Editor’s note: With the NCAA Tournament canceled, the Gazette looks back to when UMass made its run to the 1996 Final Four. Below is the game story when UMass beat Arkansas in the Sweet 16 on March 21, 1996. This story appeared in the Gazette on March 22, 1996.
ATLANTA — All year long, John Calipari has been talking about breaking barriers, boldly going where no UMass team has gone before. Now the Spaceship Minuteman is just one stop shy of the final frontier known as the Final Four.
After last night’s 79-63 demolition of Arkansas in the East Regional semifinal at the Georgia Dome, the University of Massachusetts reached the NCAA Elite Eight for the second consecutive year. The only barrier remaining to a coveted trip to the Meadowlands is the Great Barrier Reef known as Georgetown,
The second-seeded Hoyas sealed the eagerly anticipated date with the Minutemen by outscrapping feisty Texas Tech in the opener, 98-90.
“We know what we’re up against,” said Calipari. “We’re up against a team that is as tough, as well-coached as anybody we’ll play all year. They’re talented, they’re deep, they’re strong, they jump, they run, they shoot, they’re smart. We’re up against it. But you know what? They’re playing a pretty good basketball team, too.”
UMass was certainly more than good last night. The Minutemen opened the game with a 13-0 run and were never seriously challenged thereafter. UMass led 40-24 at the half, and extended the lead to as much as 28 points after intermission.
“We put ourselves in a big hole, and it was a constant battle to try and come back,” said Arkansas coach Nolan Richardson. “It kind of wore us out.”
While the game was devoid of any drama, it did have its share of intrigue. One day after The Very Big Fall (Carmelo Travieso’s tumble from an interview podium), UMass had Scenes from a Mall.
Marcus Camby was benched at the start of the game because he was late for the team bus to the shootaround earlier in the day. Calipari explained that Camby had gone to a mall, and got caught in traffic on the way back to the hotel. While it was the first time Camby had been late to any team function this year, Calipari said he felt it was important to be consistent with his team discipline, regardless of the quality of the player or the importance of the game.
Camby made light of the situation after the game. Asked about the traffic, he said, “It was kind of backed up down here. Everybody says Atlanta is a good place. I think it’s overpopulated.”
Tyrone Weeks started in Camby’s place and turned in a strong game with a team-high 16 points, matching his career best. Camby, who entered the game just 1:13 into the contest, was limited to just 18 minutes by foul trouble, but played with vigor, scoring 15 points, yanking down seven rebounds and blocking three shots. The limited minutes could prove a blessing by giving him fresh legs for the anticipated physical confrontation with Georgetown tomorrow night.
Travieso showed no ill effects from his fall the day before. He scored 14 points, pulled down a team-high eight rebounds and seemed to move with no discomfort.
Freshman Pat Bradley paced Arkansas with 15 points as the Razorbacks closed out a 20-13 season.
UMass, now 34-1, looks ahead to its greatest challenge of a remarkable year.
“You live for that game,” Calipari said. “Are you kidding me? You live for that stuff. I told my team, ‘I’ve got a new suit. This is what you live for! National television, Elite Eight game, a chance to get to the Final Four. You kidding me? I’m doing back flips.”