Skip to content
Surf Wiki
Save to docs
sports

From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base

UMass Minutemen basketball

Basketball team


Basketball team

FieldValue
nameUMass Minutemen Basketball
current2025–26 UMass Minutemen basketball team
logoUMass Amherst athletics logo.svg
logo_size150
universityUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst
conferenceMAC
firstseason1908–09;
locationAmherst, Massachusetts
coachFrank Martin
tenure4th
arenaWilliam D. Mullins Memorial Center
capacity9,493
nicknameMinutemen
studentsectionThe Militia
h_body881c1c
h_pattern_b_thinsidesonwhite
h_shorts881c1c
h_pattern_s_blanksides2
a_body881c1c
a_pattern_b_thinwhitesides
a_shorts881c1c
a_pattern_s_whitesides
bestfinish4
NCAAfinalfour1996*
NCAAeliteeight1995, 1996*
NCAAsweetsixteen1992, 1995, 1996*
NCAAroundof321992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996*
NCAAtourneys1962, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996*, 1997, 1998, 2014
conference_tournament1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996
conference_season1962, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2007
division_season1996
below* vacated by NCAA

The UMass Minutemen basketball team represents the University of Massachusetts Amherst in Amherst, Massachusetts, in NCAA Division I men's college basketball. They play their home games in the William D. Mullins Memorial Center. The Minutemen currently compete in the Mid-American Conference. UMass reached the Final Four at the 1996 NCAA tournament, its best finish at the NCAA tournament in program history.

History

The men's basketball program has a history of over 100 years. The Minutemen, as they have been called since 1972, celebrated their 100th season in 2008–09. Though the program's first game was played on January 10, 1900, there were several years in which no team was assembled.

The program's first coach was Harold M. Gore, who in 11 seasons compiled a record of 85–53 (.616 win percentage), highlighted by a 12–2 season in 1925–26. In 1933–34, Massachusetts was the only undefeated team in men's college basketball, going 12–0. For the 1948–49 season, Massachusetts joined the Yankee Conference to mark the first time they participated in conference play. UMass would go on to be 10-time champions of the Yankee Conference.

The 1960s and 1970s were prosperous for the program. The 1961–62 team went 15–9 and participated in the NCAA tournament for the first time in program history. They would go on to win 4 Yankee Conference titles in the 1960s, and played in the NIT at the end of the 1969–70 season. Though not a nationally recognized name, the program's coach with the most wins was Jack Leaman. Leaman guided Massachusetts to 217 wins, and coached players including Julius Erving, Al Skinner, Rick Pitino and Tom McLaughlin. The program compiled a record of 142–103 (.580) in the 1960s. The 1969–70 team featured Julius Erving. In his first game with the varsity team, a 90–85 win over Providence College, Erving scored 27 points and grabbed 28 rebounds.

In the first eight seasons of the 1970s, the Redmen/Minutemen compiled a record of 152–65 (.700). They won 5 Yankee Conference titles, and played in 5 NITs (the Yankee Conference did not have an NCAA tournament automatic bid). The early 1970s teams featured players such as Erving, Al Skinner, and Rick Pitino. Jack Leaman, who coached the team for 13 seasons, hung it up after the 1978–79 season, with a record of 217–126 (.632). Though Leaman's last season as coach of the men's team was 1978–79, he remained a key part of the UMass Athletic Department until he died in 2004.

John Calipari era 1988–1996

The Minutemen fell on hard times in the late 1970s and 1980s, but would rebound under the direction of rookie coach John Calipari, perhaps the school's most recognizable coach, who took the head coaching job in 1988. Calipari took over a program that was on a streak of 10-straight losing seasons and had not been to the NCAA tournament since 1962. Calipari led UMass to the NIT in his second season as head coach. In his fourth season, UMass won both the A-10 regular season and tournament championships. Over the next few seasons, Calipari took the team to new heights and frequent #1 rankings in the AP weekly poll. In 1996, the Minutemen reached the Final Four for the first time. After the 1995–96 season, Calipari left UMass for the NBA as the new head coach of the New Jersey Nets. The 1990s were the defining decade for UMass basketball. Calipari helped the Minutemen become A-10 Tournament Champs five consecutive times (1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996), and appeared in the NCAA tournament seven times, including two appearances in the Elite Eight (1995, 1996) and a Final Four appearance (1996), the only appearance ever for the Minutemen. However, NCAA sanctions stripped the Minutemen of their 1996 NCAA tournament victories. The sanctions, based on star Marcus Camby admitting he took money, clothes, and jewelry from an agent during the season, removed the Final Four from the record books. Additionally, 45% of tournament revenue had to be returned to the NCAA. Camby reimbursed the school for the $151,617 in lost revenue.

