Massachusetts
Minutemen Continue A-10 Play Against Dayton On ESPN2 – University of Massachusetts Athletics
| University of Massachusetts Field Hockey Notes & Information | |
| Matchup | Massachusetts vs. Dayton |
| Date | Time | Jan. 7 | 1:00 p.m. ET |
| LocationD | Dayton, Ohio (UD Arena) |
| @UMassMBB | |
| @umassbasketball | |
| UMass Men’s Basketball | |
AMHERST – Mass. – Massachusetts continues Atlantic 10 play on Sunday, Jan. 7, as it travels to Dayton for a 1 p.m. tip in Ohio. The broadcast can be found live on ESPN2 with links and live updates available at umassathletics.com or @UMassMBB on X (Twitter).
This week for the Minutemen
The Matchup
- Sunday’s game marks the 34th all-time matchup between Massachusetts and Dayton, with the series standing at 14-19 in favor of the Flyers.
- Massachusetts last matched up with Dayton on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023 with the Flyers claiming a 72-54 victory in Amherst, Mass.
- UMass has not beaten Dayton at UD Arena since coming home with a 62-60 victory on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018.
- The Minutemen last win against Dayton also came during the 2017-18 campaign as Massachusetts completed the season sweep with a 86-82 (2OT) victory in Amherst, Mass.
A-10 Opener
- The Minutemen opened Atlantic 10 with a dominant 80-61 victory over Duquesne, leading for the final 34:14 of regulation.
- UMass claimed it’s first conference opening win since a 86-55 win over La Salle during the Covid-19 shortened 2020-21 season.
- Massachusetts came into conference play with a 9-3 record, marking the first time UMass has won 9 or more non-conference games in back-to-back seasons since the 2013-14 campaign.
- The Minutemen have now won won six of their last seven games including three at neutral site venues.
- Massachusetts final non-conference matchups also featured an 87-79 power-5 victory over West Virginia on Saturday, Dec. 16 at the Hall of Fame Classic in Springfield, Mass.
Diamond head dubs
- Massachusetts men’s basketball team competed in an eight-team field at the 2023 Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic in Honolulu on December 21, 22, and 24.
- The ESPN Events tournament field featured the Minutemen along with Georgia Tech, Hawai’i, Nevada, Old Dominion, Portland, Temple, and TCU.
- The Minutemen went 2-1 across three games in Honolulu, claiming two 22-point victories over Portland (100-78) and Old Dominion (87-65).
- Josh Cohen was honored as a Diamond Head Classic All-Tournament Team selection after two 28-point scoring performances against Portland and Old Dominion.
- The appearance was the first-ever at the tournament for the Minutemen and the third for head coach Frank Martin. Martin is now 7-2 all-time at the holiday tournament.
Scoring and Security
- The Minutemen have been one of the best teams in the nation in regard to ball security, ranking no. 23 in the country in turnover margin (4.0) and no. 31 in assist to turnover ratio (1.54).
- Massachusetts has shown the ability to score consistently and efficiently, ranking No. 27 in the nation in scoring offense, averaging 83.8 points per game.
- The Minutemen have recorded 90-plus points in four games this season including a 100-78 victory over Portland on Dec. 22.
- Massachusett’s 102-81 victory over Quinnipiac marked the first time the Minutemen scored 100 points since March 4, 2021 vs. Saint Joseph’s.
- The Minutemen were secure in possession, turning the ball over just five times vs. UAlbany (11/7/23). It marked the first time since March 10, 2010 vs Temple (4 TO) that Massachusetts has recorded 5 or fewer turnovers in a game.
Dynamic Duo
- Seniors Matt Cross and Josh Cohen make up one of the Atlantic 10’s premier scoring duos averaging a combined 33.3 points per game, ranking no. 2 in the conference.
- The two forwards also rank as the no. 2 rebounding duo in the A10, pulling in a combined 14.5 per game. They sit just below George Mason’s Keyshawn Hall and Amari Kelly (16.4 rpg).
- Matt Cross (31 points) and Josh Cohen (26 points) combined for 57 of the Minutemen’s 89 points against CCSU (11/22/23). The performance marked the first time since Jan. 10, 2018 that two players have each scored 25-plus points. Luwane Pipkins (44 points) and Carl Pierre (25 points) were the last teammates to achieve the feat, doing so in overtime vs. La Salle.
