2023-11-16 19:44:35
University of Massachusetts Field Hockey Notes & Information
Matchup
Massachusetts vs. Harvard
Date | Time
Nov. 17 | 7 p.m. ET
Location
Amherst, Mass. (Mullins Center)
Twitter
@UMassMBB
Instagram
@umassbasketball
Facebook
UMass Men’s Basketball
AMHERST, Mass. – UMass welcomes Harvard for a regional rivalry matchup on Friday, Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. at the Mullins Center. The broadcast can be found live on NESN+ with streaming available on ESPN+. Links and live updates are available at umassathletics.com or @UMassMBB on X (Twitter).
This week for the Minutemen
The Matchup
Friday’s matchup marks the 34th meeting between UMass and Harvard, the Minutemen hold a 19-14 record all-time once morest the Crimson.
The Minutemen faced Harvard last season, overcoming an 11-point deficit to secure a 71-68 victory on Friday, Dec. 2, 2022 in Cambridge, Mass.
Two for two
The Minutemen have opened the 2023-24 campaign with two convincing 20-point victories over UAlbany (92-71) and Quinnipiac (102-81).
The Minutemen have been one of the best teams in the nation in regard to ball security, ranking no. 2 in the country in turnovers per game (6.0) and no. 9 in turnover margin (10.5).
The Minutemen were secure in possession, turning the ball over just five times vs. UAlbany (11/7/23). It marks the first time since March 10, 2010 vs Temple (4 TO) that Massachusetts has recorded 5 or fewer turnovers in a game.
Massachusetts has shown the ability to score consistently and efficiently through two games, ranking no. 12 in the nation in scoring offense, averaging 97 points per game.
Junior Rahsool Diggins recorded a career-high 22 points once morest Quinnipiac going 6-of-8 from the field.
Josh Cohen made an immediate impact in his debut, recording a 22 point, eight rebound and three streal performance in his Massachusetts debut vs. UAlbany.
Year Two Under Coach Martin
Massachusetts basketball enters its second season under head coach Frank Martin in 2023-24.
Massachusetts comes fresh off a 2022-23 campaign that saw Coach Martin lead the Minutemen to their best record under a first-year head coach since 1996 and capture the Myrtle Beach Invitational title.
Martin’s team also recorded the largest true road win over an A-10 opponent by a UMass squad since February of 1996 with a 69-45 win at Rhode Island.
Martin holds a 305-217 (.582) collegiate coaching mark, picking up 171 of his wins in 10 seasons at South Carolina while recording 117 wins in five seasons at Kansas State.
Head coach Frank Martin picked up his 300th collegiate coaching win on Jan. 25, 2023 with a 85-76 win over Richmond.
Prior to his time in Amherst Martin led the Gamecocks to a new program record for wins in a single season and coaches the team to its best NCAA Tournament run in program history, a trip to the Final Four in 2016-17. The 15-year head coach also led Kansas State to a 29-8 record and an Elite Eight appearance during the 2009-10 season.
New MEN in Mullins
UMass features a new look roster which includes five returners and nine newcomers (two transfers).
The Minutemen welcome a talented seven-man freshman class which spans players from six states and South Sudan and is comprised of Jaylen Curry, Robert Davis Jr., Marqui Worthy, Jayden Ndjigue, Tarique Foster, Mathok Majok and Rollie Castineyra.
The class features three 3-star recruits, including Jaylen Curry, one of the highest-rated recruits in the Atlantic 10 for the class of 2023.
UMass also brings in two transfers in Daniel Hankins-Sanford and Josh Cohen who will play immediate roles in the Minuteman frontcourt.
Cohen was one of the most productive post players in the nation a season ago, scoring a career-high 40 points twice once morest Lehigh and Hawaii on his way to earning NEC Player of The Year honors.
Hankins-Sanford comes to Massachusetts following playing 22 games for South Carolina a year ago. The Charlotte, North Carolina native features natural rebounding instincts and elite athleticism at the power forward position.
Familiar Faces
Massachusetts returns three key pieces in Matt Cross, Keon Thompson and Rahsool Diggins from last season.
Senior Matt Cross was selected as a 2023-24 preseason All-Atlantic 10 Third Team selection following a productive first year in Amherst.
Cross ranked as one of just seven players in the conference to average over 12.0 ppg and 6.0 rpg. a season ago.
Cross is joined by St. Joe’s Cameron Brown and Dayton’s Daron Holmes as the only three players to achieve this feat who return to the Atlantic 10 in 2023-24.
Sophomore point guard Keon Thompson steps into an elevated role this season following starting nine of the last 10 games for the Minutemen in 2022-23.
Thompson averaged 8.88 points per game and 4.0 assists per game in those nine starts. The guard was one of just three individual players in the A-10 last season to record 12 or more assists in a game with 12 once morest Davidson on Feb. 4, 2023.
Junior Rahsool Diggins steps into a bigger role in 2023-24 following making 26 appearances and 10 starts for the Minutemen a season ago.
Diggins averaged 4.7 points and 2.4 assists per game, scoring a career-high 15 points on 3-of-6 from 3-point range at Saint Joseph’s on Jan. 21, 2023.
On The Bench
Head coach Frank Martin boasts a talented staff full of experienced assistants featuring three former head coaches, two former McDonald’s All-Americans and a former NBA lottery pick.
Associate Head Coach Allen Edwards was the head coach of the Wyoming Cowboys from 2016-20. Edwards’ teams recorded 60 wins over four seasons, including back-to-back 20-win seasons
Assistant Coach Brett Nelson comes to Amherst following spending the last four seasons as the head coach at Holy Cross. Nelson, a former McDonald’s All-American, is a 2004 graduate of Florida, a three-year starter for the Gators and helped his team to four NCAA Tournaments and to the 2000 national championship game.
Assistant Coach Brian Steele enters his second second UMass following spending time on head coach Frank Martin’s staff at South Carolina. Steele was a three-year letter winner at South Carolina as a student-athlete and served as a student assistant during the 2015-16 season in addition to the 2016-17 Final Four campaign.
Director of Player Development Anthony Evans spent five seasons as the head coach at FIU following six years as the head coach at Norfolk State. At FIU, Evans’ teams ranked in the top-10 percent nationally from 2015-17 in the NCAA Academic Progress Report and coached multiple Conference USA all-league and all-defensive players.
Director of Player Personnel Doug Edwards ed the Seminoles to three straight NCAA Tournament appearances from 1990-93. The Miami, Fla. Native scored 1,604 points in his career and is the only player at FSU to score 500 or more points in three consecutive seasons. Edwards earned All-SEC Second-Team honors as a senior before being drafted with the 15th overall pick by the Atlanta Hawks in the 1993 NBA Draft.
Head Coach Frank Martin coached now associate head coach Allen Edwards and director of player personnel Doug Edwards at Miami Senior High School.
Up Next
UMass hosts Central Connecticut State for a holiday season matchup on Wednesday, Nov. 22 at 2 p.m. at the Mullins Center. The broadcast can be found live on NESN with streaming available on ESPN+. Links and live updates are available at umassathletics.com or @UMassMBB on X (Twitter).
1700165019
#Massachusetts #Host #Regional #Rival #Harvard #Friday #Night #Clash
