Friday, April 4, 2008
The second half shots that have fallen all tournament for UMass aren't falling. Dante Milligan, whose been their best player in this tournament is now on the bench with four fouls.
I don't see this ending with a UMass.
It's OSU 57, UMass 50.
...11:50 left...
Friday, April 4, 2008
The Minutemen have been better when losing at halftime. They're up 41-36 at the break.
Sign in the stands:
Travis forget LSU, Stay in the Zoo.
Between Travis and Isaiah Thomas, this building is all about uncertain coaching situations.
...20 minutes left in the season...
Thursday, April 3, 2008
UMass jumped out to a 10-2 edge, but the Buckeyes have scored nine straight.
...15:40 left in the first...
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Hello for the final courtside live blogging of the season. I'll start with a bunch of disconnected thoughts.
George Miller points out that Travis is wearing the same blue shirt red tie combination that he wore Tuesday.
There's a lot of UMass fans here.
I just made a lunch wager on the CBI final. I have Tulsa.
...20 minutes left in the first half...
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
You can't help but be happy for Dante Milligan. Playing and winning in Madison Square Garden is important to all of the seniors, but I think it means a little more to Milligan.
This isn't just about basketball for him. Playing here reminds him of his brother, who was killed almost three years ago. He said after the game that he knew his brother was watching out for him. To be successful feeling that is something he'll never forget.
It'll be Ohio State vs. UMass Thursday. Should be good.
...two days til UMass-Ohio State...
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
It's kind of crazy to think that after the Charlotte game, people were looking at this UMass team like a disappointment. The Minutemen delivered another great comeback this time upending Florida 78-66.
More later I have stories to finish.
...two days til Ohississippi...
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
had tobe pretty similar to how he's playing in the second half.
UMass up 59-53.
Gaffney hasn't played in the second half.
...7:20 left ...
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
I think UMass is lucky not to be getting crushed and unlucky not to be ahead. If the Minutemen could shoot they'd be in good shape. If Florida finished better the Gators would be romping.
It's Fla 36-27.
...20 minutes left...
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
UMass can't make a 3-pointer. If they could shoot at all the Minutemen would be cruising, but they've clanked quite a few so far.
Florida 28, UMass 21
...3:58 left in the first half...
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Pretty entertaining so far. Tony Gaffney is playing has a dunk and looks fine so far.
...11:12 left in the half...
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
According to someone who'd know. Julius Erving is on his way here. According to someone who saw him, Dana Dingle is here. There are a lot of less famous UMass fans.
...13 minutes til tip...
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
This picture was way too good not to include.
For starter's Tuesday's victory needs a name. University of Massachusetts fans will be referring to it for years and they'll need something better than "that huge come-from-behind win over Syracuse."
The best I can think of so far:
Upstate Uprising
Carrier Comeback
Refuse to Lose at the Cuse (that's worse than "that huge come-from-behind win over Syracuse")
Minutemade Orange Squeeze
I was planning to make reference to this game in my story, but it didn't quite fit. But lets just say Travis Ford and Rodrick Rhodes have some experiences with big comebacks.
I understand that quite a few UMass fans were on hand to greet the bus with an ovation after the game. Next time you're going to do that email me and I'll wake a photographer. Since there's a reasonable chance that if you're dedicated enough to stay up that late to see the team come in that you may check this blog, I'll get some reaction to that reception tomorrow and post it here.
...29 days til Lost returns...
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
If you were wondering what happened to the live blog after post No. 2, well I'll tell you. I had a minor wireless hiccup n the first half. By the time I had it straightened out, UMass was getting whupped. So I faced this decision - Keep blogging or write the eulogy column on the end of the season. I chose choice B... Oops.
The column, which I wrote in the first person, was my own questioning of whether this season was a success because the Minutemen far exceeded preseason expectations or a disappointment because they missed the NCAAs when they had a chance to get there. I didn't really answer the question just put my mental debate into words.
Given that I had the game story and notebook to write. I spent all of halftime and the beginning of the second half writing it. It was more about the season than last night's game. So I finished it and sent. I think UMass was down 16 when I hit the send button. There was no chance they were coming back. Mike Williams wasn't walking through that door.
I had already written the top of a Syracuse gets even loudly game story. When it got closer I added a UMass makes a valiant comeback, but falls short top. I never considered the UMASS MAKES ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING COMEBACKS I'VE EVER SEEN lede until really late.
The Luke Bonner has a good game in defeat notebook became a Luke Bonner's early effort allows the Minutemen to come back.
Things that I didn't have time to write, that I would have if this game started at 6 p.m.:
UMass has become a serious thorn in the side of the Orangefolk.
1. In 2006 the UMass men's lacrosse team ended Syracuse's streak of lacrosse final fours.
2. In 2007 the UMass men's lacrosse team ended Syracuse's chance of making the lacrosse NCAA Tournament.
3. In November, UMass scored the most points ever by an Orange opponent in the Carrier Dome with 107.
4. Tonight (or last night cause most of you are in bed already as I'm writing this) UMass became the first team to ever beat the Orange twice in the same season in the Carrier Done.
5. Jim Boeheim is 0-4 against UMass. He's .500 or better against every other team he's ever coached at least twice against.
Well that's enough for now. UMass erased a 22-point deficit and won 81-77 and did it with Gary Forbes scoring exactly 9 points. To quote Joe Castiglione "Can you believe it?"
...Six days til my soon-to-be-married former Collegian buddy in New York City needs to find time for an early dinner or a late beer...
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Last time here UMass shot the ball extremely well. Neither team can hit at all. UMass is 3-for-16. Cuse is 4-for-19.
Cuse leads 11-8.
...11:51 left...
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Tony Gaffney isn't dressed so UMass is a man down.
...40 minutes left...
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
The Minutemen looked like the want to keep playing and smoked the Lumberjacks, 80-60. Everything that was missing Thursday in Atlantic City was there. Lowe and Milligan played well. UMass rebounded. Has to tkill them that if they played like this in the A-10 Tournament, they might have made the NCAAs.
...four days til UMass-Floridastakron...
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
UMass is pulling away. The Minutemen are up 62-47.
...7:10 left in the first half...
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
For a minute the Minutemen looked like they were in trouble as SFA cut their lead to one at 35-34, but UMass has scored 12 straight and is back in control 47-34.
...15:07 left...
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Milligan has 10 points and five boards. Forbes has nine points.
...20 minutes left in the game...
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
The Mullins Center is pretty empty. Milligan off to a good start.
...11:58 left in the first...
