AMHERST - Raphiael Putney's problem is one many people would envy.

The University of Massachusetts freshman forward is too light. The combination of a long frame, a fast metabolism and lots of time working out has made it hard for him to put on weight and even tougher to keep it on.

The 6-foot-8 Putney is listed at 180 pounds, the same weight as 5-foot-11 Lex Mongo, the team's shortest player, who is by no means overweight.

While Putney's athleticism and work ethic give him seemingly ceilingless potential, his size could hold him back. With the Minutemen's first game (Nov. 13 at Central Florida) less than a month a way, Putney is doing what he can to put on weight in a hurry.

This is not the first beef-up project for UMass. In fact, the Minutemen seem to attract the long and lean types. Marcus Camby, Micah Brand, Gabe Lee, Stephane Lasme and Papa Lo barely filled out their uniforms when they arrived in Amherst.

While UMass coach Derek Kellogg joked that he'd love to have Putney's metabolism, he realizes Putney has as hard a time gaining weight as others have losing it.

"With kids his age it takes discipline to eat enough," Kellogg said. "You have to eat six or seven times a day to put on the weight that's necessary to play at the highest level."

So when he's not asleep, in class or on the court, Putney usually is eating.

"I'm eating more than I used to eat," said Putney, who is from Woodbridge, Va. "I've got to keep eating."

"He really needs to eat a lot. We want him to have his basic three meals a day and then two or three side meals," said trainer Dave Maclutsky, who along with strength and conditioning coach Bob Otrando is overseeing much of Putney's diet.

"Whether it's a protein shake or fruit and bagels that we have here at practice and something at night, obviously healthy stuff, but really he needs to get his calories up," Maclutsky added.

He mapped out a typical day on Putney's diet:

"For breakfast, three or four eggs for some protein, some carbs with pancakes or French toast and getting some meat, ham or bacon.

"Around mid-morning have fruit or a bagel, or protein drink.

"A lunch with protein, chicken or steak. They have a good stir-fry at the Hampshire Dining Hall. You're looking for a mixture of carbs, protein and fat.

"After practice a protein supplementation, a power bar or something like that.

"For dinner some meat, some carbs and some vegetable.

"At nine or 10 p.m., another protein supplementation."

Maclutsky said keeping the weight on will get harder when practice starts on Friday.

"With 2½-hour practices and on the weekends, sometimes twice a day, he's going to be burning so many calories, so we have to keep his calories up," Maclutsky said.

"In some ways it will be easier because we'll have the training table here so there'll be at least one meal where we know what they're getting," he added. "And when we're on the road, we plan what they eat. We can control a little bit more."

Kellogg said he does not want Putney to get too big and compromise his athleticism.

"I'm not looking for him to put on 50 pounds. I'm looking for him to put on 15 to 20 pounds of muscle and get wiry strong," Kellogg said. "I don't think he has the frame to get to 230, but if he can get to 210, 215, you're going to see a player to be reckoned with."

The flashes are already there.

"He goes through some stretches of individual work and he does some things you just can't teach," Kellogg said. "He could play anywhere from a two or a three to a five. He can go inside and change the game with shot-blocking or stepping out to shoot a three.

"The only thing holding him back right now is learning to play at a high level every possession and the physicality of the game," he added. "As soon as he figures those two things out, he's got a chance to be a really good player."

NO MADNESS - Rather than risk taking away potential spectators for Friday night's hockey game against defending national champion Boston University, UMass is not holding a Midnight Madness event to kick off the start of basketball practice.

The team hopes to hold an open practice at another time but nothing has been scheduled yet.

The Minutemen play the second-ranked Terriers at 7 p.m. at the Mullins Center.

COACHES CLINIC - The UMass coaching staff will host a clinic for coaches on Oct. 24 at Curry Hicks Cage.

The event, which will focus on the dribble-drive motion offense, will have two hour-long clinics, two UMass practices and two question-and-answer sessions. Lunch is included.

Registration costs $80 per coach and $75 for additional staff members. Registration begins at 8 a.m.

Coaches may contact Matt Vogel at 917-836-0135 or mvogel@student.umass.edu to participate.