UMass Minutemen basketball

Massachusetts Minutemen Basketball
2024–25 UMass Minutemen basketball team
UniversityUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst
First season1908–09; 116 years ago
Head coachFrank Martin (3rd season)
ConferenceAtlantic 10
(MAC in 2025–26)
LocationAmherst, Massachusetts
ArenaWilliam D. Mullins Memorial Center
(capacity: 9,493)
NicknameMinutemen
Student sectionThe Militia
ColorsMaroon and white[1]
   
Uniforms
Home jersey
Team colours
Home
Away jersey
Team colours
Away


NCAA tournament Final Four
1996*
NCAA tournament Elite Eight
1995, 1996*
NCAA tournament Sweet Sixteen
1992, 1995, 1996*
NCAA tournament round of 32
1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996*
NCAA tournament appearances
1962, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996*, 1997, 1998, 2014
Conference tournament champions
1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996
Conference regular season champions
1962, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2007
*Vacated by NCAA

The UMass Minutemen basketball team represents the University of Massachusetts Amherst in Amherst, Massachusetts, in NCAA Division I men's college basketball. They play their home games in the William D. Mullins Memorial Center. The Minutemen currently compete in the Atlantic 10 Conference. Beginning in the 2025–26 season, the team will play as a member of the Mid-American Conference.[2]

History

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The men's basketball program has a history of over 100 years. The Minutemen, as they have been called since 1972, celebrated their 100th season in 2008–09.[3] Though the program's first game was played on January 10, 1900, there were several years in which no team was assembled.

Julius "Dr. J" Erving at UMass.

The program's first coach was Harold M. Gore, who in 11 seasons compiled a record of 85–53 (.616 win percentage), highlighted by a 12–2 season in 1925–26. In 1933–34, Massachusetts was the only undefeated team in men's college basketball, going 12–0. For the 1948–49 season, Massachusetts joined the Yankee Conference to mark the first time they participated in conference play. UMass would go on to be 10-time champions of the Yankee Conference.

The 1960s and 1970s were prosperous for the program. The 1961–62 team went 15–9 and participated in the NCAA tournament for the first time in program history. They would go on to win 4 Yankee Conference titles in the 1960s, and played in the NIT at the end of the 1969–70 season. Though not a nationally recognized name, the program's coach with the most wins was Jack Leaman.[4] Leaman guided Massachusetts to 217 wins, and coached players including Julius Erving, Al Skinner, Rick Pitino and Tom McLaughlin. The program compiled a record of 142–103 (.580) in the 1960s. The 1969–70 team featured Julius Erving. In his first game with the varsity team, a 90–85 win over Providence College, Erving scored 27 points and grabbed 28 rebounds.

In the first eight seasons of the 1970s, the Redmen/Minutemen compiled a record of 152–65 (.700). They won 5 Yankee Conference titles, and played in 5 NITs (the Yankee Conference did not have an NCAA tournament automatic bid). The early 1970s teams featured players such as Erving, Al Skinner, and Rick Pitino. Jack Leaman, who coached the team for 13 seasons, hung it up after the 1978–79 season, with a record of 217–126 (.632). Though Leaman's last season as coach of the men's team was 1978–79, he remained a key part of the UMass Athletic Department until he died in 2004.[5]

John Calipari era 1988–1996

[edit]

The Minutemen fell on hard times in the late 1970s and 1980s, but would rebound under the direction of rookie coach John Calipari, perhaps the school's most recognizable coach, who took the head coaching job in 1988.[6] Calipari took over a program that was on a streak of 10-straight losing seasons and had not been to the NCAA tournament since 1962. Calipari led UMass to the NIT in his second season as head coach. In his fourth season, UMass won both the A-10 regular season and tournament championships. Over the next few seasons, Calipari took the team to new heights and frequent #1 rankings in the AP weekly poll. In 1996, the Minutemen reached the Final Four for the first time. After the 1995–96 season, Calipari left UMass for the NBA as the new head coach of the New Jersey Nets. The 1990s were the defining decade for UMass basketball. Calipari helped the Minutemen become A-10 Tournament Champs five consecutive times (1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996), and appeared in the NCAA tournament seven times, including two appearances in the Elite Eight (1995, 1996) and a Final Four appearance (1996), the only appearance ever for the Minutemen. However, NCAA sanctions stripped the Minutemen of their 1996 NCAA tournament victories. The sanctions, based on star Marcus Camby admitting he took money, clothes, and jewelry from an agent during the season, removed the Final Four from the record books. Additionally, 45% of tournament revenue had to be returned to the NCAA. Camby reimbursed the school for the $151,617 in lost revenue.