After Calipari resigned in 1996, his associate Bruiser Flint coached from 1996–2001, and Steve Lappas coached from 2001–2005.

Travis Ford era 2005–2008

In 2005, Travis Ford replaced Lappas. Though the Minutemen struggled with a 13–15 record in Ford's first season of 2005–06, he quickly improved the team in the next two seasons. In 2006–07, the Minutemen were co-champions of the Atlantic 10 (along with Xavier), reached the second round of the NIT, and finished with a record of 24–9. In 2007–08, the Minutemen reached the NIT championship game where they lost to Ohio State 92–85 and finished with a record of 25–11. Following the 2007–08 season, his third with the Minutemen, he left to take the head coaching vacancy at Oklahoma State.

Derek Kellogg era 2008–2017

On April 23, 2008, former Minutemen player Derek Kellogg returned to Amherst and became the 21st coach of the program. In 2011–12 the Minutemen appeared in the NIT after a successful season with a 22–11 record, reaching the semifinals, where they lost to Stanford. The Minutemen were again invited to the NIT in following the 2012–13.

The 2013–14 season was a success as the Minutemen qualified for the NCAA tournament for the first time in 16 years. The team started off the season 10–0 and then 16–1, while reaching as high as #13 in the AP poll, and #12 in the Coaches poll. However, the Minutemen, a #6 seed in the NCAA Tournament, were defeated in their first game against #11 seeded Tennessee.

In the 2014–15 season, the Minutemen regressed, finishing with a 17–15 overall record, and an eighth place finish in conference. The team also had sub-.500 seasons in each of the next two, and Kellogg was fired on March 9, 2017.

Matt McCall era 2017–2022

Shortly after Kellogg was fired, the school announced that Winthrop head coach Pat Kelsey had been hired as the new head coach at UMass. However, shortly before the press conference to announce his hiring, Kelsey announced he would not accept the position. On March 31, the school announced they had hired Chattanooga head coach Matt McCall.

McCall's five-year tenure at the school was not successful, and he was fired just before the end of the 2022 season. His overall record at UMass finished at 61–82, and the team failed to advance past the conference tournament's quarterfinal round in each of the five seasons.

Frank Martin era 2022–present

UMass announced it had hired former University of South Carolina head coach Frank Martin on March 25, 2022. In Martin's first season at the helm, the Minutemen finished 15–16 with a 6–12 mark in conference play, but the team improved in his second, finishing with a 20–11 overall record, and a fourth-place conference finish at 11–7. Prior to the 2025-26 season, UMass left the Atlantic 10 conference and rejoined the Mid-American Conference (MAC) as a full member.

Rivalries

Through 2024, Massachusetts and the Rhode Island Rams have played over 160 times, and at least once a year every year since 1950. The Atlantic 10 regularly pairs UMass and URI in a home-and-home series each season.

Starting in 1995, Massachusetts and Boston College played annually for the Commonwealth Cup, in the "Commonwealth Classic". Following the 2011–2012 season (in which UMass defeated the Eagles 82–46 in Chestnut Hill), Boston College discontinued the series in part due to changes to the ACC conference schedule and canceled their return trip to Amherst in late 2012.

UMass and Temple had an intense rivalry in the 1990s, during which time the schools were coached by John Calipari and John Chaney. The two coaches had to be restrained from each other during a 3-overtime game in 1990. After a game in 1994, Chaney charged at Calipari during a post-game press conference, and in front of reporters and television cameras, threatened to kill Calipari.

From 1996 to 2005, Massachusetts and Connecticut played in the "Mass Mutual U-Game", a reference to the two schools' nicknames, UMass and UConn, respectively. UConn won nine of the ten games. UMass won the 2004 game, in which the Huskies were the defending national champions.

