Happy Birthday: Nov. 30 to men's track junior Mark Hewitt.
University of Massachusets Athletics
blog 2010 11
November 2010 Archives
Matt Vautour of the Daily Hampshire Gazette has a notebook on the basketball team and its hopes of taking its play to a higher level than it has played at ... even with a 6-0 start.
Continue reading Gazette: Hoops Looking To Take It To Higher Level.
Don't forget UMass hockey fans that today HockeyEastOnline.com will continue its chat series at 1 p.m. (Eastern) with Massachusetts junior forward T.J. Syner. The chat forum will open a few hours in advance to begin accepting your questions.
Click Here To Chat With Syner On Tuesday At 1 PM
In 11 games this season, Syner has three goals and a team-high six assists with a +2 rating. The assistant captain for the Minutemen has played in 75 career games with 18 goals and 24 assists which is the most for an active skater.
Be sure to join us on Tuesday afternoon for the chat to hear all about how T.J. became involved with hockey, what it's like to play in front of his hometown fans and what it's like to be a college hockey player in the best league in the country.
Today Dick Baker offers some analysis of the UMass hockey team's win over Quinnipiac and takes a look at rookie blueliner Conor Allen, the return of junior winger Shawn Saunders, and gives a mention to the weekly awards that UMass picked up after a 2-0 week.
With two wins last week and a three-game unbeaten streak in place heading into this Saturday's game against UMass Lowell (1:30 PM), the UMass hockey team was picked by USCHO.com Hockey East writer Dave Hendrickson as the top performing league team.
1. Massachusetts
The Minutemen got a much-needed first win last Tuesday over Vermont and continued with a second against Quinnipiac. You can't beat two-for-two. More on UMass in Wednesday's column. (A shameless plug, true.)
After a two goal, two assist week and helping the UMass hockey team win a pair of games against Vermont and Quinnipiac, freshman winger Michael Pereira was named one of the runner-ups for the Inside College Hockey National Player of the Week.
Sampson Carter will be the guest of the night on the UMass Basketball Radio Show at the Hangar Pub & Grill on Monday night. Listen in at 7 p.m., or join us in person.
The Daily Hampshire Gazette has a basketball notebook leading off with Sean Carter's important and increased play off the bench for the last four games.
Since then Carter has thrived. He's averaging 6.25 points and 5.0 rebounds per game in four games as a reserve, culminating in Saturday's effort.
The Daily Collegian also has a story on Carter and his contributions to the UMass win.
"That may have been the best game he's played since he's been here," UMass coach Derek Kellogg said after the win. "I thought Sean was great. Since he's gone to the bench, it's ironic that he's played such good basketball."
Continue reading Gazette, Collegian: Carter Re-Energized In Bench Role.
Check out Matt Vautour's story in the Daily Hampshire Gazette about the Cage's return to glory.
The T-shirts and jerseys were summoned from the backs of closets and the bottoms of old drawers, called into duty for the first time in over a decade.
Among the crowd of 3,395 fans Saturday were T-shirts that read "Final Rage in the Cage," "Sweet Sixteen '92" or "Refuse to Lose." Other fans had old replica tank tops of Marcus Camby and Lou Roe.
Most didn't seem to fit quite as well as they probably did when they were purchased. But nostalgia trumped comfort. Heck, nostalgia trumped pretty much everything Saturday as the Minutemen moved back up the hill for one day.
Continue reading Gazette Feature: Cage Returns To Its Glory.
Take a look back at the media stories on the 83-76 win over Holy Cross at the Curry Hicks Cage on Saturday.
• Springfield Republican: The past is over, but UMass' game at the Cage shows it is worth revisiting ...
• Springfield Republican: Rage at the Cage: UMass holds on to beat Holy Cross at Curry Hicks
• Daily Hampshire Gazette: Minutemen hold on to defeat Holy Cross
• Worcester Telegram: UMass keeps Purple caged
• Boston Globe: Minutemen are all the rage in the Cage
• Boston Herald: UMass will take it
• Daily Collegian: UMass extends unbeaten streak with victory in the Cage
• Examiner: Minutemen Winners in Return to the Cage
• Arena Digest: UMass returns to Curry Hicks Cage -- for single game
Continue reading Recaps Of The Basketball Win At The Cage.
Local media caught up with UMass senior guard, Greenville, N.C., native Megan Zullo in her return to her hometown as the Minutewomen played at the ECU Thanksgiving tournament this weekend in Greenville.
Zullo scored in double figures in both of UMass' contests and was named to the all-tournament team after averaging 12.0 points per-game on the weekend.
Check out Derek Bayne's nice feature on Zullo from the WCTI12 Sunday night sports.
Zullo scored in double figures in both of UMass' contests and was named to the all-tournament team after averaging 12.0 points per-game on the weekend.
Check out Derek Bayne's nice feature on Zullo from the WCTI12 Sunday night sports.
With a perfect 6-0 record, UMass is just one of 32 teams that is still undefeated in NCAA Division I. Of the 348, less than 10 percent of teams have not lost yet this season with UMass being the only team in the Atlantic 10. Check the NCAA Standings for all the conferences. Check out the complete list through Sunday night:
7-0: Notre Dame, Pitt, Cleveland State, Loyola (Ill.)
6-0: Duke, UMass, Iowa State, Kansas, Georgetown, Syracuse, Indiana, Minnesota, BYU, San Diego State
5-0: Missouri, Cincinnati, Connecticut, Ohio State, Memphis, UCF, UNLV, Tennessee, South Dakota State, Boise State, Hawaii
4-0: Baylor, Louisville, Northwestern, Southern Miss, Washington State, Mississippi State, UMKC
This Thanksgiving weekend, read this feature in the Newark Star-Ledger on UMass alum James Ihedigbo and his contributions to the Jets on the field and off the field in his heritage land of Africa.
In the Jets' defensive backfield, James Ihedigbo is known as the "hype man." "He's like Lil Jon," secondary coach Dennis Thurman said, referencing the crunk rapper known for getting crowds fired up. "He's that guy for us." The fourth-year safety has a contagious energy on game days, delivering inspirational speeches and inciting his teammates in a way that makes his coaches grin. He thrives on the hunt for big plays, and celebrates with his trademark digging act afterward, as he did on a key punt recovery against the Bengals on Thanksgiving night. Ihedigbo's passion is unmistakable, but just as important has been learning how to harness it: in football, as a core special-teams player and versatile defensive sub, and in life, as he works to carry on his late father's commitment to educational opportunities, particularly for those of African descent. "It comes with maturity," Ihedigbo said. "Understanding the player I need to be on the field, and who I am off the field."
Continue reading Ihedigbo Featured In Newark Star-Ledger.
UMass alum and all-time leading rusher Marcel Shipp is part of the UFL Football Champions for the second year in a row. Shipp's Las Vegas Locos won the UFL title 23-20 beating the Florida Tuskers. Shipp had 16 carries for 43 yards for the winning Locos.
Here are your game previews to get you set for the UMass return to the Curry Hicks Cage on Saturday.
• Springfield Republican: Nearly 18 years after it left the Cage, UMass returns Saturday
• Daily Hampshire Gazette: Buzz is back as Cage reopens; UMass plays first regular-season game at Curry Hicks since 1993
• SNY.tv: Extra Points: Thankful for Rivalry Week
Continue reading Game Previews Of UMass-Holy Cross Basketball.
Happy Birthday: Nov. 27 - Alyssa Visconti
The Springfield Republican has a nice preview of the UMass-Holy Cross game at the Curry Hicks Cage on Saturday.
To the players, it has been a place to practice when the Mullins Center is not available. To older fans, it was home to Julius Erving, Al Skinner and Jack Leaman, and where John Calipari first forged his coaching identity.
Nearly 18 years after the University of Massachusetts men's basketball team abandoned Curry Hicks Cage as a prime tenant, the 4,058-seat barn retains a beloved place in school annals.
Continue reading Republican: UMass Returns To Cage Saturday.
Matt Vautour of the Daily Hampshire Gazette has a great feature story on the UMass basketball team and its visit to the VA Hospital in Northampton.
With too little time between Wednesday's win over American International College and Saturday's 3 p.m. game against Holy Cross, most of the University of Massachusetts men's basketball players didn't go home for Thanksgiving.
Instead, the Minutemen visited and shared a turkey dinner with staff at the Northampton Veteran Affairs Medical Center in Northampton on Thursday.
UMass coach Derek Kellogg said it was a new experience for most of his players and he was proud of the way they handled themselves.
"It was an eye-opening thing for a lot of us. You want to go and have a good time and brighten somebody's day and let them know we appreciate what they've done," Kellogg said. "Some of them don't have families or can't get home to their families, so it was good to go and change the monotony."
Continue reading Gazette Feature On VA Thanksgiving Visit.
If you were watching the Jets-Bengals game on Thanksgiving night, you saw a pair of UMass grads play with James Ihedigbo making several key plays in the Jets' 26-10 win on the NFL Network. Ihedigbo recovered a muffed punt that led to the winning touchdown. He also had a big block on an 89-yard kickoff return by Brad Smith. Ihedigbo also had a pressure on Carson Palmer.
With the Bengals in his NFL debut, Jeromy Miles made two tackles in the third quarter on special teams.
Check out this story on Ihedigbo in the New York Post.
"Thank God I had the opportunity to make a big play and kind of contribute," Ihedigbo said after the Jets' 26-10 win over the Bengals last night at New Meadowlands Stadium. "Then we get another touchdown out of it. Everything happens for a reason."
Continue reading Ihedigbo Keys Jets Thanksgiving Win.
UMass' Brandon London is with the Montreal Alouettes and will have a chance to win the CFL's Grey Cup this Sunday in Edmonton. London is in this photo from the Edmonton Sun. London is in the jersey No. 24 on the left. Montreal plays Saskatchewan at 6 p.m., on Sunday.
Here are recaps from Wednesday's pre-Thanksgiving win over American International, 83-56.
• Springfield Republican: Leading by 1 at halftime, UMass pulls away in 83-56 win over AIC
• Daily Hampshire Gazette: Minutemen recover to blow out AIC
• Worcester Telegram: Minutemen (5-0) wake up in second half
• Boston Globe: UMass rebuffs AIC
• NBC22: 2nd half runs leads UMass past AIC
Here are various stories on Jeromy Miles promotion to the active roster for the Cincinnati Bengals.
• Daily Hampshire Gazette: Needing help, Bengals sign Jeromy Miles
• Springfield Sun: Cincinnati braces for hot Jets team
• SI.com: Battered Bengals promote S Miles
• Bengals.com: Probable Palmer boots boot: "I'm playing'; Miles promoted
• Cincinnati Enquirer: Miles promoted, Adeyanju waived
UMass will be honoring former players that played at the Curry-Hicks Cage as the Minutemen play their first regular-season game at UMass' home from 1941-1993 on Saturday at 3 p.m. vs. Holy Cross. Harper Williams headlines the group with many more expected. Among the players who have confirmed attendance are:
Don Akerson '58
Jim Burke '76
Chuck Demers '53
John Edgar '57
Bob Eichorn '60
Eldon Goodhue '65
Thomas Kelly '43
Tom McLaughlin '73
Ed McGrath '49
Sam Provo '72
Peter Trow '76
John Widdison '62
Harper Williams '93
With a throwback game at the Curry-Hicks Cage on Saturday, the Minutemen will be sporting their new throwback uniforms for the first time in the game against Holy Cross. This year's throwback jerseys are replicas of the 1995-96 Final Four season. The style was worn from 1994-97 and will be on display Saturday. They will be worn several other times this season.
