The University of Massachusetts Minutemen basketball team is predicted to make the NCCAA tournament. Last year they finished with the record of 21-12 (9-7 A-10) and missed the tournament by three or four wins. This year with Chaz Williams back for his senior year, UMass has a great chance.

Williams, a 5’9” senior, is back for one more season after his sterling play (15.5 points, 7.3 assists, 4.2 rebounds per game) earned him all-conference honors in 2012-13. With four starters returning from last year the team has some great experience. Starters Chazz Williams, Raphiael Putney, and Sampson Carter are all seniors. Those paired with junior starter Cady Lalanne and the team has some great experience. Chazz averaged 16.9 points per game last year, Putney averaged 10.1, Sampson averaged 8.6, Lalanne averaged 6.7, and Esho had 5.1. The rest of the players didn’t play last year but with those stats and the players playing now UMass has a great chance. The shooting guard Derrick Gordon is only a sophomore but he spent time with UMass last year.

On the bench is there is junior Maxie Esho, sophomore guard Trey Davis, and freshmen Demetrius Dyson.

The five biggest games for Umass this year will be against Florida St, Boston College, Nebraska, Saint Louis, and their toughest challenge will be against VCU. The team has already racked up some impressive wins this season: they defeated both Boston College (86-73) and Louisiana State University (92-90). Chaz Williams scored 19 points and had 11 assists while Cady Lalanne scored 13 points and grabbed 15 rebounds to lead Massachusetts in an 85-69 victory over Youngstown State on November 17. Then they entered the Charleston classic and beat Nebraska 96-90, New Mexico 81-65, and Clemson 62-56 to win the Charleston Classic.

In the week of November 25 to December 1 the team was ranked twenty-four. That was UMass’ first time being in the top 25 for 15 years. In the following week of December 2 to December 8 they moved up to twenty-first place.

With such a promising season ahead, this is a great year to catch some UMass basketball games. Get out and show your Massachusetts support!