AMHERST - The University of Massachusetts men's basketball team won't get to savor Saturday's 84-63 win over Holy Cross for very long.

The Minutemen (4-4) head to Newark, N.J., for a game against Seton Hall at the Prudential Center at 7 tonight.

The Pirates, who did not play over the weekend, are 6-0 heading into the game. While most of their opponents hardly stand out, Seton Hall earned an 89-79 win on the road at Cornell. That was the same Big Red team that had defeated the Minutemen 74-61 in Amherst two days earlier.

"I've watched their scores a bunch and I know how they play," UMass coach Derek Kellogg said. "They're going to press the full 40 minutes, get up on you and be tough,

"It'll be a good test for our guys - let's see how they respond," he added. "I would say Seton Hall is an NCAA Tournament team, a good Big East team with older, more mature guys.

"I'm excited to play," Kellogg said. "I think our guys are playing well. They're sharing the ball and competing. Can they do the same things against Seton Hall? We'll see.

The Pirates have five players scoring in double figures led by junior guard Jeremy Hazell, who is averaging 19.7 points per game. New Mexico State transfer Herb Pope, a 6-foot-8 forward, is averaging 13.3 points and 11.2 rebounds per game.

"Hazell is probably a first-round pick (in the NBA draft) and if Pope keeps playing the way he can, he's probably a lottery pick," Kellogg said.

UMass junior big man Hashim "Big City" Bailey, who is from nearby Paterson, N.J., said he is looking forward to the game.

"I'm really looking forward to this," he said. "All my family and my friends are going to be there. I'm glad to play this game."

GIBBS SHINES - Sophomore David Gibbs had seven points, five rebounds and four assists against Holy Cross as he continued to play with more confidence since Ricky Harris took over primary ball-handling responsibilities.

"I thought that was David Gibbs' best game since he's been here," Kellogg said. "He looked aggressive and absolutely into the game."

HARRIS HONORED - Harris was named the Atlantic 10 coplayer of the week with senior forward Damian Hollis of George Washington.

Harris recorded identical lines of 19 points and six assists in the Minutemen's wins over Quinnipiac and the Crusaders last week.

Harris was three-for-three from the foul line against Holy Cross and now has 308 free throws in his career. He is tied with Marcus Camby at No. 10 on the all-time UMass list.

KELLOGG PERFECT IN WORCESTER - The win kept Kellogg perfect in the DCU Center (formerly the Centrum) as a player and a coach.

When Kellogg played for the Minutemen, they beat Syracuse there in the NCAA Tournament in his freshman year and won regular-season games against DePaul, Holy Cross and Louisville.

UMass is 9-1 all time in the building.

MISCELLANEOUS - The Minutemen's 49 points in the first half were a season high and the most since UMass scored 57 against Fordham on Feb. 11.

Matt Vautour can be reached at mvautour@gazettenet.com. For more UMass coverage, including a UMass sports blog, go to http://www.gazettenet.com/blog/umass-sports.