Largest Mullins Center crowd since 2007 sees Minutemen beat Billikens
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AMHERST - When Saturday's game ended, University of Massachusetts men's basketball coach Derek Kellogg went to the far sideline for his postgame radio interview that is broadcast over the Mullins Center public address system. With many of the 8,399 fans still within earshot and others potentially tuning in as they drove away, Kellogg took advantage and thanked those who came.
The crowd was the largest at the Mullins Center since Kellogg became coach in 2008 and the most since Feb. 24, 2007, when 9,088 attended another matchup between the Minutemen and Saint Louis.
Saturday's game was the first since students returned to campus for the second semester and they filled the two end zones. The nonstudents were out in big numbers as well.
"I thought the crowd and the student section being the way it was really gave our team a boost," Kellogg said during his press conference. "They were excited when they came to the locker room to see there were people out there.
"It actually brought back some memories for me to have 8,500 people in the gym," Kellogg added. "Hats go off to the crowd. I thought that was fantastic. And to the students for coming out and supporting the guys. I think they deserve it. I think they're playing a fun brand of basketball."
MAJERUS RANT - Saint Louis coach Rick Majerus wasn't nearly as happy. He praised the performance by UMass in its 72-59 win, but little else pleased him and he delivered a memorable rant after the game.
Asked about whether traveling back and forth to play Xavier on Wednesday before heading to Amherst had tired his team out, Majerus repeated a familiar complaint of his that Saint Louis is not a good geographic fit in the Atlantic 10.
"If we really cared about the student athletes, and I think we try to, we don't belong in this league," he said. "I'm more concerned academically. The thing the travel compromises the most is their ability to get a good education."
But he wasn't ready to make travel an excuse for his team's poor play in the first half.
"I don't give a (expletive) how much travel you have. All you have to do is get your nose in the chest and defend," Majerus said. "I don't care if we didn't shoot well. You can always defend.
"The (Minutemen) played terrific with energy and effort. They played like they wanted to win," he added. "We played in the afterglow of a nice victory (73-68 over Xavier Wednesday) and that was it. We beat ourselves. Forget about the missed free throws or the turnovers. All that stuff is bull (expletive). We didn't come out and play. They exceeded us in intensity level and they won."
Despite a 16-5 record, Majerus didn't hold back on criticizing his players, saying he doesn't think they appreciate the opportunity they have.
"You're 18, 19, 20 years old. A buddy of mine's cousin just died over in Afghanistan. Who knows how many kids will die there today and they're the same age. This is a game. They should want to play a game," Majerus said. "It begins with me. I have to look at myself and say what didn't I do to provide the energy and effort that they need. Then they have to look at themselves."
He was frustrated with senior captain Brian Conklin for his early defense on Raphiael Putney and Majerus said playing with a leg injury was no excuse.
"I don't care what his leg is. He's got some kind of leg injury. If you've got a leg injury, don't play. I'd rather have a handicapped guy covering him," Majerus said. "I used to coach wheelchair basketball. Those son of (expletives) came to play every night. The most rewarding experience of my life was coaching my wheelchair team and the Special Olympics that I ran and coached in Utah. I can get a Special Olympian to get excited (to play). No derogatory remark to them. I'm just upset that (his current players) would not value the moment."
Majerus said he isn't sure that some of his players even like basketball.
"I may have a guy or two that don't play for the right reasons. College basketball is rife with it. They like being basketball players. They like being on the team, but they don't like basketball," he said. "But even if that's your deal in life, you have an obligation to your teammates and yourself. And someone gave you a scholarship. I've got three walk-ons that pay $46,000 a year. If I had any (guts) I would have played them."
ENCORE BUSTERS - For the third time this season, UMass ruined the momentum of a team coming off a big win. Davidson had beaten No. 11 Kansas three days before coming to the Mullins Center on Dec. 22. But the Minutemen upended the Wildcats 73-65.
Fordham had beaten No. 21 Harvard before arriving in Amherst on Jan. 5, but UMass held on for an 80-76 win.
With their win Wednesday, the Billikens ended Xavier's long conference home-winning streak at the Cintas Center.
SNEAKERS GAME - Coaches on both staffs Saturday wore sneakers with their suits as part of the annual "Suits and Sneakers Weekend" to raise attention for Coaches vs. Cancer.
NEXT UP - The Minutemen will travel to Rhode Island at 7 p.m. Wednesday. The Rams (4-18, 1-6 Atlantic 10), previously winless in the conference, stunned Dayton 86-81 on Saturday in Ohio.
MISCELLANEOUS - Saturday's win gave UMass 16, passing last year's 15 for the most wins in any season under Kellogg. It's the program's most wins since going 25-11 in 2007-08.
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.
