GETTING INSIDE
Two trips across the state to Boston in the span of five days showed Massachusetts’ up-and-down nature so far this season.
The Minutemen knocked off Memphis, 73-72, in a nationally televised game at the TD Bank Center on Dec. 19. Four nights later, they lost, 79-67, to Boston College at the Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill.
That has been the story of the season for Massachusetts, which is 7-5 with one non-conference game to go before entering Atlantic 10 play on Jan. 6 at home against Fordham.
Of course, inconsistency is to be expected of a team that has only one senior and starts two sophomores and one freshman.
Junior guard Anthony Gurley was moved into the starting lineup five games into the season and has emerged along with guard Ricky Harris, the lone senior, as Massachusetts’ top scoring threats.
Gurley is averaging 16.9 points and Harris has a 16.7 average and is dishing out 3.0 assists a game.
Highly touted freshman forward Terrell Vinson has been inconsistent but also shown flashes of becoming a dominant player. He is averaging 9.7 points and 4.8 rebounds.
Massachusetts is hoping to get freshman guard Freddie Riley back by the time conference play begins. He suffered a knee injury Dec. 7 in an 86-68 loss to Seton Hall and underwent arthroscopic surgery. He was providing scoring off the bench with a 9.6 average.
NOTES, QUOTES
• Massachusetts has out-rebounded opponents, 94-57, in the last two games, holding a 44-24 advantage on the boards in a 73-72 victory over Memphis on Dec. 19 and a 50-33 edge in a 79-67 loss at Boston College on Dec. 23.
• Massachusetts wore throwback uniforms from the mid-1960s to the mid-1970s in a victory over Memphis and plan to wear them again for the Feb. 3 game against Xavier.
January At A Glance: Massachusetts has a young but talented team, the type of squad that could pose problems to Atlantic 10 teams that take the Minutemen lightly. Coach Derek Kellogg will use January to get his team acclimated to conference play and then try to get it to peak in February in order to make some late-season noise.
Quote To Note: “Every night isn’t going to be Christmas.”—G Anthony Gurley after a 79-67 loss to Boston College on Dec. 23, which came four days after a 73-72 upset of Memphis.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
Season Recap: Massachusetts has played well at times and poorly at others, but has managed a 7-5 start despite starting three underclassmen. Guard Ricky Harris has been a stabilizing force as the Minutemen’s only senior, and junior guard Anthony Gurley has provided scoring punch after beginning the season as the sixth man before moving into the starting lineup in the sixth game.
Player Rotation: Usual starters—F Terrell Vinson, C Sean Carter, G Ricky Harris, G Anthony Gurley, G David Gibbs. Key subs—G Gary Correia, F Sampson Carter, F Hashim Bailey, G Javorn Farrell.
Game Review:
Massachusetts 81, Grambling State 58
Massachusetts 73, Memphis 72
Boston College 79, Massachusetts 67
Game Preview:
At Davidson, Wednesday, Dec. 30
Vs. Fordham, Wednesday, Jan. 6
Vs. La Salle, Sunday, Jan. 10
At Richmond, Wednesday, Jan. 13
At Temple, Saturday, Jan. 16
In Foucs: Massachusetts gets a chance for one last tune-up before Atlantic 10 play starts and the trip to Davidson should be interesting. While the Wildcats aren’t as strong this season following Stephon Curry’s jump to the NBA, they are tough to beat at home and should prove to be a formidable challenge.
Roster Report
• F Hashim Bailey, a transfer from Memphis, is becoming a factor off bench as he had four points and a career-high 10 rebounds in only 11 minutes of a 79-67 loss to Boston College on Dec. 23. Bailey is averaging 6.0 points in the last three games after averaging only 1.0 in his first six.
• C Sean Carter had a career-high 16 points and grabbed nine rebounds, seven off the offensive glass, against Boston College. Carter had scored in double figures only once in Massachusetts’ first 11 games this season.
• G Ricky Harris has struggled with his shot since missing the Dec. 11 victory over Grambling State because of a sprained ankle. Harris was a combined 7-for-27 (26 percent) in the next two games, a victory over Memphis on Dec. 19 and the loss to Boston College.
