AMHERST — Without freshman guard DeJon Jarreau, who is out for at least a month with a stress fracture in his foot, the UMass men’s basketball team will need added contributions up and down the lineup.
UMass coach Derek Kellogg cited freshman Luwane Pipkins and Ty Flowers as two players who’ll have a chance to increase their contributions.
Pipkins was already second on the team in minutes and an important cog in the Minuteman defense. He played point guard when Jarreau was out and was a secondary ballhandler when both were in the game.
“It’s a big test. He played a big role. Somebody’s got to step up and take responsibility,” Pipkins said. “He’s a good teammate, a good player, a good friend. Not having him on the court is going to feel different.”
As a point guard, Pipkins took it upon himself to get Flowers going. The freshman, who came in noted for his shooting prowess is 4-for-20 from the field and 4-for-15 from 3-point range.
“Ty is just getting the hang of it mentally and physically,” Pipkins said. “My job is to keep him on track, get him the shots he wants, get him some touches.”
Flowers, who has averaged just 11.0 minutes per game so far, hoped an extended opportunity would get him in rhythm.
“It makes me feel more confident than I was before. Sometimes when I’m on the bench I’m cold when I come in. This can give me more momentum,” Flowers said. “This is going to help me out and make me a better player.”
DYSON UPDATE – Former Minuteman Demetrius Dyson, who now goes by Demetrius Denzel-Dyson, is off to a good start at Samford. Denzel-Dyson has scored in double-figures in three of the Bulldogs’ four games, including 14 against Cincinnati, Wednesday.
The junior guard, who sat out last year after transferring from UMass following the 2014-15 season, is second on the team at 13.3 points per game and is shooting 46.7 percent from 3-point range.
Matt Vautour can be reached at mvautour@gazettenet.com. Get UMass coverage delivered in your Facebook news feed at www.facebook.com/GazetteUMassCoverage