For tickets call 1-866-UMASS-TIX.
John Garner, Jr. of the Cape Cod Times wrote a nice piece titled CCSC's Ripple Effect Felt At UMass on the pipeline of swimmers the Cape Cod Swimming Club has provided to the UMass men's and women's swimming programs.
Shortly after the University of Massachusetts finished its win over Texas Christian Monday night, UMass coach Derek Kellogg began telling his team that American International College would be a formidable opponent.
The Minutemen and the Division II Yellow Jackets play tonight at 7 p.m. at the Mullins Center in the last game of the Tip-Off Classic.
Here are previews from the media:
• Daily Hampshire Gazette: UMass men's basketball hosts underdog AIC
• Springfield Republican: Basketball battle of the 413 area code: UMass will take on AIC
Tyler Holmes, a consistent success in the University of Massachusetts football team's inconsistent season, received a pair of significant honors on Monday.
Holmes was named the Colonial Athletic Association's co-Defensive Player of the Year along with Richmond linebacker Eric McBride.
Read about Holmes' honors and others in various stories:
• Daily Hampshire Gazette: Holmes collects defensive honors for UMass
• Boston Globe: Holmes Gains CAA Honors
• Boston Herald: Honor for Holmes
• The Examiner: UMass Athletics Weekend Roundup
Here are stories on UMass' basketball's 67-48 win over TCU on Monday night in Springfield.
• Springfield Republican: Derek Kellogg's UMass Minutemen are exceeding expectations
• Daily Hampshire Gazette: Minutemen dominate TCU at Tip-Off Classic
• Boston Herald: Minutemen stomp 'em
• Daily Collegian: Minutemen receive balanced attack in win over TCU
• Daily Collegian: Farrell playing well since returning from injury
• Fort Worth Star Telegram: Horned Frogs men give ugly effort in loss to UMass
• SportPage Magazine: Minutemen Dominate TCU in, 67-48, Win
Read Ron Chimelis' column in the Springfield Republican about the Hall of Fame Tip-Off. Here's a glimpse ...
The games were good. The teams were of reasonable caliber. Yet something was missing from the Hall of Fame Tip-Off basketball tournament. Fans.
The normal next step to the discussion is to criticize the market. Springfield doesn't support anything, right? Wrong. At least this time.
This poorly-attended tournament was sabotaged when the Hall of Fame could sign only seven Division I teams and not eight, forcing the traditional brackets to be replaced by a confusing schedule of teams in no discernible format.
It was doomed when fans were denied the chance to buy single-game tickets. That probably kept a lot of UMass fans away, and it was the UMass presence that officials were counting on to carry this event.
Continue reading Chimelis' Column On Hall Of Fame Tip-Off .
Since joining the NHL's Minnesota Wild after his sophomore season at UMass, Casey Wellman has become a fan favorite in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. On the Wild's website, they had fans submit questions for Casey to answer and yesterday, he did.
Casey Wellman is one of the few players in Minnesota Wild to join the team as a free agent right out of college. Having just completed his sophomore campaign at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Wellman signed a free agent deal with Minnesota and was here the remainder of the season. Wellman started this season as a member of the Houston Aeros, but he was quickly recalled and the speedy forward has been playing big minutes ever since.
Wellman is the sixth Minnesota Wild player to answer fan emails this season, and he's the new record holder for receiving the most questions. Granted, a lot of those were questions from some ladies looking to score a date, and they'll be sad to know that Casey has a girlfriend.
But he got plenty more questions that he was happy to talk about, including the decision to turn pro, the influence of his professional baseball playing father and why teammates are calling him "Shane Falco."
Wellman is the sixth Minnesota Wild player to answer fan emails this season, and he's the new record holder for receiving the most questions. Granted, a lot of those were questions from some ladies looking to score a date, and they'll be sad to know that Casey has a girlfriend.
But he got plenty more questions that he was happy to talk about, including the decision to turn pro, the influence of his professional baseball playing father and why teammates are calling him "Shane Falco."
Steve Levine of the Daily Collegian has a feature today on freshman winger Michael Pereira who leads UMass in scoring.
The Massachusetts hockey team was expecting contributions from its large crop of freshmen players. Nobody expected the type of production rookie forward Michael Pereira has provided thus far, as he is tied for the team-lead in goals (five) and points (seven) through the team's first nine games.
"Michael has done a great job," UMass coach Don Cahoon said. "He brings athleticism and a real sense around the goal in terms of offensive finishing - something that we need as much of as we can get. It's nice to have a freshman come in and be able to contribute right away on that front."
It's time for the annual pre-Thanksgiving meeting between UMass and Vermont. Here are the previews of tonight's match-up.
Daily Hampshire Gazette: UMass looks for elusive first win in pre-Thanksgiving matchup
Daily Collegian: UMass hockey still seeks first win of season
Burlington Free Press: Hockey Catamounts face UMass on the road
Wishing a Happy Birthday to football's Nick Jablonski and Caleb Violette along with lacrosse's Anthony Toresco
Another feature story on Greg Mauldin's recent NHL success as the MetroWest Daily News also ran a piece on him.
Greg Mauldin's boxes remain over a thousand miles away, untouched and unpacked in his new Cleveland apartment.
His home for the past few weeks has been the somewhat spacious but decidedly bland confines of a Residence Inn room in Denver. But for now, Mauldin would rather keep collecting those Marriott points than decorate his new digs.
The Holliston native is currently in his third tour of duty in the National Hockey League, although this one has been by far the most rewarding.
Click here to read the entire story.
In addition to his game recap in the Daily Hampshire Gazette, check out this notebook/preview of tonight's game vs. TCU.
University of Massachusetts senior guard Anthony Gurley enjoyed the University of Massachusetts men's basketball team's Saturday night win over New Mexico State, but warned against getting too excited.
"Last year we had a big time win against Memphis and in the next game we had a let down against Boston College," Anthony Gurley said. "It's important that we keep steady progress. We're not satisfied yet. We want more."
Continue reading Gazette: Gurley Warns Against Letdown.
Look back at the recaps from UMass' 71-57 win over New Mexico State at the MassMutual Center.Daily Hampshire Gazette:Minutemen get easy win over New Mexico State Boston Globe: Minutemen win in their comfort zone Boston Herald: Minutemen stay hot behind Anthony Gurley Worcester Telegram: Fast start key for Minutemen Springfield Republican: A fast start and Javorn Farrell's return help UMass 3-0 start Daily Collegian: Minutemen extend winning streak to three games WWLP NBC22: UMass dominates New Mexico State Examiner: Minutemen Roll Over Aggies in Tip Off Classic ABQ Journal: Minutemen Start Fast, Put NMSU Away Early Las Cruces Sun News: Aggies drops tourney opener, second straight game
Dick Baker had a busy weekend covering hockey on his blog even though the Minutemen essentially had a "bye" week heading into Tuesday's Pre-Thanksgiving Tilt with Vermont.
Former UMass women's lacrosse head coach Francesca Den Hartog, who was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall Of Fame, is featured on Lacrosse Magazine's website for her innovation in being the first woman to use a plastic head.
Carole Kleinfelder on Francesca Den Hartog
The three videos below feature old-school highlights of former Harvard player and UMass coach Francesca Den Hartog, the first woman to use a plastic head in the NCAA and for Team USA, and her fondest lacrosse memory: the game-winning goal in the 1989 World Cup final.
Boston Globe: Jonathan Quick and the L.A. Kings earned a 4-3 win over Boston in an overtime shootout making 38 saves.
Boston Herald: The Herald has a nice feature on Greg Mauldin who was recently called up to the Colorado Avalanche scoring his first career goal against the team which originally drafted him, Columbus. Mauldin is a native of Holliston and played for the Boston Junior Bruins before coming to UMass.
Albany Times-Union: The Albany Times-Union has a question and answer with alum Matt Anderson who is playing with the Albany Devils this year in the AHL.
The women's lacrosse team announced 10 signees to National Letters of Intent last week. The Daily Collegian and LaxPower both have stories on the announcement of first-year head coach Angela McMahon's recruiting class. McMahon calls this one of the strongest recruiting classes in program history.
The Daily Collegian has a feature on Darren Rowe written by Steve Levine. The piece focuses on Rowe coming from the non-traditional hockey state of California.
As a five-year-old growing up in Southern California, Darren Rowe had no idea he would wind up across the country playing defense for the Massachusetts hockey team.
Tired from practice, Rowe emerged from the practice rink's locker room clearly drained. But there's never a time when Rowe refuses to play, or even talk about hockey.
Rowe hails from Simi Valley, about 40 minutes northeast of Los Angeles and 20 minutes from the Ventura County beach. It's not your typical hockey area, but Rowe's interest in the sport flourished nonetheless, and he credits his father and great uncle for introducing him to the sport.
The Springfield Republican's Ron Chimelis has a story on UMass looking to move to 4-0 on Monday against TCU.
Also on the news front related to the Horned Frogs, TCU moved to 3-1 in handing Bradley its first loss of the season with a 74-68 decision on Sunday. Read more about the game in the Springfield Republican.
Continue reading Republican: Hoops Looks To Continue Strong Start.
Look back at the tough 37-34 loss to Rhode Island on Saturday.
Here's your weekly look at UMass' pros in football:
In the NFL
• The Jets won their third game in a row in dramatic last-second fashion, beating the Texans 30-27. James Ihedigbo had four tackles for the Jets on defense and special teams. Vladimir Ducasse was inactive again.With the Jaguars, Jeremy Cain snapped six times in a 24-20 win over Cleveland. Matt Lawrence continues to be on the physically unable to perform list with the Ravens. Victor Cruz is on injured reserve with the Giants. Jeremy Horne is on the practice squad with the Chiefs as is Jeromy Miles with the Bengals. Brandon London will have a chance to win the Grey Cup next weekend with the Montreal Alouettes, as they beat the Toronto Argos 48-17 in the Eastern Final on Sunday. London didn't play in the win, as he's injured.
Marcel Shipp will have a chance to win the UFL title next weekend, on Saturday at 11 a.m. He played close to his college home in Hartford with the Las Vegas Locos, in a 27-14.
Shipp had just 12 yards on 11 carries for the Locos.
In the CFL
In The UFL
Happy Birthday: Nov. 20 - Football's Stephane Milhim
Here are all the previews to get you set for Saturday's huge CAA game at Rhode Island.
