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game19930204_west_virginia

February 4, 1993 - West Virginia at UMass

  • Result: UMass 64, West Virginia 59 (OT)
  • Attendance: 9,493 (capacity: 9,493, 100% full)

Mullins Center previews

Boston Globe

UMass drives for the hope
New basketball arena may spark more recognition of university
By Kevin Cullen, Boston Globe Staff, 1/31/1993

AMHERST – Of the more than 4,000 people who crammed into the Curry Hicks Cage early yesterday, only a handful were as old as the gymnasium itself, but Tommy Bishko was one of them.

“Well,” said Bishko, 72, the equipment manager who has seen every game at The Cage since 1947, the year the college here became the University of Massachusetts, “it's time to move.”

That it is. After 62 years as the home court for the men's basketball team, The Cage was officially retired following a nationally televised midnight game before a boisterous but orderly crowd treated to an 84-74 victory over Southwestern Louisiana.

This week, the basketball program, which has become nationally recognized, moves into a sleek $50 million arena that could literally and figuratively move UMass into the big time.

For generations, the flagship of the state's university system, and the biggest public university in New England, has battled geographic isolation, legislative indifference, and publicity that, when it rarely came, was often negative.

And it is likely, if somewhat ironic, that UMass will become wider known and more respected as an institution of higher learning because it now has a new institution for higher leaping.

Long the economic nerve center of the area, UMass could well become the entertainment and cultural center of western Massachusetts with the opening this week of the William D. Mullins Athletic and Convocation Center.

At the very least, the Mullins Center stands poised to steal concerts and other events from the Springfield Civic Center and pump revenue into this usually sleepy college town.

And most people, from yuppie professors to the townies who stop by Barselotti's for an after-work beer, seem willing to accept the trade-off of crowds and congestion that will come with the Mullins Center.

“The opening of the Mullins Center is a metaphor,” says Sen. Stanley C. Rosenberg (D-Amherst). “This is a new era for the university. The university is coming of age.”

The school is certainly miles beyond its “aggie” beginnings. Founded in 1863 as the Massachusetts Agricultural College, the institution had 250 students in 1906.

By 1931, enrollment had tripled, and the school's character had changed so much that its name did, too, to Massachusetts State College. That was also the year The Cage, named after athletic director Curry Hicks, opened.

In 1947 the name was changed to the University of Massachusetts, and by the mid-1970s undergraduate enrollment peaked and has remained at around 17,000.

Some 100 miles from the state capital, UMass has always labored in the shadow of Boston colleges and universities. Most of the state legislators whose votes controlled its fate never stepped foot on the 1,200-acre campus.

The Boston news media, long accused of having a vision that tends to end at Route 128, seldom pay attention to the school, except to document its problems, such as the racial confrontations that have dogged the school over the years.

“It's very frustrating,” says Rosenberg. “Out of approximately 90 academic programs, UMass has a dozen ranked in the top 10 nationally and another dozen in the top 20. You never hear about that.”

It is the basketball team's having been ranked in the Top 20 that has done most to put UMass on the map, both regionally and nationally.

Basketball coach John Calipari, who in less than five years has transformed a moribund program into one of the nation's most respected, says he has no illusions.

“We're a small part of a big university,” said Calipari, 33, considered one of the country's best young coaches. “But there's also no question that we've brought light, a very good light, to a good university. That's what our job is. That, and to see that our players graduate, which they are doing.”

Calipari is fiercely proud and defensive about the university's place, and is critical of the Boston media for largely ignoring the school's academics and athletics.

“We represent the state,” he says. “BU doesn't. BC doesn't. Harvard doesn't.”

Last spring, after UMass advanced to the final so-called “Sweet Sixteen” of the national tournament, Calipari became a much sought-after property. And there was some grumbling among academics when UMass upped Calipari's salary to $125,000, with incentives that could push it to $175,000.

But Calipari says he gets nothing but support from most university employees.

