Massachusetts Team Report

GETTING INSIDE

You know those teams who always hear about, the ones no one wants to play in the postseason?

That could be the 2009-10 Minutemen. Massachusetts returns for a second season under coach Derek Kellogg and this should be a team that improves as the season goes, becoming more dangerous with each month. Kellogg’s recruiting class is being hailed as tops in the Atlantic 10 and even receiving rave reviews on a national level.

After all, Kellogg made a name for himself as a top recruiter under John Calipari at Memphis and in one year he’s proven he bring in the recruits in at his alma mater, where Calipari just happened to lead the once-moribund Minutemen to the Final Four.

His prized recruits this season—Terrell Vinson, Freddie Riley, Raphiael Putney, Sampson Carter and Javorn Farrell—are dubbed the “Fine Five,” a take-off of Michigan ‘s former Fab Five.

“I like that they’re being grouped together, because one common quality they share is that they are great kids,” Kellogg said. “They get along well together, they are competing in practice, and they feel we can be better than a lot of people might think.

“When your players feel that way, it’s better than when the coaches do. The environment they have created here is unbelievable.”

The recruits will be asked to show their stuff early since the Minutemen return just two players who scored in double figures last season. No other returning player averaged more than 3.7 points a game.

High-scoring senior guard Ricky Harris (18.2 points a game) and versatile junior guard Anthony Gurley (11.2 points, 3.1 assists) are back and the youngsters will lean heavily on those two for guidance.

Asking one freshman to come in and end an 11-year NCAA Tournament drought might be a lofty task, but with five Kellogg figures his chances are improved.

NOTES, QUOTES

• The point guard position will be up for grabs since UMass graduated its all-time career assists leader in Chris Lowe. Last season Lowe finished with 193 assists. The rest team combined compiled 237.

• UMass will be in search of front-line power after the loss of the Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year Tony Gaffney. Sean Carter, who played at Oregon State two years ago, brings similar skills to Gaffney with defensive prowess in the low post and an offensive game around the rim.

• G Ricky Harris has nailed 191 field goals from beyond the arc since the start of the 2008 season, the highest total among active players in the conference. The 6-2 guard is one of 10 returning players in the league who made at least 50 three-point field goals a year ago.

Last Year:   12-18 overall, 7-9 in the A-10.

Head Coach:   Derek Kellogg (career 12-18); 2nd year at UMass (12-18).

Quote To Note:   “I have known Terrell and his family a long time, and he never got caught up in power conferences or big names. He wanted what was best for Terrell Vinson.”—Coach Derek Kellogg on landing the highly touted freshman.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

Scouting The Newcomers:   UMass will have seven new players, including a five-player freshmen class considered one of the most talented in the nation. Headlining the group is 6-7 swingman Terrell Vinson (23.0 ppg.) of Baltimore. Vinson was rated the 46th-best senior by ESPN.com and 90th by Rivals.com. Joining Vinson is dynamic scoring guard Freddie Riley (22.8 ppg.), swingman Javorn Farrell (12.0 ppg.) and forwards Sampson Carter (17.0 ppg.) and Raphiael Putney (16.0 ppg.).

Key Early-season Games:   Late November really gets rolling for the Minutemen. The Legends Classic in Atlantic City will feature a matchup against Rutgers (Nov. 27) and then either Florida or Michigan State (Nov. 28). A trip to Seton Hall (Dec. 9) is up next followed by a televised game against Memphis in Boston. Two tough road games await before A-10 play—at Boston College (Dec. 23) and at Davidson (Dec. 30).

Program Direction:   It’s tough to say where coach Derek Kellogg’s team is headed. After 49 wins in consecutive seasons and two NIT appearances, Kellogg’s rookie season managed just a 12-18 record and 7-9 in conference after four consecutive seasons of .500 or better in the A-10.

Probable Starting Lineup:   G Ricky Harris, G Anthony Hurley, F Terrell Vinson, F Sampson Carter, F/C Sean Carter,

Roster Report:  

• F/C Hashim Bailey, who was part of two NCAA Tournament teams at the University of Memphis, has two years to play at UMass starting in 2009-10. Bailey will be a power in the paint with his burly 6-10, 275-pound frame. Bailey followed coach Derek Kellogg and had to sit out last season to comply with NCAA transfer eligibility rules.

• G Lex Mongo, aside from having one of the more unique names in college basketball, is the only senior on the team other than Ricky Harris. Unlike Harris, Mongo will have more of a role on the practice floor than the game floor. Last season, Mongo averaged 0.0 points and 0.3 rebounds in six very brief appearances. He’s a hard-working walk-on who won’t see much playing time, but could be an invaluable resource to the coaching staff in molding the team’s young players.