• Season: 1993-94
• Date: Saturday, December 11, 1993
• Opponent: Holy Cross
• Start Time: ?
• Site: Worcester Centrum, Worcester MA
• Special Event: Non-conference game
• Television: ?
• Radio: WHMP

• Result: UMass (#8) 97, Holy Cross 80

UMass glides past HC
By Mark Blaudschun, Boston Globe Staff, 12/12/1993

WORCESTER – John Calipari did his best to make sure his team didn't feel too full of itself.

“We're a top 10 team and we probably don't have the third-best team in New England right now,” said the Massachusetts coach, who was throwing bouquets at Boston College and Connecticut.

The eighth-ranked Minutemen were more than good enough for Holy Cross at the Centrum last night as they coasted to their seventh win in eight games, a 97-80 romp over the Crusaders.

“We're 7-1 right now,” said Calipari, who no longer can have his team play the role of the underdog. “If you had said to us before the season began, that we'd be 7-1 at this point, I'd say no way.”

As North Carolina and Oklahoma have already learned, there is a way UMass can do just about anything it wants, especially if 6-foot-7-inch center Lou Roe is on the scene. Roe was at his awesome best against Holy Cross (2-2), as he made 15 of 18 shots, scored a career-high 33 points and pulled down 9 rebounds.

“Without Lou Roe, I don't know what happens,” said Calipari.

The way most of the Minutemen played, they probably would have survived even without Roe. With guard Derek Kellogg throwing in 3-point shots and running the offense, and forwards Dana Dingle and Donta Bright scoring almost at will from underneath, UMass breezed to a 54-35 halftime lead and was never in any serious trouble.

Holy Cross, which is in a rebuilding year, had only junior forward Rob Feaster to offer as a buffer against the onslaught. Feaster, who came into the game averaging 32 points, did his part by scoring a team-high 30 before fouling out late. But that was not nearly enough to stop UMass.

The biggest difference was on the boards. The Minutemen had a 27-9 rebounding edge in the first half, which was part – but not all – of the reason they had such a large halftime lead.

“Hey, they manhandled North Carolina in the second half,” said Holy Cross coach George Blaney. “If you can do that, you are playing hard.”

In the second half, the Minutemen had to play just hard enough to maintain their lead. Despite some sloppy moments, UMass never really had to sweat this one out.

Roe, who seemed to be everywhere on the court, said it was simply a matter of dedication for the Minutemen, who are starting to get respect as a national power.

“It was just a matter of going after the ball and deciding I was going to get it,” said Roe, who has assumed an even larger role after a knee injury to freshman Marcus Camby.

Even without Camby, who is expected back in a few weeks, the Minutemen are playing at a level far higher than almost anyone, including Calipari, expected.

“All I can ask for is an honest effort,” he said. “And I think we're getting that from a lot of players.”

Calipari knows his team cannot always play on the emotional level it did against North Carolina. But he also knows that the dips, when they do come, may not be that bad.

“We're probably not as good as our ranking, but I'll take it,” he said. “I love the national respect we're getting.“

Audio: Full game recording of WHMP broadcast