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• UMass closes out #RamWeek on Saturday at High Noon with a game at VCU on ESPN2. The game concludes a stretch of 5 of 7 away from home.
• The UMass Sports Network will feature the "Voice of the Minutemen" Josh Maurer handling play-by-play duties, along with analysts Tim Collins. The game can be heard live starting at 11:40 a.m. ET on 105.5 FM WEEI (Springfield), 1440 AM WVEI (Worcester), 1200 AM WXKS (Bloomberg Radio in Boston) and 95.9 FM WATD (Boston's South Shore). The broadcast is also available online through www.UMassAthletics.com and on smart phones & tablets through the TuneIn app.
• Bob Picozzi and Jon Crispin will have the call on ESPN2 and Watch ESPN.
TOP STORYLINES
• This is the 106th season of UMass Basketball. UMass has an all-time record of 1,245-1,090 (.533) in 2,335 games. UMass is 466-318 (.595) in conference games, including a 302-298 in Atlantic 10 play. The Minutemen have claimed 15 regular-season conference championships and five tournament titles.
• The Minutemen rank 106th nationally in scoring (70.0), 16th in FT made (434), 24th in FT attempted (615), 112th in FT pct. (70.6%), 102nd in steals (6.9) and 57th in blocks (4.6).
• UMass has won six of its last seven games. The 6-game win streak that ended at URI was the longest stretch since winning six-straight midway through last year.
• UMass is 10-1 when leading at half & 26-3 over the last two years.
• The Minutemen have scored at least 34 points in the first half 11 times this season, going 10-1. They are 10-3 when scoring at least 70 points.
• The Minutemen have outrebounded their opponents in nine of the last 11 games.
• UMass is 32-76 all-time vs. AP Top-25 teams with six wins since 2004. Saturday’s game at No. 25 VCU will be the first this season against a ranked team. Derek Kellogg is 3-10 against ranked teams at UMass.
• UMass is 5-2 in A-10 road games. A win on Saturday would tie VCU for the most league road wins in the league.
• UMass is wearing its alternate black uniform during February for Black History Month. The Minutemen are 6-2 when wearing them, with wins over Manhattan, Florida State, Rhode Island, La Salle, St. Bonaventure and Duquesne. The two losses came at BYU in overtime and Wednesday at Rhode Island.
SERIES HISTORY WITH VCU
• VCU leads the series 2-1 following UMass’ win in Amherst 365 days ago.
• The Rams defeated UMass 86-68 in Richmond on Feb. 14, 2013 in the first-ever game between the schools. The Minutemen led at the break but were outscored 21-1 to open the second half and never recovered. UMass committed a season-high 24 turnovers that resulted in 28 VCU points.
• VCU also won the rematch that occurred in the Atlantic 10 Championship semifinal in 2013, with a 71-62 victory. After trailing by as many as 10 points in the second half, the Minutemen cut the deficit to two points, 58-56, but the Rams forced five turnovers and held UMass to just one field goal to close out the final five minutes of play.
• LAST MEETING (2/21/14 in Amherst): UMass defeated VCU 80-75 in front of asell-out crowd at the Mullins Center in a game that featured 12 lead changes and four ties with neither team leading by double-figures. Chaz Williams led UMass with 20 points and five assists. Derek Gordon scored 16 points, while Trey Davis was huge in the scoring column with 13 points, but more importantly, in breaking the Rams pressure. Cady Lalanne had 10 points and nine rebounds to round out the Minutemen’s offensive leaders. VCU was led by Treveon Graham’s 19 points and eight rebounds. Juvonte Reddic added 13 points and nine rebounds, while Melvin Johnson had 12 points. Rob Brandenberg rounded out the leaders with 10 points. The Rams led by as amany as nine late in the first half before taking a 39-34 lead into the break. UMass regained the lead briefly six minutes into the second period before VCU came back and maintained a 5-point lead for the next six minutes. A 10-4 Minutemen run put UMass ahead for goos with just over two minutes to play. Williams had a huge steal of Briante Weber in a 3-point game with 10 seconds remaining. He and Davis made all six free throws in the final 36 seconds to seal the win.
BACK IN BLACK HISTORY MONTH
• UMass has a 6-2 record this season when wearing its alternate black uniform, with wins over Manhattan, Florida State, Rhode Island, La Salle, St. Bonaventure and Duquesne. The losses came at BYU in overtime and Wednesday at Rhode Island.
• The team decided to wear them during select February games in honor of Black History Month.
UMASS AGAINST RANKED FOES
• UMass is 32-76 all-time vs. AP Top-25 teams with six wins since 2004. Saturday’s game at No. 25 VCU will be the first this season against a ranked team.
• The Minutemen won their only game against a top-25 team last year, defeating #19/20 New Mexico 81-65 in the Charleston Classic semifinals.
• Derek Kellogg is 3-10 against Top 25 teams (wins over No. 25 Kansas in Kansas City on 12/25/09, No. 21 Temple in Atlantic City on 3/9/12 and No. 19/20 New Mexico in Charleston, S.C. on 11/21/13).
UMASS ON THE ROAD
• UMass is 5-6 on the road this season and 5-2 in A-10 play after last Wednesday's 55-53 win at St. Bonaventure.
• UMass won its first two A-10 road contests, claiming back-to-back road games for the first time this season. The Minutemen went a step further in its most recent road stretch, beating Saint Louis, Fordham and St. Bonaventure for a 3-game A-10 road win streak - its longest since 2008.
• A win on Saturday at VCU would be UMass’ sixth A-10 road win, tying VCU for the most this season.
• UMass is 37-48 on the road in seven seasons under Derek Kellogg. A year ago the Minutemen were 7-4 on the road and 4-4 in A-10 road contests.
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