• Daily Hampshire Gazette: Playoffs or bust for UMass football team
• Daily Hampshire Gazette: Must-win game for Minutemen at Rhode Island
• Springfield Republican: In a crowded FCS playoff field, UMass must win Saturday
• Daily Collegian: Minutemen playoff dreams on the brink as URI nears
• Daily Collegian: Griffin still strong for Minutemen
• Boston Globe: This weekend's NE games
• Providence Journal: RI college football previews: All seniors get their due this weekend
• Providence Journal: A memorable season for local college football teams
The Massachusetts men's and women's swimming teams are preparing for their biggest challenge of the season thus far; a road trip to Boston University for the Terrier Invitational Tournament. The preliminaries for the tournament begin Friday, Nov. 19 at Competition Pool and run until the finals of the tournament are concluded on Sunday night.
Check out the Daily Collegian's Nick Bellofatto's preview of the weekend as well as UMassAthletics.com's preview.
NY Jets safety, James Ihedigbo, phones into the Boomer & Carton show to preview this Sunday's Jets-Texans showdown on WFAN's Boomer & Carton. Ihedigbo graduated from UMass after the 2006 football season and is an Amherst native.
Continue reading Alum James Ihedigbo On WFAN's Boomer & Carton.
Check out coverage from the Daily Collegian as the school paper takes a look at this weekend's Hall Of Fame Tip-Off in Springfield.
Continue reading Daily Collegian Coverage Of Hoops In Springfield.
Best wishes for a great birthday to football freshman Matt Heilig on Nov. 19.
The Springfield Republican's Ron Chimelis has a look ahead to Saturday's big football game at Rhode Island.
This game looks a lot harder than it did at the beginning of the season. A lot more important, too.
The University of Massachusetts football team will play at Rhode Island Saturday, needing a victory to retain hope of a postseason berth. The Minutemen (6-4, 4-3 Colonial Athletic Association) would not be assured a spot by winning, but a 7-4 record would make a very strong case.
ESPNBoston.com has a story on Stephane Lasme, the UMass product and a final camp cut of the Boston Celtics this preseason, underwent successful surgery Wednesday afternoon to repair a stress fracture in his left foot, according to the Maine Red Claws.
Lasme, who signed with Maine, the Celtics' NBA Development League affiliate, and hoped to work his way back to the parent club, will be sidelined "indefinitely." His surgery was performed by Dr. Gregory Pomeroy at Mercy Hospital in Portland, Maine.
"We were very excited to have Stephane Lasme on our team, and it is disappointing that Red Claws fans will have to wait to see what an incredible athlete and person he is," Red Claws president and general manager Jon Jennings said in a release. "First and foremost, however, our concern is with Stephane, and his health and career. We wish him the best in his recovery and look forward to seeing him playing at the Expo as soon as possible."
Continue reading Lasme Out Indefinitely After Foot Surgery.
The Daily Hampshire Gazette's Matt Vautour has a story on UMass' football game at Rhode Island on Saturday. Check out Matt Vautour's story on the "must win game."
Continue reading Gazette: Must-Win Game For UMass Football.
In a match-up of former UMass stars, Marcus Camby and his Portland Trailblazers topped the Denver Nuggets and Gary Forbes 86-83 at the Rose Garden in a game televised nationally on TNT. More coverage with a photo of Forbes dunking on Denver Post.
Camby had 14 rebounds to go with five points and three blocks in 36 minutes. Forbes came off the bench for four points and two rebounds in 17 minutes.
Two former UMass Atlantic 10 Players of the Year will battle tonight on TNT as Gary Forbes and Denver Nuggets will take on Marcus Camby and the Portland Trailblazers at 10:30 p.m.
Here is a game preview from NBA.com also more coverage in these outlets: The Oregonian and in the Denver Post: J.R. Smith loses playing time to Nuggets teammate Gary Forbes
Join us at the final regular-season Bud Light UMass Football Radio Show at the Hangar Pub & Grill at 7 p.m. Tonight's special guests alongside Coach Kevin Morris are All-American candidates linebacker Tyler Holmes and wide receiver Anthony Nelson. If you have a question for Coach Morris, ask it below or listen on 100.9 FM and 1510 AM in Boston
Check out the previews of the Daily Collegian of the UMass football regular-season finale.
Continue reading Daily Collegian's Football Previews Vs. URI.
The Denver Post has a nice story on Gary Forbes and how he is garnering more playing time with the Nuggets with his impressive play.
Forbes, once an unlikely candidate to even make the roster, was asked if felt like he was the Nuggets' secret weapon. He smiled.
"I like it," Forbes said. "Keep me out of the scouting report."
As for what he's been able to accomplish early this season, including a career-high 19 points against the Knicks, Forbes said he's not surprised.
"No," he said. "I'm a real confident person. I always had it in the back of my head that I can play at this level, and I'm getting a blessed opportunity to show it."
Continue reading Forbes Gains More Time With Nuggets.
Michael Wood has an article in today's Daily Collegian on women's basketball head coach Sharon Dawley's pair of signees, Emily Mital and Ronni Grandison.
Mital is a 5-8 point guard/shooting guard out of Frisco Liberty High School in Frisco, Texas and Grandison is a 5-10 forward out of Lakota West High School in West Chester, Ohio.
Mital is a 5-8 point guard/shooting guard out of Frisco Liberty High School in Frisco, Texas and Grandison is a 5-10 forward out of Lakota West High School in West Chester, Ohio.
Check out this feature on senior linebacker Mike Mele in the Daily Hampshire Gazette.
On almost any other team, linebacker Mike Mele would be a star. The Syracuse transfer is fifth in the Colonial Athletic Association with 9.9 tackles per game and has made 43 in the last three weeks.
But Mele, a senior who has started every game this season at middle linebacker for the University of Massachusetts, has been overshadowed this season by teammate and fellow linebacker Tyler Holmes.
Continue reading Gazette: Mele Basks In Holmes' Shadow.
Check out what the media has to say after UMass beat Sacred Heart, 73-65.
• Springfield Republican: Playing in spurts, UMass slogs its way to a 73-65 win
• Daily Hampshire Gazette: UMass team holds off Pioneers for second straight win
• Daily Hampshire Gazette: Traynham shows promise for Minutemen
• Worcester Telegram: Minutemen hold off Pioneers' surge
• Boston Herald: College Round-Up
• WWLP NBC22: "Ugly win" for UMass
• Examiner: Minutemen Hold on for Ugly Win Over Sacred Heart
• Daily Collegian: Minutemen escape Sacred Heart, 73-65, on Wednesday
• Daily Collegian: Carter improves game against Sacred Heart
Check out this story from the Springfield Republican focusing on this weekend's Hall of Fame Tip-Off at the MassMutual Center.
This weekend's Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off is expected to bring $1.2 million in economic activity to the region along with a lot of thrilling basketball action.
The men's college basketball tournament will feature 12 teams, including local favorites UMass, Springfield College and American International College, and national powerhouses such as the University of Southern California and Texas Christian University for 10 games over three days starting at the MassMutual Center on Saturday afternoon.
Continue reading Republican: Hall Tourney Generates Business.
In addition to the men's basketball season preview in today's Daily Collegian, Pete Vasquez ran a feature on field hockey senior Jaime Bourazeris. Vasquez writes of Bourazeris journey and rise as one of the Atlantic 10's best defenders. "She's a coach's dream," (High school coach Kori) Brocking said. "She's going to execute whatever goal it is and she's going to achieve it. That's just the type of person she is."
Also in today's Collegian is a feature on freshman Lindsay Bowman, written by Michael Wood. "She was one of the latest recruits we picked up," (Head Coach Justine) Sowry says. "What we had noticed about her was her athleticism and her competitive spirit or nature."
Also in today's Collegian is a feature on freshman Lindsay Bowman, written by Michael Wood. "She was one of the latest recruits we picked up," (Head Coach Justine) Sowry says. "What we had noticed about her was her athleticism and her competitive spirit or nature."
Here are stories on the UMass basketball team as the Minutemen prepare to face Sacred Heart tonight at the Mullins Center. The Daily Collegian ran its 2010-11 season preview with tons of coverage on the Maroon & White.
• Daily Collegian: Student support praised by Kellogg
• Daily Collegian: Minutemen looking to continue momentum against Sacred Heart
• Daily Collegian: Derek Kellogg uses past relationship in recruiting with Minutemen
• Daily Collegian: UMass alums finding work in the pros
• Daily Collegian: Minutemen need to take big step forward
• Daily Collegian: Playing hoops with Derek Kellogg
• Daily Collegian: Walk-ons show promise, potential
• Daily Collegian: Minutemen looking for improvement in third season under Derek Kellogg
• Daily Collegian: Senior Gary Correia mentoring freshman Daryl Traynham
• Daily Collegian: A look at the 2010-11 Minutemen
• Daily Collegian: Anthony Gurley looks to lead in senior year
• Daily Collegian: Atlantic 10 Predictions
• Daily Collegian: Sophomores primed to make jump
Here are Wednesday's stories looking at tonight's game vs. the Pioneers.
• Springfield Republican: Busy week ahead will test the UMass basketball team's depth
• Daily Hampshire Gazette: Minutemen welcome a rebuilding Sacred Heart
• Daily Collegian: Minutemen looking to continue momentum against Sacred Heart
UMass will have three former players suiting up in NHL games tonight as Jonathan Quick, Casey Wellman and Greg Mauldin will all be in action.
Wellman and the Minnesota Wild will host Anaheim at 8 PM, Mauldin and the Colorado Avalanche will host San Jose at 9 PM, while Quick and the L.A. Kings will host Columbus at 10:30 PM. All times are Eastern.
UMass product Gary Forbes had his best NBA game to date, and against his hometown team no less. Forbes tallied career-highs of 19 points and 9 rebounds for his Denver Nuggets, who beat the New York Knicks, 120-118 last night. Here are several stories mentioning the Brooklyn native's big night.
"He's earning his way onto the court, like a man," Coach George Karl said of Forbes, who previously played in Italy and Israel. "I'm very happy for him. I am a little surprised by how effective he's becoming."
• Denver Post: Nuggets edge Knicks in possible audition for Carmelo Anthony
• New York Daily News: Knicks lose to Denver on Amar'e Stoudemire's birthday
• Examiner.com: Carmelo, Karl plotlines run deep as Nuggets down Knicks
HockeysFuture.com has a depth analysis of the Worcester Sharks with several mentions for former UMass skaters including what they do well and what they need to work on in order to have a shot at making it in the NHL. Included references are to James Marcou, Justin Braun and Matt Irwin.
In Dick Baker's MassLive.com Hockey Blog, he takes a look at the next two home games for UMass, he writes about the atmosphere of New Hampshire, and has some quotes from the Hockey East Media Teleconference that was held yesterday morning.
Fans can submit questions for Casey Wellman to answer next Monday on the Minnesota Wild's web site.
We've heard from Nick Schultz, Cal Clutterbuck, Brad Staubitz, Mikko Koivu and Justin Falk. Now, Casey Wellman will step into the fan spotlight and face questions from the masses. The speedy rookie, who started the season in Houston, has ramped up his game and he's now getting significant ice time on the top lines, and the power play. With three games in four nights starting tomorrow, Casey's answers to your questions will appear on Wild.com on Monday.
Click here to submit your question to Casey.