Coach John Calipari (1988–1996)

After Calipari resigned in 1996, his associate Bruiser Flint coached from 1996–2001, and Steve Lappas coached from 2001–2005.

Travis Ford era 2005–2008

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In 2005, Travis Ford replaced Lappas. Though the Minutemen struggled with a 13–15 record in Ford's first season of 2005–06, he quickly improved the team in the next two seasons. In 2006–07, the Minutemen were co-champions of the Atlantic 10 (along with Xavier), reached the second round of the NIT, and finished with a record of 24–9. In 2007–08, the Minutemen reached the NIT championship game where they lost to Ohio State 92–85 and finished with a record of 25–11. Following the 2007–08 season, his third with the Minutemen, he left to take the head coaching vacancy at Oklahoma State.

Derek Kellogg era 2008–2017

[edit]

On April 23, 2008, former Minutemen player Derek Kellogg returned to Amherst and became the 21st coach of the program.[7] In 2011–12 the Minutemen appeared in the NIT after a successful season with a 22–11 record, reaching the semifinals, where they lost to Stanford. The Minutemen were again invited to the NIT in following the 2012–13.

The 2013–14 season was a success as the Minutemen qualified for the NCAA tournament for the first time in 16 years. The team started off the season 10–0 and then 16–1, while reaching as high as #13 in the AP poll, and #12 in the Coaches poll.[8] However, the Minutemen, a #6 seed in the NCAA Tournament, were defeated in their first game against #11 seeded Tennessee.

In the 2014–15 season, the Minutemen regressed, finishing with a 17–15 overall record, and an eighth place finish in conference. The team also had sub-.500 seasons in each of the next two, and Kellogg was fired on March 9, 2017.[9]

Matt McCall era 2017–2022

[edit]

Shortly after Kellogg was fired, the school announced that Winthrop head coach Pat Kelsey had been hired as the new head coach at UMass.[10] However, shortly before the press conference to announce his hiring, Kelsey announced he would not accept the position.[11] On March 31, the school announced they had hired Chattanooga head coach Matt McCall.[12]

McCall's five-year tenure at the school was not successful, and he was fired just before the end of the 2022 season.[13] His overall record at UMass finished at 61-82, and the team failed to advance past the conference tournament's quarterfinal round in each of the five seasons.

Frank Martin era 2022–present

[edit]

UMass announced it had hired former University of South Carolina head coach Frank Martin on March 25, 2022.[14] In Martin's first season at the helm, the Minutemen finished 15-16 with a 6-12 mark in conference play, but the team improved in his second, finishing with a 20-11 overall record, and a fourth place conference finish at 11-7.

Rivalries

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Through 2024, Massachusetts and the Rhode Island Rams have played over 160 times, and at least once a year every year since 1950. The Atlantic 10 regularly pairs UMass and URI in a home-and-home series each season.

Starting in 1995, Massachusetts and Boston College played annually for the Commonwealth Cup, in the "Commonwealth Classic". Following the 2011–2012 season (in which UMass defeated the Eagles 82–46 in Chestnut Hill), Boston College discontinued the series in part due to changes to the ACC conference schedule and canceled their return trip to Amherst in late 2012.

UMass and Temple had an intense rivalry in the 1990s, during which time the schools were coached by John Calipari and John Chaney. The two coaches had to be restrained from each other during a 3-overtime game in 1990.[15] After a game in 1994, Chaney charged at Calipari during a post-game press conference, and in front of reporters and television cameras, threatened to kill Calipari.[16]

From 1996 to 2005, Massachusetts and Connecticut played in the "Mass Mutual U-Game", a reference to the two schools' nicknames, UMass and UConn, respectively. UConn won nine of the ten games. UMass won the 2004 game, in which the Huskies were the defending national champions.

Season-by-season results

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UMass Minutemen History
Season Head coach Overall Conf. Postseason Notes
Independent
1925–26 Kid Gore 12–2
Mel Taube 1933–1936
1933–34 Mel Taube 12-0
1934-35 Mel Taube 6-6
1935-36 Mel Taube 2-12
Yankee Conference
Lorin Ball 1946–1952
1946–47 Walter Hargesheheimer (0–7)

Lorin Ball (4–5)

