University of Massachusets Athletics
Minutemen To Face Marshall On Saturday
December 16, 2003 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 16, 2003
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Game Day Quick Facts
The Teams: Massachusetts (2-4) vs. Marshall (3-3)
Date: December 9, 2003
Time: 4:00 p.m.
Place: William D. Mullins Memorial Center (9,493),Amherst, Mass.
ESPN Regional Television: Keith Morehouse, play-by-play; Mark Adams, color
UMass Radio Network: Bob Behler, play-by-play; Jack Leaman, color; WRNX 100.9 FM, Holyoke, flagship
UMass Student Radio: WMUA 91.1 FM, Amherst
Thundering Herd Network: Steve Cotton, play-by-play; Woody Woodrun, color; WGDD 93.7 FM, Huntington, flagship
Series Record: Marshall leads, 3-2
Last Meeting: Massachusetts 81, Marshall 58 (December 28, 2002, Amherst, Mass.)
PROBABLE UMASS STARTERS Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Cl. F 1 Rashaun Freeman 6-9 255 So. F 22 Jeff Viggiano 6-6 215 So. C 2 Gabe Lee 6-9 210 Jr. G 11 Maurice Maxwell 6-5 175 Fr. G 12 Anthony Anderson 5-11 170 Sr.
THE SERIES WITH MARSHALL: The Thundering Herd holds a 3-2 lead in the all-time series, which began during the 1997-1998 season. UMass won the last meeting 81-58 at the Mullins Center a year ago, but prior to that, Marshall had posted three consecutive victories. Three of the previous five meetings have been played in Amherst, with the Minutemen winning twice (61-59 on Dec. 6, 1997, and 81-58 on Dec. 28, 2002), and the Thundering Herd winning once (65-55 on Nov. 29, 1999).
FREEMAN HAS IMPRESSIVE START TO SEASON: Sophomore forward Rashaun Freeman (Schenectady, N.Y.) has had some outstanding games to open his collegiate career, and has already been named Atlantic 10 Conference Rookie of the Week twice this season, on Nov. 23 and Nov. 30. In UMass' last game at Central Connecticut, Freeman led the team in both scoring (15 points) and rebounding (13 boards), for his second double-double of the season. In the previous game at Boston College, he scored 11 points on five of 10 shooting, while also pulling down seven rebounds. Freeman also had big games against both Hartford (team-high 19 points and nine rebounds, while hitting eight of 11 field goals) and Texas Tech (team-high 17 points on eight of 13 shooting), while in the season opener against Saint Francis (N.Y.), he recorded a double-double, totaling 11 points and 14 rebounds. With that performance, Freeman became the first Minuteman to post a double-double in his collegiate debut since John Murphy had 16 points and 14 rebounds against West Virginia on Dec. 2, 1972. Through six games this year, he is averaging 12.8 points and 8.2 rebounds, while hitting 51.6 percent of his shots. Freeman came to UMass from Schenectady High School, where he averaged 17.8 points per game during his senior season in 2001-2002. He was named Player of the Year by the Albany Times Union as a senior, in addition to earning All-State honors and leading his team to the New York Section II Class A title.
LEE A FORCE IN THE MIDDLE: Junior center Gabe Lee (Camilla, Ga.) has become a solid presence in the lane for the Minutemen. In UMass' last game at Central Connecticut, he totaled 12 points, eight rebounds, two blocks and two assists. In the previous game at Boston College, Lee totaled nine points and six rebounds, while hitting a three-point field goal in the final minute of play to force overtime. He also turned in an a pair of solid all-around performances against Hartford (totaling 16 points, nine rebounds, seven blocked shots and two steals, while hitting eight of 10 attempts from the floor) and Saint Francis (recording career highs of 11 rebounds and seven blocked shots, in addition to scoring eight points). Through six games on the season, Lee is now averaging 8.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.8 blocks per contest. As a rookie in 2002-2003, Lee started 13 times in 28 appearances, averaging 5.6 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. In addition, he led the team in blocked shots with 46, while ranking third in the Atlantic 10 Conference with an average of 1.6 blocks per game. Although he is only in his second season with the Minutemen, Lee already has 69 career blocked shots, needing just 21 more to move into the all-time UMass top 10.