We've heard from Nick Schultz, Cal Clutterbuck, Brad Staubitz, Mikko Koivu and Justin Falk. Now, Casey Wellman will step into the fan spotlight and face questions from the masses. The speedy rookie, who started the season in Houston, has ramped up his game and he's now getting significant ice time on the top lines, and the power play. With three games in four nights starting tomorrow, Casey's answers to your questions will appear on Wild.com on Monday.
Click here to submit your question to Casey.
Stephen Hewitt of the Daily Collegian has a recap of the rowing team's performance at the Foot of the Charles Regatta in Boston last weekend. "The Lightweight 8+ boat was the strength of the Minutewomen on Saturday, finishing in seventh place with a time of 13 minutes, 47.10 seconds, and was seconds away from claiming a top five finish."
Head Coach Jim Dietz also discussed the team's upcoming winter training trip in Deland, Fla. which is scheduled for early January. "Our athletes have to have that same elitist nature that they got to be ready to go right from the very first day," Dietz said. "And if they are, then we're going to be in really great shape come spring time."
Head Coach Jim Dietz also discussed the team's upcoming winter training trip in Deland, Fla. which is scheduled for early January. "Our athletes have to have that same elitist nature that they got to be ready to go right from the very first day," Dietz said. "And if they are, then we're going to be in really great shape come spring time."
By David Brinch, Daily Collegian: Along with the seven freshmen already set to make their debuts this spring for the Minutewomen, UMass coach Elaine Sortino announced the signing of five high school seniors' National Letters of Intent on Monday in Quianna Diez-Patterson (pictured), Allison Kearney, Anna Kelly, Bridget Lemire and Mikayla Panko. Four players hail from Mass., while Panko will bring her talents to the Minutewomen from Illinois in 2015.
Even though the political elections were just a few weeks ago, it's time to get out there to vote again and let your voices be heard! No, it's not for a governor or a senator, but to vote for a King - specifically Jonathan Quick.
The NHL is allowing fans to vote to name the 2011 NHL All-Star Teams and former UMass standout Quick is one of the goalies you can vote for.
When you vote, you are even entered for a chance to win a trip to Raleigh, N.C. to see the All-Star Game.
The Daily Hampshire Gazette has a basketball notebook which mentions that sophomore swingman Javorn Farrell is likely to miss Wednesday's game vs. Sacred Heart.
"His ankle swelled up and he was having some major pain afterward," said UMass coach Derek Kellogg, who wanted to be cautious. "It's early in the season. We need him to be healthy to do anything special this season
Sacred Heart suffered a 69-51 loss To Fordham last night at Rose Hill Gym and is now 0-2 on the season.
Continue reading Farrell Likely Out For Sacred Heart Game.
Dick Baker takes an extended look at this past weekend's New Hampshire series in his newest blog postings on his MassLive.com Hockey Blog.
Read Matt Vautour's fascinating story about the FCS playoff picture in the Daily Hampshire Gazette. He got an inside glimpse of how some of the discussions might go among the NCAA committee from UMass Athletic Director John McCutcheon, who served on the committee for the last five years.
Continue reading Gazette Breaks Down FCS Playoff Positioning.
Ricky Harris, a former star at UMass, is making his first steps professionally in Europe. Harris, the third all-time leading scorer in UMass history, is trying to adapt to the completely different European basketball style. New place, new culture, but still it's all about the game.
Harris, who averaged 19.8 points, 2.9 assists and 3.5 rebounds during the 09-10 NCAA season, decided to begin his pro career in Lithuania, one of the best basketball countries in Europe. Harris signed a contract with Siauliai and quickly earned a spot in the starting five.
Read more: Europe Interview: Ricky Harris
Continue reading Ricky Harris Featured On RealGM.com.
Check out stories from around the region on how CAA Football teams stand heading into the final regular-season weekend.
• Daily Progress: CAA playoff picture still very cloudy
• WUSA 9: Delaware ascends to the No. 1 ranking
• Foster's Democrat: Sound play saved UNH: 'Nova win means 'Cats are in if they beat Towson
• Boston Herald: UNH shakes up FCS playoff picture
Coming off a tough 45-27 loss to Delaware, the UMass football now stands 19th in the both the Sports Network FCS poll and and FCS Coaches Poll.
Also ranked from the CAA in the TSN Poll are: No. 1 Delaware, No. 6 William & Mary, No. 14 New Hampshire, No. 15 Villanova and No. 18 Richmond
Continue reading Football Ranked 19th In Both Polls.
The Bud Light UMass Basketball Radio Show returns to the airwaves tonight at 7 p.m. Listen to the show on 100.9 WRNX or join us at the Hangar Pub & Grill. Sophomore guard Freddie Riley will be the guest as he will talk about his big night on Friday with 28 points along with head coach Derek Kellogg.
Listen to comments from UMass head coach Kevin Morris on his weekly Monday CAA Teleconference. Nov. 15 - Teleconference.
Also, listen to what Rhode Island coach Joe Trainor had to say about UMass in his weekly comments: Nov. 15 - Teleconference.
A fantastic season for the UMass field hockey team came to a close on Saturday when Justine Sowry's Minutewomen, winners of the Atlantic 10 Championship and an NCAA at-large team, fell to No. 1 Maryland, 4-2 at the Terps Field Hockey Complex. Maryland, the winners of three of the last five National Championships, jumped out to an early 2-0 lead and led 4-1 at halftime, but the Minutewomen outplayed the host team for the latter part of the first half and almost all of the second half. Seniors Makaela Potts and Jaime Bourazeris netted the UMass goals in the final game in the Maroon & White for them and senior captain Katie Kelly. Minutewomen Fall To No. 1 Maryland, Michael Wood, Daily Collegian
Field Hockey Falls To #1 Maryland In NCAAs, 4-2, UMassAthletics.com
Terps Advance To NCAA Second Round, UMTerps.com
Checking in on UMass products in the pro football ranks.In the Jacksonville Jaguars' miracle win of the Houston Texans, 31-24, Jeremy Cain snapped 10 times on kicks and punts for the Jags. In the New York Jets' second straight road OT win, 26-20 at Cleveland, James Ihedigbo had three tackles including a 6-yard sack on Colt McCoy. Vladimir Ducasse was inactive for the Jets. Matt Lawrence remains on PUP with the Ravens, who lost to the Falcons, 26-21. Victor Cruz' Giants lost to Cowboys, 33-20 in Jason Garrett's debut as Cowboys head coach. Jeremy Horne remains on the practice squad with the Kansas City Chiefs and Jeromy Miles on the PS with the Cincinnati Bengals. In the CFL Western Semifinals, the BC Lions dropped a 41-38 OT game to Saskatchewan. UMass' Keron Williams had a huge game with three sacks and four tackles for BC and Anton McKenzie also made four tackles but BC's season ended. In the CFL Eastern Semifinals, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats with Shannon James lost to the Toronto Argos 16-13. James didn't make a play and finishes with the season with 11 solo tackles. UMass' other CFL player Brandon London, plays for Montreal, which had a bye into the Eastern Final as the Alouettes will play Toronto next weekend. Steve Baylark scored a touchdown and ran for 30 yards as the Sacramento Mountain Lions crushed Omaha, 41-3. The Las Vegas Locos and Marcel Shipp had a bye week.
IN THE NFL
IN THE CFL:
IN THE UFL
Take a look back at Saturday's 45-27 loss to Delaware at McGuirk Stadium.
• Springfield Republican: A prolific offense is not enough for UMass, which falls to Delaware
• Daily Hampshire Gazette: UMass faces must-win game at Rhode Island after loss
• Daily Hampshire Gazette: Violette plagued by kicking woes for UMass
• Boston Globe: UMass drubbed by Delaware
• Boston Herald: Minutemen Hen-pecked
• Worcester Telegram: Griffin is stellar, but UMass falls
• The Examiner: Minutemen Fall to Top Ranked Delaware on Senior Day
• Daily Collegian: Top-ranked Delaware trounce Minutemen
• Daily Collegian: Final home game resembles loss to Michigan
• Wilmington News Journal: Delaware Blue Hens football: UD heading for No. 1
• Wilmington News Journal: Delaware Blue Hens football quick hits
• Philadelphia Inquirer: Devlin on target as Hens top UMass
• WHSV TV: Devlin Leads Delaware Past UMass
• NBC 22 WWLP: Delaware spoils senior day for UMass
The Denver Post has a nice feature on UMass product and current Denver Nugget Gary Forbes. Writer Benjamin Hochman, who grew up in Amherst, takes a look at Forbes' "scenic route" to Denver and the NBA.
Continue reading Forbes Featured In Denver Post.
On GazetteNet.com, Matt Vautour has a comprehensive look at the playoff picture for FCS Football with a breakdown of all the teams in and on the bubble for this Sunday's selection. It is a great source of information.
Continue reading Gazette: Overview Of FCS Playoff Possibilities.
The Springfield Republican has an editorial on the impact of the Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off next weekend at the MassMutual Center.
Events a slam-dunk for Pioneer Valley economy The Tip Off returns to Springfield this coming weekend - Saturday, Sunday and Monday - and will feature an expanded format that will see 12 teams play 10 games over a three day period at the MassMutual Center in downtown Springfield.
Continue reading Republican: Hoophall Events Slam-Dunk For Economy.
Happy Birthday on Nov. 15 to senior rower Samantha Schnoerr and freshman soccer player
It was a thrilling game last night for college hockey fans as UMass clawed back after trailing twice to take a 3-2 lead with just over 60 seconds left in the 3rd period only to have No. 8 New Hampshire score 20 seconds later to force a 3-3 tie. Here are the recaps from last night's action.
MassLive.com: UMass settles for controversial tie with UNH
USCHO.com: UNH rallies to tie Massachusetts
Fosters Daily Democrat: UNH, UMass skate to draw
SeacoastOnline.com: Kessel's late goal helps UNH salvage tie
In the Springfield Republican, Ron Chimelis has a column on UMass' amazing comeback win over RIder, which saw a 34-point swing as the Minutemen beat the Broncs, 77-67.
The greatest college basketball comeback I ever saw was crafted by the University of Massachusetts on Jan. 27, 1995.
In the last 4 minutes and 48 minutes of regulation at West Virginia, the Minutemen erased an 18-point deficit to win 97-94 in overtime. But coaches live in the present, and Derek Kellogg, who played in that game, did not refer to it when asked to recall a night similar to Friday's amazing opener.
"To have never seen something like this, and be a part of it ...,'' Kellogg said after his team had wiped out a 22-point second half deficit in a 77-67 win over Rider. "The message is clear. We're going to compete. We're not quitters.''
Continue reading Republican: Basketball Comeback Ranks Among Best.
The UMass women's basketball team opened its 2010-11 season last night in the Mullins Center, falling 60-55 to George Mason in Sharon Dawley's debut as the Minutewomen's head coach.
Check out recaps of the game from the Daily Hampshire Gazette, The Republican and examiner.com.
Check out recaps of the game from the Daily Hampshire Gazette, The Republican and examiner.com.
Check out these recaps of UMass' shocking 77-67 win over Rider in men's basketball.
