2008 Woodie Awards
Roster Breakdown: In-depth look at the roster
Adam Miller, Collegian Staff
Issue date: 11/24/08 Section: 2008 Basketball Season Preview
It's no secret that the Massachusetts men's basketball team will rely on the dribble-drive motion-offense this season in Derek Kellogg's first year as head coach.
He made sure to make his mark for the Minutemen quickly, signing mostly big-men transfers. But UMass will have to make-do without them this season because they will redshirt due to NCAA eligibility rules.
The challenge this year will be winning games despite limited bodies in the interior.
Here is a player-by-player breakdown of the roster at each position, in order of expected playing time.
GUARDS
Chris Lowe
Kellogg believes that in order to run his new offense smoothly, point guard play will be the key.
After last season's success, Lowe is expected to be the leader of the Minutemen. The senior captain has high expectations after making the Atlantic 10 Preseason First Team. He averaged 11.8 points per game and 6.3 assists in 2007-08.
"The great thing about Chris Lowe is that he brings senior leadership to the team," Kellogg said. "He's going to be a very, very good player as this season goes on."
But it's not just offense that Kellogg is expecting from No. 14 - which just so happens to be Kellogg's old jersey number. Lowe is one of UMass' best defensive guards and will be asked to take on the responsibilities of putting pressure on opposing guards.
Towards the end of the season, Lowe began to show a more consistent defensive effort with at least two steals in seven of the last eight games. Kellogg would have no complaints if Lowe can do the same this year.
Ricky Harris
Harris, the team's No. 1 scoring option, averaged 18.2 points per game last year and is the second-highest returning scorer in the conference. Harris worked on his shooting during the offseason in an effort to make himself an even better weapon offensively.
Harris finished with a 37.4 percent success rate on 3-pointers last season which ranked seonc on the team but not enough to establish himself as one of the Top 15 outside shooters (percentage-wise) in the A-10.
He made sure to make his mark for the Minutemen quickly, signing mostly big-men transfers. But UMass will have to make-do without them this season because they will redshirt due to NCAA eligibility rules.
The challenge this year will be winning games despite limited bodies in the interior.
Here is a player-by-player breakdown of the roster at each position, in order of expected playing time.
GUARDS
Chris Lowe
Kellogg believes that in order to run his new offense smoothly, point guard play will be the key.
After last season's success, Lowe is expected to be the leader of the Minutemen. The senior captain has high expectations after making the Atlantic 10 Preseason First Team. He averaged 11.8 points per game and 6.3 assists in 2007-08.
"The great thing about Chris Lowe is that he brings senior leadership to the team," Kellogg said. "He's going to be a very, very good player as this season goes on."
But it's not just offense that Kellogg is expecting from No. 14 - which just so happens to be Kellogg's old jersey number. Lowe is one of UMass' best defensive guards and will be asked to take on the responsibilities of putting pressure on opposing guards.
Towards the end of the season, Lowe began to show a more consistent defensive effort with at least two steals in seven of the last eight games. Kellogg would have no complaints if Lowe can do the same this year.
Ricky Harris
Harris, the team's No. 1 scoring option, averaged 18.2 points per game last year and is the second-highest returning scorer in the conference. Harris worked on his shooting during the offseason in an effort to make himself an even better weapon offensively.
Harris finished with a 37.4 percent success rate on 3-pointers last season which ranked seonc on the team but not enough to establish himself as one of the Top 15 outside shooters (percentage-wise) in the A-10.
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