore forward Gabe Lee (Camilla, Ga.) contributed six points, two rebounds and four blocked shots to the Columbia victory.
Lee has contributed five or more points six times off the bench as a rookie (UMass is 5-1 in those contests), including double-figure performances against both Florida International (12 points) and Boston College (11). He has grabbed five or more rebounds four times (UMass is 4-0 in those games).
Lee has hit 77.3 percent (17-for-22) from the field in six Mullins Center appearances, while averaging 7.8 ppg and 4.7 rpg. Outside Amherst, though, he's averaged 2.3 points and 1.9 rebounds, and connected on 38.1 percent of his field goals.
Lee leads the Minutemen in blocked shots (15) , while ranking second in field goal percentage (.581), fourth in offensive rebounds (19), fifth in rebounding (3.2 rpg) and sixth in scoring (4.8 ppg). His scoring average is tops among UMass' reserves.
In UMass victories, Lee has averaged 7.3 ppg and 5.3 rpg, while connecting on 68.0 percent of his field goals and 55.6 percent of his free throws. In losses, though, he's averaged 2.7 ppg and 1.3 rpg and shot 44.4 percent from the field.
Sophomore forward Brennan Martin (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) tallied two points, a career-high five rebounds, and two assists in 19 minutes off the pine against Columbia.
In his first career start, Martin responded with a career-high-tying nine points vs. Florida International, three rebounds, two assists and a steal in a career-long 30-minute stint.
Martin was 3-for-5 from beyond the arc against the Golden Panthers, matching his career-high in made triples for the second time this season (he also nailed three treys against Boston College). Over his last six appearances, he has hit 44.4 percent (8-for-18) from three-point range.
Martin leads the UMass attack in three-point percentage (.407), ranks third in three-point goals made (11), fourth in field goal percentage (.433) and three-point attempts (27).
In 10 appearances this season, Martin's scored more points (37) than he did in 19 games (26) as a rookie.
Of Martin's 30 field goal attempts this year, 27 have been launched from bonus distance, while 11 of his 13 made fielders have come from beyond the arc. In his UMass career, 19 of his 22 made field goals have been bonus buckets.
Martin has provided five or more points four times on the season, matching his career-high of nine against both Boston College and FIU.
Freshman forward Arthur Onuora (Baldwin, N.Y.) has made three appearances (Columbia, Marshall and Boston College) as a rookie, playing two minutes against Columbia. He recorded a blocked shot against the Eagles and had a rebound against the Lions. The former All-Long Island selection made the club as a walk-on just before the start of practice back in October.
Onuora attended Long Island Lutheran High School, where he averaged 19 points, 11 rebounds and three assists as a senior.
Fifth-year senior forward and co-captain Jackie Rogers (Syracuse, N.Y.) has recorded six consecutive double-figure scoring games, including a career-high 20-point effort at Fordham and 18 points against Columbia. He also had eight rebounds and a career-best three blocks against the Lions.
Rogers leads the Atlantic 10 Conference in field goal percentage (.593).
Rogers has averaged 17.0 ppg and 6.2 rpg over his last five starts, while shooting 66.1 percent from the floor and 77.4 percent at the free throw line.
Rogers continues to lead Massachusetts in scoring (13.6 ppg), offensive rebounds (31), rebounding (5.9, tie) and field goal percentage (.593), while ranking second in free throw percentage (.725) and minutes played (359), third in defensive rebounds (46) and blocked shots (nine, tie), sixth in steals (eight) and assists (15).
Rogers has recorded a team-high 10 double-figure scoring efforts in 13 starts this season. He has grabbed six or more rebounds eight times, and is one of only two Minutemen (Micah Brand is the other) to start every game this year.
Rogers netted 17 points and a season-best 10 rebounds against Rider en route to his first double-double of the season and the third of his UMass career.
Rogers was 2-for-6 from the foul line against Indiana in the season opener, but has hit 77.8 percent (35-for-45) the past 12 games to move his season mark to 72.5 percent. For the year, he has both made (37) and attempted (51) more free throws than any other Minuteman.
Freshman forward Jeff Viggiano (Suffield, Conn.) has averaged 11.8 ppg and 3.6 rpg since moving into the starting lineup against Rider. He's hit 55.3 percent of his field goals, 36.4 percent of his three-point attempts and 50.0 percent of his free throws as a starter.
Viggiano had seven points, two rebounds, two assists and a pair of steals in 26 minutes against Columbia.
Viggiano turned in another outstanding all-around game against No. 24 North Carolina State with 14 points, four rebounds, four steals, three assists and two blocks in a career-long 35-minute stint. It marked his third consecutive double-figure scoring game, as he became the first "true" UMass freshman since Marcus Camby in 1993-94 to accomplish that feat.
