MHERST — In Jackie Rogers' first University of Massachusetts men's basketball game, he was a starting forward — and a crucial piece of the puzzle for a team that had high hopes.

Even before arriving this year, the 6-foot-8 transfer from junior college had been preceded by reports of his talent. Such is the price for potential in today's basketball world.

"With all the (recruiting hype) on the Internet, it's tough these days for kids to match expectations," said UMass coach Bruiser Flint, who has seen Rogers blossom into a valuable reserve. "It's always an adjustment to come into a new program, but I've always tried to get him involved."

In Saturday's 85-59 win over Fordham, Rogers gave more evidence of how far he has come. His 16 points tied a career high, and his nine rebounds were a personal best for a player who has rarely come off the bench in the past, but has come to accept and like his role.

"I feel a lot more comfortable," said Rogers, whose performance followed a 13-point, six-rebound effort against Rhode Island. "I'm working hard in practice, knowing I'll get to play."

UMass (10-10, 8-1 Atlantic 10) is on a six-game winning streak entering tomorrow night's game at Dayton. The low-post rotation has been especially effective with Kitwana Rhymer and Micah Brand as starters, and Rogers and Eric Williams off the bench.

Rogers began his career at West Virginia University, where he averaged 1.8 points and 1.1 rebounds as a freshman. He transferred to Barton Community College in Great Bend, Kan., where he became a star with 18.8 points and 7.3 rebounds per game for a 32-2 team.

He came to UMass as a junior last fall, acclaimed as perhaps the key to a promising recruiting class.

But Rogers struggled, and soon he was on the bench. Bothered by an injury to his left foot, he also labored to grasp the demands of Division I basketball.

"I told him he had to come to the gym and work harder on the game," Flint said. A low point had come at Oregon, when Rogers fouled out in only 14 minutes.

Even as recently as Jan. 13, Flint had to give Rogers a pep talk. The player had been heckled badly at St. Bonaventure — where Rogers, a native of Syracuse, N.Y., had nearly attended instead of UMass — but the coach let him know his game was coming around.

Rogers said he never gave up hope, partly because he never assumed he'd be a starter.

"I didn't know I'd start when I came here, but I knew I'd play," he said. "Now it's best this way, because I can bring energy off the bench. If I can improve our team, other guys here know they can, too."

In the second half of Tuesday night's 78-46 win at Rhode Island, Rogers got a chance when Rhymer and Brand struggled. He scored all of his 13 points in the second half.

"If Kit and I don't start out right, Jackie and Eric can come in and help," Brand said. "That's been a big plus."

Flint said he knew Rogers' opportunity would come.

"I told him I was going to him, but he had to show he could put the ball in the basket," the coach said. "We'd gone to him (earlier in the season), and he hadn't made shots. But he's a big reason we're doing what we're doing now."

Rogers is averaging 6.1 points, 3.2 rebounds and 16 minutes per game. He says he's not judging the season by those numbers.

"I'm not surprised we're doing better," he said. "I always knew we could, and the pieces are coming together. I'm doing what the coach needs me to do, and if you do that, you can win games."