4–12
1947–48 Lorin Ball 2–14
1948–49 Lorin Ball 6–12
1949–50 Lorin Ball 8–11
1950–51 Lorin Ball 6–15
1951–52 Lorin Ball 4–17
Lorin Ball: 26–74 (.260)
Robert Curran 1952–1959
1952–53 Robert Curran 4–15
1953–54 Robert Curran 13–9
1954–55 Robert Curran 10–14
1955–56 Robert Curran 17–6
1956–57 Robert Curran 13–11
1957–58 Robert Curran 13–12
1958–59 Robert Curran 11–13
Robert Curran: 81–80 (.503)
Matt Zunic 1959–1963
1959–60 Matt Zunic 14–10
1960–61 Matt Zunic 16–10
1961–62 Matt Zunic 15–9 8–2 NCAA first round Yankee Regular season Champions
1962–63 Matt Zunic 12–12 6–4
Matt Zunik: 57–41 (.582)
Johnny Orr 1963–1966
1963–64 Johnny Orr 15–9 5–5
1964–65 Johnny Orr 13–11 8–2
1965–66 Johnny Orr 11–13 5–5
Johnny Orr: 39–33 (.542)
Jack Leaman 1966–1979
1966–67 Jack Leaman 11–14 7–3
1967–68 Jack Leaman 14–11 8–2 Yankee Regular season Champions
1968–69 Jack Leaman 17–7 9–1 Yankee Regular season Champions
1969–70 Jack Leaman 18–7 8–2 NIT first round Yankee Regular season Champions
1970–71 Jack Leaman 23–4 10–0 NIT first round Yankee Regular season Champions
1971–72 Jack Leaman 14–12 6–4
1972–73 Jack Leaman 20–7 10–2 NIT second round Yankee Regular season Champions
1973–74 Jack Leaman 21–5 11–1 NIT first round Yankee Regular season Champions
1974–75 Jack Leaman 18–8 10–2 NIT first round Yankee Regular season Champions
1975–76 Jack Leaman 21–6 11–1 Yankee Regular season Champions
1976–77 Jack Leaman 20–11 3–4 NIT Quarterfinals
Eastern Collegiate Basketball League
1977–78 Jack Leaman 15–12 5–5
Eastern Athletic Association
1978–79 Jack Leaman 5–22 0–10
Jack Leaman: 217–126 (.633)
Ray Wilson 1979–1981
1979–80 Ray Wilson 2–24 0–10
1980–81 Ray Wilson 3–24 0–13
Ray Wilson: 5–48 (.094)
Tom McLaughlin 1981–1982
1981–82 Tom McLaughlin 7–20 3–11
Atlantic 10 Conference
1982–83 Tom McLaughlin 9–20 4–10
Tom McLaughlin: 16–40 (.286)
Ron Gerlufsen 1983–1988
1983–84 Ron Gerlufsen 12–17 6–12
1984–85 Ron Gerlufsen 13–15 9–9
1985–86 Ron Gerlufsen 9–19 6–12
1986–87 Ron Gerlufsen 11–16 7–11
1987–88 Ron Gerlufsen 10–17 5–13
Ron Gerlufsen: 55–84 (.396)
John Calipari 1988–1996
1988–89 John Calipari 10–18 5–13
1989–90 John Calipari 17–14 10–8 NIT first round
1990–91 John Calipari 20–13 10–8 NIT Fourth Place
1991–92 John Calipari 30–5 13–3 NCAA Sweet Sixteen A-10 Regular season and Tournament champions
1992–93 John Calipari 24–7 11–3 NCAA second round A-10 Regular season and Tournament champions
1993–94 John Calipari 28–7 14–2 NCAA second round A-10 Regular season and Tournament champions
1994–95 John Calipari 29–5 13–3 NCAA Elite Eight A-10 Regular season and Tournament champions
1995–96 John Calipari 35–2 15–1 NCAA Final Four A-10 Regular season and Tournament champions
John Calipari: 193–71 (.731)
Bruiser Flint 1996–2001
1996–97 Bruiser Flint 19–14 11–5 NCAA tournament first round
1997–98 Bruiser Flint 21–11 12–4 NCAA tournament first round
1998–99 Bruiser Flint 14–16 9–7
1999–2000 Bruiser Flint 17–16 9–7 NIT first round
2000–01 Bruiser Flint 15–15 11–5
Bruiser Flint: 86–72 (.544)
Steve Lappas 2001–2005
2001–02 Steve Lappas 13–16 6–10
2002–03 Steve Lappas 11–18 6–10
2003–04 Steve Lappas 10–19 4–12
2004–05 Steve Lappas 16–12 9–7
Steve Lappas: 50–65 (.435)
Travis Ford 2005–2008
2005–06 Travis Ford 13–15 8–8
2006–07 Travis Ford 24–9 13–3 NIT second round
2007–08 Travis Ford 25–11 10–6 NIT Final
Travis Ford: 62–35 (.639)
Derek Kellogg 2008–2017
2008–09 Derek Kellogg 12–18 7–9
2009–10 Derek Kellogg 12–20 5–11
2010–11 Derek Kellogg 15–15 7–9
2011–12 Derek Kellogg 25–12 9–7 NIT semifinal
2012–13 Derek Kellogg 21–12 9–7 NIT first round
2013–14 Derek Kellogg 24–9 10–6 NCAA first round
2014–15 Derek Kellogg 17–15 10–8
2015–16 Derek Kellogg 14–18 6–12
2016–17 Derek Kellogg 15–18 4–14
Derek Kellogg: 155–137 (.531)
2017–18 Matt McCall 13–20 5–13
2018–19 Matt McCall 11–21 4–14
2019–20 Matt McCall 14–17 8–10
2020–21 Matt McCall 8–7 6–4
2021–22 Matt McCall 15–17 7–11
Matt McCall: 61–82(.427)
2022–23 Frank Martin 15-16 6-12
2023–24 Frank Martin 20-11 11-7
Frank Martin: 11–6 (.647)
Overall Record: 1349–1219 (.525)

