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Hashim Bailey

AMHERST - As the University of Massachusetts men's basketball team completed sprints at the end of Monday's practice, junior big man Hashim "Big City" Bailey was both sweating and breathing heavily.

He didn't mind.

"Practice has been pretty rough, which is how I like it," he said.

The New Jersey native who transferred from Memphis rarely goes by his given first name, answering instead to his metropolitan moniker. He's hoping the running knocks some weight off his 6-foot-10, 275-pound frame.

"There's going to be a new City in town when the season starts," the deep-voiced Bailey said, smiling. "I'm getting lighter on my feet. I've lost 15 pounds since I've been here. I'm trying to get in shape and get my wind."

UMass coach Derek Kellogg said he likes Bailey's progress so far.

"In practice I'm not as concerned with the other stuff. It's just run, run, run, run and get yourself in unbelievable shape," Kellogg said. "City has been good. I won't say great quite yet, but he's been good. He needs to get into better shape. He hasn't really played in three years."

Bailey was a highly regarded recruit coming out of the Patterson (N.J.) School, but rarely saw the floor in two seasons at Memphis behind a deep and talented frontcourt.

Sitting out last year at UMass, Bailey's practice schedule was inconsistent as he worked to get his academics in order to stay eligible. He was proud of his improvement in the classroom.

"I'm really happy with what I've accomplished. I've got my GPA up. I think I'm more mature," Bailey said. "I like to go to class now. I learn something every day. I'm learning and having fun in class every day."

Kellogg said he hopes that continues.

"I'm proud of where he is and the strides he's made to be were he is right now, but I want him to be in position to get a college degree and have a successful two years here," Kellogg said. "If he can get it done I'll be proud to see a young kid at heart become a man."

Especially with Tyrell Lynch departing, Bailey figures to see regular minutes for UMass this year. His size gives him a dimension the other Minutemen inside players are lacking.

"He's had a pretty good attitude with it. He's really trying. He gives us a different look than a Sean Carter," Kellogg said. "Sean is more of a runner, an up-tempo guy. City does a good job of clogging the paint and he's a pretty good defensive big guy. If he could work on his post moves and finish a little better he'd be a more complete player."

Bailey said he is glad to be preparing for games again.

"It feels real good knowing I'll be in uniform and playing this year. Not playing last year was really tough for me," Bailey said. "This is definitely what I wanted college to feel like."

OPEN PRACTICE - With no Midnight Madness this year, the first opportunity for fans to see the Minutemen in action will be at an open practice Nov. 1 at the Mullins Center.

The event billed as "UMass Basketball Super Sunday" includes an opportunity to meet players and coaches after practice. There will also be a season-ticket seat selection session for people interested in purchasing them.

Individual game tickets also go on sale that day.

The regular season begins Nov. 13 at the University of Central Florida in Orlando.

CLOSED SCRIMMAGE - As they have done in most recent years, the Minutemen will play a closed scrimmage instead of a second exhibition game.

UMass will play Boston University at an undisclosed time and location on Oct. 31 in front of no fans or media.

The lone exhibition game will be at 7 p.m. Nov. 7 against Dowling at the Mullins Center).

HILL IMPROVING - Kellogg said redshirt sophomore forward Matt Hill still is not at 100 percent after suffering an Achilles injury in the third game of last season.

"I can't tell you what percentage he's at, but he looks like he's getting better," Kellogg said. "He's starting to get back into game shape."

STILL TRYING OUT - Walk-on hopeful Bud Gaffney and former Minuteman Trey Lang are not yet members of the team. The two still are trying out as walk-ons and are expected to make the team eventually.

Gaffney, who began his career at Wentworth College, would have to sit out this season as a transfer.

NAMES AND NUMBERS - Because UMass has two Carters on the roster with the first initial S, sophomore big man Sean Carter will have "S. Carter" on the back of his No. 23 jersey and freshman forward Sampson Carter will have just "Carter" on his No. 22.

Sophomore David Gibbs, who wore No. 2 last year has switched to No. 1. Freshman Terrell Vinson is now No. 2.

The rest of the newcomer numbers are Bailey (35), Javorn Farrell (10), Raphiael Putney (34) and Freddie Riley (24).

Matt Vautour can be reached at mvautour@gazettenet.com. Follow UMass coverage on Twitter at twitter.com/GazetteUMass. Get UMass coverage delivered in your Facebook news feed at http://www.facebook.com/GazetteUMassCoverage.