• Springfield Republican: From discouraging to dazzling, UMass win to remember
• Daily Collegian: From shock to awe
• Worcester Telegram: Minutemen answer late wake-up call
• Daily Hampshire Gazette: Minutemen recover in second half, beat Rider
• Boston Globe: UMass finds second wind
• Boston Herald: Boston Native Gurley Spurs UMass Rally
• The Examiner: Minutemen Comeback From 22 Points Down in Tip-Off Classic
• Newark Star-Ledger: Rider blows 21-point lead, falls to UMass
• The Trentonian: Rider men's basketball team collapses in second half, loses to UMass
• WWLP NBC22: Down 21 at half, UMass beats Rider
Former UMass hockey standout Greg Mauldin scored his first career NHL goal on Friday night after being recalled to the Colorado Avalanche from the Lake Erie Monsters. The opponent, none other than the team that originally drafted Mauldin - the Columbus Blue Jackets. Here is the box score which includes video highlights.
Talk about making an immediate impact.
On just his seventh shift in an Avalanche uniform, forward Greg Mauldin scored a short-handed goal during the second period of Friday night's 5-1 victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
It was a sweet moment for Mauldin, who netted his first National Hockey League tally against the team with which he began his professional career. Mauldin was originally a seventh-round selection of the Blue Jackets in the 2003 Entry Draft.
Recalled from the Lake Erie Monsters on Thursday in the wake of recent injuries to forwards T.J. Galiardi and David Van Der Gulik, Mauldin played on the Avalanche's fourth line during his debut alongside Philippe Dupuis and Cody McLeod. He also saw some time on the penalty kill, which is where he made his biggest contribution Friday night.
A tough loss for the Minutemen last night at No. 8 New Hampshire, 3-0. Both the first and third periods were scoreless, but the Wildcats cashed in on three straight power plays in the second period. The two teams will play again tonight in the Whittemore Center at 7 PM.
MassLive.com: Massachusetts falls to New Hampshire in Hockey East
Daily Hampshire Gazette: UNH powers past UMass hockey
SeacoastOnline.com: Power boost sparks UNH past UMass 3-0
Union Leader: Power plays, goaltending lift UNH hockey
Fosters Daily Democrat: UNH powers up in second, beats UMass
USCHO.com: New Hampshire blanks Massachusetts
Set the stage for Saturday with these game previews from the region for Saturday's tilt with top-ranked Delaware.
• Daily Hampshire Gazette: Minutemen looking to beat another No. 1
• Springfield Republican: UMass looks to share the wealth on offense against Delaware
• Springfield Republican: UMass is determined to put pressure on Delaware QB Pat Devlin
• News Journal: Playoff position hinges on UD victory
• Boston Herald: UMass ready for final playoff push
• News Journal: Gradkowski lives up to his upbringing
Happy Birthday: Nov. 13 - Kyle Brown of the men's swimming and diving squad.
The Daily Collegian's Stephen Hewitt has a preview of the UMass rowing team's final race of the fall season, the Foot of the Charles, this weekend. This is be the last race for the Minutewomen before their annual training trip in Deland, Fla.
The Daily Collegian's Michael Counos previews the debut of head coach Sharon Dawley and her 2010-11 Minutewomen squad.
"Against George Mason, our goal is to slow them up, keep them guessing with multiple looks defensively and only give them one opportunity on offense," Dawley said.
Check out the season preview as the Women's Basketball squad faces off against George Mason at 5 pm tonight.
The No. 18 UMass field hockey team (15-7) is in College Park, Md. preparing for Saturday's 11:30 a.m. NCAA Tournament first round game against No. 1 Maryland (19-1). The Minutewomen, Atlantic 10 Champions and winners of 11 of their last 12 games, earned an at-large bid to the NCAA field of 16, joining UConn and American in the Maryland region. Below is coverage of the Minutewomen's NCAA run:
Minutewomen Look To Take Advantage Of Second Life, Pete Vasquez, Daily Collegian
UMass Earns Tournament Bid After Losing Play-In Game, Pete Vasquez, Daily Collegian
UMass Field Hockey Chosen For NCAA Tournament, Dick Baker, Springfield Republican
Field Hockey Heads To #1 Maryland For NCAAs, UMassAthletics.com
Former UMass standout Greg Mauldin has been recalled by the Colorado Avalanche from the Lake Erie Monsters. The Avalanche will face Columbus tonight at 5 PM - no word yet on if Mauldin will be in the line-up.
As the Minutemen are in the midst of their pregame skate this Friday morning, here is a look at several previews for tonight's game at New Hampshire (7 PM). The two teams will also play tomorrow night (7 PM) to close out the weekend series. Both games are at the Whittemore Center.
Daily Collegian: Minutemen looking to turn around season
Daily Collegian: UNH stands in the way of UMass' first win
MassLive.com: UMass hockey happenings: Doubling up in Durham
Fosters Daily Democrat: UNH hockey to face hungry Minutemen
SeaCoastOnline.com: UNH hungry for home cooking
ConcordMonitor.com: 'Cats Show Depth In Early Going
USCHO.com: UNH's DiGirolamo A Blast From The Past For Umile
In the Daily Hampshire Gazette, Matt Vautour has an outlook on the 2010-11 men's basketball season.
Anthony Gurley thinks the University of Massachusetts men's basketball team is going to be good this year. After finishing 12-20 last year, the senior guard is excited about that possibility.
But as the Minutemen get set to open the 2010-11 season tonight against Rider at 7:30 p.m. at the Mullins Center, Gurley is wise enough to know that his optimism doesn't make him any different than almost every other Division I basketball player on the eve of the start of the season.
"Everybody thinks they're good at this time of year. Everyone feels like they can do something," he said. "We're anxious to get in a real game and see where we stand."
Continue reading Gazette: Optimism High Men's Hoops Opens.
The Boston Herald takes a look at UMass and its football game vs. No. 1 Delaware on Saturday.
"Delaware is leading the league in wins, so if we play well then we'll be rewarded," said UMass coach Kevin Morris. "Their run-and-pass combination is real strong and their quarterback (Pat Devlin) will probably be the player of the year based on his play so far. Defensively, they've played consistently well."
Continue reading Herald: Football Ready For Final Push.
The Springfield Republican has a preview of tonight's UMass hoop opener vs. Rider.
Even UMass coach Derek Kellogg concedes he does not know entirely what to expect. With youth comes high upside, but also unpredictability, which makes this Minutemen team hard to label.
"In practice, we are looking like a team. I don't know if we'll play like a team,'' Kellogg said.
Continue reading Republican: Hoops Gets First Test.
In the Daily Hampshire Gazette, Matt Vautour has a preview of the UMass-Delaware game on Saturday.
With a win already over the No. 1 team in one poll, the UMass will try to knock off the top team in the other when it hosts Delaware on Saturday. The Blue Hens ascended to No. 1 in the FCS Coaches Poll Monday after the top three teams all lost last week. Delaware is No. 2 behind William & Mary in the Sports Network top 25. The Minutemen upset W&M, 27-23, in the first game of the season.
Continue reading Gazette: Football Looks To Beat Another No. 1.
The Massachusetts men's basketball team opens its regular season on Friday when it takes on Rider. The last time the Minutemen took the court was in an exhibition game at the Mullins Center where UMass thrashed Division III opponent Brandeis, 83-60.
The Daily Collegian has a preview of the basketball game.
Continue reading Daily Collegian Preview Of Rider Hoop Game.
The Trentonian has a a preview from the Rider basketball perspective on tonight's UMass opener vs. the Broncs.
Continue reading Trentonian Game Preview From Rider View.
Check out Matt Vautour's preview notebook of the UMass hoop season in the Daily Hampshire Gazette.
A year ago, the University of Massachusetts men's basketball team tipped off its season in Florida. The Minutemen played in North Carolina, Texas and three times in New Jersey during their nonconference schedule.
If you added the distance the Minutemen will travel to all of their nonconference games this year, you'd barely reach Atlantic City. The Minutemen won't get on a plane once before Atlantic 10 play. They don't leave New England and aren't scheduled to face anyone ranked in the top 25 during their 14-game nonconference schedule. They only leave the 413 area code three times.
Continue reading Gazette: Good Start Critical For UMass.
UMass Hall of Famer and former All-Star shortstop for the Angels, Gary DiSarcina has returned to Anaheim as part of the organization's front office. DiSarcina, who played baseball at UMass from 1986 to 1988, was named the Angels' special assistant to the general manager.
"We are pleased to have Gary back in the Angels' family," said Angels GM Tony Reagins in a club release. "He brings a level of expertise and passion that will be critical to the advancement of the baseball operations department."
DiSarcina was in the Red Sox's farm system the past four seasons. He was manager for Class A Lowell for three years, and last year he was the Red Sox's Minor League infield coordinator.
Read more on DiSarcina's return to the Angels organization: MLB.com, ESPN, OCRegister
In Dick Baker's MassLive.com UMass Hockey Blog, Dick updates fans on Mike Kostka and Casey Wellman's pro careers. He also brings a bit of news from New Hampshire as senior forward Mike Sislo said on the Hockey East online chat session yesterday that the Wildcats won't have a let down this weekend against UMass.
The Boston Globe has its season preview of the UMass basketball season. Check out Marty Dobrow's story
. The Globe also has Atlantic 10 season capsules.
Coach Derek Kellogg is hoping to produce smiles on the faces of Minutemen fans -- no matter their size -- everywhere. (File/Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe)
Continue reading Globe: Kellogg, UMass On Point.
Happy Birthday to sophomore swingman Javorn Farrell and senior defensive midfielder Stephen Zorkers.
The Daily Hampshire Gazette has a wonderful feature story on the Hunte twin brothers. Chad of UMass and Kyle of Delaware will be on opposite sidelines for the first time as their teams battle on Saturday.
"When we decided to go to different schools we talked about it. We knew we were going to play each other," Chad said. "It's been a big week for us. In our town everyone is talking about it. It's a little different. We've always been together. But at the same time its good for us. I'm definitely glad the game is here. When it's over it's going to be bad for one of us. ... Hopefully him."
Continue reading Gazette: Finally Hunte Twins Meet On Field.
The Springfield Republican has a story on UMass walk-on freshman Jordan Couture. The story looks at his relationship with head coach Derek Kellogg, who is also his cousin and godfather.
"I'm trying to get used to calling him Coach all the time," the University of Massachusetts men's basketball guard said of his coach.
Continue reading Republican: Couture Thrilled To Be Part Of Team.
The Associated Press has a feature on new Auburn head coach and UMass alum Tony Barbee. He has a massive challenge, which was emphasized when the Tigers dropped an exhibition game to Division II Columbus (Ga.) State on Monday night.
Barbee has a track record as an assistant for successful programs like alma mater UMass, where he played and coached under Calipari. He also spent six seasons with the current Kentucky coach at Memphis. Calipari says Barbee is "like a son," and predicts he'll have success at Auburn even if it doesn't happen immediately.
Continue reading AP Feature Story On Tony Barbee.
The Trenton Times has a preview of the Rider Broncs, UMass' opening basketball opponent.
Just about a year ago, the Rider University men's basketball team was about to win one of the biggest games in school history, which went on to destroy its season.
