More on UMass. They have Kentucky and BC on next year’s OOC and apparently are working on a game with Florida at MSG in New York.
[b]Rumors link Ford to openings: Coach flattered, but says 'I don't seek jobs'[/b]
Matt Vautour
Daily Hampshire Gazette
March 20, 2007
AMHERST - As long as there are head-coach openings at schools in conferences more prominent than the Atlantic 10, University of Massachusetts coach Travis Ford’s name figures to remain in the rumor mill.
The Minuteman coach, who led UMass to a 24-9 record in 2006-07 and the school’s first postseason appearance since 2000, has been rumored as a candidate at both South Florida and Minnesota.
The Tampa Tribune reported that Ford is on a short list of candidates at the University of South Florida, which has intensified its search in recent weeks and begun talking to candidates.
UMass athletic director John McCutcheon said as a matter of policy he would not comment on the status of any coaching search at another school, whether or not it involved one of his coaches. McCutcheon did say earlier this month that he was open to renegotiating and extending Ford’s contract,
Asked Monday if he had been contacted by any school, Ford laughed.
“No. I’ve just been busy recruiting,” Ford said. “It’s flattering. It’s always good to be wanted. There’s no question. It’s obviously a reflection on the success that we’ve had here taking over a program that’s struggled a little bit. I don’t ever go out and seek jobs.”
Internet rumors had Ford visiting the Tampa, Fla., campus Monday, but the Minuteman coach was in his office in Amherst. Ford said he and McCutcheon eventually would discuss his contract.
“I’m sure we’ll get to that. The season just ended,” Ford said. “It’s not something I’ve put a whole lot of thought into. My mind is on recruiting at this point.”
Former Virginia coach Pete Gillen has already interviewed at South Florida.
One former UMass coach, Bruiser Flint who is currently at Drexel, has also been rumored as a candidate. Another, Steve Lappas who is currently a TV analyst at College Sports TV and the Madison Square Garden Network, has also expressed interest in the position. South Alabama coach John Pelphrey, who was Ford’s roommate when both were players at Kentucky, has also been listed as a candidate.
PORTSMOUTH BOUND? - UMass big men Rashaun Freeman and Stephane Lasme have both been invited to the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, the annual event that allows graduating seniors to showcase themselves for NBA scouts.
Those who perform well there are usually invited to the NBA’s pre-draft camp, which is now held in Orlando.
“Last time I talked to them, they were going,” Ford said. “Unless Steph is told not to. Once he gets representation he may be told you don’t need to go to that.”
Ford said he is helping Lasme and his guardian Serge Lapeby to find an agent.
“Steph has asked me to help him,” Ford said. “I know some people I know I can trust. We’re going to sit down and bring in four or five guys. We’ll sit down and let him meet them. It will be his decision.”
Ford ready for a change of style
Matt Vautour
Daily Hampshire Gazette
March 21, 2007
AMHERST - University of Massachusetts men’s basketball coach Travis Ford talked during his introductory press conference two years ago about playing a wide-open style that featured a lot of running, pressing and 3-point shooting.
But because he inherited big men Rashaun Freeman and Stephane Lasme, Ford put that style on hold and created a system that highlighted their skills. It worked out as Lasme was the Atlantic 10 player of the year, both players were first-team all-conference selections and the Minutemen won 24 games in the season just concluded.
But with the two big men graduating, Ford is ready to return to the style more familiar to him for the 2007-08 season. In that system, the Minutemen will likely use only one true big man with four players operating on the perimeter.
“Our style of basketball is going to be totally different. It’s going to be a whole lot more wide open,” Ford said. "I would take Stephane Lasme and Rashaun Freeman every year, but my style of play was never really for (two big men). We’ll shoot 30 threes a game next year. This could be a team where we’re really shooting a lot of threes. We could have a lineup out there where all five guys shoot 3-pointers.
“We’ll get it up and down even more, with more pressing and trapping. It’s going to be run and gun. I’m looking forward to coaching that way,” Ford continued. “We’re going to have to figure out how we want to play defense. That’s going to be our biggest challenge.”
In that system, Gary Forbes, who played mostly on the wing, and Etienne Brower will regularly play at power forward, but often from the perimeter. Ford said he will rely heavily on both of them.
“Our four man is going to be skilled. It could be Etienne. It could be Gary, it could be Dante (Milligan),” Ford said. "I think Etienne is going to be a lot better than he was this year. I hope he’s the type player we can’t have off the court. If he is we could be very good. We need him to be a 30-minutes-a-game player.
“I would consider it a rebuilding year,” Ford added. “When you lose what we had, it’s rebuilding. There are big shoes to fill. The potential for this team is going to be there. But we have good players returning and we have good pieces returning which I like.”
As the team heads into spring workouts Ford is looking for leadership to emerge.
"There’s going to be a whole lot different expectation on some of these players than there was this year.
They’re going to have to adapt, not just physically, but mentally," Ford said. “Right now I don’t know. Leadership has to come from people who all the players respect and work the hardest. Great leaders expect the most out of themselves first. Stephane and Ray gave us great leadership and next year we’re going to need that more than ever. I would like to know who those leaders are before summer gets here.”
MORE MAYBEN - Ford expects that freshman Tiki Mayben’s role and minutes will expand next season. Earlier this year Ford envisioned playing Mayben and sophomore Chris Lowe together, but rarely used that lineup during the season.
“I expect (Mayben) to be much better just because he’s a sophomore,” Ford said.
RECRUITING CONTINUES - Ford said the Minutemen like the class of players they have coming in for next season, but he’s still looking for players who can help next year.
UMass currently has more commitments than scholarships to offer, but Travon Wilcher has yet to qualify academically and Marcus Matthews is expected to attend prep school.
“We have some scholarships available that we need to look at,” Ford said. “We’re in no rush or panic mode to sign players, but there’s some things we have to look at. All that’s started in motion already.”
PATRIOT LEAGUE TEAMS ON THE SCHEDULE? - There’s a lot of work left to do on the 2007-08 UMass schedule. The Minutemen have finalized games with Kentucky, Boston College and Boston University, and progress has been made toward games with Yale, Bucknell, Holy Cross and American University.
Jacksonville State owes UMass a return game, but it likely won’t happen until at least 2008-09. Another game at Mohegan Sun with Central Connecticut or another team is possible, and the Minutemen are scouting exempt tournaments as well.
UMass still hopes for a game in New York, and Florida has been rumored as a possible opponent. While Ford declined to discuss prospective opponents, he does hope to play at Madison Square Garden.
“I’d like to get Madison Square Garden, there’s no question we need to get in there,” Ford said. “There are some big names kicking around.”
Ford said the team is tinkering with its approach to scheduling.
“It’ll be different, but it could be tougher. We understand what needs to be done,” he said. “I think some of the names that could pop up people will be excited about.”
Link: DHG UMass Sports front page