“Some people are never going to accept athletics, but most people in an academic setting are able to see the big picture, and the big picture is we bring revenue and exposure to the school,” says Calipari.

Indeed, UMass academic programs have gotten national, if fleeting, attention during the public service announcements that accompany the team's nationally televised appearances.

Not everyone is getting carried away with the success of UMass basketball. Rosenberg says that though in most states the state university would be at the forefront of an economic development program like that called for under Gov. Weld's proposed jobs bill, UMass is fighting just to be included.

“It shows we have a long way to go,” says Rosenberg.

The budget cuts of the 1980s, meanwhile, devastated many academic programs, which have a long way to catch up.

The new arena is named for a late state representative from Ludlow, long a voice in the wilderness on Beacon Hill looking after UMass' interests. Mullins believed a modern arena would be one way to lure his colleagues to, and create a Beacon Hill constituency for, UMass.

And as UMass appears headed for another berth in the NCAA tournament in March, there may be more lawmakers under the Mullins Center roof than the Golden Dome next month.

UMass says state AG probing sports center
By Sean P. Murphy, Boston Globe Staff, 2/4/1993

The office of Attorney General L. Scott Harshbarger is investigating the construction of the new $50 million William Mullins athletic complex at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, according to university officials.

University president Michael Hooker was told by Harshbarger in late December that state authorities were “in the process of conducting an investigation concerning the construction of the Mullins Center,” said Laslo Boyd, a spokesman for Hooker.

The allegations apparently concern the quality of construction, although Boyd said Hooker was assured by Harshbarger that there were no concerns about the safety of the new facility, which will host its first event tonight when the UMass basketball team plays West Virginia.

Thomas Samoluk, a spokesman for Harshbarger, said the office has a practice of neither confirming nor denying the existence of any investigation.

Suffolk Construction Co., the general contractor for the Mullins Center, issued a statement defending its work. “It is unfortunate that, at this time, a disgruntled individual makes totally unfounded criticisms regarding the construction of the Mullins Center.

“This person simply is trying to diminish the significant achievement that this project represents for both UMass and the Commonwealth.”

The company also said, “we stand behind its quality, excellence of construction, durability and service to the UMass community.”

Susan Gray, marketing director for Suffolk, declined to identify the person considered by the company to be “disgruntled.”

Frank Callahan, executive director of the Pioneer Valley Building Trades Council, which represents 15 local unions, said the council objected when the contract was awarded in 1990 to Suffolk, which uses nonunion labor.

Callahan said the council objected on the basis of what he said was Suffolk's poor safety record at other construction projects.

The Mullins Center includes a 9,500-seat basketball and hockey arena.

Massachusetts Daily Collegian

Mullins opening affects parking
By Alyssa M. Owens, The Massachusetts Daily Collegian Staff, February 4, 1993

With the opening of the Mullins Center, some changes have been made in parking at the University of Massachusetts.

Effective tonight, for the UMass-West Virginia men's basketball game, evening users of designated parking lots will be directed to park elsewhere, giving access to Mullins Center patrons.

The affected lots will be Lot E (West of 25), 21, 25, 26, 31, 33, 40, and 41. On any given Mullins Center event, some or all of these lots will be required.

Parking control staff will be present in these lots by 5 p.m. for weekday events and variable times for weekend events. After this time, only people with tickets to the event will be permitted to enter the lot. No one will be required to vacate the lot if they are already parked there.

Access to every other lot on campus will be unrestricted during this time.

This plan was developed by a small task force for traffic and parking control and reviewed by BSC Group of Boston, a traffic engineering firm.

There will be shuttle buses running from some of the affected lots, which extend as far as Southwest residential area, to the Mullins Center, said Keith Terry, a radio operator for UMass Transit.

Some students that will be affected by the parking changes showed concern.

“I'll probably want to use the computers on campus and I won't be able to find parking,” said student Veronica White, who has parking privileges in Lot 25.

“I won't be able to leave and come back at night. That's kind of annoying,” said Adam Lomartire, a senior industrial engineering major.

