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Senior Point Guard Chris Lowe Is a Preseason Atlantic 10 First Team Selection and Preseason All-Defensive Team Pick

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Senior Point Guard Chris Lowe Is a Preseason Atlantic 10 First Team Selection and Preseason All-Defensive Team Pick Senior point guard Chris Lowe is a Preseason Atlantic 10 First Team selection and Preseason All-Defensive Team pick. 25 Season OUTLOOK Season PREVIEW UMass has brought one of its own home to run the men’s basketball program. Former Minuteman point guard and Atlantic 10 Preseason Poll Springfield native Derek Kellogg was named the 21st head 1. Xavier (44) 8.Richmond coach in University of Massachusetts men’s basketball his- 2. Temple (12) 9. Rhode Island tory on April 23, 2008. The 1995 UMass graduate returns 3. Dayton (3) 10. La Salle to his alma mater for his first head coaching job after 4. Saint Joseph’s 11. George Washington serving as an assistant coach for 12 years, the last eight 5. Charlotte (2) 12. Duquesne at the University of Memphis under former UMass head 6. MASSACHUSETTS 13. Fordham coach John Calipari. The energetic and hard-working 7. Saint Louis 14. St. Bonaventure Kellogg is largely credited for recruiting many of the Ti- gers which helped Memphis reach the NCAA Champion- Coach Kellogg’s new offense to fill the void from these key ship game this past season and eight straight 20-win sea- players. sons and eight consecutive postseason berths. In his first season in Amherst, Coach Kellogg will look “I’m excited to be back at UMass,” said Kellogg. “Its to implement the dribble-drive motion offense. The Min- my alma mater and I’m looking forward to coaching this utemen will look to play a fast-paced, exciting style of team and getting to know the players and the people on basketball. campus. I’m looking forward to a packed Mullins Center. Last season saw the Minutemen finish 25-11 overall. It’s going to be a great year of fun basketball where guys Included in their record was an unforgettable run to the are going to compete at the highest level, we are going NIT Finals at Madison Square Garden. In their first round to play an unbelievable style and really get after it on game, UMass defeated Stephen F. Austin. After defeat- the defensive end of the floor. Our staple is going to be ing Akron, the Minutemen traveled to the Carrier Dome our half court defense. We want to be one of the most to face the Syracuse Orange for the second meeting of aggressive, toughest teams in the country and we are going the season. to practice and play that way on a daily basis.” After being down 19 points at halftime and 22 points After a season that saw the Minutemen make their deep- with 15 minutes to go, no one thought UMass had a chance est postseason run since the Final Four berth in 1996, the to advance further in the NIT. Then 3-pointer after 3- UMass basketball team will have a different and unique pointer began to fall. The comeback culminated with a look. With the departures of A-10 Player of the Year Gary perfect no look pass from Chris Lowe to Dante Milligan. Forbes, sharp-shooter Etienne Brower and Dante Milligan UMass became the only team to ever defeat Syracuse twice clogging up the middle, the Minutemen will have to utilize in the Carrier Dome in the same season. That victory showed the true grit and determination the Minutemen displayed all season. UMass Gets Preseason Honors UMass advanced to the NIT Final Four where they With UMass alum Derek Kellogg in town to lead the played the defending National Champions, the Florida Minutemen attack, the program is getting considerable Gators. In a hard-fought contested battle, the Minute- attention from national media as it hopes to earn its men won, led by strong performances by Gary Forbes (19 first NCAA Tournament berth since 1997-98. Lindy’s and points) and Dante Milligan (17 points and 12 rebounds). Athlon both predict UMass to finish in the top five in the This gave the Minutemen an opportunity to play for a NIT Atlantic 10 while Ricky Harris is tabbed to have a breakout Championship against Ohio State. year as well. In the championship game, the Minutemen started off Lindy’s predicts that the Minutemen will finish fourth strong from the start. On the first play of the game, behind St. Joseph’s, Temple, and Xavier. It mentions the Etienne Brower drove down the middle and dunked over good news as “Derek Kellogg returns to his alma mater Ohio State’s Kyle Madsen. In a back a forth battle, Ohio and has plenty of perimeter firepower.” Lindy’s includes State eventually prevailed with a 92-85 victory. Harris on the First Team All-Conference while recogniz- In addition to the departures of Gary Forbes, Etienne