UMASS

The UMass at Memphis basketball game will be the first in a bonanza of 14 games on the ESPN Networks as part of the College Basketball Tip-Off Marathon on Nov. 18. The game at the FedEx Forum pits new UMass coach Derek Kellogg against his mentor and friend John Calipari, the former Minuteman bench boss. The game will begin after ESPN's Monday Night Football (Buffalo Bills at Cleveland Browns) and starts 23 hours of coverage.

AMHERST, Mass. - With classes underway at UMass, Derek Kellogg has set his roster as he begins his first season as the head coach at his alma mater.

AMHERST, Mass. - The University of Massachusetts released its 2008-09 men's basketball schedule today as the Atlantic 10 finalized the league portion of the schedule. The Minutemen will be playing the teams that competed for the 2008 NCAA Championship in Kansas and Memphis. UMass takes on the defending champion Jayhawks on Dec. 13 in Kansas City. UMass travels to the national finalist Tigers on Nov. 17 at the FedEx Forum.

Gary Forbes

Well, today marks the beginning of the Spring Signing Period, and many fans are awaiting the decision of guard Tyreke Evans. The explosive prerimeter player is said to be leaning in the direction of Memphis, and that's who I'd expect him to sign with due to the departure of Derrick Rose. But the school with the most going on in recent days has to be Marist, who will any day be gaining a head coach, but they've already lost two players.

- Memphis assistant Jose "Chucky" Martin to be named Marist head coach.