UMass to Make First Coliseum Appearance Since 2007 on Friday

Three Minutemen Earned All-CAA Preseason Team Accolades

The UMass men's basketball team will make its first appearance at the William H. Coles Coliseum since 2007 on Friday night when it takes on Coppin State at 7 p.m. The Minutemen are coming off a 15-16 season in which they finished seventh in the Atlantic 10 Conference.

UMass returns three starters from last year's team, including senior forward Tre Mitchell, junior guard Noah Fernandes and sophomore center Moussa Cisse. Mitchell was named to the All-CAA Preseason Team, while Fernandes and Cisse earned honorable mention.

The Minutemen will be looking to improve on their record from last season, and they will have a tough test in Coppin State. The Eagles finished 18-13 last season and won the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference regular season championship.

UMass Looking to Build Off Strong Finish to Last Season

The Minutemen finished the 2022-23 season on a strong note, winning four of their last five games. They also played a tough non-conference schedule, which included games against Providence, Syracuse and Vanderbilt.

UMass coach Matt McCall is hoping that his team can carry over the momentum from last season into this year. He said that the Minutemen are "hungry" and "ready to prove themselves."

Minutemen Have High Expectations for 2023-24 Season

The Minutemen have high expectations for the 2023-24 season. They were picked to finish fifth in the CAA Preseason Poll, and they have three players on the All-CAA Preseason Team.

UMass is led by Mitchell, who is one of the best players in the CAA. The 6-foot-6 forward averaged 18.4 points and 7.9 rebounds per game last season. He was also named to the All-CAA First Team.

Fernandes is another key player for the Minutemen. The 6-foot-3 guard averaged 12.2 points and 4.6 assists per game last season. He was also named to the All-CAA Second Team.

Cisse is a 6-foot-10 center who averaged 9.2 points and 8.1 rebounds per game last season. He was named to the CAA All-Rookie Team.

Coppin State Eagles Poised to Challenge Minutemen

The Coppin State Eagles are a tough opponent for the Minutemen. The Eagles finished 18-13 last season and won the MEAC regular season championship.

Coppin State is led by senior guard Anthony Tarke, who averaged 19.1 points per game last season. He was also named the MEAC Player of the Year.

The Eagles also have a strong frontcourt, led by 6-foot-10 forward Justin Steers. Steers averaged 12.2 points and 7.8 rebounds per game last season.

UMass-Coppin State Series History

The Minutemen and Eagles have met 10 times in their history, with UMass holding a 6-4 advantage.

The two teams last met in 2007, when UMass won 76-63 at the Mullins Center.

Conclusion

The UMass men's basketball team will look to build off a strong finish to last season when it takes on Coppin State on Friday night at the Mullins Center. The Minutemen are led by three All-CAA Preseason Team selections, including Tre Mitchell, Noah Fernandes and Moussa Cisse.