Just Take A Minute: Nov. 9-13, 2009

Boomer bytes

   Friday, Nov. 13

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Friday the 13th doesn't scare us! In fact this Friday the 13th is big day as its the start of the UMass men's basketball season. Tonight the Minutemen take on UCF in Orlando at 7 p.m. Also at 7 p.m., back in Amherst the No. 14/10 hockey team hosts UNH in the first of two home games with the Wildcats. Tomorrow the football team hosts James Madison at 12 Noon.

Here are some previews of the UMass-UCF game tonight in Orlando: Springfield Republican, Daily Hampshire Gazette, Orlando Sentinel, UCFSports.com.

The Orlando Sentinel has a look at the start of the UCF Jordan Era, with Michael's son Marcus starting his career tonight against UMass.

UMass will be wearing white uniforms tonight at UCF as the campus is having its teams wear black this weekend for homecoming including the basketball team and the football team which hosts Top 15 Houston on Saturday. Check out the Central Florida Story.

The New York Times has an in-depth profile of John Calipari with many mentions and connections to Cal's days at UMass in the 1990s.

The Daily Hampshire Gazette and Daily Collegian each have a preview of the hockey series with New Hampshire this weekend.

In the Springfield Republican, Michael Marcou is featured by Dick Baker. The brother of high-scoring forward James is making a name for himself.

The Daily Collegian also has a feature on UMass' potent power play. However, the Minutemen have had to do it without T.J. Syner and have since relied on sophomore Danny Hobbs.

USCHO.com has a look at Hockey East including a bunch of info on UMass.

The Foster's Daily Democrat has a look at New Hampshire's tendency for taking penalties early in the season as they prep for UMass this weekend.

The Daily Collegian has a preview of the women's basketball season-opener vs. Boston University.

The Cape Cod Times has a story on 10 new inductees to the Cape Cod Baseball Hall of Fame including John Awdycki, who played for Orleans - The UMass product won the Cape League batting title in 1965, hitting .407 for Orleans with 44 hits, 28 RBI and 22 runs scored.

Yahoo.com has a story on Cuban baseball star Aroldis Chapman, who is represented by UMass alum and former baseball player Edwin Mejia. He played as a walk-on at UMass - "I was on the team to bring the GPA up," he said - and later went to law school. Mejia established his agency in 2006 and has represented some minor league ballplayers and MMA fighters.

On SNY.tv, Dante Carnevale writes about heading to UMass this weekend for an unofficial alumni weekend. I haven't been in Amherst in a few years, so I'm really looking forward to it. As anyone who's spent any time in Amherst knows, there's nothing like the food up there. I plan on eating at Bueno y Sano, Pasta e Basta, and, of course, the world famous Antonio's Pizza.

Check This Out On UMassAthletics.com: Three new Auctions have been posted included an Etienne Brower No. 22 basketball jersey from 2005-06 as well as a No. 99 football jersey from the early 2000s and a No. 33 football jersey from the 2006 NCAA Championhip game season.

Don't Miss This: Two monster games tonight at 7 p.m. The basketball season opens in Florida as the Minutemen take on UCF as year two of the Derek Kellogg Era gets underway. Back at home, the nationally-ranked hockey team hosts the first of two-game set with UNH at the Mullins Center.

   Thursday, Nov. 12

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Coming off a great basketball radio show last night at Arizona Pizza Company, join us tonight at the Hangar Pub & Grille for the latest installment of the Bud Light UMass Football Radio Show with Kevin Morris. The show which kicks off at 7 p.m., will feature seniors Joe Sanford and Scott Woodward. The men's basketball team departed for Orlando this morning in preparation of Friday's opener at UCF.

In the Springfield Republican, Ron Chimelis has a feature story on UMass' senior kicker Armando Cuko. With 30 career 3-pointers, Cuko is tied for the UMass record with Silvio Bonvini, whose mark has lasted since 1988. With two games left, Cuko already owns the school single season record with 18. He has missed only five times this year.

The James Madison Breeze has a preview of the UMass-JMU game.

The Binghamton Press & Sun Bulletin has a feature story on true freshman tailback Jamar Smith, who is redshirting this season with the Minutemen. "It can get tiresome, a little frustrating, but I can handle it," Smith said. "I'll just try to work hard knowing I'll be on the field next year."