Men move into Mullins, get set for WV
By Michael Morrissey, The Massachusetts Daily Collegian Staff, February 3, 1993

While some fans are still thinking about the Last Rage in the Cage, the University of Massachusetts basketball team has been busy moving into the William D. Mullins Center.

Head coach John Calipari and staff were getting settled in their spacious new surroundings in an effort to call the Mullins home before Thursday night's grand opener versus West Virginia (9 p.m., ESPN). Assistant coaches John Robic, Bill Bayno and James "Bruiser" Flint said they were pleased with their new offices.

“This is the only office I've ever had with a window,” said Flint. “I don't have to share [an office] will Bill any more.”

Robic, who is in charge of the scouting and helps with X's and O's, had expensive video equipment installed in his office to analyze opposing teams. All three coaches have separate offices. As nice as the assistant's quarters are, Calipari's office is even nicer.

In addition to pure office space, the Mullins Center has a number of other facilities designed to make life easier on the basketball team. Tim Kingston, academic advisor for basketball, said the new study area will help the players get more work done.

“We're putting computers in the study room, to be used by the kids and Ogden employees,” Kingston said. “Having this in the same facility as the basketball court makes it easier for the players.”

Brian Gorman, team manager, assessed the complex like this: “It's going to be a lot better, having the weights, the videotape room, the locker rooms, the study room, the offices and the court in the same building. It's an impressive place all around.”

Commerative t-shirts for the first game in Mullins.

Off the Glass: Calipari said he wants the building filled with maroon shirts for the inauguration of the new building and through the rest of the year. He praised students and season ticket holders alike for buying up almost 6,000 white shirts and wearing them at last Friday's game versus SW Louisiana.

“I'd love to see all 9,493 fans out wearing maroon for Maroon Madness at the Mullins,” Calipari said. “Friday night was special because all the fans came out, and we wanted to do it again.”

Gorman, who handles T-shirt sales for the team, said sales of the maroon “Cal-Zone” shirts were brisk.

“ESPN told us that visually, that was the best game they had done all year,” he said. “If we can keep that up in Mullins, hopefully it will force them to put us on TV even more next year.”

Glantz and Culver's Power Rankings had Massachusetts 14th last week, ahead of all Big East teams. With wins over SW Louisiana and St. Bonaventure, UMass may move up firther when new rankings come out today.

Game preview

Men's hoop ready for Mullins opener
By Jeff Crofts, The Massachusetts Daily Collegian Staff, February 4, 1993

Tonight is what University of Massachusetts coach John Calipari has been working five years for.

It is this evening (9 p.m., ESPN) Calipari opens up his new $53 million Mullins Center against West Virginia (10-6, 3-3), in front of 9,493 maroon-clad fans and a national television audience.

“The Mullins Center is a big step for our program,” Calipari said. “We outgrew the Cage and to be able to showcase the Mullins Center on national television is great.

“It is always tough when you move into a new building,” he said. “But we are looking forward to it.”

The one thing Calipari wants left over from the now-retired Curry Hicks Cage is the fan support.

“We want everyone there with painted faces, basketballs on their heads and wearing the maroon (T-shirts),” Calipari said. “When the fans leave the arena, they are going to say, 'Wow, what a great place to watch a basketball game.”

If there are any questions about West Virginia's ability to win in Amherst, look no further than last year to get your answer. The Mountaineers upset the Minutemen 76-75 on Jan. 8 at the Cage right after UMass upended Oklahoma to vault into the Top 25.

After that first game, the Mountaineers and Minutemen met two more times with UMass winning both. The first game was in Morgantown, W. Va. where UMass prevailed behind Jim McCoy's 31 points.

The stakes were raised in the next meeting between the two clubs as they competed for the Atlantic 10 championship.

At the Cage, the Minutemen jumped out to a 31-7 lead and never looked back as UMass won 97-91 and took home the A-10 championship.

