Minutemen Set For Charity Exhibition Against Providence Friars

University of Massachusetts Men's Basketball Notes & Information
Matchup	Massachusetts at Providence
Date \| Time	Oct. 26 \| 4:00 p.m. ET
Location	Providence, RI. \| Amica Mutual Pavilion
Twitter	@UMassMBB
Instagram	@umassbasketball
Facebook	UMass Men's Basketball

PROVIDENCE, RI - The University of Massachusetts basketball program kicks off the 2024-25 campaign as it competes in a charity exhibition against regional rival Providence at 4:00 p.m on Saturday, Oct. 26 at Amica Mutual Pavilion. The broadcast can be found on live on WPRO 99.7 radio with links and live updates available at umassathletics.com or @UMassMBB on X (Twitter). All net proceeds from the contest will help support the Rhode Island Free Clinic (RIFC) and Baystate Children's Hospital.

This week for the Minutemen

The Matchup

Thursday's game marks the 35th meeting all-time between the two New England programs and 16th in Providence. the Friars hold a 25-9 advantage in the series.
The Minutemen will face Providence for the first time since claiming a 79-78 victory on Dec. 7, 2018 in Rhode Island.

Last Season: By THE NUMBers

1 - The Minutemen featured the A-10's no. 1 offense leading the conference in scoring for the entirety of the conference schedule.
2 - UMass coached it's first duo to All-Conference First Team recognition since Stephane Lasme and Rashuan Freeman during the 2006-07 season.
4 - UMass earned its first top-four seed in the Atlantic 10 Championship since the 2007-08 season.
9 - The Minutemen averaged an NCAA best 9.0 points per game off post-ups. first time.
9 - UMass won 9 or more non-conference games in back-to-back seasons for the first time since the 2013-14 campaign.
11 - Massachusetts won 11 conference games, marking the first season with 11 or more such victories since 2006-07.
20 - The Minutemen secured the programs first 20-win season since 2013-14.

Athletes Incoming

The Minutemen welcome 10 newcomers, four of which enter as transfers.
Massachusetts enters 2024-25 campaign with the A-10's no. 4 ranked incoming class according to 247sports, bringing in a host of impressive athletes across multiple positions including Shahid Muhammad, Daniel Rivera, Malek Abdelgowad, Nate Guerengomba, Lewis Walker and Amadou Doumbia.
College of Southern Idaho transfer Shahid Muhammad boasts a 47 inch vertical and 7-4 wingspan while swatting 106 shots over 30 games for the Golden Eagles.
Rivera comes from Bryant University where he averaged 2.2 blocks per game, ranking third in Bulldog program history with 73 in a single season.
The two transfers combined for 179 blocks and 434 rebounds a season ago.
Murray State transfer Malek Abdelgowad makes it a trio of versatile additions in the front court, averaging 3.5 points, 2.7 rebounds and 11.2 minutes per game last season.

Rahsool Is Ready

Senior Rahsool Diggins enters the 2024-25 season as the top returner, team leader and reigning A-10 Co-Most Improved Player recipient.
Diggins progressed in nearly every category last season, including increasing his scoring by 7.9 points per game from the 2022-23 campaign.
Diggins set new single-game career-highs in points (25), rebounds (6), field goals made (9) and three-pointers made (6).
The Philadelphia, Pa. native started all 30 games for the Minutemen averaging a team-high 30.5 minutes per game.
The senior will come into the season taking on added leadership roles both in the locker room and on the court as he plays more at the point guard position.

CURRY COMING BACK FOR YEAR 2

Jaylen Curry returns to Amherst after a freshman campaign which saw him earn A-10 All-Rookie honors while averaging 7.6 points and 2.1 assists per game.
The sophomore played in all 30 games for the Minutemen as a freshman.
Curry recorded double-digit scoring performances in nine conference games a season ago, including a career-high 18 points and four made three-pointers at Loyola Chicago (1/17/24).
Curry looks poised to take over full-time point guard duties in year two, looking to build off multiple explosive offensive moments as a freshman.
A high-level recruit Curry was rated as a top-20 point guard nationally and the no. 12-ranked recruit in Florida by 247Sports out of high school.

Year Three Under Coach Martin

Massachusetts basketball enters its third season under head coach Frank Martin in 2024-25.
Under Martin's leadership the Minutemen enjoyed their best campaign since 2014 last year, finishing with a 20-11 overall record and securing a top-four seed in the Atlantic 10 Championship.
Martin ranks third in program history with a 35-27 record through his first two seasons with the Minutemen, sitting just below Bruiser Flint and Travis Ford.
Coach Martin started his time in Amherst by leading the Minutemen to their best record under a first-year head coach since 1996 and the Myrtle Beach Invitational title during the 2022-23 campaign.
Martin holds a 323-228 (.586) collegiate coaching mark, picking up 171 of his wins in 10 seasons at South Carolina while recording 117 wins in five seasons at Kansas State.
Head coach Frank Martin picked up his 300th collegiate coaching win on Jan. 25, 2023 with a 85-76 win over Richmond.

On The Bench

Head coach Frank Martin boasts a talented staff full of experienced assistants featuring three former head coaches, two former McDonald's All-Americans and a former NBA lottery pick.
Associate Head Coach Allen Edwards was the head coach of the Wyoming Cowboys from 2016-20. Edwards' teams recorded 60 wins over four seasons, including back-to-back 20-win seasons
Assistant Coach Matt Figger spent the last three seasons at UT Rio Grande Valley after four seasons leading Austin Peay.
Assistant Coach Brian Steele enters his second second UMass after spending time on head coach Frank Martin's staff at South Carolina. Steele was a three-year letter winner at South Carolina as a student-athlete and served as a student assistant during the 2015-16 season in addition to the 2016-17 Final Four campaign.
Director of Player Development Anthony Evans spent five seasons as the head coach at FIU following six years as the head coach at Norfolk State. At FIU, Evans' teams ranked in the top-10 percent nationally from 2015-17 in the NCAA Academic Progress Report and coached multiple Conference USA all-league and all-defensive players.
Director of Player Personnel Doug Edwards ed the Seminoles to three straight NCAA Tournament appearances from 1990-93. The Miami, Fla. Native scored 1,604 points in his career and is the only player at FSU to score 500 or more points in three consecutive seasons. Edwards earned All-SEC Second-Team honors as a senior before being drafted with the 15th overall pick by the Atlanta Hawks in the 1993 NBA Draft.
Coaches Allen Edwards, Matt Figger and Anthony Evans combined hold 360 wins and two coach of the year awards at the division I level.
Head Coach Frank Martin coached now associate head coach Allen Edwards and director of player personnel Doug Edwards at Miami Senior High School.

Up Next

The Minutemen open the 2024-25 regular season against New Hampshire hosting the American East for at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 4 at the Mullins Center. The game will be broadcast on NESN and ESPN+ will live updates and links available at umassathletics.com or @UMassMBB on X (Twitter).

Scoreboard