ANDERSON STARTS SEASON STRONG: Senior guard Anthony Anderson (Lynn, Mass.) has been the leader on the court for a young UMass team so far this season. He was named Atlantic 10 Player of the Week and Dinn Brothers UMass Athlete of the Week on Dec. 7, after a pair of outstanding performances against Boston College and Vermont. In the Boston College game, he led the team with 20 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three steals, while playing all 45 minutes. In the previous game against Vermont, Anderson scored a career-best 29 points, while hitting nine of 13 shots from the floor and seven of nine from three-point range. His 29 points were the most by a Minuteman since Kitwana Rhymer scored 30 against Rhode Island on Feb. 20, 2001, while his seven three-pointers were the most by a UMass player since Monty Mack hit eight against Saint Bonaventure on Mar. 8, 2001. Anderson also turning in a solid performance at Central Connecticut with nine points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals. And in the season-opening victory over Saint Francis (N.Y.), he totaled 21 points while hitting six of 10 shots from the floor, three of five from three-point range, and six of six from the foul line. In addition, Anderson dished out six assists against the Terriers, with only one turnover, while also collecting five rebounds. Through six games so far this year, Anderson is averaging a team-high 16.0 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists, while hitting 51.7 percent of his shots from the field, and 51.2 percent from three-point range.
HEAD COACH Steve Lappas: Now in his third season as the head coach of the Minutemen, Steve Lappas has an overall record of 26-38 while at UMass. He owns a career mark of 256-210 in 16 seasons as a head coach, including nine years at Villanova (174-110) and four seasons at Manhattan (56-62). A 1977 graduate of the City College of New York, Lappas has led his teams to four NCAA Tournament appearances (with Villanova in 1994-1995, 1995-1996, 1996-1997 and 1998-1999) and four trips to the National Invitation Tournament (Manhattan in 1991-1992 and Villanova in 1993-1994, 1999-2000 and 2000-2001). In addition, his 1993-1994 Villanova team claimed the NIT championship. Lappas currently ranks 11th all-time in career coaching victories at UMass, needing only 13 more wins to move into eighth place.
CENTRAL CONNECTICUT RECAP: Central Connecticut forward Ron Robinson hit a pair of free throws with 5.6 seconds remaining, to lift the Blue Devils to a 53-52 victory over UMass at Mohegan Sun Arena on Dec. 9, 2003. The Minutemen led for most of the first half, but were unable to extend their lead to more than six points, before taking a four-point advantage into the lockerroom. UMass then started the second half hot, and built the lead to nine points at 41-32, with 15 minutes left in the game. But the Blue Devils responded with a 15-6 run, to pull into a 47-47 tie with seven minutes remaining. Both teams struggled to score down the stretch, before a three pointer by senior guard Anthony Anderson put UMass up 52-51 with two minutes remaining. Neither team would score again, until Robinson's free throws in the closing seconds gave Central Connecticut the victory. Sophomore forward Rashaun Freeman led the Minutemen with 15 points and 13 rebounds, while junior center Gabe Lee totaled 12 points and eight boards, and Anderson finished the night with nine points, six rebounds and four assists. Robinson had a game-high 21 points on eight of 10 shooting to lead the Blue Devils, while also pulling down a team-best six rebounds.
ANDERSON BECOMING AN IRON MAN: Senior guard Anthony Anderson has become a familar sight on the hard wood, as he has played every minute of every UMass game since halftime of the Hartford contest, to total 145 straight minutes on the court. Anderson played all 20 minutes in the second half against Hartford, and since then has turned in complete game efforts against Vermont (40 minutes), Boston College (45 minutes) and Central Connecticut (40 minutes). For the season, he has now played 221 out of a possible 245 minutes, good for an average of 36.8 minutes per game. This comes as nothing new to Anderson, who averaged 36.1 minutes per game last season, and 34.0 minutes per contest in 2001-2002.
MAXWELL STEPS INTO STARTING LINEUP: Freshman guard Maurice Maxwell (Philadelphia, Pa.) was a key player off the bench for UMass early in the season, before earning his first career start against Central Connecticut. In the game against the Blue Devils, he totaled four points, three assists and two steals in 31 minutes of action. Previously, in the victory over Vermont, Maxwell scored a career-best 14 points, while hitting five of seven shots from the floor, including both of his three-point attempts, and two of two shots from the line. He had another big game against Boston College, scoring 10 points and tying for the team lead with four assists, in addition to pulling down three rebounds. For the season, he is now averaging 6.8 points, 2.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. Maxwell came to UMass from Philadelphia (Pa.) Lutheran Christian Academy, where he averaged 26 points and 12 assists last year, while leading his team to a 20-5 overall record.
