====== December 4, 1968 - AIC vs. UMass ====== * Season: 1968-69 Freshmen Team * Date: Wednesday, December 4, 1968 * Opponent: [[opponent_aic|American International College]] * Start Time: 6:00 PM ET * Site: [[Curry Hicks Cage]] * **Result: UMass 106, AIC 49** ^ Previous Game ^ Next Game ^ | start of season | ? | ===== Season Preview ===== **Frosh Roster Shapes Up**\\ [[http://www.dailycollegian.com|The Massachusetts Daily Collegian]], November 21, 1968 The University of Massachusetts freshmen basketball team, under the direction of Coach Peter Broaca, is optimistically looking to the start of the 1968-69 season. Coach Broaca has been working with a 15-man squad in preparation for the 15-game schedule that features some of New England’s best freshmen teams. Top performers thus far have been forwards [[erving_julius|Julius Erving]], 6’4 (Roosevelt, NY), Rich Vogeley, 6’5 (New Hyde Park, NY), and Bill Kesgen, 6’5 (E. Rutherford, NJ), center Tom Austin, 6’8 (Swansea, MA), and guards John Betancourt, 5’11 (Westwood, NJ), Mike Pagliara, 5’10 (Wyckoff, NJ), Chris Nichols, 6’ (Madison, CT) and Don Moore, 5’10 (Shelburne Falls, MA). Other squad members are Warren Anton, 6’3 (Adams, MA), Chris Coffin, 6’4 (Westford, MA), Bob Fultz, 6’2 (Natick, MA), Joe Landolfi, 6’3 (Altoona, PA), Leon Saunders, 6’2 (Roosevelt, NY), Harold Connors, 6’6 (Pittsfield, MA), and William Spierdowis 6’6 (Norwood, MA). The UMass frosh will open their season by hosting the [[opponent_aic|American International College]] frosh December 4 at 6 p.m. in [[Curry Hicks Cage]]. ===== Game Preview ===== **Frosh Set For AIC Too;\\ Little Redmen Crippled**\\ By Peter Pascarelli, Assistant Sports Editor, [[http://www.dailycollegian.com|The Massachusetts Daily Collegian]], December 4, 1968 {{ :erving_pose_collegian_19681204.png?direct&250|}} A tall and sharp shooting UMass freshman basketball team opens up its season tonight when the Little Redmen meet the [[opponent_aic|A.I.C.]] frosh at [[curry_hicks_cage|the Cage]] at 6 p.m., with its lineup loaded with question marks caused by some early season injuries. The Little Redmen have shown themselves to be a potentially strong squad in their early practices. However, they have been set back in their progress by several injured key operatives. Frosh coach Peter Broaca stated this week, “The whole team has looked good but injuries to both the frontcourt and the guard spot has us hurting right off the bat.” The first and one of the biggest injuries was suffered by highly regarded 6’5 [[erving_julius|Julius Erving]]. Erving, who hails from Roosevelt, NY, broke his thumb early in practice sessions and has just started practicing again this week. However, Broaca has stated that Erving will start tonight although his movement will be hampered by a cast on the thumb. Not so sure a bet to be in the lineup will be sharp shooting John Betancourt. The guard prospect from Westwood, NJ, who has displayed an excellent outside shot, developed an ear infection and had to be operated on last week. His availability for tonight’s game in therefore questionable. In the event of Betancourt’s absence, either Chris Nichols or Don Moore will start. Broaca however is definite about one starting guard. He is Mike Pagliara, a 5’10 Wyckoff, NJ native who has shown to be a good floor general and shooter. Broaca says of his guard prospects, “They are all relatively even and are capable of starting for us.” The forecourt meanwhile, was further crippled early this week, by an injury to burly, 6’5 Bill Kesgen. Kesgen was expected to see a lot of action at a forward spot, but this injury puts the E. Rutherford, NJ native on the doubtful list. Starting the corner opposite to Erving will be 6’5 Rich Vogeley from New Hyde Park, NY. Vogeley is an excellent shooter and a fine rebounder. The center spot will be held down by big 6’8 Tom Austin. A member of the Eastern Mass. Class C champions, from Swansea, Austin is a fine shooter for his size and is mobile. Broaca is worried about his depth following his injuries, saying “It brings us from nine men to seven