Season-by-season results

UMass Minutemen1}}; color:white;"UMass Minutemen HistorySeasonHead coachOverallConf.PostseasonNotesUMass Minutemen1}}; color:white;"Overall Record: 1349–1219 ()
UMass Minutemen2}}; color:#000000;"Independent
1925–26Kid Gore12–2
UMass Minutemen1}}; color:white;"Mel Taube 1933–1936
1933–34Mel Taube12-0
1934-35Mel Taube6-6
1935-36Mel Taube2-12
UMass Minutemen2}}; color:#000000;"Yankee Conference
UMass Minutemen1}}; color:white;"Lorin Ball 1946–1952
1946–47Walter Hargesheheimer (0–7)4–12
1947–48Lorin Ball2–14
1948–49Lorin Ball6–12
1949–50Lorin Ball8–11
1950–51Lorin Ball6–15
1951–52Lorin Ball4–17
UMass Minutemen3}}; color:white;"Lorin Ball: 26–74 ()
UMass Minutemen1}}; color:white;"Robert Curran 1952–1959
1952–53Robert Curran4–15
1953–54Robert Curran13–9
1954–55Robert Curran10–14
1955–56Robert Curran17–6
1956–57Robert Curran13–11
1957–58Robert Curran13–12
1958–59Robert Curran11–13
UMass Minutemen3}}; color:white;"Robert Curran: 81–80 ()
UMass Minutemen1}}; color:#FFFFFF;"Matt Zunic 1959–1963
1959–60Matt Zunic14–10
1960–61Matt Zunic16–10
1961–62Matt Zunic15–98–2NCAA first roundYankee Regular season Champions
1962–63Matt Zunic12–126–4
UMass Minutemen3}}; color:white;"Matt Zunik: 57–41 ()
UMass Minutemen1}}; color:#FFFFFF;"Johnny Orr 1963–1966
1963–64Johnny Orr15–95–5
1964–65Johnny Orr13–118–2
1965–66Johnny Orr11–135–5
UMass Minutemen3}}; color:white;"Johnny Orr: 39–33 ()
Jack Leaman 1966–1979
1966–67Jack Leaman11–147–3
1967–68Jack Leaman14–118–2Yankee Regular season Champions
1968–69Jack Leaman17–79–1Yankee Regular season Champions
1969–70Jack Leaman18–78–2NIT first roundYankee Regular season Champions
1970–71Jack Leaman23–410–0NIT first roundYankee Regular season Champions
1971–72Jack Leaman14–126–4
1972–73Jack Leaman20–710–2NIT second roundYankee Regular season Champions
1973–74Jack Leaman21–511–1NIT first roundYankee Regular season Champions
1974–75Jack Leaman18–810–2NIT first roundYankee Regular season Champions
1975–76Jack Leaman21–611–1Yankee Regular season Champions
1976–77Jack Leaman20–113–4NIT Quarterfinals
UMass Minutemen2}}; color:#000000;"Eastern Collegiate Basketball League
1977–78Jack Leaman15–125–5
UMass Minutemen2}}; color:#000000;"Eastern Athletic Association
1978–79Jack Leaman5–220–10
UMass Minutemen3}}; color:white;"Jack Leaman: 217–126 ()
UMass Minutemen1}}; color:white;"Ray Wilson 1979–1981
1979–80Ray Wilson2–240–10
1980–81Ray Wilson3–240–13
UMass Minutemen3}}; color:white;"Ray Wilson: 5–48 ()
UMass Minutemen1}}; color:white;"Tom McLaughlin 1981–1982
1981–82Tom McLaughlin7–203–11
UMass Minutemen1}}; color:#000000;"Atlantic 10 Conference
1982–83Tom McLaughlin9–204–10
UMass Minutemen3}}; color:white;"Tom McLaughlin: 16–40 ()
UMass Minutemen1}}; color:white;"Ron Gerlufsen 1983–1988
1983–84Ron Gerlufsen12–176–12
1984–85Ron Gerlufsen13–159–9
1985–86Ron Gerlufsen9–196–12
1986–87Ron Gerlufsen11–167–11
1987–88Ron Gerlufsen10–175–13
UMass Minutemen3}}; color:white;"Ron Gerlufsen: 55–84 ()
UMass Minutemen1}}; color:white;"John Calipari 1988–1996
1988–89John Calipari10–185–13
1989–90John Calipari17–1410–8NIT first round
1990–91John Calipari20–1310–8NIT Fourth Place
1991–92John Calipari30–513–3NCAA Sweet SixteenA-10 Regular season and Tournament champions
1992–93John Calipari24–711–3NCAA second roundA-10 Regular season and Tournament champions
1993–94John Calipari28–714–2NCAA second roundA-10 Regular season and Tournament champions
1994–95John Calipari29–513–3NCAA Elite EightA-10 Regular season and Tournament champions
1995–96John Calipari35–215–1NCAA Final FourA-10 Regular season and Tournament champions
UMass Minutemen3}}; color:white;"John Calipari: 193–71 ()
UMass Minutemen1}}; color:white;"Bruiser Flint 1996–2001
1996–97Bruiser Flint19–1411–5NCAA tournament first round
1997–98Bruiser Flint21–1112–4NCAA tournament first round
1998–99Bruiser Flint14–169–7
1999–2000Bruiser Flint17–169–7NIT first round
2000–01Bruiser Flint15–1511–5
UMass Minutemen3}}; color:white;"Bruiser Flint: 86–72 ()
UMass Minutemen1}}; color:white;"Steve Lappas 2001–2005
2001–02Steve Lappas13–166–10
2002–03Steve Lappas11–186–10
2003–04Steve Lappas10–194–12
2004–05Steve Lappas16–129–7
UMass Minutemen3}}; color:white;"Steve Lappas: 50–65 ()
UMass Minutemen1}}; color:white;"Travis Ford 2005–2008
2005–06Travis Ford13–158–8
2006–07Travis Ford24–913–3NIT second round
2007–08Travis Ford25–1110–6NIT Final
UMass Minutemen3}}; color:white;"Travis Ford: 62–35 ()
UMass Minutemen1}}; color:white;"Derek Kellogg 2008–2017
2008–09Derek Kellogg12–187–9
2009–10Derek Kellogg12–205–11
2010–11Derek Kellogg15–157–9
2011–12Derek Kellogg25–129–7NIT semifinal
2012–13Derek Kellogg21–129–7NIT first round
2013–14Derek Kellogg24–910–6NCAA first round
2014–15Derek Kellogg17–1510–8
2015–16Derek Kellogg14–186–12
2016–17Derek Kellogg15–184–14
UMass Minutemen3}}; color:white;"Derek Kellogg: 155–137 ()
2017–18Matt McCall13–205–13
2018–19Matt McCall11–214–14
2019–20Matt McCall14–178–10
2020–21Matt McCall8–76–4
2021–22Matt McCall15–177–11
UMass Minutemen3}}; color:white;"Matt McCall: 61–82()
2022–23Frank Martin15-166-12
2023–24Frank Martin20-1111-7
UMass Minutemen3}}; color:white;"Frank Martin: 11–6 ()

