AMHERST — Neither junior Zach Coleman nor freshman Unique McLean saw action in UMass’ 90-76 season opener against UMass-Lowell Friday at the Mullins Center.
Both players dressed and sat on the bench, but were out for different reasons.
UMass coach Derek Kellogg implied Coleman’s absence was disciplinary.
“It was coach’s decision,” said Kellogg, who hadn’t decided whether Coleman would play Monday against Ole Miss.
“I’m not 100 percent sure on that,” he said.
McLean didn’t play to preserve the possibility that he could redshirt. Kellogg said he planned to talk to the rookie guard shortly. Kellogg has praised McLean’s athleticism and his defense, but he could be caught in a numbers game competing for minutes as a freshman.
“I don’t know,” Kellogg said. “There’s some conversations to be had. I didn’t want to put him in and take that away. That meeting hasn’t really happened. That’ll be a conversation for the head coach and him.”
FRESHMAN PROMISING — Freshman point guard DeJon Jarreau admitted he was nervous early in his debut. The New Orleans native, whom his teammates and coaches call Deeky, started, but made just one field goal in four attempts and appeared to be forcing things in the first half.
In the second half, he relaxed a bit and finished with seven assists, two steals and one high-rising blocked shot in transition.
“Deeky is just scratching the surface,” Kellogg said. “It was good to see him have to work through some stuff and play against guys who have played college basketball before.”
Jarreau, who was a consensus top-65 recruit out of high school, was glad to finally be a college basketball player.
“I had to get the jitters out,” Jarreau said. “My whole life this is all I used to talk about. ‘I can’t wait for college basketball.’ It finally came and I just had to get comfortable and play the role my coach has set for me.”
He was proud of his assists.
“I care about points, but I don’t care about points,” he said, emphasizing the second ‘care.’ “I’d rather get an assist and let my teammate feel good. I’m more of a pass-first guard. The points are going to come. I don’t want to force the points.”
BIG CROWD — The announced attendance of 5,229 was bigger than any home crowd UMass had at the Mullins Center all of last season.
“It was a great atmosphere today,” Kellogg said. “It was nice to see the students come out.”
The 4 p.m. tipoff made it the first game between two Division I teams in all of college basketball.
CAMBY IN ATTENDANCE — Included in that crowd was former UMass national player of the year Marcus Camby. The former NBA big man lives in Houston, but was in the area to be inducted into Hartford Public High School’s athletic hall of fame.
MISCELLANEOUS — UMass coincidentally and appropriately honored all veterans and active military at the game with 11 minutes, 11 seconds left in the first half.
The Minutemen interlocked arms during the national anthem.
Seth Berger played just seven minutes and was whistled for four fouls. Freshman Chris Baldwin had six points and three rebounds before fouling out.
Matt Vautour can be reached at mvautour@gazettenet.com. Get UMass coverage delivered in your Facebook news feed at www.facebook.com/GazetteUMassCoverage