UMass dropped a hard-fought 70-62 contest at Saint Louis last night in the Atlantic 10 opener for both teams. The back-and-forth game had numerous ties and lead changes but the Minutemen went cold down the stretch, making just 2-of-11 in the final eight minutes. SLU went on a 10-2 run at the outset of that slump and held a 4-8 point lead for much of the final minutes. Cady Lalanne had a 18-point, 13-rebound game and was strong down low all game. It was his second-career double-double. Chaz Williams added 14 points, seven assists and six rebounds as well.The Minutemen will return to action Sunday afternoon at Fordham. The game tips at 1 p.m. Eastern time and will be shown on the YES Network. Josh Mauer and Tim Kenney will have the call on the UMass Sports Network as well.
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Jesse Morgan put the Minutemen on his back Wednesday night as his career-high 35 points helped UMass defeat Ohio 85-76 for its third-consecutive win.
Stephen Sellner of The Massachusetts Daily Collegian has a very in-depth article on junior wing Jesse Morgan. He talks about how since being cut from his AAU team in the eighth grade, Morgan has played with something to prove.
National college basketball writer and television announcer Jon Rothstein offered up his thoughts on UMass as it prepares for the 2012-13 season. Leading off with a note on junior PG Chaz Williams' infectious energy that envelops the entire team.
Chaz Williams is a like a magnet. The undersized point guard has an infectious personality -- and it's easily noticeable if you're in the gym with him for even just a matter of moments. The 5-9 Williams was one of the best players in the Atlantic 10 a season ago and figures to be so again thanks to the biggest weapon he has -- his heart.
UMass beat writers Matt Vautour (Daily Hampshire Gazette) and Harry Plumer (Springfield Republican) were in attendance at basketball practice Tuesday at the Cage and filed a pair of reports on what they saw.
Daily Hampshire Gazette: Cady LaLanne, Jesse Morgan practice Tuesday with UMass men's hoops
Springfield Republican: UMass basketball forward Cady Lalanne returns to practice, says he feels no pain in previously injured foot
Jon Rothstein, who covers the Atlantic 10 for CBS Sports Network, put out a good summertime piece on what to be excited about in the A-10 this season. His first item listed is on UMass junior PG Chaz Williams and the potential his play, along with the rest of the team, can bring the Minutemen.
1. CHAZ, CHAZ, AND MORE CHAZ
Chaz Williams took the conference by storm in his first season in the Atlantic-10 and only figures to be more of a menace in 2012-13. Potentially the Preseason Conference Player of the Year, Williams should give UMass coach Derek Kellogg one of the league's best back courts with he and talented wing Jesse Morgan, a 6-foot-5 wing who seemed to get better every team he took on the floor. If big man Cady Lalanne can stay healthy and form a potent baseline with Terrell Vinson and Raphiael Putney, the Minutemen should be in position to compete for a conference title and a berth to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in a quite a while.
Led by Jesse Morgan and Chaz Williams, UMass overcame a five-point halftime deficit using a 15-0 run to start the second half in its 77-71 win over top-seeded and No. 21 Temple on Friday afternoon in the first game of the Atlantic 10 Tournament Quarterfinals. UMass will play St. Bonaventure on Saturday at 1 PM. It will be televised nationally on the CBS Sports Network.
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Jesse Morgan and Sean Carter blistered the nets on Saturday to help lead UMass past Rhode island 89-83 on Senior Day at the Mullins Center. The Minutemen collected their 20th win of the season and finished the Atlantic 10 regular-season tied for fifth at 9-7. UMass will be the No. 8 seed in this week's A-10 Tournament and will host No. 9 seed Duquesne Tuesday at 7 p.m. But in the meantime, here are a few article recapping the triumph over the Rams.
Behind Jesse Morgan's career-high 24 points on 6-of-7 from long range, the UMass basketball team benefitted from two big scoring runs to defeat St. Bonaventure, 76-67, at the Mullins Center on Wednesday night. The win kept the Minutemen near the top of the Atlantic 10 standings at 7-3, heading into Saturday's contest at Saint Joseph's.