Viggiano earned Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week and co-Dinn Brothers UMass Athlete of the Week honors after averaging 15.0 ppg and 4.5 rpg in UMass' victories over Rider and Marshall. He shot 64.7 percent from the field and 50.0 percent from three-point range for the week, playing 32.5 mpg with seven assists and just two turnovers.
Viggiano has recorded three double-figure scoring games in five starts, including a career-high 17 points in his first collegiate start against Rider.
Viggiano has averaged 8.8 points in UMass' victories, shooting 52.9 percent in those six games, but he's averaged 2.9 points and hit just 26.9 percent from the field in its seven losses.
In six Mullins Center appearances, Viggiano has shot 54.5 percent from the field and 42.1 percent from three-point range, averaging 8.8 points. Outside Mullins, though, he's shooting 25.9 percent, including 5.9 percent from the three-point line, and scoring at a 2.9 ppg clip.
Viggiano ranks second on the squad in steals (14, tie), third in three-point attempts (36), blocked shots (nine, tie) and assists (23), fourth in three-point goals made (nine), fifth in field goal (.417) and three-point (.250) percentage, scoring (5.6 ppg) and minutes (257), sixth in rebounding (2.8, tie).
Sophomore guard Kyle Wilson (White Rock, B.C.) left the UMass program Jan. 7 for personal reasons and plans to transfer to a school closer to his hometown. He made four appearances off the bench, averaging 1.5 ppg and 0.3 rpg.
The Coaches: Massachusetts coach Steve Lappas (City College of New York, 1977) owns a 19-23 (.452) record in his second season on the Minuteman bench and a 249-195 (.561) mark in his 15th season as a Division I head coach.
Lappas, who last year became just the third UMass rookie coach to start his career 4-0, and the first since Johnny Orr in 1963-64, has enjoyed tremendous success in year two of his rebuilding projects in stops at both Villanova and Manhattan. In fact, he won an average of eight more games in his second year than he did in his rookie campaign at those institutions. At Villanova, Lappas won 20 games and the school's first NIT championship in 1993-94 after a debut season that produced an 8-19 record, while his second season at Manhattan saw the Jaspers post an 11-17 record after a 7-21 mark in his rookie campaign.
Introduced as UMass' 19th basketball coach on March 26, 2001, Lappas came to Amherst after nine highly-successful years at Villanova (1992-93 through 2000-01), where he guided the Wildcats to a 174-110 (.613) record and seven postseason appearances (four NCAA, three NIT). He ranks as the sixth-winningest coach in Big East history (and was the third-winningest among active league coaches when he left the Main Line) with 97 league victories.
At Manhattan (1988-89 through 1991-92), Lappas improved the Jaspers' 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 in 1991-92) appearance.
Equally impressive as Lappas' on-court record is the classroom performance of his players, as all of his seniors at Massachusetts, Villanova and Manhattan have graduated. Prior to moving to Manhattan, he spent four seasons as an assistant to Rollie Massimino at Villanova, and was a member of the Wildcats' 1985 national championship staff. Lappas is 4-4 vs. all-time vs. St. Joseph's, 0-2 at UMass, and 4-2 vs. Hawks' coach Phil Martelli.
His staff includes second-year assistant coaches John Leonard, Andrew Theokas and Chris Walker, as well as Director of Operations Paul Culpo and Administrative Assistant Carey Edwards.
St. Joseph's Martelli (Widener, 1976) owns a 136-91 (.599) mark in his eighth season as a head coach, all on Hawk Hill. A 10-year assistant before taking over the top spot in the summer of 1995, he has led St. Joseph's to three Atlantic 10 titles and four postseason appearances (two NCAA, two NIT) as a head coach. One of five St. Joseph's coaches to record 100 victories on Hawk Hill, Martelli owns a 5-9 record against the Minutemen, including 3-4 in Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse.
The Series: This is the 44th meeting in a series that Massachusetts leads, 25-18, but that saw the Hawks' sweep last year, winning 63-38 in Amherst and 72-67 here. The Hawks won 12 of the first 16 meetings between the schools, but UMass has won 21 of the last 27.
St. Joseph's holds a 12-8 advantage vs. the Minutemen in regular-season games played in Philadelphia, as UMass is 8-9 against the Hawks in Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse and 0-3 vs. SJU at the Palestra.
Massachusetts' last series victory was a 75-70 decision in the semifinals of the 2001 Atlantic 10 Tournament, while its last Fieldhouse win came on Jan. 16, 2000, by a 73-69 count. The Minutemen's last four wins here have all been by eight or fewer points, two of the Hawks' last three victories here have been by 15-point margins.
The rematch is set for March 8 in Amherst.
Minutemen-Hawks in 2002: In the first meeting at Amherst, UMass went scoreless for the game's first eight minutes and never recovered in dropping a 63-38 decision to St. Joseph's in the A-10 opener for both teams. The 25-point margin of defeat was the third-largest in Mullins Center history for the Minutemen, who recorded their lowest offensive output since a 69-38 loss at Temple, Feb. 1, 1986, and their lowest point total at home since a 43-38 setback to Fort Devens, Jan. 5, 1949.