Source

Postseason results

NCAA tournament results

The Minutemen have appeared in the NCAA tournament nine times. Their combined record is 11–9. Their 1996 victories have been vacated by the NCAA thus their official tournament record is 7–8.

20146Second Round(11) TennesseeL 67–86
  • vacated by NCAA

NIT results

The Minutemen have appeared in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) 13 times. Their combined record is 13–14.

2013First RoundStony BrookL 58–71

Prominent alumni

NBA players

Several Massachusetts alumni have gone on to play in the NBA:

  • Marcus Camby
  • Julius Erving
  • Gary Forbes
  • DeJon Jarreau
  • Tony Gaffney
  • Lari Ketner
  • Stephane Lasme
  • Lou Roe
  • Al Skinner

International league players

  • Raphiael Putney (born 1990), basketball player for Maccabi Haifa of the Israeli National League

Retired numbers

Main article: List of NCAA men's basketball retired numbers

Five former players and one coach have had their names hung on banners in the rafters of the Mullins Center.

UMass Minutemenborder=0color=white}}"No.UMass Minutemenborder=0color=white}}"PlayerUMass Minutemenborder=0color=white}}"PlayerUMass Minutemenborder=0color=white}}"CareerUMass Minutemenborder=0color=white}}"Yr. ret.UMass Minutemenborder=0color=white}}"Ref.
15Lou RoePF1991–952004https://umassathletics.com/sports/2016/7/5/trads-numbers-html.aspx Traditions - UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS
21[Marcus CambyC1993–962013
30Al SkinnerF1971–19742003
32George BurkePG1954–1956
Julius ErvingF1968–19711988
John CalipariCoach1988–19962015

UMass Athletic Hall of Fame

Many former members of the basketball program have been elected into the school's Hall of Fame. Class years listed in parentheses.