The Eagle-Tribune has a story on the son for former UMass football star Matt Tulley. Zach Tulley is the son of three-time All-Yankee Conference linebacker at UMass and former Eagle-Tribune All-Star at Central Catholic Matt Tulley and the former Donna Getchell of the famous ex-Methuen High Getchells. Zach Tulley, a two-way starter at tight end and linebacker, leads the Astros Saturday afternoon (1 p.m.) when No. 4 Pinkerton travels to top-seeded Salem in the New Hamshire Division 1 semifinals.

The campus.com/2009/11/11/football-quarterback-smith-sidelined-for-rest-of-season/">Maine Campus reports Black Bear quarterback Warren Smith is out for the year. In Saturday's loss to James Madison, Maine lost its starting quarterback to a broken foot for the remainder of the season. The sophomore took several hard hits and was forced to leave the game late in the fourth quarter.

The Boston Globe has a wonderful feature story on UMass' Ricky Harris and the 2009-10 Minutemen. Globe writer Mike Vega writes about Harris will be expected to "raise" his game in all areas as a senior.

The Lexington Herald-Leader has a feature story on UMass assistant coach Vance Walberg's Dribble-Drive Motion Offense, which has been installed this season by former UMass coach and new Kentucky head man John Calipari.

In the Daily Hampshire Gazette, Matt Vautour has an article on UMass basketball taking part in some "odd games" that have been meaningful for reasons other than the on-court action. On Friday, UMass will be the other team on the floor for the Central Florida debut of Marcus Jordan, the younger son of NBA Legend Michael Jordan. Marcus Jordan has been in the center of a shoe controversy in recent weeks. Central Florida's athletic department has a sponsorship deal with adidas, but Jordan plans to wear the Nike Air Jordans, a shoe that bears his father's silhouette as its logo.

The Orlando Sentinel reports that at halftime of the Knights' game with UMass Friday, UCF will honor former head coach Torchy Clark and three-time All-America selection Bo Clark by unveiling banners at the UCF Arena. Torchy, who passed away last April at age 80, started the program in 1969 and served as UCF's head coach until 1983.

The Sentinel also has a story on UCF being picked to finish seventh and sophomore point guard A.J. Rompza earned a spot on the All-Conference USA preseason third team.

The Bleacher Report has an overview of the UMass basketball team. Head coach Derek Kellogg enters his second year in leading the Minutemen with enough talent to compete in the Atlantic-10.

The Ithaca Journal has a preview of Cornell basketball, the team UMass opens its home season schedule with next Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.

In his weekly college round-up in the Springfield Republican, Dick Baker takes a look at UMass' women's basketball team opening its season on Sunday against Boston University. After sitting out the required one year as a transfer, Megan Zullo makes her debut after coming here from a big-time program at North Carolina State. Zullo shot 35.2 percent from 3-point range in her last season at NC State after missing most of the previous season with a stress fracture.

UMass hockey alum Chris Davis has moved across the country in the ECHL from the Stockton Thunder in California to the Wheeling Nailers in West Virginia. Late last week the Nailers acquired Davis. The UMass product is in his rookie season of professional hockey and played 3 games with the Stockton Thunder of the ECHL. He scored a career high 10 goals and 17 points with UMass last year in his senior season.

Concord's Paige Hansen, the state's Gatorade Player of the Year, signed a national letter of intent yesterday to play softball for UMass next year. While Hansen had verbally committed to UMass before her junior season, yesterday's signing makes it official. The Concord Monitor has more info.

The Maine Sentinel also has a piece on Samantha Gray, who signed her Letter of Intent to play softball at UMass on Wednesday evening at In The Zone, an indoor softball/baseball facility in Fairfield. "UMass was my first unofficial visit, and I fell in love with it," said Gray, a senior catcher at Skowhegan Area High School. "As soon as I went there, they made me feel part of the family. Even the people from the other teams made me feel like part of the family."

Check This Out On UMassAthletics.com: With the start of the basketball seasons this weekend, be sure to follow the Webcasts Event Coverage Page for all media links for video, audio and live stats as well as where to follow the UMass teams on the radio and TV dials.

Don't Miss This: The Bud Light UMass Football Show with Kevin Morris returns at the Hangar Pub & Grille at 7 p.m. Listen to the show on 100.9 FM as senior Joe Sanford and Scott Woodward will be the player guests. Also on Thursday, two Auctions for UMass basketball gear end at 7 p.m., check out the items.