and hurts us up front and in the backcourt. Losing Betancourt hurts a lot because he was playing real fine ball.” Broaca is also worried about his opponent for tonight. The A.I.C. squad is loaded with height also and features some excellent prospects from Western Mass. Leading the team, however, will be forward Mike White. White, who is from New York City, played last season for Rockwood Academy, a team that took the UMass freshmen into overtime before the Little Redmen pulled it out. In that game the 6’5 White scored 30 points. Also starting for the Yellowjackets will be 6’7 George Kastinacis from Springfield Classical. Kastinacis was a highly sought after high school product. Also up front will be 6’4 Fred Bernard from Springfield Cathedral. In the backcourt will be definitely starting Jim Hart, 6’0 from Cathedral also. At the other guard spot will be either Jerry Leventhal or Mike Foley. ===== Game Recap ===== **Flying Frosh Five Drown AIC, 106-49, In the Rain**\\ By Peter Pascavelli, Assistant Sports Editor, [[http://www.dailycollegian.com|The Massachusetts Daily Collegian]], December 5, 1968 A UMass freshman team that people have said would be a great one proved them right as the Little Redmen unleashed a blistering shooting barrage to smother the [[opponent_aic|A.I.C.]] frosh, 106-49 last night at [[curry_hicks_cage|the Cage]]. A steady downpour inside the Cage failed to dampen the frosh shooting in their debut as UMass poured them through at a red hot 54 percent from the floor to overwhelm the Yellow Jacket threats. UMass took over after A.I.C. took an early lead. The Little Redmen took the lead for good at the 12:39 mark of the first half on buckets by guard John Betancourt and proceeded in the next six minutes to outscore the Aces 17-1 to put the game, for all intents and purposes, safely away early. Keying the surge, besides Betancourt, who was outstanding throughout, was Mike Pagliara. The 5’10 guard hit for five field goals during the streak and took the reins as field general. They weren’t the only ones, however, as the Little Redmen showed that in addition to talent they had depth. Forward [[erving_julius|Julius Erving]], whose movement was hampered somewhat by a mending broken thumb, was immense off the boards, sweeping down 14 rebounds and blocking numerous shots, in addition to canning several long range bombs. 6’8 Tom Austin gave Erving ample support off the boards and proved himself a defensive menace for A.I.C. as he blocked eight shots. A.I.C., after falling behind by as much as 17 points, did come back behind the fine all-around play of Mike White to cut the UMass lead to a ten point 42-32 margin at halftime. But the Little Redmen quickly dispelled any Yellow Jacket comeback hopes. UMass came out and proceeded to blow A.I.C. out of the dripping Cage. The frosh behind Austin, Chris Nichols, and Chris Coffin, outscored the visitors 31-7 in the first nine minutes of the half en route to an amazing 64 point half. That ended any suspense of the outcome and left the fans waiting around to see the frosh pass the century mark. The little Redmen hit 100 at 2:45 on two foul shots by Don Moore. Leading the well balanced UMass attach was the backcourt duo of Betancourt and Pagliara who scored 23 and 22 points respectively. Erving and Austin each had 11 while Coffin chipped in with 10. Starting forward Rich Vogeley, while only scoring seven points, helped the Little Redmen to their dominance of the boards by grabbing seven rebounds. White, who was injured midway in the second half, led the Yellow Jackets with 20 points. ===== Box Score ===== ^A.I.C.^FGM^FTM^Pts^ |White|8|4|20| |Creador|0|1|1| |Kastrinakis|0|2|2| |Hart|3|1|7| |Leventhal|2|1|5| |Berard|2|3|7| |Pezzarossi|2|1|5| |Kozak|1|0|2| |TOTALS|18|13|49| |||| ^MASSACHUSETTS^FGM^FTM^Pts^ |Vogeley|3|1|7| |Erving|5|1|11| |Austin|5|1|11| |Betancourt|10|3|23| |Pagliara|9|4|22| |Nichols|3|0|6| |Coffin|3|4|10| |Moore|0|4|4| |Spierdowis|0|0|0| |Landolfi|1|2|4| |Connors|0|2|2| |Anton|1|0|2| |Fultz|2|0|4| |TOTALS|42|22|106| {{tag>"1968-69 season" "AIC" "Freshmen game"}}