Matt Vautour of the Daily Hampshire Gazette has a preview this morning of tonight's men's basketball game at Rhode Island with both teams coming off big wins. UMass beat Saint Louis last Saturday at the Mullins Center, while the Rams took down Dayton on the road.
Ron Chimelis of the Springfield Republican has a story on UMass being able to bounce back this season from tough games. UMass has not lost back-to-back games this season and that, according to Chimelis, is a strong indication of UMass' growth over previous seasons.
Jesse Morgan scored 20 points and the UMass men's basketball team was able to pull away late in the second half for a 79-68 win at Richmond on Saturday. The win moved the Minutemen into a tie for 2nd in the Atlantic 10 standings. UMass will host Saint Louis at the Mullins Center on Saturday. The game will be Big Y Day with $6 general admission tickets available with a Big Y card.
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Ron Chimelis of the Springfield Republican looks at the non-conference start to the season and the five-game win streak for the UMass basketball team heading into the New Year.
A great night at the Mullins Center on Thursday as UMass defeated Davidson to reach a 10-3 record and remain perfect in home games this year at 6-0. Maxie Esho had a career-high 12 points, while Jesse Morgan led the Minutemen with 14. In all, five UMass players scored in double-figures.
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Matt Vautour of the Daily Hampshire Gazette has a story on UMass basketball sophomore Jesse Morgan. The piece focuses on how the talented guard was only able to practice with the team and play in games in the second half of 2010-11, therefore only giving everyone a glimpse of what he is capable of. With a full preseason to prepare this year, big things are expected of the shooting guard, who as the story points out, has also been selected by Derek Kellogg to learn the point guard position as a backup to Chaz Williams.
Preseason has Jesse Morgan thinking big for UMass men's basketball - Hampshire Gazette
"This is huge for him. Coming off a year where he hadn't practiced or played coming in halfway through, I think he was a little disappointed with his productivity and his playing time," Derek Kellogg said. "It's been fantastic. He's grown up. His body is in phenomenal shape. He has a chance to do some good things if he can continue at the pace he's been at."
"There was some frustration and injuries. A lot of things weren't perfect for him last year," UMass coach Derek Kellogg said. "He's had the best preseason he's had since he's been here. His attitude has been great. He's been looking to do what the team needs him to do."
Vautour also hits on some other basketball topics including news on Jesse Morgan, former UMass coaches, and Sunday's coaches clinic hosted by Derek Kellogg.
Here are previews of UMass' game at La Salle on Sunday in Philadelphia.
• Springfield Republican: UMass basketball is seeing better days as it prepares for La Salle
• Daily Hampshire Gazette: Hometown next stop for Minuteman freshman Jesse Morgan • Daily Collegian: Defense decisive for Minutemen
• Daily Collegian: Minutemen search for 3rd-straight against Explorers
• Boxscore News: La Salle Men's Basketball Pre-Game Notes: Explorers vs.UMass
University of Massachusetts coach Derek Kellogg would like freshman Jesse Morgan to be more like Gary Correia than Lou Roe, when the Minutemen play La Salle Sunday. Find out why in the Daily Hampshire Gazette by reading Matt Vautour's story: Hometown next stop for Minuteman freshman Jesse Morgan.
Continue reading Hometown Next Stop For Minuteman Freshman Morgan.
Big game on tap at the Mullins Center on Wednesday as Saint Joseph's comes to Amherst for a 7 p.m., matchup. Here are all the previews.
• Daily Hampshire Gazette: UMass, Saint Joseph's face must-win hoop game
• Daily Collegian: Minutemen look to make it two in a row
• Daily Collegian: Putney coming into own over recent stretch
• Springfield Republican: Morgan and Putney are breathing new life into UMass basketball team
Check out the Springfield Republican story by Ron Chimelis: Morgan and Putney are breathing new life into UMass basketball team.
Morgan and Putney are offering new life to this roller-coaster ride of a University of Massachusetts men's basketball season. What they lack in experience, they are overcoming with their energy level, jarring a team that had seemed to be turning stale.
"They are bringing a freshness with their play and demeanor,'' UMass coach Derek Kellogg said as the Minutemen got ready for Wednesday's home game against Saint Joseph's. "Their eyes are always on me, saying 'Put me in.' I like that.''
Continue reading Republican: Morgan, Putney Breathing Life Into UMass.