Source[17]

Postseason results

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NCAA tournament results

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The Minutemen have appeared in the NCAA tournament nine times. Their combined record is 11–9. Their 1996 victories have been vacated by the NCAA thus their official tournament record is 7–8.

Year Seed Round Opponent Result
1962 First Round NYU L 50–70
1992 3 First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen		 (14) Fordham
(6) Syracuse
(2) Kentucky		 W 85–58
W 77–71
L 77–87
1993 3 First Round
Second Round		 (14) Penn
(6) Virginia		 W 54–50
L 56–71
1994 2 First Round
Second Round		 (15) Southwest Texas State
(10) Maryland		 W 78–60
L 87–95
1995 2 First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight		 (15) Saint Peter's
(10) Stanford
(6) Tulsa
(4) Oklahoma State		 W 68–51
W 75–53
W 76–51
L 54–68
1996* 1 First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight
Final Four		 (16) UCF
(9) Stanford
(12) Arkansas
(2) Georgetown
(1) Kentucky		 W 92–70
W 79–74
W 79–63
W 86–62
L 74–81
1997 11 First Round (6) Louisville L 57–65
1998 7 First Round (10) Saint Louis L 46–51
2014 6 Second Round (11) Tennessee L 67–86

* vacated by NCAA

NIT results

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The Minutemen have appeared in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) 13 times. Their combined record is 13–14.

Year Round Opponent Result
1970 First Round Marquette L 55–62
1971 First Round North Carolina L 49–90
1973 First Round
Quarterfinals		 Missouri
North Carolina		 W 78–71
L 63–73
1974 First Round Jacksonville L 69–73OT
1975 First Round Manhattan L 51–68
1977 First Round
Quarterfinals		 Seton Hall
Villanova		 W 86–85
L 71–81
1990 First Round Maryland L 81–91
1991 First Round
Second Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
3rd Place Game		 La Salle
Fordham
Siena
Stanford
Colorado		 W 93–90
W 78–74
W 82–80
L 71–78
L 91–98
2000 First Round Siena L 65–66
2007 First Round
Second Round		 Alabama
West Virginia		 W 89–87
L 77–90
2008 First Round
Second Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Finals		 Stephen F. Austin
Akron
Syracuse
Florida
Ohio State		 W 80–60
W 68–63
W 81–77
W 78–66
L 85–92
2012 First Round
Second Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals		 Mississippi State
Seton Hall
Drexel
Stanford		 W 101–962OT
W 77–67
W 72–70
L 74–84
2013 First Round Stony Brook L 58–71

Prominent alumni

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Al Skinner, Jack Leaman, and Julius Erving at the retirement ceremony for Skinner's UMass jersey No. 30

NBA players

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Several Massachusetts alumni have gone on to play in the NBA:

International league players

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Retired numbers

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Main article: List of NCAA men's basketball retired numbers

Five former players and one coach have had their names hung on banners in the rafters of the Mullins Center.