  • David Bartley (1956)
  • George "Trigger" Burke (1956)
  • Lou Bush (1934)
  • John Calipari (coach)
  • Marcus Camby (1996)
  • Joe DiSarcina (1969)
  • Ray Ellerbrook (1970)
  • Frederick "Fritz" Ellert (1930)
  • Julius Erving (1972)
  • Jack Foley (1957)
  • Harold "Kid" Gore (coach)
  • Emory Grayson (1917)
  • Doug Grutchfield (1961)
  • Ned Larkin (1959)
  • Jack Leaman (coach)
  • Joseph Lojko (1934)
  • Jim McCoy (1992)
  • Edward McGrath (1949)
  • Bill Prevey (1952)
  • Lou Roe (1995)
  • Al Skinner (1974)
  • John Stewart (1936)
  • Billy Tindall (1968)
  • Rodger Twitchell (1964)
  • Harper Williams (1993)

The Hall is officially named "The George 'Trigger' Burke UMass Athletic Hall of Fame" in recognition of Burke's generous support of UMass Athletics and student scholarships.

References

References

  1. . (2024-02-29). ["University of Massachusetts Accepts Invitation to Join the Mid-American Conference As Full Member"](https://umassathletics.com/news/2024/2/29/athletics-department-university-of-massachusetts-accepts-invitation-to-join-the-mid-american-conference-as-full-member). *UMass Athletics*.
  2. . (2008-08-10). ["UMass Set To Celebrate 100th Season Of Basketball"](https://umassathletics.com/news/2008/8/10/UMass_Set_To_Celebrate_100th_Season_Of_Basketball). *UMass Athletics*.
  3. "UMassHoops.com".
  4. . ["Jack Leaman"](https://umasshoops.com/wiki/doku.php?id=leaman_jack).
  5. . ["John Calipari hired at UMass"](https://umasshoops.com/wiki/doku.php?id=news198804_calipari_hired).
  6. (23 April 2008). "Welcome Home! Derek Kellogg '95 Named UMass Basketball Coach". UMass Athletics.
  7. "NCAA College Basketball Polls, College Basketball Rankings, NCAA Basketball Polls – ESPN". ESPN.com.
  8. . (2017-03-09). ["UMass makes leadership change in Men's Basketball"](https://umassathletics.com/news/2017/3/9/mbb-kellogg). *UMass Athletics*.
  9. Thamel, Pete. "UMass to hire Winthrop's Pat Kelsey as head coach". SI.com.
  10. "Pat Kelsey bails on UMass presser, turns down job at last minute, will remain at Winthrop". CBSSports.com.
  11. (March 30, 2017). "Matt McCall hired as new UMass head coach".
  12. (March 1, 2022). "Matt McCall out as UMass men's basketball coach at end of season, school announces". [[ESPN]].
  13. "Frank Martin Named Massachusetts Men's Basketball Coach".
  14. "Massachusetts Athletics Officially Joins the MAC".
  15. "Calipari's greatest coaching feuds". MCA.
  16. Moran, Malcolm. (14 February 1994). "COLLEGE BASKETBALL; Chaney Lambastes UMass's Calipari". The New York Times.
  17. "Massachusetts".
  18. (13 November 2012). "UMass basketball will retire Marcus Camby's No. 21 jersey". masslive.com.
  19. (11 Feb 2013). "Marcus Camby's No. 21 retired at UMass ceremony". Daily Hampshire Gazette.
  20. "UMass to Retire al Skinner's Jersey".
  21. [https://www.wickedlocal.com/story/archive/2014/03/26/george-trigger-burke-dean-quincy/37990646007/ George "Trigger Burke] at Wickedlocal.com - March 26, 2014
  22. [https://dailycollegian.com/2020/10/the-all-time-starting-five-for-umass-mens-basketball/ The all-time starting five for UMass men’s basketball] By Richard Rodgers at Daily Collegian, 19 Oct 2020
  23. [https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2015-03-04/umass-retire-sixth-basketball-jersey-school-history-honor UMass to retire basketball jersey of Calipari] at NCAA.com, 4 Mar 2015
  24. "University of Massachusetts Official Athletic Site – Traditions". umassathletics.com.
Info: Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

Want to explore this topic further?

Ask Mako anything about UMass Minutemen basketball — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.

Research with Mako

Free with your Surf account

Content sourced from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.

Report