   Wednesday, Nov. 11

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On this Veterans Day please take a moment to remember and salute all the men and women that have fought to represent this great country ... Here in Amherst, Wednesday means UMass Sports Luncheon at 12:15 p.m. in the Campus Center. Kevin Morris and Toot Cahoon will speak. Tonight at 7 p.m. join us at Arizona Pizza Company for the Bud Light UMass Basketball Show with Derek Kellogg.

The Boston Herald has a lengthy blog entry from UMass alum Dan Duggan, who was at yesterday's men's basketball practice at the Mullins Center. He will have a full preview on Friday, but the blog has some early observations.

Today is the start of the fall National Letter of Intent signing period. See who the UMass winter teams sign for 2010-11.

Happy Birthday to Javorn Farrell, basketball freshman swingman, who turns 19 today.

The publication, Business West has a feature story on the Springfield Armor of the NBA's D-League. It talks about the challenge of bringing a pro team to Western Mass. General Manager Alex Schwerin, a graduate of the UMass Amherst Sports Management Program who worked for some of Savit's baseball teams before being given the opportunity to guide the Armor out of the gate, has been putting the pieces in place for the inaugural season.

In Rhode Island, Providence Journal columnist Bill Reynolds as a look at Rhode Island men's basketball and where the Rams fit in on the Atlantic 10 scene. It has some interesting perspective.

Check This Out On UMassAthletics.com: Looking for some great content for your iPod? Visit the UMass Podcasts Page, it has interviews, shows and highlight clips.

Don't Miss This: The Bud Light UMass Basketball Show with Derek Kellogg is the big event of the day as the show goes on the road for 2009-10. Come to Arizona Pizza Company tonight at 7 p.m. to hear from Coach Kellogg along with senior Ricky Harris.

   Tuesday, Nov. 10

Welcome back on Tuesday to Just Take A Minute. Come out to the Hangar Pub & Grille tonight as UMass' French Connection of Martin Nolet and Mike Lecomte will be the guests on the Bud Light UMass Hockey Show With Toot Cahoon. The show starts at 7 p.m. JTAM also has news on football and basketball.

In the Daily Hampshire Gazette, Matt Vautour has a look at the NCAA FCS Playoff picture. The Springfield Republican, Ron Chimelis also breaks down the playoff race as UMass still has a glimmer of hope of make the postseason. Three Colonial Athletic Association teams won their eighth games Saturday, likely ensuring a trip to the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. Villanova, William & Mary and New Hampshire all joined Richmond with 8-1 records. Eight wins typically is enough to get CAA teams into the playoffs.

The Daily Collegian has its weekly CAA Notebook looking at former No. 1 Richmond losing for the first time.

With the close preseason win over Dowling, Derek Kellogg is still seeing the positives with his young basketball team. Ron Chimelis has the story in the Springfield Republican.

UMass' swim meet sweep of Binghamton is covered in the Daily Collegian and the SUNY school's newspaper, the Pipe Dream.

Sending its novices to compete, the Massachusetts rowing team finished third overall over the weekend at the Green Monster Regatta. The Daily Collegian has the recap.

Also in the Daily Collegian are breakdowns of the A-10 Tournament in men's soccer and Dayton winning the women's A-10s.

Check This Out On UMassAthletics.com: Have a question for Derek Kellogg, Toot Cahoon or Kevin Morris? You can "Ask The Coach" and have your question answered on their weekly radio shows. This week its three shows in three days: Toot Cahoon and the Hockey Show (from the Hangar) on Tuesday, Derek Kellogg and the Basketball Show (from Arizona Pizza Company) on Wednesday and Kevin Morris and the Football Show (from the Hangar) on Thursday.

Don't Miss This: The Bud Light UMass Hockey Show is the big event of the day as Toot Cahoon and host John Hennessy will be joined by Martin Nolet and Mike Lecomte at the Hangar Pub & Grille at 7 p.m.

   Monday, Nov. 9

It was a weekend of wins and season finishes for UMass teams. The hockey team swept Niagara in a home-and-home. The football team routed Northeastern, 37-7 and the men's basketball team narrowly escaped Dowling in its only preseason exhibition. The swim teams also swept Binghamton. On the flip side, the field hockey season ended with a loss in the A-10 semifinals while the men's soccer team did not reach the A-10 Tourney and finished at 7-7-3 overall.

Recaps of UMass football's 37-7 win over Northeastern at McGuirk Stadium come from: the Springfield Republican, Daily Hampshire Gazette, Boston Globe, Boston Herald, Daily Collegian and IKiuCQD9BQTBDG0">Associated Press.

