By Matt Vautour
@MattVautourDHG
NEW YORK — There will be more than rivalry on the line this time when UMass and Rhode Island settle their season series, Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in the Atlantic 10 Men’s Basketball Tournament at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
If the 10th-seeded Minutemen (13-17) lose, their season is over. The Rams (17-14) have a chance at a berth to the National Invitation Tournament, but it would be a long shot if they lose.
The teams split their regular season meetings. UMass won in Amherst, 61-56 in overtime, on Feb. 2, while the Rams dominated last week in Kingston, Rhode Island, 68-50.
“Our guys have good energy for this time of year,” Kellogg said. “They’ve played good basketball for the last month our so. It’s a good time to see where we’re at against the best teams in the conference. We’ve had a couple of good battles with them. On a neutral court we just have to play a little better against them than we did at their home arena.”
The winner advances to face No. 2-seed VCU (22-9), Friday at 6:30 p.m.
While there are countless factors that will contribute to the result, it likely boils down to whether UMass makes enough shots against Rhode Island’s defense. The Minutemen don’t have to be outstanding, just decent against the league’s best scoring defense. In the overtime win, 35 percent (21 for 60) from the field was good enough. They shot 28.8 percent (15 for 52) in the rematch.
Kellogg has talked about his team being capable of making a run if it shoots well.
“We’re going to get a lot of shooting in,” Kellogg said Monday. “We’re going to do it at a fast pace because we’re going to try to get the game moving some. If we can makes some shots it helps us get into our defense. If we play poorly offensively, that sometimes affects what we’re able to do defensively.”
Kellogg hoped increasing the speed of the game would disrupt the plodding Rams. He said the Minutemen have to make shots to do that effectively.
“You know, it’s weird. I think everybody in the country would think that a faster pace starts on defense. But I think it’s both. You’ve got to put the ball in the basket in order to get the defense going and I think, sometimes, your defense can get your offense going,” Kellogg said. “It’s kind of a Catch-22, because it starts on defense, but if you don’t put the ball in the basket, then a lot of good effort on defense can go without reward.”
In addition to be more familiar with playing up-tempo anyway, UMass is much deeper than Rhode Island, which is playing seven scholarship players.
“I think we have a little more depth than we’ve had at any point in the season, especially with Rashaan (Holloway) playing a little better. Maybe not as much depth for practice, but at least for games we’re OK,” Kellogg said. “I thought that was an advantage for us against La Salle. I was just trying to make sure after the way we lost at Rhode Island that there weren’t any ill effects. If it meant moving guys in and out and trying to get different bodies in there, then I was going to do that.”
Playing in New York means one last homecoming for senior point guard Jabarie Hinds, who is from nearby Mount Vernon.
Hinds figures to be an important piece. UMass has been more effective this season when he scores and his speed is essential to any tempo adjustment.
“Jabarie can give us some one-on-one breakdown plays,” Kellogg said. “Jabarie can give us some senior toughness in a tournament setting that comes with experience and age.”
Hinds likes the responsibility.
“When the guards play well the team plays well,” he said. “We just have to do what we’re capable of and going out there and get it.”
Matt Vautour can be reached at mvautour@gazettenet.com. Get UMass coverage delivered in your Facebook news feed at www.facebook.com/GazetteUMassCoverage