This season West Virginia has had big wins (Ohio State at home) and some tough losses (Rutgers away). There is no question, however, that head coach Gale Catlett has a talented squad.

At the point, Marsalis Basey has proven this season he has recovered from injuries which hampered him last season. The diminutive Basey poured in a career-high 36 points in a double overtime victory against St. Joseph's earlier in the year.

At the shooting guard spot, the talented senior Tracy Shelton is still trying to find his niche two years after an injury cut short his sophomore year while the other main shooting guard for West Virginia is junior Mike Boyd.

Up front West Virginia returns one of the premier forward combinations in the league in juniors Pervires Greene and Ricky Robinson. The muscular (6-8, 225 lbs.) Robinson made the First Team All A-10 last season while the wiry Greene can jump out of the building.

In the center slot for the Mountaineers is burly (6-9, 240 lbs.) senior Jeremy Bodkin, who takes up space inside if nothing else. Junior Phil Wilson provides help up front.

The Minutemen come into tonight's contest in the midst of a season long seven-game winning streak. The return of forward Harper Williams has especially sparked UMass as of late.

Williams' return has done wonders for fellow frontcourt mate, Lou Roe, who has now been allowed to not only post up, but roam the baseline where he is most comfortable. Roe scored a career high 21 points in UMass' last game, a 93-78 victory as perennial A-10 doormat, St. Bonaventure.

MEDIA NOTES: The game will be on ESPN at 9 p.m. with John Saunders doing play-by-play and Dan Bonner providing color commentary. The game can be heard on WHMP with George Miller, play-by-play, and Kevin Kennedy, color commentary and WMUA with Dave T. Oldread and Brian Jones.

Collegian staff member Dan Wetzel contributed to this article.

Recaps

Boston Globe

It's a housewarming for the Minutemen
By Joe Burris, Boston Globe Staff, 2/5/1993

UMassHoops.com note: This article is light on actual game play details, probably due to the late tip-off and early newspaper press time.

Game program cover

AMHERST – Searchlights pointed out the place long before patrons reached Route 9. Crowds came in at about 8 p.m., yelling and running as if they were being attacked. There was even an Elvis sighting, proving once again that the King gets around better dead than alive.

Just before tipoff, a Rod Serling-like voice blared over the loudspeaker, reminding patrons of the evening's theme:

“You have just entered the Cal-Zone.”

OK, so the intro needs a little work. But University of Massachusetts basketball fans, many of whom wore “Cal-Zone” T-shirts to show their support for coach John Calipari, hardly needed any practice. For the second consecutive week, they threw a big party to honor a change of venue. Last Friday they whooped it up at midnight to commemorate the Minutemen's departure from Curry Hicks Cage. Last night they celebrated the long-anticipated opening of the Mullins Convocation Center.

While Greater Boston filled Larry Bird's ear with sweet accolades, Western Mass. held a big turnout for the Mullins grand opening and game against Atlantic 10 foe West Virginia. The game was broadcast on ESPN, marking the third consecutive UMass game aired nationally. The Minutemen's last game at the Cage was on ESPN, and its Jan. 24 game at the Worcester Centrum was on ABC.

Calipari entered the Cal-Zone early, broke bread with a few university reps at a reception, then quickly departed. “If I seem nervous, it's because I have to go coach a basketball game,” he said.

The Minutemen entertained a formidable opponent as part of the festivities. While UMass fans talk Temple when asked about tough conference opponents, the Minutemen have struggled just as much with West Virginia at home. UMass had claimed just one regular-season win at home against the Mountaineers in the Calipari era. Last year at the Cage, the Mountaineers knocked UMass out of the Top 25 rankings with a 76-75 win. That was the last game UMass lost in the Cage, as it won its last 14. The Minutemen avenged the loss with a 97-91 win in the Atlantic 10 tournament final.

“Scheduling the game against West Virginia was really because of television,” said Calipari, who was concerned with his team's play this week at practice in the new building.

