Happy new year

And it begins.

Tonight, the Minutemen start their season against Arkansas-Monticello in the 2008 2K Sports Classic benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer. For UMass this is the beginning of a transition year – for the Weevils, this is a second exhibition game.

Last week, UAM received nine votes in the preseason National Association of Basketball Coaches’ Top 25 Poll. According to the team’s Web site, the votes mark the first time since UAM has joined the NCAA the team has received votes in any preseason poll.

UMass should be able to walk through this Division II opponent, but as we saw last week, UMass is still looking for its identity – barely beating Dowling, another D-II squad.

The Weevils have five players taller than 6′6, so the Minutemen will have to start crashing the boards NOW. There are no more excuses, and there is no reason to let the other team’s guard get more than five rebounds (Dowling’s shooting guard had eight).

If no one else remembers – UAM’s head coach, Mike Newell, has been providing some bulletin board material.

“We have a chance to beat UMass,” Newell said.

“Fortunately, we’ve been put into what I think is the weakest region. If we win our first two ballgames, then we’ll be playing in front of Madison Square Garden. I’m confident in saying that this game is the biggest in school history.”

The winner of tonights came will play either Southern Illinois or California (Pa.). I’m warily confident in the Minutemen, but bad things are known to happen in Carbondale.