UMASS TO RETIRE AL SKINNER'S JERSEY: UMass interim athletic director Thorr Bjorn has announced that the school will retire the No. 30 jersey of former star Al Skinner during the Rhode Island game on Feb. 18, 2004. Currently the head coach at Boston College, Skinner was a three-time first team All-Yankee Conference selection at UMass from 1971-1974, while leading the team to a pair of Yankee Conference titles. Following his UMass career, Skinner went on play professionally in both the ABA and NBA, with the New York Nets, Detroit Pistons and Philadelphia 76ers. He began his collegiate coaching career at the University of Rhode Island, before taking over at Boston College in 1997. Skinner will become only the fourth player in UMass men's basketball history to have his jersey number retired. The previous three players to have their jersey retired are George "Trigger" Burke (No. 32, 1954-1956), Julius Erving (No. 32, 1969-1971) and Lou Roe (No. 15, 1991-1995).
THE LAST TIME: In the last meeting between the Minutemen and the Thundering Herd, Micah Brand scored 17 points to lead UMass to an 81-58 victory at the Mullins Center, on Dec. 28, 2002. UMass jumped out to an 18-3 lead in the game's first seven minutes, then used a 13-0 run late in the first half to make it a 47-28 game at the break. Marshall would get no closer than 16 points in the second half, as the Minutemen cruised to victory. UMass shot 57.4 percent from the field and totaled 81 points, both of which would end up being its second-highest totals of the 2002-2003 season. Three Minutemen joined Brand by scoring in double figures, as Jackie Rogers had 15 points, and Jeff Viggiano and Michael Lasme both scored 13 points. Gabe Lee recorded nine points and a team-high nine rebounds off the bench, while Anthony Anderson totaled nine points, eight rebounds and three assists. Marshall was led by David Anderson with 10 points and six rebounds off the bench.
DIALING LONG DISTANCE: The three-point shot has become an important part of the UMass offense since Steve Lappas began his tenure as head coach. The 2001-2002 Minutemen set school records for both three-point field goals made (204) and three-point field goals attempted (587) during Lappas' first season. Last year, UMass sank 164 three-pointers (fourth-most in school history), while attempting 544 shots from beyond the arc (second-most in school history). In six games so far this season, the Minutemen stand 41 of 115 from three-point range (35.7 percent), including a sizzling 12 of 19 performance (63.2 percent) in the victory over Vermont. Massachusetts has made at least one three-point goal in 157 straight games heading into the 2003-2004 season.
VIGGIANO LOOKS FOR ANOTHER BIG SEASON: Sophomore forward Jeff Viggiano (Suffield, Conn.) has returned to the starting lineup for the Minutemen this season, after starting 21 of 29 games as a rookie in 2002-2003. In six games so far this year, he has totaled 41 points, 21 rebounds, eight assists, four steals and three blocks. Last year, Viggiano averaged 7.0 point and 2.9 rebounds per game. He became one of 16 true freshmen in UMass history to start at least 20 games (and the first since Tony Barbee and Harper Williams each made 26 starts in 1989-1990), and drew 21 straight starts to end the year. Viggiano recorded nine double-digit scoring games in 2002-2003, the most for a true UMass freshman since Marcus Camby recorded 14 such performances in 1993-1994.
BOWERS HAVING A FINE ROOKIE CAMPAIGN: Freshman guard Art Bowers (Wilmington, Del.) was in the starting lineup at shooting guard for each of UMass' first five games this season, before missing the Central Connecticut game due to injury. He had a career night in the victory over Vermont, totaling a career-high 16 points and a team-best seven rebounds, while hitting seven of 11 shots from the floor and both of his three-point attempts. Bowers also came up big against Saint Francis (N.Y.), totaling 14 points while hitting five of eight shots from the field, including two of three from three-point range. Through five games this season, he is averaging 8.8 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists. Bowers came to UMass from St. Benedict's (N.J.) Prep School, where he averaged 18 points and six rebounds per game last season. He was a two-time All-State selection, and was ranked among the top 50 high school seniors in 2002-2003 by both ESPN.com and PrepStars.
