he already undermanned frontcourt of the University of Massachusetts men's basketball team got a little thinner Thursday after coach Derek Kellogg dismissed sophomore big man Tyrell Lynch from the program.

Kellogg said that there was not a specific event that led to Lynch's dismissal, but declined to elaborate further.

"It was my decision that it was best for the program and for Tyrell that he's no longer part of the program," Kellogg said.

Lynch was recruited by former Minuteman coach Travis Ford, but did not play for him. Lynch sat out his first year at UMass as an academic nonqualifier and made his debut last season.

The 6-foot-9 big man played in all 30 games and started five. He averaged 3.2 points and 3.7 rebounds per game.

Lynch, a native of Niagara Falls, completed his high school career at the Laurinburg Institute in North Carolina. He originally committed to play at Auburn, but the Southeastern Conference does not accept nonqualifiers.

After sitting out a season, Lynch showed signs of considerable promise at times as a freshman. He scored 10 points and grabbed five rebounds, playing key minutes in the Minutemen's 61-60 upset of Kansas.

But he clashed with the coaching staff at other points. While his teammates celebrated after the Minutemen's last second 72-71 win at Rhode Island on March 7, Lynch sulked and swore because he did not play in the second half.

Because Lynch has already sat out one season, his basketball options are more limited than they would be for a normal transfer.

He could transfer to another Division I school, sit out 2009-10 and have two years left, losing a year of eligibility.

Or Lynch could spend the 2009-10 season at a junior college and then transfer to a Division I school and have two years left.

Finally, he could transfer to a Division II, III or NAIA school and be eligible immediately with three years left.

Kellogg said Lynch could remain at UMass on scholarship if he chooses, and that he is in good academic standing.

"He still has the option of staying in school and not being part of the team," Kellogg said.

Lynch could not be reached for comment.

His departure leaves the Minutemen without much experience in the frontcourt.

Transfers Sean Carter and Hashim Bailey, who both sat out last year as transfers, and Matt Hill, who sat out last year with an injury, are joined by freshman big man Raphiael Putney.

Terrell Vinson and Sampson Carter are freshmen who could play inside but are more naturally suited to the wing.

COURT DEDICATION - Kellogg was in Springfield Thursday to attend the ceremony dedicating the court at DeBerry Elementary School in memory of Tyler Ugolyn, who died in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center.

MEMPHIS TICKETS ON SALE - Tickets for the UMass game against Memphis Dec. 19 at the TD Garden will be on sale at the UMass Basketball Celebration from 5 to 7 tonight at the UMass Club in Boston. The event will feature appearances by Kellogg and former Minuteman coach John Calipari, whose book "Bounce Back: Overcoming Setbacks to Succeed in Business and in Life" will be available.

Matt Vautour can be reached at mvautour [email protected]. Follow UMass coverage on Twitter at twitter.com/GazetteUMass. Get UMass coverage delivered in your Facebook newsfeed at http://www.facebook.com/GazetteUMassCoverage.