Rider's upset of Top 20 Mississippi State in Starkville on opening night set expectations for the season out of control. After a home win over Lehigh, the Broncs were getting votes in the AP Top 25 and were on the road at Virginia, where a win wouldn't have even been considered much of an upset.
Continue reading Trenton Times Preview Of Rider Basketball.
Dick Baker continues his weekly preview of this weekend's games at New Hampshire in today's MassLive.com UMass Hockey Blog. In his first post he looks at how UMass has had some troubles of late playing in the Whittemore Center. In his second post, he writes about the changes of the ice surface at the Whit where UNH rounded out the corners a bit cutting down space behind the goal. Finally, he looks at former defenseman Marvin Degon's career over in Germany.
UMass hockey by the numbers: Whittemore Center is not a fun place
New Hampshire hockey has been cutting corners at the Whittemore Center
Former UMass hockey defenseman Marvin Degon doing well in Germany
UMass hockey by the numbers: Whittemore Center is not a fun place
New Hampshire hockey has been cutting corners at the Whittemore Center
Former UMass hockey defenseman Marvin Degon doing well in Germany
The Worcester Telegram & Gazette has a season preview of the UMass basketball team. Anthony Gurley knows what the UMass men's basketball team has ahead of it this season.
"It's not going to be an easy season," the redshirt senior said. "We know what we have to work on. We've definitely got to continue to get better on the defensive end, rebounding the basketball, and just fine-tuning everything. "We've just got to keep our confidence and make sure we play as hard as we can every single time we step on the floor."
Continue reading Telegram: Minutemen Have Work Cut Out.
The Springfield Republican has a feature story on Tyler Holmes and all of his great successes this season.
The accolades keep rolling in. Holmes appreciates them, but otherwise lets them roll off his back.
"I'm thankful, I'm grateful. But at the end of the day, all that matters is whether we won or lost,'' the University of Massachusetts junior linebacker said.
Almost every player speaks those words, but an iindisputable sincerity accompanies the words of Holmes, whose team is on the cusp of a playoff berth.
Continue reading Republican: Tyler Holmes Even Better Than Expected.
Matt Vautour of the Daily Hampshire Gazette has a feature on redshirt freshman Raphiael Putney and the high hopes for him at UMass.
UMass fans have heard about Putney's athleticism since he arrived in Amherst, but because he redshirted last year in attempt to get stronger and put on weight, they've rarely had a chance to see it, until last Thursday.
"Putney, even though he's very skinny, is a world-class athlete who does some good things out there with his length and his athleticism," UMass coach Derek Kellogg said. "If we can put some weight on him, if we can get him to mature and become a grown man, I think he has a chance to be a special player at UMass."
Continue reading Gazette: Hoops Hoping For More From Putney.
The Daily Collegian has a pair of preview stories for UMass football's huge clash vs. No. 2/1 Delaware on Saturday at McGuirk Stadium.
Continue reading Daily Collegian Football Previews For Delaware Game.
The Sun Journal of Maine has a season preview of the D-League's Maine Red Claws which feature former UMass star Stephane Lasme, who was the final cut of the Boston Celtics this season. He is hopeful of returning to the NBA team with a strong showing in the developmental league.
"It just gave me more confidence," Lasme said of his training camp experience with Boston. "I know I can play in the NBA. I'm just waiting for the chance to get in. I'm just going to keep doing what I'm doing, just keep working hard, keep working on my game, keep getting better and try to get my team better and win some games."
Continue reading Maine Red Claws Preview Features Lasme.
Gary Forbes scored a career-best 16 points for the Denver Nuggets in a loss to a Pacers on Tuesday night. The Denver Post has a sidebar on the UMass product.
Here's the story:
When things started getting bad for Denver on Tuesday night, a fan screamed toward the Nuggets' bench: "Better put Forbes back in!" Gary Forbes, the free-agent invitee who was signed by the team, has been superb in spurts for the Nuggets, and in Tuesday's loss he scored 16 points in 21 minutes. In the first half, he had 11 points in just nine minutes.
"We went small, and at that time we weren't getting anything done with our big guys offensively, so I kind of took a risk," Nuggets coach George Karl said. "For a while, it worked."
On the night, the 6-foot-7 guard/forward also had two rebounds and two assists, one of the few bright spots on an otherwise miserable night.
"I'm at a position where minutes are very scarce," Forbes said, "so I got to take full advantage of the minutes out there on the court. I was able to do that today. I'm just trying to gain the coach's trust to play more minutes."
Forbes previously scored 12 points in 24 minutes in a home game against Dallas last week.
In the latest episode of One Moore Minute, junior goalie Kevin Moore
takes fans trick or treating with several of the Minutemen. The guys go
all over Amherst and campus looking for some treats and even hand out a
few posters to the fans.
UMass alum and former all-conference back Matt Lawrence took part in his first practice with the Baltimore Ravens since being placed on injured reserve on Nov. 24 with a knee injury last season.
"It was good to be out there," said Lawrence, who missed the preseason and the first six weeks of the regular season while languishing on the team's physically-unable-to-perform list. "It was a pretty good pace, a pretty good workout. ... I was full-go. The coaches just told me, 'Go play ball. Do what you've been doing all these years.'"
"It was good to be out there," said Lawrence, who missed the preseason and the first six weeks of the regular season while languishing on the team's physically-unable-to-perform list. "It was a pretty good pace, a pretty good workout. ... I was full-go. The coaches just told me, 'Go play ball. Do what you've been doing all these years.'"
Best wishes for a great birthday on Nov. 9 to rower Katelyn Allocco, men's soccer players Andrew Henshaw and Hellah Sidibe as well as swimmer Erin Phinney
Checking in on the Delaware Blue Hens as they prepare for a trip to Amherst to take on UMass on Saturday at 1 p.m.
From the News Journal: Sasek may be available Saturday - Tailback David Hayes is expected to be available Saturday at UMass after missing two games with a high ankle sprain
Also from the New Journal: For UD, climb far from finished - Getting to nine wins in Saturday's 1 pm duel against 15th-ranked UMass (6-3) at McGuirk Stadium will take a superior effort, Keeler said.
Also, some notes in: Delaware Blue Hens quick hits
Several new installments in Dick Baker's MassLive.com Hockey Blog From the weekend along with recaps of the Army & Sweden games. Dick also takes a look around Hockey East and begins to preview this weekend's series at New Hampshire.
Matt Vautour in the Daily Hampshire Gazette has a feature story on UMass quarterback Kyle Havens and some of his superstitions. Havens has grown the beard back that he had at the beginning of season, when the Minutemen raced out to a 4-1 start.
Havens is a San Francisco Giants fan and a northern California native, where facial hair growth was a full-fledged fad in the Bay Area during the World Series in homage to Giants' closer Brian Wilson.
Continue reading Gazette: Havens Keeps His Game Face.
Ron Chimelis has a fantastic feature in the Springfield Republican on senior Anthony Gurley. He is in his third year as an eligible University of Massachusetts men's basketball player, his fourth at the school, and his fifth in college altogether.
Somehow, it seems like longer.
"College hasn't always been easy for me,'' the 6-foot-3 guard said, his eyes trained on the Mullins Center floor before practice. "But everybody here is working hard, and I definitely see improvement. I just want to end my career on a good note.''
Continue reading Republican: Gurley Hoping To Make Most Of Season.
Depending on which poll is referenced, the University of Massachusetts football team has either already beaten the No. 1 team in the nation, or will get the chance Saturday.
Upcoming Colonial Athletic Association rival Delaware rose to No. 1 in the Football Championship Subdivision coaches poll, and No. 2 in the Sports Network survey. The Blue Hens (8-1, 5-1 CAA) come to McGuirk Alumni Stadium on Saturday to meet UMass (6-3, 4-2).
The complete story can be found in the Springfield Republican.
Continue reading Republican: Football To Face No. 1/No. 2.
Listen back to Kevin Morris' weekly CAA Teleconference.
You can also listen to CAA Defensive Player of the Week Tyler Holmes as well.
Check out the view from Delaware heading into the UMass game, Here are K.C. Keeler's comments.
The Minutemen are ranked 14th in the Sports Network Poll and 13th in the FCS Coaches Poll.
This week's UMass foe Delaware is No. 1 in the Coaches Poll and No. 2 in the Sports Network Poll.
From the CAA William & Mary is No. 1 in the Sports Network Poll and No. 2 in the FCS Coaches Poll. UMass opened the year with a 27-23 win over the Tribe.
Also from the CAA, Villanova is 9th, New Hampshire is 17th and Richmond is 21st.
Continue reading UMass Football Ranked 13th, 14th In Polls.
With a 2-0 victory over No. 2 seed Lock Haven on Saturday, the top-seeded UMass field hockey team won its third Atlantic 10 Championship in the last four years under Head Coach Justine Sowry. The title is the Minutewomen's 12th all-time and advances them to an NCAA play-in game vs. Stanford that UMass will host at Garber Field on Tuesday at 1 p.m. The winner of that game advances to the NCAA Championship field of 16.
Field Hockey Wins A-10 Championship Over Lock Haven, by Peter Vasquez, Daily Collegian
UMass Field Hockey Wins A-10 Championship, Daily Hampshire Gazette
The Boston Herald has a Monday story on Tyler Holmes and his record-setting day for UMass after he picked off two passes and returned them for touchdowns.
"They kept throwing the ball to the flat, so I wanted to get in good position. I read off the quarterback's intention and made a good break on the ball. I was surprised, especially on the first one," said Holmes, who joined Jerard White (1996-99) and Anton McKenzie (2000-03) as the only UMass players to have two interception returns for TDs in a career. "The second one, I was kind of the free player in the zone, reading off the quarterback's eyes and got a good jump on the ball. It provided great momentum and tremendous energy for my team.
Continue reading Herald: Holmes Picks Up Play.
Look at the game recaps from UMass' 39-24 win over Maine on Saturday. Tyler Holmes made history with a pair of interceptions returned for touchdowns in the win. He is the first UMass player to achieve the feat in a game and a season.
• Boston Globe: Holmes's performance twice as nice for UMass
• Worcester Telegram: Minutemen strike from both sides
• Daily Hampshire Gazette: Holmes scores on two interceptions to propel UMass over Maine
• Springfield Republican: In tune on Band Day: Fast start propels UMass to a 39-24 win
• Boston Herald: UMass picks off Maine
• Daily Collegian: Havens leads UMass win over Maine
• Daily Collegian: Defensive stops key in UMass victory
• ESPN.com: Massachusetts 39, Maine 24
• WWLP NBC22: Holmes, #15 UMass pick off Maine, 39-24
• Bangor Daily News: UMass' versatile attack sinks Black Bears
• Kennebec Journal: Maine stumbles at start, falls to UMass
In the Daily Hampshire Gazette, Matt Vautour takes a look at the kickoff return for a TD that got UMass started on the right foot in the 39-24 win over Maine.
Continue reading Gazette: Tricky Return Great Start For Football .
