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JERREY ROBERTS

University of Massachusetts junior forward Terrell Vinson hopes to bounce back from his injuries during last season.

AMHERST - The University of Massachusetts men's basketball team is looking for a bounce-back year from junior forward Terrell Vinson, who battled injuries to both feet throughout last season.

Vinson showed some star potential as a freshman, but his scoring average dipped from 9.6 points per game to 6.5, and his rebounding from 5.4 per game to 4.4 as a sophomore.

"There was some frustration and injuries. A lot of things weren't perfect for him last year," UMass coach Derek Kellogg said. "He's had the best preseason he's had since he's been here. His attitude has been great. He's been looking to do what the team needs him to do."

The Minutemen will feature a faster offense this season and Vinson believes he will benefit from the switch.

"It's going to be fun. I'm anxious to play in the offense in a game setting," Vinson said. "I think it helps the whole team. It gets everybody touching the ball and everybody active and moving the ball around. The offense is designed for you to look for your shot. I'm going to look for it, but I'm going to look for the next guy too."

Vinson praised new strength coach Rich Hogans for helping improve his body during the off-season.

"I'm feeling good. My body feels really good right now," Vinson said. "I've gained some weight. We haven't really done contact yet, but I think when we start doing contact I'm going to feel it."

Like many of the Minutemen, Vinson has changed his uniform number for this season, switching from No. 2 to 33.

"I wore 32 in high school but I couldn't wear that here because it's retired," Vinson said, motioning to the No. 32 banners hanging for Julius Erving and Trigger Burke behind him. "This was the closest thing to it."

MORGAN AT POINT - While sophomore Jesse Morgan's primary position will still be shooting guard, the 6-foot-5 guard is practicing as the Minutemen's backup point guard behind Hofstra transfer Chaz Williams.

"I'm trying him there right now and see if he can get after it," Kellogg said.

Williams is the team's only natural point guard. Junior wing Javorn Farrell has been the backup in the past, but Kellogg wanted to relieve him of that responsibility.

COUTURE GONE - Jordan Couture, who appeared in six games last year as a walk-on, elected not to rejoin the Minutemen for the 2011-12 season. He had two points, both on free throws, in nine total minutes of action.

FORMER COACHES - At Tuesday's Colonial Athletic Association media day, former UMass coach Bruiser Flint's Drexel Dragons were picked to finish first in the CAA, two spots higher than Virginia Commonwealth, which advanced to the Final Four last year.

Expectations weren't as high for Travis Ford's Oklahoma State Cowboys, who were picked seventh in the Big 12 preseason poll, which came out last week.

Kentucky, which is led by former UMass coach John Calipari, was picked second behind Florida in the Southeastern Conference East Division poll, while former Minuteman player and assistant coach Tony Barbee appears to have his work cut out for him at Auburn as his Tigers were picked last in the SEC West.

Ex-Calipari assistant Bill Bayno will begin his first season as an assistant for the Minnesota Timberwolves when the NBA lockout ends.

KELLOGG CLINIC - Kellogg's annual coaches clinic will be at 9 a.m. Sunday at Curry Hicks Cage. The event will include a practice, breakdown drill sessions, lunch and social time. Coaches are also invited to UMass' Friday practice at 3:30 p.m. Admission to the event is $80 per head coach and $70 for each additional assistant coach.

For more information contact Matt Vogel at mvogel33@gmail.com or 917-836-0135.

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.