ing Chris Lowe with “Top Playmaker” in its honor roll. Brower and Dante Milligan, UMass also said goodbye to The magazine also includes a mention of freshman point consummate teammate and fan favorite Matt Pennie and guard David Gibbs, who will now “run the dribble-drive four year walk-on Nana Ampim. offense new coach Derek Kellogg is bringing to UMass This leads us to 2008-09. The new look Minutemen: a from Memphis.” new coach, four newcomers on the court and three more Athlon sports predict that the Minutemen will finish transfers sitting out who will play in 2009-10. fifth, trailing Xavier, Temple, Charlotte, and Dayton, UMass returns senior Chris Lowe, a Preseason Atlantic while earning their third-consecutive NIT berth. Like 10 First-Team selection and a preseason Atlantic 10 First- Lindy’s, Athlon predicts Harris to be a First-Team All- Atlantic 10 performer. Replacing A-10 player of the Year Team Defensive team. Lowe averaged 11.8 ppg along Gary Forbes will be a challenge, but Athlon says “Wake with 6.3 assists per game. His improved jump shot and Forest transfer Anthony Gurley should give Kellogg an- floater in the lane has made him extremely difficult to other wing scorer...Young guards Gary Correia and David defend. Gibbs will provide depth.” Junior Ricky Harris had a breakout season last year as Sporting News predicts a 10th place finish for the up- he captured the Atlantic 10 Most Improved Player. He tempo Minutemen. The publication thinks that with Gibbs averaged 18.2 ppg while shooting 38% from three point Ricky Harris is a on board (to go along Lowe, a senior), “the Minutemen land. Harris was also a Preseason Atlantic 10 Second- Preseason Atlantic 10 should be able to play at breakneck speed.” It predicts Team selection. Second Team selection that the best shot-blocker in the conference will once The front court will be headed by players expected to in 2008-09. again come from UMass (Tony Gaffney), while Lowe is fill big roles. Luke Bonner has a great jump shot for a deemed the “best passer.” Sporting News identifies three- seven- footer. His enthusiasm on the court is tough to point shooting as a big asset as “Together, Harris and match and makes him a fan favorite. Tony Gaffney epito- Gurley give UMass a pair of solid three-point threats.” mizes what a team player is, a hard-nosed defender that makes opponents fight on every possession. His energy 26 Season OUTLOOK and determination are the right ingredients to have a great Gary Correia will be Lowe’s back up as he provided senior season. steady leadership when Lowe was injured early last sea- Sophomore Matt Glass will have an op- son. He has proven he can knock down big shots in the portunity to knock down 3-point shots. He final minutes of games like he did against Houston will also be asked upon to provide tough and Boston College. defense and rebounding off the Ricky Harris will look to build upon his solid bench. Sophomore Gary Correia sophomore campaign where he averaged 18.2 proved to be a steady back up points per game, sixth in the A-10. He was also last season as he hit a cru- sixth in 3FG made (2.82). Harris tied the school cial 3-pointer in which record for 3-pointers in a season with 104, in UMass prevailed over just his sophomore year. He is a deadly 3- Houston 83-80. Matt point shooter. He earned national praise Hill played in five when we won the Atlantic 10 Player of the games last year but Week and was named ESPN Weekly Watch will be expected to National Player of the Week. provide energy and de- David Gibbs comes to UMass with the fense this season. team expecting an immediate impact. A lot is expected from the He has the ability to play both the point newcomers at UMass this season. and shooting guard positions. His quick- Sophomore Anthony Gurley, a highly ness and athleticism will make him tough touted transfer from Wake Forest, will to stop this season. He averaged more than look to build upon his solid freshman 20 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists in campaign in WInston-Salem. Gurley will his last two seasons at The Master’s School provide instant offense with his ability to in Connecticut. shoot from the outside and his ability to score around the hoop. Wings Freshman Tyrell Lynch will be expected UMass is loaded with various wing play- to make solid contributions this season. His ers that will allow Coach Kellogg to as- 6-foot 9-inch, 230-pound frame should al- semble lineups with three or four guards. low him to be extremely physical on both Redshirt sophomore Anthony Gurley the offensive and defensive end. Travon leads the wing players after transferring Wilcher is known for his above-the-rim abili- from Wake Forrest.
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