MHERST - In trying to return the UMass basketball program to prominence during his three-year tenure, Steve Lappas envisioned 2004-05 as the breakthrough season. That means crunch time has arrived at the Mullins Center - for both coach and team.

``The amount of talent, experience and depth we have on the roster this season is something that we haven't had during my time here,'' said Lappas, still searching for his first winning season since replacing Bruiser Flint as coach of the floundering program in 2001. ``We've certainly taken some lumps in trying to bring UMass basketball back to where we want it to be, but I think we're finally ready to make our move and get back in the hunt.''

If the Atlantic 10 Conference preseason coaches' poll is any indication, Lappas' optimism is not unfounded. The Minutemen, coming off a 4-12 league record and 10-19 overall, were selected to finish third in the East Division behind Saint Joseph's and Temple.

UMass' ambitious forecasts are the byproduct in general of a solid returning nucleus, and in particular, the talents of Rashaun Freeman and Anthony Anderson. Freeman, a 6-foot-9 sophomore power forward from Schenectady, N.Y., was selected to the preseason All-Atlantic 10 first-team this year. Anderson, a 5-11 senior point guard who has started in each of his four years at the school, was chosen for the league's second team.

``Anthony has had a great career at UMass,'' Lappas said of the former Lynn English star, who averaged 12.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game last season. ``This is his fourth year with me, and we've been able to build around him. We certainly have high hopes of Anthony having a great final season.''

Likewise, Lappas has high hopes of a great second season from Freeman, who exploded on the A-10 scene in 2003-04, winning the conference's Rookie of the Year award. He averaged 15.4 points and 8.5 rebounds despite opponents giving him extra attention.

``I've had some great players in my coaching career, and Rashaun's freshman season was better than all of them,'' said Lappas, whose prior head coaching stops at Manhattan and Villanova produced their share of standout performers.

If Freeman lives up to expectations, he could jump right into the NBA draft. His defense has already improved by all accounts, as has his ability to operate away from his natural left-handed game.

``Everybody from last year's team returned, and they all have a much better idea what needs to be done for us to really turn this thing around,'' said Anderson, in his second year as UMass captain. ``We have a lot of guys here who are capable of stepping up.''

Anderson is referring to Maurice Maxwell, Stephane Lasme, Art Bowers and Jeff Viggiano, among others. Of that group, only Viggiano, a 6-6 forward who averaged 9.7 points and 5.4 rebounds last season, had prior collegiate experience when he joined the rotation last season. For their part, Maxwell, Lasme and Bowers were forced by the Minutemen's lack of depth into a baptism by fire in 2003-04. Lappas expects the fruits of their labor to pay dividends this year.

Bowers, a 6-4 guard from Wilmington, Del., averaged 9.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists last season. Maxwell, a 6-5 swingman from Philadelphia, averaged 8.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists. Lasme, a 6-8 forward from Libreville, Gabon, came off the bench to average 3.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.8 blocks. He is expected to provide a low-post option in a more expanded role this season.

If this year's group comes together as many predict, it might save Lappas' job. After seeing diminishing returns for three straight years, Lappas met with athletic director Jack McCutcheon last spring to renegotiate his contract. In the fallout, he forfeited the security of the 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons in return for a fourth year at the school.

``I wasn't ready to leave the job half-finished,'' Lappas said.

``I think this season, people will finally see that all of the things we've done to get to this point, especially last year, were not a case of time wasted. I feel really good about these kids, about this team. I'm definitely looking forward to the season.''