Lynch heads to UMass

Travis Ford went out and got exactly what the UMass men’s basketball team needed — a little size.

Hopefully there isn’t any extra baggage.

Tyrell Lynch, a 6’9, 230-pound power forward from Niagra Falls, N.Y., enrolled at UMass today and is eligible to start classes and workouts with the team. He originally signed a National Letter of Intent with Auburn, but did not enroll and will be a walk-on with UMass.

While I am excited about this news, I have been reading that Lynch did not enroll at Auburn because he did not academically qualify. In fact, it was reported on August 29 by the Niagra Falls-based Tonawanda News that he indeed was not in school at Auburn:

Lynch, a former standout at Niagara Falls High School, did not qualify academically to enroll at Auburn, according to school officials.

“He wasn’t cleared by the NCAA,” Auburn spokesperson Chuck Gallina said via telephone. “He’s not in school.”

Check out the article here.

We’ll see what happens here. I love the fact that we picked up a little size, but I do not want UMass to turn into an academic retread school.

Hopefully this kid can put it together and make Ford look like a genius.

I’m just worried that he still needs to get his priorities straight:

From Scout.com (when Lynch decided to go to Auburn):

Lynch notes that he made the switch to Laurinburg because it was a better opportunity to fit his style of play. The power forward says he is on track academically to join the Tigers for the 2007-2008 season. “I will be a qualifier,” he says.

Here’s the rest.

Good luck Tyrell, make the most of this opportunity.

Better stop the long ball

I listened to the UMass/Colgate game on Saturday, and even though I couldn’t see what was going on, it sure sounds like our secondary could use a little help. I’m not all that worried about the big boys up front or our offense, but UMass has to figure out how to stop the short pass and the home run ball.

Someone is going to come up and surprise the Maroon and White if it’s not careful. At least they’re on top for now, but it looks like the boys from Towson are poised and ready for next weekend at McGuirk.

With the win over Toothpaste U., UMass remains in first place in the CAA. Towson is also 2-0, but has yet to play a team with the talent level of UMass. Should be interesting, but I see the Minutemen starting off 3-0.

If I just jinxed them, smack me.

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Adam Zagoria, a staff writer for the Herald News in Paterson, N.J., had some information on UMass basketball recruit Kevin Jones on his blog.

Apparently Jones, who is supposed to have a home visit with West Virginia, also has a future visit from UMass

Kevin Jones has a home visit slated Monday with West Virginia coach Bob Huggins. After that, Georgetown, UMass, Memphis, Indiana, Michigan, Virginia, Miami, Seton Hall, St. John’s and Rutgers have also expressed interest in home visits.

Check out the rest of the post here.

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Team roundups:

Football: 2-0

Men’s Soccer: 2-2

Women’s Soccer: 2-0-1 ** UMass head coach Jim Rudy wins 300th game.

Field Hockey: 3-3

Men’s Cross Country: 2nd at Dartmouth Invitational

Women’s Cross Country: 3rd at Dartmouth Invitational