The Hawks held a 29-17 halftime advantage and didn't allow the Minutemen to get closer than 11 in the second half en route to their second win in nine Mullins Center visits. Shannon Crooks led UMass with 10 points, while Bill Phillips and Marvin O'Connor both netted 13 for the Hawks.
In the rematch here, St. Joseph's jumped out to a 16-3 lead in the game's first 5:09, but visiting UMass regrouped and pulled to within 41-35 at halftime. Trailing 54-46 with 11:00 to play, the Minutemen used a 12-4 run to tie the game at 58-all with 4:54 to go, but the Hawks answered with a 9-0 run of their own and went on to post a 72-67 victory and sweep the season series for the first time since the 1996-97 season.
Crooks again led the UMass attack with a team-high 21 points, as the Minutemen recorded their second-best shooting game of the season from the field at 51.0 percent. Phillips had 19 points for the Hawks, while Damian Reid and Na'im Crenshaw each added 16 and Jameer Nelson netted 11.
Columbia Review: Massachusetts bolted to a 9-0 lead in the game's first four minutes and never trailed in handing Columbia a 66-47 loss Thursday night at the Mullins Center. The Minutemen took an 18-point halftime lead, 33-15, and stretched their advantage to 28 in the second half before the Lions closed the gap late in the game.
Jackie Rogers recorded his sixth consecutive double-figure scoring game, an 18-point effort, to lead UMass, while teammate Michael Lasme came up a rebound short of recording the first UMass triple-double since Al Skinner turned the trick against St. Peter's in 1973-74, as the rookie had 13 points to go with career-highs of 10 assists and nine rebounds. Columbia was led by Dodson Worthington's eight points off the bench.
Another Tough Slate: Challenging schedules and UMass basketball have gone hand and hand for more than a decade now, and that beat continues for the Minutemen in 2002-03. Through games of Jan. 10, Massachusetts had played the nation's 105th-most difficult schedule and owned an RPI of No. 172 according to The RPI Report, as six of its first 13 games were against 2002 NCAA Tournament teams. That same publication ranked UMass' 2001-02 slate as the nation's 49th-toughest, the 10th time in the last 11 seasons the Minutemen ranked among the nation's top 50 in schedule strength.
In the A-10, Massachusetts will play more than half (nine) of its 16-game league slate against league members that earned postseason bids a year ago. The Minutemen will tackle NIT entrants Temple, St. Joseph's and St. Bonaventure on a home-and-home basis, while meeting NCAA Tournament team Xavier, and NIT participants Richmond and Dayton once each.
The Baker's Dozen: Over the last 13-plus seasons, Massachusetts owns a 288-148 (.661) overall record, an average of 21.7 wins per season. The Minutemen have made 10 postseason appearances over that stretch, while recording seven 20-win campaigns, 12 winning conference records and 11 .500 or better campaigns in that stretch.
After posting no winning campaigns, just two .500 records and a 53-133 (.285) record in its first 13 seasons in the A-10, UMass has gone 144-67 (.682) in regular-season league play over the last 13-plus campaigns en route to 10 conference crowns (five regular season, five tournament). Eight times over that stretch, the Minutemen have won at least 11 league games.
In the Atlantic 10, no program that has called the league home in each of the last 13-plus years has won more games overall than UMass (288). Xavier, though, does have 294 victories to its credit over that time frame, but the Musketeers didn't join the A-10 until the 1995-96 campaign.
Looking Ahead to 2003-04: Art Bowers, a 6-4, 200-pound shooting guard from St. Benedict's (N.J.) Prep School, signed a National Letter of Intent during the 2002 early-signing period to play for the Minutemen next season.
As a junior for coach Danny Hurley, Bowers averaged 16 points en route to first team All-State honors. He led St. Benedict's to a 22-7 record and the state championship.
Ranked as the nation's 32nd-best prep prospect by ESPN.com and the 44th-best by PrepStars, he earned All-Tournament honors at the PowerAid and Slam Dunk to the Beach events as a junior. Bowers is also a two-time Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions Most Valuable Player.
Bowers, who selected UMass over Wake Forest, Rutgers, De Paul and Pittsburgh, outscored 2002 Ohio high school Player of the Year and Sports Illustrated coverboy Lebron James, 21-18, in a head-to-head match-up last season, but James' St. Vincent-St. Mary's team netted a 67-60 victory.
In addition to Bowers, top 100 recruit Rashaun Freeman (Schnectady, N.Y.), who signed with UMass in 2001, is attending Massachusetts this season and will be eligible next year.
From Here: The Minutemen return home to host 8-4 Rhode Island on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. in a game to be televised on the Atlantic 10 Network, then meet 9-4 Xavier in Amherst a week from tonight at 6 p.m. on ESPN2.
The Hawks play at crosstown rival Temple on Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m.