Marcus Camby was a consensus All-American in 1996
UMass Minutemen retired numbers
No. Player Player Career Yr. ret. Ref.
15 Lou Roe PF 1991–95 2004 [18][19]
21 Marcus Camby C 1993–96 2013 [20][21][19]
30 Al Skinner F 1971–1974 2003[22] [18][19]
32 George Burke PG 1954–1956 [18][23][19]
Julius Erving F 1968–1971 1988 [18][19]
– John Calipari Coach 1988–1996 2015 [24]

UMass Athletic Hall of Fame

[edit]

Many former members of the basketball program have been elected into the school's Hall of Fame.[25] Class years listed in parentheses.

  • David Bartley (1956)
  • George "Trigger" Burke (1956)
  • Lou Bush (1934)
  • John Calipari (coach)
  • Marcus Camby (1996)
  • Joe DiSarcina (1969)
  • Ray Ellerbrook (1970)
  • Frederick "Fritz" Ellert (1930)
  • Julius Erving (1972)
  • Jack Foley (1957)
  • Harold "Kid" Gore (coach)
  • Emory Grayson (1917)
  • Doug Grutchfield (1961)
  • Ned Larkin (1959)
  • Jack Leaman (coach)
  • Joseph Lojko (1934)
  • Jim McCoy (1992)
  • Edward McGrath (1949)
  • Bill Prevey (1952)
  • Lou Roe (1995)
  • Al Skinner (1974)
  • John Stewart (1936)
  • Billy Tindall (1968)
  • Rodger Twitchell (1964)
  • Harper Williams (1993)

The Hall is officially named "The George 'Trigger' Burke UMass Athletic Hall of Fame" in recognition of Burke's generous support of UMass Athletics and student scholarships.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "University of Massachusetts Amherst Athletics Official Style Guide" (PDF). Retrieved July 4, 2021.
  2. ^ "University of Massachusetts Accepts Invitation to Join the Mid-American Conference As Full Member". UMassAthletics.com. UMass Athletics. 2024-02-29. Retrieved 2024-04-20.
  3. ^ "UMass Set To Celebrate 100th Season Of Basketball". UMassAthletics.com. UMass Athletics. 2008-08-10. Retrieved 2024-04-20.
  4. ^ "UMassHoops.com".
  5. ^ "Jack Leaman". UMassHoops.com. Retrieved 2024-04-20.
  6. ^ "John Calipari hired at UMass". UMassHoops.com. Retrieved 2024-04-20.
  7. ^ "Welcome Home! Derek Kellogg '95 Named UMass Basketball Coach". UMass Athletics. 23 April 2008. Retrieved 2 November 2011.
  8. ^ "NCAA College Basketball Polls, College Basketball Rankings, NCAA Basketball Polls – ESPN". ESPN.com.
  9. ^ "UMass makes leadership change in Men's Basketball". UMassAthletics.com. UMass Athletics. 2017-03-09. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  10. ^ Thamel, Pete. "UMass to hire Winthrop's Pat Kelsey as head coach". SI.com. Retrieved 2017-04-03.
  11. ^ "Pat Kelsey bails on UMass presser, turns down job at last minute, will remain at Winthrop". CBSSports.com. Retrieved 2017-04-03.
  12. ^ "Matt McCall hired as new UMass head coach". Coaches Database. March 30, 2017. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  13. ^ Borzello, Jeff; Thamel, Pete (March 1, 2022). "Matt McCall out as UMass men's basketball coach at end of season, school announces". ESPN. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  14. ^ "Frank Martin Named Massachusetts Men's Basketball Coach".
  15. ^ "Calipari's greatest coaching feuds". MCA.
  16. ^ Moran, Malcolm (14 February 1994). "COLLEGE BASKETBALL; Chaney Lambastes UMass's Calipari". The New York Times.
  17. ^ "Massachusetts". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2017-03-21.
  18. ^ a b c d [https://umassathletics.com/sports/2016/7/5/trads-numbers-html.aspx Traditions - UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS RETIRED NUMBERS] at UMass (8 Dec 2015)
  19. ^ a b c d e The all-time starting five for UMass men’s basketball By Richard Rodgers at Daily Collegian, 19 Oct 2020
  20. ^ "UMass basketball will retire Marcus Camby's No. 21 jersey". masslive.com. 13 November 2012.
  21. ^ "Marcus Camby's No. 21 retired at UMass ceremony". Daily Hampshire Gazette. 11 Feb 2013.
  22. ^ "UMass to Retire al Skinner's Jersey".
  23. ^ George "Trigger Burke at Wickedlocal.com - March 26, 2014
  24. ^ UMass to retire basketball jersey of Calipari at NCAA.com, 4 Mar 2015
  25. ^ "University of Massachusetts Official Athletic Site – Traditions". umassathletics.com. Archived from the original on 2012-03-11.
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