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).
Massachusetts
Peabody man claims $500,000 Massachusetts State Lottery prize
PEABODY, Mass. (WWLP) – A Peabody resident is celebrating a big lottery win after claiming a $500,000 top prize in a Massachusetts State Lottery instant ticket game.
David McHenry won one of the top prizes in the Massachusetts State Lottery’s “$500,000 Frenzy” instant ticket game, lottery officials announced Wednesday.
McHenry chose to receive his winnings as a one-time payment of $500,000 before taxes.
The winning ticket was purchased at E Market Convenience Store & Deli, located at 598 Lowell St. in Peabody. The retailer will receive a $5,000 bonus from the Massachusetts State Lottery for selling the winning ticket.
According to lottery officials, McHenry’s prize marks the seventh $500,000 top prize claimed in the “$500,000 Frenzy” instant ticket game.
Local News Headlines
WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Download the 22News Plus app on your TV to watch live-streaming newscasts and video on demand.
Massachusetts
Improving Long-Term Care for Seniors in Massachusetts – Center for Retirement Research
In recent years, Massachusetts has taken significant steps to improve care for seniors, most notably the Act to Improve Quality and Oversight of Long-Term Care. In a recent Risking Old Age in America podcast, Rep. Thomas M. Stanley, Co-chair of the Elder Affairs Committee, describes this initiative as well as further steps in the works. These include creating a family caregiver commission, licensing home health agencies, and working towards universal long-term care insurance.
Here are some excerpts from our conversation:
Senior Living Facilities
Risking Old Age in America (ROA): You have been working [to make improvements] across the whole continuum of care from nursing homes [to] assisted living facilities to home healthcare. Please talk about the legislature’s initiatives in these areas.
Rep. Thomas M. Stanley: In 2024, the governor signed the long-term care reform bill into law. This was the first major legislative update of nursing homes and assisted living residences in over 25 years.
It increases transparency and oversight of nursing homes through new suitability standards for owners and operators. It requires a review of the civil and criminal litigation history of owners and operators; and we put in place tools for the Department of Public Health to monitor and take punitive action against facilities, including increased fines and creating the ability to appoint a temporary manager to oversee a struggling facility.
It expands the suitability reviews of management companies including any [firm] with at least a 5-percent stake in a nursing facility. The law also establishes the long-term care workforce and capital fund to help address the workforce crisis in nursing homes. Money from the fund can be used for Certified Nursing Assistant training grants, career ladder grants for Licensed Practical Nurses, and also leadership training.
The law gives assisted living facilities the ability to offer basic health services, like wound care, eye drops, and medication distribution to their residents.
ROA: The Dignity Alliance [a senior advocacy group]…[has said] state supervision and enforcement of nursing facilities is…not tough enough, that there might be fines and other penalties on the books, but nobody’s applying them to nursing homes that don’t meet their obligations. It sounds like the ability to put them into receivership under the new legislation may be the remedy that’s needed.
Stanley: That’s correct. Under the old rules you would end up in the situation of really punishing or fining a nursing home and end up having it going to foreclosure. In that case, where are the residents going to go? The new law allows the Department of Public Health (DPH) to get in earlier and work with them so that they understand what the DPH is looking for in terms of quality of care and so forth. They can take care of the facility and all the residents so they don’t go astray.
ROA: So the DPH might have felt that it was between a rock and a hard place because if they enforced the regulations, they might lose the nursing home.
Stanley: [Yes]…and the nursing homes, by and large, were not letting them know that they were having certain problems. So this allows the DPH to get in earlier, understand what’s going on and help them make adjustments so that they can right the ship.
Long-Term Care Insurance
Stanley: The state of Washington is really in the forefront of looking down the road to provide for some type of revenue stream…for folks to be able to afford their home care or [other] long-term care needs. So we’re modeling our program after theirs and we’re learning from their mistakes and successes.
ROA: That’s the Washington Cares Fund?
Stanley: Yes, exactly. Last session Senator Jehlen and I worked together to get $500,000 in the state budget for the Executive Office of Health and Human Services to hire an independent firm to conduct the actuary study of various public, private and public-private long-term support service financing options. They hired Milliman to conduct the study. [The full study is available here.]
How it would work in a nutshell is that a public…insurance program would be funded via a payroll tax. After individuals pay into the program for a certain number of years, a vesting period, they would become eligible. And as they age and require long-term support services, they can apply for benefits under the program. There are countless ways to design the program, increasing or decreasing the benefit amount or…the vesting period, determining what the benefit can be used for – home care, assisted living or even paying family caregivers. We have filed legislation to establish a commission to discuss the results of the actuary study and the feasibility of a public long-term care financing program in Massachusetts and potentially recommending a model that works.
ROA: It sounds like this would help a lot, but one question I have about it is that if there’s a vesting period where you have to pay in for a number of years before you can become eligible for the benefit, would it only be available for people who are continuing to work during that time?
Stanley: That’s definitely something that has to be discussed by the commission, but everyone has to contribute and the 10-year vesting period is necessary to get enough money into the program to make it sustainable.
Listen to our entire conversation here.
For more from Harry Margolis, check out his Risking Old Age in America blog and podcast. He also answers consumer estate planning questions at AskHarry.info. To stay current on the Squared Away blog, join our free email list.
Massachusetts
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