- With their efficient performance vs. CCSU (11/22/23) Cross (84.6%) and Cohen (90.9%) become the first two players to shoot .750 or better from the field (min. 10 att), since Tre Mitchell shot 76.5% (13-17) at La Salle on Dec.16, 2020.
Year Two Under Coach Martin
- Massachusetts basketball is in the midst of 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 313-220 (.586) 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 10 newcomers (two transfers).
- The Minutemen welcome a talented eight-man freshman class which spans players from seven states and South Sudan and is comprised of Jaylen Curry, Robert Davis Jr., Marqui Worthy, Jayden Ndjigue, Tarique Foster, Mathok Majok, Rollie Castineyra and Tyler Mason.
- Tyler Mason joined the freshman class as a December enrollee, providing depth in the front court with 23 games remaining on the schedule.
- 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 have played an immediate role 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 against Lehigh and Hawaii on his way to earning NEC Player of The Year honors.
- Hankins-Sanford comes to Massachusetts after 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 after 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 after 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 against Davidson on Feb. 4, 2023.
- Junior Rahsool Diggins steps into a bigger role in 2023-24 after 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 after 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 after 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
- Massachusetts returns to the Mullins Center for a Wednesday evening clash with La Salle on Jan. 10 at 7 p.m. in Amherst, Mass. The broadcast can be found live on the NBC Sports App with links and live updates available at umassathletics.com or @UMassMBB on X (Twitter).
A body part was found in a pond in Shirley, Massachusetts and investigators said foul play is suspected.
It was discovered around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday as a group of people were walking along Veterans Memorial Bridge on Shaker Road.
Police said the group noticed something suspicious in the water of Phoenix Pond. The Middlesex District Attorney confirmed that the item was a body part, but would not elaborate.
Police shut down the road and divers could be seen exploring the pond late Wednesday. Authorities were back at the scene Thursday morning.
No other information is available at this point in the investigation.
Phoenix Pond connects to the Catacoonamug Brook, which flows into the Nashua River. It’s also connected to Lake Shirley.
Shirley, Massachusetts is about 44 miles northwest of Boston and around 13 miles from the New Hampshire border.
Human remains were discovered Wednesday in the water in Shirley, Massachusetts, and authorities suspect foul play.
Police in Shirley said in a social media post at 7:15 p.m. that they responded to “a suspicious object in the water near the Maritime Veterans Memorial Bridge on Shaker Road.” Massachusetts State Police later said the object was believed to be human remains.
The bridge crosses Catacoonamug Brook near Phoenix Pond.
The office of Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan said a group of young people was walking in the area around 5:30 p.m. and “reported seeing what appeared to be something consistent with a body part in the water.”
Foul play is suspected, Ryan’s office said.
Authorities will continue investigating overnight into Thursday, and an increased police presence is expected in the area.
No further information was immediately available.
Massachusetts
Ice covered highways, streets and sidewalks in Boston area rattled nerves during morning commute: “I’m ready for the thaw”
It was a treacherous commute for drivers across Massachusetts Wednesday morning. Ice on roads and highways caused several crashes during rush hour.
In Danvers, 22 miles north of Boston, the ramp from Interstate 95 to Route 1 north was covered in ice, leading to three separate crashes involving twelve cars. Three people were taken to local hospitals.
In Revere, just seven miles north of the city, two tractor-trailers collided on North Shore Road. Police said it will be shut down for most of the day. It’s unclear if this crash was caused by icy conditions.
Forty-four miles west of Boston, a tractor-trailer ran off the westbound side of the Massachusetts Turnpike in Westboro. One person was taken to UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester with what were described by the fire department as “non-life threatening injuries.”
The ice wasn’t just a problem for drivers. People walking around Boston were also slipping and sliding Wednesday morning.
“I almost fell at least five times but I didn’t. I don’t know how. I screamed and caught edges,” Swapna Vantzelfde told CBS News Boston about her walk to work in the South End. It took longer than usual.
“The internal streets they just don’t get plowed, the little ones that people live on and then these arteries, the big streets, they’re cleaned a lot better,” she said.
Those on two legs and four were all stepping gingerly across slick spots.
“A little treacherous. Very slick and icy out here,” said a father pushing a stroller. “Sometimes you have something to hold on to, which helps.”
With plenty of snow piled along sidewalks and between parking spots, most people are done with winter.
“I’m over it. I’m ready for the thaw,” said one man.
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