UMassHoops.com

Old Cage · Last edited by Old Cage on Wed Nov 16, 2011 9:31 am; edited 1 time in total

"UMass" magazine reports that an anonymous alum has made a gift of $11 million for a hoops-only training facility for men and women basketball players. This is half of the cost. Construction will begin near the Mullins Center in the spring.

The donor, identified only as having earned a masters from Isenberg, says "If UMass is going to compete on the national level, it has to have national caliber facilities." We are the only A-14 campus without a dedicated basketball facility.

The building will include practice courts, strength and conditioning facilities, locker rooms, and offices for coaches, team meetings and sports medicine.

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The above is a synopsis of the article. I admit that I thought I was reading an early "April Fool" joke at first reading. Amazing. Good for us.

http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/5fe78ae8#/5fe78ae8/50
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"Jack didn’t have any envy in him," Calipari said. "He was the greatest coach to ever coach here."

UmAstudent · Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2011 9:30 am Post subject:

Great news... UNLV out where I am is just finishing their building like that. Looks great out here and def has helped with their recruiting from what I hear.
I have attached a link with the article about the center UNLV built. It only cost them 11.7 mil.

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/mar/04/mendenhall-center-unveiled/

RCS07 · Junior Joined: 18 Oct 2010 Posts: 359

This has been in the works for quite a while. You can find early conceptual drawings on the architect's website. They've been on there for a few years. Found the renderings: http://www.c7a.com/Portfolio/academic/umass_champions_center.asp

I heard rumors of a large gift towards this facility before I left UMass for grad school. And was wondering when they were going to go public with the announcement. I believe that is the largest monetary gift to UMass ever. If it counts towards the campaign goal that's a great start. Way to go UMass!

Pierce9999 · Senior Joined: 14 Feb 2009 Posts: 851

Great F'in news...this will help recruiting for all sports, not just hoops. Nice job to all involved.
Very Happy

Rory · Junior Joined: 27 Mar 2005 Posts: 542 Location: Boston, MA

This guy is awesome, whoever he is.
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Class of '08

ktabz16 · Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2011 3:11 pm Post subject:

how can i buy him a beer?

MikeUMA

uz2b-len · Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2011 5:14 pm Post subject:

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Marty Peretz · Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2011 6:13 pm Post subject:

Seriously, anyone have any idea who the donor is? Trigger doesn't have that sort of dough...and doesn't tend to do things anonymously...Jack Welch hasn't shown any historical interest in UMass hoops? 11 million is a ton of dough.

RCS07 · Junior Joined: 18 Oct 2010 Posts: 359

The donor wished to remain anonymous. I think we should respect those wishes and not try to figure it out. This was pretty tight lipped at UMass. I worked in Development and wasn't clued in to who the donor was. It was usually pretty easy for me to figure these sorts of things out. The fact that people were so tight lipped about it makes me believe this was very important to the donor.

uz2b-len · Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2011 7:39 pm Post subject:

Mike has already owned up. What else do you wanna know?
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LooneyGoon · Senior Joined: 23 Mar 2004 Posts: 969

Ton of dough. Awesome to see this happening. Is construction actually confirmed for the spring?
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Ball so hard

inthescoop · Junior Joined: 25 Sep 2011 Posts: 315

Whatta man....cheers to him. WOOOOOOO

UMass just keeps growing and growing and becoming a better school everyday, I love it.

I was surprised to hear we were the only Atlantic 10 team without a basketball practice facility.

chapter 11 · Junior Joined: 26 Apr 2003 Posts: 304 Location: NYC

Didn't Coach Calipari receive an honorary degree? Thanks Coach. Kidding. Yes, we should respect the donor's desire to be anonymous. However, his or her fellow well heeled friends should keep up with their generosity as well.

Blutrane93 · Senior Joined: 14 Apr 2010 Posts: 1261

This kind of a building should be a tremendous asset for recruiting. Given that we had no basketball related facility, our pitch to a recruit who is considering us during their official or unofficial visit has just improved dramatically. It's going to be quite a facility by the looks of it. Things are looking up for the program. Thank you to the anonymous donor! This gift is really something.