Some of them looked at me like I was crazy, but some of them said yes. The UMass surge can be attributed to many reasons, most obviously the return to form of shooting guard Monty Mack. But improved post play, smarter ballhandling and bench production have played roles, too. Now he knows what he has to do, and he knows we can win without him trying to score 100 points. In Tuesday night's 78-46 rout at Rhode Island, Jackie Rogers scored 13 points off the bench, and Eric Williams had 10 rebounds.
Students are back on campus following intersession, and ticket sales are reportedly on the rise.
The last UMass game in Amherst, against Dayton Jan. 18, drew an all-time Mullins Center low of 4,113. Home crowds have been dropping steadily all season, but today's game may provide a reversal. The Minutemen, meanwhile, have flourished on the road. Only two of their eight Atlantic 10 games so far, and only one game in the current five-game winning streak, have come at the Mullins Center.