“I wasn't happy at all with the practice we had two days ago. I was a little more pleased with the practice we had Wednesday. It's been tough. We're a tired team. We're just hoping to find the energy and the adrenaline it takes to win games.”

Massachusetts Daily Collegian

Minutemen sneak past in overtime
By Dan Wetzel, The Massachusetts Daily Collegian Staff, February 5, 1993

It was a fantastic finish to a grand opening.

The University of Massachusetts (14-4, 6-1) pulled away from West Virginia (10-7, 3-4) in the final three minutes of overtime last night to post a 64-59 victory, in front of 9,493 fans, in the first game ever played in the Mullins Arena.

UMass center Harper Williams' (14 points, 14 rebounds, and seven blocked shots) shot over Matt Roadcap with 33 seconds remaining in overtime gave the Minutemen a 62-59 lead.

West Virginia's Marsalis Bassey's (13 points) three pointer with 13 seconds fell short and UMass' Tony Barbee grabbed the rebound and advanced the ball to Jerome Malloy for an uncontested lay-up, which sealed the Minuteman victory.

“To come out of there with a win is big,” UMass Coach John Calipari said. “Big, against a good team.”

UMass forced overtime on the strength of sophomore forward Lou Roe's seven points down the stretch, including a foul shot with 33.9 seconds left which tied the game at 55.

After a West Virginia time out with 10.9 seconds on the clock, guard Mike Boyd (8 points) coughed up the ball as he drove the lane.

“I'm upset we didn't win it in regulation,” West Virginia Coach Gale Catlett said. “I called a bad play. We didn't get a shot on the goal and you have to do that.”

West Virginia forward Tracy Shelton said, “We were still confident we could win going into overtime. We still thought we had a chance even though we had two starters (forward Ricky Robinson and center Phil Wilson) foul out.”

Roe (14 points, 11 rebounds, including seven offensive) was immense in the second half, scoring 10 of the Minutemen's final 18 points, before fouling out with 2:04 remaining in overtime. UMass led 60-59 at the time.

“Our main goal was to foul Lou Roe out of the game, but we didn't do it soon enough,” Bassey said. “He was killing us on the offensive boards. Offensive rebounds were the key to the game.”

UMass grabbed 53 rebounds, 24 offensive, compared to 33, 12 offensive, for the Mountaineers.

“When I fouled out, I told the guys 'Refuse to lose,'” Roe said. “And they told me, 'Don't worry Lou, we got this one.'”

It was Williams who made sure the promise was not broken as he stepped up his play in the final two minutes, grabbing two rebounds and hitting the big shot with 34 seconds left.

“Harper was a warrior in the end,” Calipari said. “That kid just steps it up in the end. That's what makes him special.”

UMass survived a miserable first half of play, shooting only 26 percent from the floor, to trail 29-21 at the break.

“I don't know what happened in the first half,” Calipari said. “Harper said we had the jitters, but we just haven't been practicing well and I think that affected us more. Luckily our defense kept us in it.

“The first half was a carbon copy of Cincinnati,” Calipari said. “I figured ESPN would put billiards on instead of showing the second half.”

Sidebar
Player of the Game
Harper Williams, 6-7 Sr. Forward Williams was simply all over the floor, leading the team in three categories: rebounding (14), assists (4) and blocks (7). The “warrior” hit a big hook shot in overtime and made the difference when Lou Roe fouled out.

Why UMass won
Despite 17 turnovers and 33 percent shooting, the Minutemen never gave up, even when they trailed by 11 in the first half. The Minutemen played gritty defense throughout, wrestling the ball away from West Virginia at the end of regulation and forcing overtime. Harper Williams and Lou Roe helped the Minutemen outrebound the bigger Mountaineer team by 20, and UMass scored 16 points on second chances, many in key stretches.

'Mullins mania' reaches epidemic
By Michael Morrissey, The Massachusetts Daily Collegian Staff, February 5, 1993

What a way to open a place.