Here's an update on UMass alums in the pro football ranks.With the Mew York Jets, James Ihedigbo played a bunch on defense and special teams with one tackle and called a key timeout for the Jets in their comeback 23-20 OT win over the Detroit Lions. Vladimir Ducasse was inactive. New York Giants WR Victor Cruz took time out while on injured reserve to come to UMass' win over Maine on Saturday at McGuirk Stadium. Matt Lawrence is close to returning to action with the Baltimore Ravens, as his team pulled off a 26-10 win over Miami Dolphins. Lawrence will practice for the first time Monday, coach John Harbaugh said. Jeremy Cain and the Jaguars had a bye week. Three UMass products saw action as the BC Lions beat the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, 23-21. Anton McKenzie made four tackles for BC while Keron Williams didn't have any stops. Shannon James didn't have a tackle for the Ti-Cats. Brandon London made his CFL debut with the Montreal Alouettes as his team suffered a 30-4 loss to the Toronto Argos. London didn't have a catch but made a tackle on special teams.
In The UFL:
UMass' all-time rushing leaders matched up as the Sacramento Mountain Lions beat the Las Vegas Locos, 27-24. Las Vegas clinched a berth in the UFL Championship in last week's win at Omaha, but Sacramento dominated play throughout the opening half. Marcel Shipp had four carries for 10 yards and a catch for nine yards. Steve Baylark had a carry for Sacramento.
In The NFL:
In The CFL:
On Nov. 7, we wish Happy Birthday to junior baseball player Alex Fischer, track sophomore Andrew Grube and football freshman Brandon Hill.
In the Springfield Republican, Ron Chimelis has a column in Sunday's paper about the 2010-11 season for Derek Kellogg and his Minutemen.
It won't be just a men's basketball season, it will be an adventure.
"I've got to be crystal clear with these guys about what I expect,'' Kellogg said. "We're not very physical, but we use our length well. We'll be better on defense this year, and better at rebounding.''
The season begins Friday night against Rider at the Mullins Center. This will be one of four November games under the umbrella of the Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament, which will resume the following week in Springfield.
Continue reading Republican: Anything Is Possible For UMass Hoops.
Howard Herman of the Berkshire Eagle has a season outlook of UMass basketball.
"This is the first year where everything is in place," Kellogg said. "We don't have to re-teach everything from Day One. You'll see that things will start moving in the right direction."
Continue reading Berkshire Eagle's Outlook On UMass Hoops.
The Springfield Republican has a story on the return of the Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament which starts on campus sites on Nov. 12. Five games will be played at campus sites before taking over downtown Springfield with 10 games in three days at the MassMutual Center, beginning Nov. 20.
Continue reading Republican Story On Return Of Tip-Off Tourney.
Check out preview stories on UMass football taking on Maine in an old Yankee Conference rivalry at McGuirk Stadium.
• Daily Hampshire Gazette: Gambles paying off for UMass football
• Daily Hampshire Gazette: Minutemen look for payback as Black Bears visit
• Springfield Republican: Two UMass backs are still better, but one might lead Saturday
• Daily Collegian: Minutemen return to McGuirk for matchup with Black Bears
• Bangor Daily News: Banged-up Black Bears play at UMass
• Lewiston Sun-Journal: College football: Rested Maine confronts UMass
• Kennebec Journal: Healthier Maine wary of UMass
• Portland Press Herald: Still something to prove
• Maine Campus: UMaine football look for fourth victory vs. UMass
Happy Birthday: Nov. 6 to field hockey's Mika Black, football receiver Tom Gilson, and diver Ariel Hallisey
The Daily Collegian's Stephen Hewitt has a nice preview in today's paper about UMass Rowing's upcoming race this weekend. The Minutewomen will travel to Hanover, N.H. for the Dartmouth Head Regatta. The varsity team will be taking a break from competition this weekend as the novice squad will look to end the fall season on a high note.
Take a look at the UMass win over Brandeis through the media coverage after the game.• Springfield Republican: UMass Runs Past Brandeis, 83-60 • Daily Collegian: UMass tops Brandeis in preseason action
• NBC22: UMass bowls over Brandeis in exhibition
• Daily Hampshire Gazette: A noteworthy UMass hoop exhibition
• NBC22: UMass bowls over Brandeis in exhibition
• Brandeis Hoot: Men's basketball looks to build on strong '09-'10 season
The Massachusetts field hockey team knows the position of the underdog tournament host. It was in that position just last season when it hosted No. 1 seed Richmond. Read the full preview in the Daily Coellgian.
Continue reading UMass Field Hockey A-10 Tourney Preview Video, Story.
Dick Baker takes an in-depth look at Army and the UMass penalty kill in today's blog. He also looks around the league.
Matt Vautour previews the Army game tonight and exhibition against the Swedish Under-20 National Team tomorrow (Noon). Tonight is Military Appreciation Night where any service member can get a $5 general admission ticket with ID.
University of Massachusetts coach Toot Cahoon has been pleased with his team's level of competitiveness, very pleased in fact given the youth of his roster.
"The competitiveness has been above the curve," said Cahoon, whose team is 0-4-2. "In every game situation we've competed. No one can deny us that."
Execution, however, is another story. It needs a lot of work and this weekend's two games give the Minutemen an opportunity to focus on it. UMass plays Army tonight at 7 p.m. and then plays an exhibition game against the Swedish Under 20 National Team, Saturday at noon.
"Execution is the whole issue right now as long as we continue to compete," Cahoon said. "We're well below the curve right now. For us it's all about getting a group of young guys to execute at the level we need them to execute at."
The men's soccer team heads to Charlotte tonight and then Saint Louis on Sunday afternoon to finish the regular-season schedule. A trip to the A-10 Tournament is on the line as the Minutemen need at least one win to secure a spot in the field of six. UMass currently ranks third in the league, while Charlotte is No. 1. The Daily Collegian has a complete preview of the weekend.
The Daily Hampshire Gazette has its look ahead to Saturday's UMass-Maine game.
In the more than 100-year-old football rivalry between the Universities of Massachusetts and Maine, the Minutemen have held a comfortable advantage. They'll take a 40-15-1 series lead into Saturday's 3:30 p.m. game at McGuirk Stadium.
But the last two meetings between the New England rivals have been sore spots for the Minutemen.
Continue reading Gazette: Football Seeks Pay Back Vs. Maine.
The Springfield Republican has a story on UMass' secondary and how freshmen Mike Lee and Antoine Tharpe have been thrust into significant positions. Last week at James Madison, Tharpe and Lee not only provided answers, but exclamation points as well.
"One gave us the play that ignited us, the other gave us the game-finisher,'' coach Kevin Morris said as UMass got ready for Saturday's home game against Maine. "There's a lot of pressure back there, and at times this year, they've been exposed. But they keep plugging away, trying to figure out the college game, and they're getting better.''
Continue reading Republican: Secondary Knows Its Importance.
A day after Gary Forbes drew his first-career NBA start, he has garnered a ton of attention as he guarded all-star Dirk Nowitzki in a one-point loss 102-101 on Wednesday. Check out these stories:
New York Times: Nuggets Deploy Mystery Man in Middle
SB Nation: What? How Could Dirk Nowitzki Not Know Who Gary Forbes Is? Bleacher Report: Gary Forbes Could Be a Pleasant Surprise for the Denver Nuggets This Year Fanhouse: Anthony Randolph to Return Thursday; Baron Davis Could Miss a Week CBSSports.com: Shootaround 11.14.10: Post-Halloween Scary
Continue reading Lots Of Gary Forbes Mentions In Media.
The Springfield Republican has a preview of the UMass basketball exhibition tilt vs. Brandeis on Thursday night at the Mullins Center.
There is no cash admission, but fans can enter by donating two cans of non-perishable food or a meal. Donations will benefit The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts. The players are doing their best to drum up support for a team without identifiable stars, but convinced it can improve on last year's 12-20 record with a collective effort.
They have even gone door-to-door, delivering tickets to season-ticket holders and meeting their fans face-to-face.
Read the full story
Continue reading Republican: Preview Of UMass Exhibition Vs. Brandeis.
For the 11th time in team history, the Massachusetts women's soccer team
has made the Atlantic 10 tournament, as it squares off with St.
Bonaventure this Thursday. UMass finished the season 8-10 and 5-4 in A-10 play en route to a No. 5 seed in its second-consecutive tournament berth.
Click here to read more of the Daily Collegian's preview of tonight's A-10 tournament match between the Minutewomen and the Bonnies. Also, check out this sidebar by David Martin.
Click here to read more of the Daily Collegian's preview of tonight's A-10 tournament match between the Minutewomen and the Bonnies. Also, check out this sidebar by David Martin.
Here are a few previews of the UMass-Maine football game slated for Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
• Daily Collegian: Minutemen return to McGuirk for matchup with Black Bears
• Daily Collegian: Special teams still a work in progress for UMass
• Maine Campus: UMaine football look for fourth victory vs. UMass
Gary Forbes drew his first NBA start for the Denver Nuggets (in place of Nene) in a narrow 102-101 loss to the Dallas Mavericks. Forbes finished with 12 points, three rebounds and two assists in 24 minutes of action.
Denver Post: Forbes gets call to defend Mavs' Nowitzki Fanhouse: Gary Forbes Impresses in Surprise Start for Nuggets Denver Post Game Recap: Anthony misses shot at buzzer as Nuggets lose at home NBA.com: Mavericks-Nuggets notebook Dallas Morning News: Mavericks hang on for win over Denver
"He earned it in practice," coach George Karl said of Forbes' playing time.
Here are various stories on Forbes starting:
From the Daily Hampshire Gazette on Thursday:
UMASS vs. BRANDEIS - The Minutemen play their only exhibition game against Brandeis at 7 tonight at the Mullins Center. Admission is two nonperishable canned goods that will go to the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts in Hatfield.
Kellogg hopes to use the game as a chance to evaluate players and lineup combinations.
"I'm going to try to play a lot of different lineups and a lot of guys. I want to win the game, but I'm not as concerned about winning as our guys playing the right way," Kellogg said. "The one thing I really want is for some of our guys who haven't played to play under the bright lights of the Mullins Center with a crowd here and get some real game action.
"There's no substitute for real game action," he added. "That's as important as anything. I'm just focusing on getting my team to play the game like it's supposed to be played."
Kellogg said he had not yet settled on a starting lineup for the season, but planned to start Sean Carter, Terrell Vinson, Sampson Carter, Anthony Gurley and Gary Correia against Brandeis.
The Judges went 22-7 last year and advanced to the NCAA Division III Tournament where they were eliminated by Williams. They will be without three of their top four scorers and top two rebounders from that team. Their leading returning scorer is junior Vytas Kriskus, a 6-foot-6 wing who averaged 12.8 points per game last year.
Brandeis has two local connections. Freshman guard Connor Arnold played at Deerfield Academy, while assistant coach Shawn Bloom graduated from Minnechaug and spent one year as a walk-on at Memphis.
FARRELL IMPROVING - UMass sophomore Javorn Farrell no longer has a walking boot on his right ankle, but is not close to basketball action yet.
"Friday might be the first day he jogs," Kellogg said. "I'm hopeful he can play against Rider (Nov. 12), but I'm not optimistic that it's going to happen."