The Daily Hampshire Gazette has a notebook on various items from Saturday's football game.

Armando Cuko was named the Boston Herald's Special Teams Hero on Monday. Beverly senior had three field goals in 37-7 win over Northeastern to set school single-season mark (18) and tie Silvio Bonvini's UMass career record (30).

Looking back at the men's hoop 80-78 exhibition win over Dowling, here are recaps from the Springfield Republican, Daily Hampshire Gazette, Daily Collegian, efeats-dowling-80-78-in-exhibition-game/ ">Daily Collegian 2 and a Masslive.com Live Blog.

Sunday's hockey win at Niagara is covered in the Niagara Gazette, Springfield Republican, Daily Hampshire Gazette, Boston Herald and WKBW in Buffalo. The Daily Hampshire Gazette has a recap of the UMass hockey win over Niagara on Friday night. Daily Collegian reviews both of UMass' wins over the Purple Eagles.

In his round-up of local college sports in the Springfield Republican, Dick Baker mentions UMass women's cross country freshman Courtney Baldwin, who was named the A-10 Rookie of the year. She played soccer every year from the age of 5 right through her senior year at Lowell High School, where she was the team captain. Now she's a XC star.

Despite taking a 1-0 lead into halftime, the Minutewomen could not hold on as they fell in overtime Friday to Richmond in the first round of the Atlantic 10 Tournament. Richmond would go on to beat Temple to take the conference title, 3-0. The Daily Collegian has the recap.

Despite winning a 2-1 overtime win at Richmond on Friday, wins by Rhode Island and Charlotte eliminated UMass from the playoff picture for the first time since 2006. Sunday, the Minutemen fell at George Washington by the score of 3-0. The Daily Collegian looks back at the two games.

Two UMass alums were in action in the NFL on Sunday. With the Baltimore Ravens, Matt Lawrence made a special teams tackle in a 17-7 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. With the Jacksonville Jaguars, Jeremy Cain snapped nine times on kicks and punts in a 24-21 win over the Kansas City Chiefs.

With the New York Jets on a bye week, James Ihedigbo was not in action. Jets assistant coach and former Minuteman star and coach Brian Smith was back in Amherst to watch his alma mater beat Northeastern. He was in the locker room to congratulate the Minutemen after the game.

Interesting column from the Laconia Citizen in New Hampshire by UMass alum and former Daily Collegian Sports Editor Mike Marzelli. The former UMass Sports Network sideline reporter writes about the love of Halloween candy and a legendary Caramello.

Don't Miss This: Getting ready for the start of the 2009-10 basketball seasons. The men open the year on the road at UCF in Orlando on Friday night at 7 p.m. Monday will bring the latest FCS football polls, check back if UMass returns to the polls after a 37-7 thumping of Northeastern on Saturday.

Look Back To The Week Of: Nov. 2-6 | Oct. 26-30 | Oct. 19-23 | Oct. 12-16 | Oct. 5-9 | Sept. 28-Oct. 2 | Sept. 21-25 | Sept. 14-18 | Sept. 7-11 | Aug. 31-Sept. 4 | Aug. 24-28 | Aug. 17-21 | Aug. 10-14 | Aug. 3-8 | July 27-31 | July 20-24 | July 13-17 | July 6-10 | June 29-July 3 | June 22-26 | June 15-19 | June 8-12 | June 1-5 | May 25-29 | May 18-22 | May 11-15 | May 4-8 | April 27-May 1 | April 20-24 | April 13-17 | April 6-10 | March 30-Apr. 3 | March 23-27 | March 16-20 | March 9-13 | Mar. 2-6 | Feb. 23-27 | Feb. 16-20 | Feb. 9-13 | Feb. 2-6 | Jan. 26-30 | Jan. 19-23 | Jan. 12-16 | Jan. 5-9 | Dec. 29, 2008-Jan. 2, 2009 | Dec. 22-26 | Dec. 15-19 | Dec. 8-12 | Dec. 1-5 | Nov. 24-28 | Nov. 17-21 | Nov. 10-14 | Nov. 3-7 | Oct. 27-31 | Oct. 20-24, 2008 | Oct. 13-17, 2008 | Oct. 6-10, 2008 | Sept. 29-Oct. 3, 2008 | Sept. 22-26, 2008 | Sept. 15-19, 2008 | Sept. 8-12, 2008 | Sept. 1-5, 2008 | Aug. 25-29, 2008 | Aug. 18-22, 2008

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