Today's UMass Basketball Show Guests will be junior center Sean Carter and freshman guard Jesse Morgan. Join us at the Hangar Pub & Grille, at 7 p.m., or listen on 100.9 FM WRNX.
• Daily Hampshire Gazette: Dukes dominate early, freshmen can't rescue Minutemen
• Daily Hampshire Gazette: With playing time, Morgan delivers for UMass
• Springfield Republican:Morgan is a bright spot in UMass' 81-63 loss to Duquesne
• Boston Globe: Balanced Dukes flatten Minutemen
• Boston Herald: Poor start KOs UMass
• Worcester Telegram: Reeling UMass drubbed by Duquesne
• Daily Collegian: Minutemen continue slump after torrid start
• Daily Collegian: Freshman Morgan shines in UM loss
• Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Duquesne wins at Massachusetts, 81-63
• Pittsburgh Review-Tribune: Defense, balanced scoring lift Duquesne over UMass
• SB Nation Pittsburgh: Duquesne Basketball Gets Back On Track With Win Over UMass
• CBS Sports: Duquesne 81, Massachusetts 63
• WWLP NBC22: Dukes down UMass, 81-63
UMass freshman Jesse Morgan is the subject of a feature in the Springfield Republican.
• Patience is the watchword as Jesse Morgan eases into the UMass basketball system
As he waits patiently each game, hoping for a few minutes of playing time. One month into Morgan's men's basketball career, the impact expected of the 6-foot-5 guard is yet to be in evidence.
Morgan became eligible in late December, when the second semester began. He was preceded by his reputation as one of the best high school players in Philadelpia, a scoring talent good enough to be signed to a letter of intent by Seton Hall, a Big East program.
The Daily Hampshire Gazette and Matt Vautour have a trio of of basketball stories related to UMass basketball as the Minutemen prep for No. 24 UCF on Wednesday night at the Mullins Center.
In the Springfield Republican, Ron Chimelis has a story on Jesse Morgan, who finally became eligible to practice with the Minutemen on Sunday.
Morgan is a 6-foot-5, 180-pound guard from Philadelphia, Pa. Lured by the Big East, he initially signed a letter of intent with Seton Hall in nearby South Orange, N.J., in November of 2009, with plans to enter in the fall of 2010.
That is when his mother's reservations about the trouble of the city streets, and his own, kicked in. He never went to Seton Hall, instead spending part of last year at South Kent (a prep school in Connecticut), before enrolling at UMass for the start of the second semester.
Players frequently change their minds after making verbal commitments, but a change of heart after a signed letter of intent is rare. Because of this unorthodox path, Morgan had to sit out all of last year and the first semester of this season, as he squared up eligibility questions and solidified his academics.
Continue reading Republican Feature On Jesse Morgan.
The Daily Hampshire Gazette has a great feature on basketball newcomer Jesse Morgan.
Jesse Morgan has been looking forward to next week's game, even before he knew who he'd be playing against.
Like every nonqualifier sitting out his freshman season, the first game has been the goal for what seems like an eternity when they first arrive.
But on Saturday, Morgan will have a locker and a University of Massachusetts men's practice uniform, a new pair of sneakers and teammates for the first time in a year. NCAA rules allow Morgan to begin practice as soon as finals end. If he's earned his 2.0 grade point average and his professors turn his grades in quickly, Morgan could make his Minuteman debut Wednesday against Central Florida at the Mullins Center.
"I'm really excited," Morgan said last week. "I've been waiting for a long time."
Continue reading Gazette: Highly-Touted Freshman To Join Hoop Team.
he University of Massachusetts men's basketball team may get a second semester boost in its backcourt. Jesse Morgan, who is sitting out for academic reasons, has a chance to become eligible by the second semester. Morgan is a combo guard from Philadelphia who will probably play shooting guard or small forward, though he could also give minutes at the point.
The 6-foot-5 Morgan initially signed with Seton Hall. The Big East does not accept non-qualifiers, so when it appeared Morgan might not make the academic cut, he switched plans and enrolled at UMass.
Read the full story from Ron Chimelis in the Springfield Republican.
Continue reading Republican: Morgan Could Be Eligible 2nd Semester.