ANDERSON CLIMBS CAREER CHARTS: With his strong start to the 2003-2004 season, senior guard Anthony Anderson continues his assault on the all-time school records for three-point shooting. He currently stands fourth on the school's all-time chart for three-point percentage (.402), while ranking fifth in three-pointers made (167) and sixth in three-point attempts (415). On track to earn a fourth season of competition by graduating by the summer of 2004, Anderson will have a chance to break Monty Mack's school record for three-pointers made (331) and attempted (910), which were set from 1997-2001. Anderson, who also needs just 283 points to become the school's 36th career 1,000-point scorer, already owns two of the top 10 places on the school's single-season chart for three-point goals made.
MINUTEMEN BRING IN PRESEASON HONORS: Senior guard Anthony Anderson was named a preseason third team All-Atlantic 10 Conference selection by the league's coaches and media, announced during Atlantic 10 Media Day on Nov. 6. In addition, freshman guards Art Bowers and Maurice Maxwell were both selected to the preseason Atlantic 10 All-Rookie team. Bowers had previously been honored by Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook, which selected him as the preseason Atlantic 10 Newcomer of the Year.
UMASS PICKED FOURTH IN A-10 EAST: In the Atlantic 10 Conference's preseason poll, conducted among the league's coaches and media, the Minutemen were picked to finish in fourth place in the East Division. Saint Joseph's placed first in the poll and collected all 34 first place votes, with Temple coming in second and Rhode Island third. Following the Minutemen, Saint Bonaventure was ranked fifth and Fordham sixth. Xavier was picked to win the West Division with 17 of 34 first place votes, followed by Dayton (second, 17 first place votes), Richmond (third), La Salle (fourth), George Washington (fifth) and Duquesne (sixth).
MULLINS MAGIC: UMass is currently in its 12th season of play at the William D. Mullins Memorial Center, posting an all-time record of 94-36 in the building. The Minutemen stand 2-1 at the Mullins Center so far this season. UMass was 8-6 in the Mullins Center last year, and has not had a losing record at home since moving into the new arena in 1992-1993. In fact, UMass has gone 21 straight seasons without having a losing record on its homecourt. The Minutemen also own a 59-22 all-time record in regular season Atlantic 10 Conference games at the Mullins Center, and a 3-1 mark in Atlantic 10 Tournament contests.
AMONG THE ATLANTIC 10'S BEST: Over the last 14-plus seasons, Massachusetts owns a 295-163 overall record, good for an average of 20.9 wins per season. The Minutemen have made 10 postseason appearances over that stretch, while winning 20-or-more games in a season seven times. In addition, UMass has posted a winning record in Atlantic 10 play 12 times in the last 14 years, while finishing with an overall record below .500 just three times. After posting no winning campaigns, just two .500 records and a 53-133 overall mark in its first 13 seasons in the Atlantic 10, UMass has gone 150-76 in regular-season league play over the last 14 campaigns en route to 10 conference crowns (five regular season, five tournament). Eight times over the last 14 seasons, 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 14-plus years has won more games overall than UMass (295). Xavier, though, does have 315 victories to its credit over that time frame, but the Musketeers didn't join the league until the 1995-1996 campaign.
MINUTEMEN ON THE RADIO: All University of Massachusetts basketball games can be heard live on the UMass Basketball Radio Network, with WRNX 100.9 FM (Holyoke) serving as the flagship station. Bob Behler is in his fifth season as the play-by-play announcer, while former UMass head coach Jack Leaman is in his 10th year as color analyst. Here is the list of this week's affiliates on the UMass Basketball Radio Network: WCAP 980 AM (Lowell / Boston) and WATD 95.9 FM (Marshfield / Boston). In addition, WMUA 91.1 FM, the UMass student station, will carry a number of Minuteman basketball games during the 2003-2004 season.
THE COORS LIGHT COACH'S SHOW: Head coach Steve Lappas' weekly radio show, "The Coors Light Coach's Show with Steve Lappas," airs live from the Blue Wall Pub in Amherst from 7:00-8:00 p.m. on WRNX 100.9 FM (Holyoke). The show, hosted by Bob Behler, runs throughout the season, and will next air on Monday, Jan. 5. The show is open to the general public.
THE UMASS BASKETBALL SHOW: Head coach Steve Lappas' weekly television show, "The UMass Basketball Show with Steve Lappas presented by Coca-Cola," airs on WGGB Channel 40 (ABC, Springfield) on Sundays at 11:30 p.m. The show will also be shown by WGGB on Sunday afternoons at 12:30 p.m. on weekends when UMass does not play a Sunday game, and on WLVI Channel 56 (Boston) on Sundays at 11:55 p.m.
