The UMass basketball team is down to its final two regular-season games, beginning with Thursday's home finale against Butler. While the Minutemen can't secure one of the four first round byes in next week's A-10 Tournament, they can make a statement on the national scene in regards to postseason play with the remainder of their schedule.
The doors will open at 5:30 tonight. The UMass football team and Mullins Militia will lead the "March to Mullins" tonight as the heavy student base will gather near the Southwest dormitories at approximately 5:15 p.m. and walk as one to the Student entrance at the south end of the arena.
UMass defeated Duquesne 79-66 at the Mullins Center to improve to 12-4 overall and 2-1 in Atlantic 10 play. The Minutemen closed the game on a 16-4 run as Chaz Williams led the squad with 22 points, nine assists, five rebounds and a season-high-tying four steals. Terrell Vinson had 17 points, five assists and four boards, while Cady Lalanne posted his third double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
UMass head coach Derek Kellogg and senior forward Terrell Vinson spent Tuesday in Boston participating in the second Commonwealth of Massachusetts Men's Basketball Media Day. All six head coaches from the state's Division I program - Boston College, Boston University, Harvard, Holy Cross, UMass and Northeastern - were in attendance.
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.
The Baltimore Sun has been running a piece on the top college basketball players from the area and UMass senior Terrell Vinson was among their list. The Sun's college basketball writer Matt Bracken recently spoke with 'TV' and has the following article.
The signing of Terrell Vinson with Massachusetts in the spring of 2009 was celebrated as a significant recruiting coup for Derek Kellogg.
After all, the then-first-year Minutemen basketball coach had just convinced ESPN.com's No. 46-ranked player in the 2009 class to join his rebuilding mid-major-plus program instead of several high-major teams, including Cincinnati, Georgetown and Louisville.
Sweet 16: Terrell Vinson, Massachusetts
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.
Read Jon's complete article here.
After rallying back from a 17-point second-half deficit, UMass now has a date with Madison Square Garden. The Minutemen came-from-behind last night to defeat Drexel 72-70 in Philadelphia. Terrell Vinson scored 14 of his 18 points in the second half leading a Minutemen charge as UMass closed the half shooting nearly 71 percent from the floor.
UMass will face tonight's winner of the Stanford/Nevada quarterfinal game next Tuesday at 7 PM. The game will be televised live from New York City on ESPN2.
Matt Vautour of the Daily Hampshire Gazette has a feature piece on Terrell Vinson and his clutch performances in big games for the UMass basketball team.
Terrell Vinson's highlights aren't likely to end up on SportsCenter's top 10.
The University of Massachusetts men's basketball team has its share of breathtaking dunks and enough alley-oops to potentially be called Lob U. Chaz Williams has gotten well-deserved attention for his game-changing speed and program-changing leadership and Raphiael Putney's improved game and freakish athleticism have made him a fan favorite and a media star.
But with the game on the line, or in Saturday's case the season on the line, the Minutemen have looked to Vinson and more often than not, the junior has delivered.
Here are some recaps from Saturday's NIT Second Round win at Seton Hall. The win marked back-to-back road wins to open NIT play. The Minutemen will play the Drexel on Tuesday night at 7 pm on ESPN.
Terrell Vinson's shot at the buzzer was ruled a two-pointer handing the UMass men's basketball team a 72-71 loss to La Salle on Saturday night breaking the Minutemen's 12-game home win streak.
CBS3 Highlights:
Postgame Press Conference:
Thanks to clutch free throws down the stretch, the UMass men's basketball team was able to hold off Charlotte on Wednesday night to remain a perfect 9-0 this season in home games with an 85-75 win over the 49ers. The Minutemen return to action on Saturday (4 PM) against Saint Joseph's.
ABC40 Highlights:
UMass Highlights:
Postgame Press Conference:
A pair of double-double's by Terrell Vinson and Raphiael Putney combined with 20-points and nearly a triple-double from Chaz Williams paved the way as the UMass men's basketball team defeated Fordham last night in the Mullins Center in the Minutemen's Atlantic 10 opener.
ABC40 Highlights:
Postgame Highlights:
Postgame Press Conference:
Matt Vautour of the Daily Hampshire Gazette has a sidebar on the UMass men's basketball win over Quinnipiac and Terrell Vinson's role in the win.
An 18-0 run to start the second half gave UMass a 72-67 win over Quinnipiac despite the Bobcats chipping away late in the game to make it a three-point game with a minute to go.
Terrell Vinson, Raphiael Putney and Chaz Williams all scored in double figures to lead UMass which has won three straight and remains undefeated at home (5-0).
Matt Vautour of the Daily Hampshire Gazette previews the 2-0 Minutemen's game on Thursday night against NJIT at the Mullins Center. Among the storylines that Vautour points out are the resurgence of Terrell Vinson and Andrew McCarthy playing against his brother.
UMass men's basketball seeks 3-0 start against New Jersey Tech - Hampshire Gazette The men's basketball team improved to 2-0 on Monday night with a 83-67 win over Northeastern at the Mullins Center. Sophomore point guard Chaz Williams led the way again for the Minutemen, recording the first double-double of his career with 20 points and 10 assists, both tying career-highs. Terrell Vinson (14) and Sampson Carter (12) both reached double-figures for the second game in a row. Check out coverage of the game below.
Matt Vautour of the Daily Hampshire Gazette takes an in-depth look today at the UMass men's basketball lineup and who could potentially take over more of a scoring role for the Minutemen in 2011-12. Vautour goes through each player, saying why he's a candidate to increase his scoring, and what could possibly prevent that. An interesting read for UMass fans.
UMass men's basketball looking for scoring threat - Hampshire Gazette Matt Vautour writes in Wednesday's edition of the Daily Hampshire Gazette about UMass basketball forward Terrell Vinson, who is beginning his junior year fully healthy after dealing with nagging injuries for much of his sophomore campaign in 2010-11.
"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.
UMass junior forward Terrell Vinson hopes to rebound from foot injuries - Hampshire Gazette Happy belated birthday wishes to Terrell Vinson of men's basketball and football's D.J. Adeoba!
The game will go on. Both the Saint Louis University and UMass campuses are closed today due to the weather, but the UMass at SLU basketball game will be played tonight at 8 p.m. ET. Watch it on CSN NE. Here are preview stories on the game.
Tonight's UMass Men's Basketball Radio Show is set for 7 PM tonight at the Hangar on University Drive in Amherst. This evening's guest will be sophomore Terrell Vinson. Be sure to join TV, Head Coach Derek Kellogg and the Voice of the Minutemen Josh Maurer in less than 90 minutes. The show will be broadcasted on 100.9 FM WRNX, the Flagship Station of UMass Athletics.
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.
Big day down at the Basketball Hall of Fame as the Enshrinements of the Class of 2010 is nearing ... UMass head coach Derek Kellogg along with sophomores Freddie Riley and Terrell Vinson are down at the Hall and have had the chance to see and meet the likes of 1992 Dream Team members Charles Barkley, Magic Johnson, Karl Malone, John Stockton, Chris Mullin, Larry Bird, David Robinson and Scottie Pippen as well as "The Logo" Jerry West.
Here's a photo from @TerrellVinson, his twitter page.