You knew it was one for the ages when the politicians from Boston showed up, sitting with suits and ties on right next to the students. But after all, there wouldn't be a Mullins Center without their pork-barreling efforts, and there surely wouldn't have been a nail-biting game like last night's 64-59 Minuteman victory.

“This was really a nice way to open the new arena,” said head coach John Calipari. “It was a quality win over a good, good team. They're tough.”

Opening night was a special night for everyone associated with UMass basketball. ESPN gave the Mullins a chance to show its facilities and its adoring fans, who described the place as “awesome.”

“This is a great inauguration,” said Dave Quattrucci, the premier Elvis impersonator at last night's game. ”The Cage was a great place, but you have to build the basketball program by updating the facilities.”

Indeed, as many saw for the first time, the Mullins had everything the Cage didn't have, like seats, air conditioning and a speaker system that worked. This new-fangled joing even had ushers, a far cry from the squatter's rights atmosphere at the Cage.

“Everything's been running smoothly, pretty much,” said Heather Cumming, one of the 50 ushers in the Mullins Center. “There's nothing like the Cage, but this is money well spent. This is better. I was amazed when I walked in for the first time.”

The Mullins Center is a new sign of respect for the University. Its design was meticulously crafted, its construction methodically completed, and its management seems to be top notch. The first game warranted time on “The All Sports Network,” and people even came from as far away as . . . Boston.

“I decided to come here, even with Larry Bird Night,” said Ed McGee, a Boston native. “I'd much rather go to a game than watch that on TV. I'm a big UMass fan.”

With a new building came the new banners. Gems like “When I think of ESPN I touch myself,” “Mullins mayhem” and “The house that Cal built” made it seem almost like home. Like the announcer said, fans were certainly entering a new dimension of UMass basketball.

Other content

Box Score

TOTAL 3-PTS REBOUNDS
WEST VIRGINIA MinFGFGAPctFGFGAPctFTFTAPctOffDefTotPFFOATOBlkStlPts
Robinson, RickyF29510.5000034.75025751040113
Greene, PerviresF39514.3570023.66734740021012
Wilson, PhilC24000012.5000225100011
Basey, MarsalisG37211.18213.333810.80033610550213
Boyd, MikeG3345.80000000222061008
Shelton, Tracy28311.27326.333000222000018
Bodkin, Jeremy1013.33300001122013102
Roadcap, Matt2514.25000001014010002
TEAM REBOUNDS224
TOTALS2252158.36239.3331419.73712213325213152559
First half1133.33324.50056.833 29
Second half918.50012.500710.700 26
Overtime17.14303.00023.667 4
Fast break points6
Points off turnovers12
Second chance points7
Points in the paint29
Deadball rebounds1
TOTAL 3-PTS REBOUNDS
MASSACHUSETTS MinFGFGAPctFGFGAPctFTFTAPctOffDefTotPFFOATOBlkStlPts
Barbee, TonyF39211.18216.16746.6671672014109
Williams, HarperF42512.4170047.5714101430467214
Roe, LouC33510.50000610.600741151210116
Kellogg, DerekG1902.00000001344022000
Malloy, JeromeG36410.40035.60024.50041510110013
Dingle, Dana2025.4000012.5002131001015
Williams, Mike33210.20018.125221.0000333021007
Robinson, Chris20000000000000000
Robinson, Kennard10000000000001100
TEAM REBOUNDS516
TOTALS2252060.333519.2631931.61324295319112179464
First half727.25937.42949.444 21
Second half1028.357210.2001216.750 34
Overtime35.60002.00036.500 9
Fast break points7
Points off turnovers11
Second chance points16
Points in the paint37
Deadball rebounds7
Score by Periods1st2ndOT1Final
WEST VIRGINIA2926459
MASSACHUSETTS2134964
Attendance9493
OfficialsT Lopes, J Burr, A McDonald
Technical Fouls1 (UM: bench)
game19930204_west_virginia.txt · Last modified: 2023/02/04 11:34 by mikeuma