MINUTEMEN ON TELEVISION: UMass will once again make a number of appearances on live television during the 2003-2004 regular season. Televised games so far this season have come at Texas Tech on Nov. 21 (ESPN2) and at Boston College on Dec. 6 (New England Sports Network). The Minutemen will play on ESPN2 two more times, on Jan. 3 against Tennessee and on Jan. 24 against Temple. UMass will also have four games carried as part of the Atlantic 10 Television Network package, against Duquesne (Jan. 18), Dayton (Feb. 8), Xavier (Feb. 14) and Richmond (Mar. 6). In addition, the Marshall game will be shown in West Virginia on ESPN Regional, and the Mar. 3 contest at Temple will be shown on CN8. So far this season, the Minutemen stand 0-2 in games shown on live television.
DEFENSIVE DOMINANCE: During the 2002-2003 season, the Minutemen were consistently one of the top defensive teams in the Atlantic 10 Conference. UMass allowed only 66.5 points per game last season, the fifth lowest mark in the league, while standing third in the Atlantic 10 in three-point field goal percentage defense (31.6 pct.) and fourth in the conference in field goal percentage defense (41.3 pct.). The Minutemen were even more impressive with their perimeter defense against conference foes, leading the Atlantic 10 in three-point field goal percentage defense (30.4 pct.). UMass held its opponents to 62 points or fewer 14 times last season, posting an 8-6 record in those games. Through six games so far in 2003-2004, the Minutemen are allowing opponents to shoot only 40.7 percent from the floor, ranking second in the Atlantic 10.
ABOUT THE THUNDERING HERD: Marshall enters the game with an overall record of 3-3 on the year, including a 1-0 mark in Mid-American Conference games. The Thundering Herd has alternated wins and losses so far this season, defeating Morehead State (85-71), Radford (79-77) and Northern Illinois (85-76), while falling to North Carolina-Wilmington (65-56), Kentucky (89-76) and Oregon (90-61). Junior guard Ronny Dawn leads the team with an average of 13.3 points per game on the season, while senior forward Marvin Black is averaging 12.7 points per contest, and junior guard A.W. Hamilton chips in with 9.0 points per game. In addition, Black leads the team in rebounding (7.7 rpg), Hamilton paces the squad in assists (6.7 apg) and Dawn has hit 53.8 percent (21 of 39) of his three-point attempts. The Thundering Herd is coming off a 2002-2003 season in which it posted an overall record of 14-15, with a 9-9 mark in the Mid-American Conference.
MARSHALL HEAD COACH RON JIRSA: In his first season as the head coach at Marshall, Ron Jirsa has the Thundering Herd off to a 3-3 start. Jirsa previously served as the head coach at Georgia from 1997-1999, leading the Bulldogs to a 35-30 record and a pair of National Invitation Tournament appearances during his two seasons. In addition, he has spent time as an assistant coach at Dayton (1999-2003), Georgia (1995-1997), Tulsa (1985-1988; 1991-1995), Gardner-Webb (1990-1991), Belmont Abbey (1988-1989), Virginia Commonwealth (1984-1985), Delaware (1983-1984) and Connecticut College (1981-1983). Jirsa is a 1981 graduate of Gettysburg College, where he was a two-year starter and team captain.
MINUTEMATTERS: Current Marshall athletic director and former UMass athletic director Bob Marcum has been on the losing side of the last four meetings between the Minutemen and the Thundering Herd, with an 0-3 record at UMass and an 0-1 mark since moving to Marshall. Marcum was also on the losing end of the only football meeting between the schools, when the Thundering Herd defeated the Minutemen in 2001. The only victory he has been a part of in the series came in the first men's basketball meeting, when UMass downed Marshall in 1997 ... Senior guard Marcus Cox (Bridgeport, Conn.) and sophomore forward Alassane Kouyate (Bamako, Mali) are both expected to miss the entire 2003-2004 season due to injury. Kouyate is eligible to redshirt and will have three years of collegiate eligibility remaining, while Cox's college career is now over ... With the 80-58 victory over Saint Francis (N.Y.), UMass won its season opener for the ninth time in the last 11 years, while moving its all-time record in season openers to 62-33 ... Massachusetts has made at least one three-point field goal in 157 consecutive games and in 533 of 540 games it has played since the arc was added to the college game in 1986-1987 ... UMass has won 26 of its last 28 games when shooting 50.0 percent or better from the field, including this year's 2-0 mark and an 8-2 record in Steve Lappas' tenure in Amherst.