Sophomore defenseman Darren Rowe's hot start to the season earned him a spot on Hockey East's Five Minute Major feature. Here you can find out all about Darren!
Scott Coen has a story on MassLive.com on the busy weekend for hockey and hoops at the Mullins Center starting tonight. Men's basketball will host Brandeis, while hockey will host Army on Friday and the Swedish Under-20 National Team on Saturday.
The L.A. Times leads its Kings Notebook with a look at Jonathan Quick's early success this season noting that his stats are down in one important area - playing time.
L.A. Times: Quick's Numbers Are Down In One Key Category
He is among the league leaders in goals-against average and save percentage, but the Kings hope that a decline in playing time will keep him sharp until the end of the season.
After being away last weekend, Dick Baker is back to work on his MassLive.com UMass Hockey Blog. Great to have you back Dick!
The Springfield Republican has an obituary on the passing of former UMass baseball and basketball star John Bemben, who died at the age of 95 on Oct. 27. The Wilbraham resident graduated from Hopkins Academy in 1933 and Governor Dummer Academy in 1935 and later graduated with a B.S. Degree in Mathematics from Mass. State College (now UMass Amherst) in 1939. While at Mass. State, he was very active in sports serving on the Varsity Baseball team as Co-Captain for 3 years and the Varsity Basketball team for 3 years as Captain. He was a star basketball player in the region and was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals as a left-handed pitcher until he injured his arm.
Continue reading Former Baseball, Basketball Player Bemben Passes At 95 .
The Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts Amherst today announced that the vast archival collection of Mark H. McCormack, creator of the sport management and marketing industry, will be housed at the university, providing an unprecedented opportunity for research and education in the field.
The extraordinary McCormack Collection gift comprises McCormack's writings, photographs and client-related memorabilia, dating to 1960 when a handshake with legendary golfer Arnold Palmer launched what would become IMG International, the world's largest sport management firm. The collection spans McCormack's lifetime (1930-2003) and totals approximately 10,000 boxes, or 16,000 linear feet of material. In conjunction with Isenberg's Department of Sport Management, the university's W.E.B. Du Bois Library has embarked on a comprehensive assessment of the collection and will digitize much of it, making it available to researchers and students worldwide through a special website.
Read more about it in various publications:
• CNBC: McCormack's Legacy Lives On At UMass
• Newswire: UMass Amherst Given Archive of Sport Management Pioneer
• Boston Globe: Groundbreaking sports agent's papers to be turned over to UMass
• Sports Business Journal: UMassachusetts Home To McCormack's Archival Collection
Univ. Of Massachusetts Home To McCormack's Archival Collection
Stephen Hewitt of the Daily Collegian recapped UMass Rowing's successful weekend at the Head of the Fish Regatta in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. The Minutewomen had four first-place finishes over the weekend in one of their final races of the fall season.
The UMass novice team will be in action this weekend when they will head to Hanover, N.H. to take on Dartmouth.
The UMass novice team will be in action this weekend when they will head to Hanover, N.H. to take on Dartmouth.
The UMass Rowing team was recently featured in the latest University of Massachusetts television commercial promoting the UMass system. The commercial, which displays the Minutewomen on the Connecticut River, focuses on how the University of Massachusetts is a "Truly World Class" institution.
"'Truly World Class' shows you a small slice of the University that was recently named one of the best in the world in the Times of London's 2010 World University Rankings," said UMass President Jack Wilson. For a link to the commercial, click here.
"'Truly World Class' shows you a small slice of the University that was recently named one of the best in the world in the Times of London's 2010 World University Rankings," said UMass President Jack Wilson. For a link to the commercial, click here.
The Baltimore Sun has a blog entry on the status of UMass alum and Ravens back Matt Lawrence.
Running back Matt Lawrence said he has not ruled out returning to the field this season.
Lawrence, who remains on the team's physically-unable-to-perform list since suffering a knee injury that forced him to injured reserve on Nov. 24, conceded that he is anxious to play football again.
"Just by doing all of the stuff that they're asking me to do, I'm in a great program, and when I get right, I'll be right," he said. "As of right now, we're just going to keep doing what we've been doing and keep progressing."
Harbaugh said he had no update to provide, adding, "We're thinking about it right now - whether we want to do something right now or wait until next week. But we'll be looking at him real soon just to see how he holds up in a practice-type of setting. But it could be as early as Wednesday [or] it might be as late as next week."
Join us on Wednesday afternoon for the UMass Sports Luncheon at the Campus Center Room 1009. The guest speakers will be soccer coach Sam Koch, hockey coach Toot Cahoon and football coach Kevin Morris.
The Athletes of the Week Katie Kelly from field hockey as well as Tyler Holmes from football will be honored.
UMass Field Hockey @ La Salle from Daily Collegian on Vimeo.
The Daily Collegian's Adam Miller has a great story on how the field hockey team's season has been the best sports story at UMass this fall. Miller talks about his trip to Philadelphia to cover Justine Sowry's team's 2-1 victory at La Salle on Sunday to end the regular season with its ninth-straight win and claim the regular season Atlantic 10 title.Also check out the Collegian's Nick O'Malley's video wrap-up of the game, embedded above.
This weekend the Minutewomen head back to Philly for the Atlantic 10 Championship at Temple's Geasey Field on Friday and Saturday. Top-seed UMass is looking to claim its 12 A-10 Championship and third in four years under Sowry.
The Daily Hampshire Gazette has a feature story on UMass senior bigman Hashim "Big City" Bailey. The Memphis transfer is in the best shape of his career.
Naturally, everyone has a suggestion to change his nickname: "Not-so Big City," "Smaller City," "The Town." Bailey himself even offers "Slim City."
Continue reading Gazette: Feature On Big City Hashim Bailey.
Four UMass student-athlete Birthdays on Nov. 2.
From men's swimming Dan Backler
From football Quinton Sales
Check out Dana O'Neil's Atlantic 10 Media Day Notebook. She has great stories on the league as well as video of UMass head coach Derek Kellogg talking about the upcoming season.
For full coverage on the Atlantic 10, check out The Sports Network preview of the A-10.
The Atlantic 10 Conference is firmly entrenched as one of the top mid-majors in college basketball. Last season, the teams that were expected to contend for the league title did just that, with Xavier and Temple leading the way. Both of those squads finished with a 14-2 conference mark, tying for the A-10 regular season crown.
Continue reading Sports Network Previews The Atlantic 10.
The Daily Hampshire Gazette has its weekly CAA notebook leading off with pair of honors for UMass' Blacksburg natives. Junior linebacker and captain Tyler Holmes was the Colonial Athletic Association Defensive Player of the Week, while place kicker/punter Caleb Violette was the special teams' player of the week.
Also of interest, Vautour mentions how UMass' past two head coach will oppose each other this Saturday:
WHIPPLE vs. BROWN - UMass' previous two football coaches will square off against each other this weekend when Miami hosts Maryland. Mark Whipple, who led the Minutemen to the 1998 Division I-AA Championship, is the Hurricanes' offensive coordinator, while Don Brown, who led UMass to the 2006 FCS title game, is the Terrapins' defensive coordinator.
There were quite a few UMass connections in Charlottesville, Va., Saturday in Miami's 24-19 loss to Virginia. Former UMass reserve quarterback Spencer Whipple, Mark's son, saw action for the 'Canes. When starting quarterback Jacory Harris was injured, Spencer Whipple played the remainder of the first half. He struggled completing 2 of 6 passes and was intercepted twice before being lifted for freshman Stephen Morris. On the other sideline, Virginia's head coach is Mike London, the father of former UMass standout wide receiver Brandon London. His defensive coordinator is Jim Reid, who was the head coach at UMass from 1986-1991.
In the Daily Hampshire Gazette Matt Vautour has a story on how the basketball team hand-delivered season tickets on Monday night. The piece also has info on the team's Sunday scrimmage at Harvard, an update on Maxie Esho and more.
Continue reading Gazette: Basketball Notes On Esho, Scrimmage.
NHL.com and SportsIllustrated.com both have two good reads on L.A. Kings netminder Jonathan Quick:
The UMass football team is now ranked No. 15 in the Sports Network poll. The Minutemen moved up three spots in this week's poll. No. 3, Villanova, No. 4 William & Mary, No.5 Delaware, No. 8 New Hampshire are in the top 10.
UMass is also No. 15 in the FCS Coaches Poll. The top CAA teams have the same rankings in both polls.
The full polls can be found in the link below.
Continue reading Football Stands At No. 15 In TSN Poll.
Check out what UMass coach Kevin Morris had to say about UMass' 21-14 win at JMU and a look ahead to the Maine Black Bears on Saturday:
Listen to Maine coach Jack Cosgrove talk about the UMass game:
Nov. 1 - Teleconference
Take a look back at the UMass' 21-14 win at James Madison as the Minutemen moved to 5-3 overall, 3-2 in the uber-tough CAA.
• Daily Hampshire Gazette: UMass boosts playoff hopes with comeback win
• Springfield Republican: UMass mounts 2nd half comeback, downs James Madison 21-14
• Boston Globe: Minutemen find time
• Boston Herald: UMass rallies to beat James Madison 21-14
• Boston Herald: UMass, Harvard halt recent skids
• Worcester Telegram: Hernandez, Krevis power Minutemen
• Daily Collegian: Minutemen come back, down Dukes 21-14
• Staunton News Leader: UMass sinks struggling JMU
• Rockton Weekly: UMass Rallies Past Dukes
• Washington Examiner: Seven weeks later, Dukes no longer up
UMass earned a point in the Hockey East standings with a tie against Providence on Friday, but suffered a tough 3-2 loss at Schneider Arena on Saturday. Freshman Michael Pereira scored a goal in both games and captain Paul Dainton returned from an injury after missing 2+ games to man the net. The Minutemen will host Army on Friday night and the Swedish Under-20 National Team in a Saturday exhibition at Noon. Both games will be in the Mullins Center.
USCHO.com: Providence Keeps UMass Winless
MassLive.com: UMass, Providence tie 3-3 in Hockey East
Daily Hampshire Gazette: UMass hockey still looking for first win
Daily Hampshire Gazette: UMass hockey can't hold leads in tie with Friars
Daily Collegian: Minutemen fall to Friars Saturday, skate to draw Friday at home
Daily Collegian: Inexperience an issue for Minutemen of late
Saturday Highlights:
Saturday Postgame Interview:
Friday Highlights:
Friday Postgame Interview:
Tough weekend for the UMass men's soccer team as they fell to Fordham 1-0 on Friday and forced a 1-1 draw against La Salle on Sunday. The Minutemen, however, are still in the top six of the A-10 standings and remain a viable threat for both a spot in the tournament and a No. 1 seed with a huge weekend against No. 1 Charlotte and Saint Louis upcoming.
Daily Collegian Recap: Minutemen close out regular season at Rudd with draw
Daily Collegian Sidebar: Seniors remaining from College Cup run help in draw with Explorers
NewEnglandSoccerNews.com: UMass Comes Back To Draw La Salle 1-1
La Salle Highlights:
La Salle Postgame Interview: