We're Gonna Party Like It's 1996

A young, seemingly arrogant coach. A big man that can play with anyone in the country. A backcourt that is strong and formidable, but no one really seems to notice. And a swing man who when he wants to can take over any game. Okay, so maybe it's not John Calipari, Marcus Camby, Edgar Padilla, Carmelo Travieso, and Dana Dingle. And there probably won't be any Final Four banners going up soon. But just up the road in Amherst, the University of Massachusetts men's basketball team is poised to make some noise this year, and Saturday night could be a stepping stone for their first NCAA tournament appearance in a decade. The Minutemen take on the Boston College Eagles in the Commonwealth Classic at the Mullins Center. UMass officials are projecting the clash between the top two college basketball programs in the Bay State to be the first sell-out of Mullins since 2001. Hopefully for the Minutemen Saturday goes a little better than that 2001 sell out, a 30 point loss to the rival Temple Owls. If UMass can just make a game out of Saturday night's clash, it has to be seen as a success. Of course, the goal is to win the game (that's why you play it, right Herm Edwards), but UMass can prove to a lot of people that they are on their way back. With a 6-1 record, the national media is slowly taking notice. The Minutemen received two votes in the ESPN/USA Today Top 25 poll, as someone voted them 24th in the nation. If UMass wins Saturday night, against a BC team fresh off beating a solid Michigan State team, the program will be on its way. Travis Ford's squad has a chance to do something that hasn't been done in a while within the realm of UMass basketball-make basketball matter again Amherst and give Western Mass a reason to care about the state university's roundball program once again. And maybe, just maybe, someday, UMass will once again be "refusing to lose" and be at the top, or at least near the top of college basketball. I'm doneski. See ya kids at Mullins Saturday night.

NOTE: Expect something good next week regarding this game, with Dave going to BC and all, and then him having to deal with the potential fact that his Eagles lost to UMass. Should make for some good writing. UMass 74-BC 68...for what it's worth.