The Connector - 2016 Basketball Issue - November 15, 2016

2016 Basketball Issue - Men’s and women’s previews - Player and coach features - Basketball pump-up songs ...and more!

THE UMASS LOWELL

Serving the Student Body Since 1976

November 15, 2016

Men’s basketball is back and better than ever

In This Issue

Andrew Haverty

Financial impact of UMass Lowell basketball

â–ş Page 4

Best throwback college hoops jerseys

► Page 8 Women’s team looks to continue progress

â–ş Page 12

Final River Hawk Scores Team

Score

Women’s Basketball at 6 Maryland

L 100-44

Volleyball at Stony Brook

L 3-1

Hockey at Maine

L 5-2 6-3-2

Men’s Basketball at Massachusetts L 90-76

Courtesy of UMass Lowell Athletics

Connector Contributor

Overall Record 0-2 5-2-2

0-1

Livingston’s last stand Hannah Manning Connector Editor

Tyler Livingston thought that it was all over for him basketball-wise after high school. As a senior at Alvirne High School, Livingston had no Division I or II offers. He went on visits after getting attention from a few Division III schools, but nothing clicked. He thought that it was all over, but he still wanted to pursue basketball.

Four years later, Livingston has played 1,636 minutes of Division I basketball, and is the only senior on the UMass Lowell men’s basketball team. “I think all the stars aligned,� said Livingston.

Livingston was born in Lowell, where he lived up until he was six years old. His family then moved to Hudson, New Hampshire to a home with a basketball hoop. Livingston’s father would take Tyler and his siblings to shoot around at the new house before they officially moved in. From then on, Livingston was hooked.

After high school, Livingston came to UMass Lowell to study engineering, and played basketball at the Campus Recreation Center (CRC) every day.

While there he caught the eye of Jahad Thomas, a member of the Division I basketball team, now a redshirt junior in the program. Thomas encouraged Livingston to try

Basketball season is officially back, River Hawk Nation. Once again it is time to lace up and ball up on all 94 feet of that polished hardwood.

This year, the men’s basketball team is coming back stronger, smarter and more experienced with 10 returning players to the team’s roster. “We were the third youngest team in the country last year, so it’s nice to have some guys come back with experience. It’s one of the first times since I took over the program that we’ve been in that situation,� said head coach Pat Duquette.

It is Duquette’s fourth season as the River Hawks’ head coach, and

The men’s basketball team was projected fifth in the America East preseason poll.

this year the team has the fewest number of freshman players he has seen since he started coaching in 2013. In 2014 the team had eight freshmen on the roster; in 2015 it had seven. This year the team only has three.

With 10 returning players on the roster, including the three top scorers from last season (junior guard/forward Jahad Thomas, sophomore guard Isaac White and junior guard Matt Harris), it might be easy to

â–ş See “River Hawks,â€? page 10

Chancellor Moloney courted by the game of basketball Marlon Pitter Connector Editor

On the fourth floor of University Crossing works one of UMass Lowell’s biggest basketball fans.

Though it may not seem apparent in normal conversation, Chancellor Jacquie Moloney has a special place in her heart for the sport.

From the Boston Celtics of the 1980s to the current River Hawk teams, Moloney has an appreciation for the game that knows no bounds. Her first taste

of basketball, however, came while attending Tewksbury High School where she joined the girls’ junior varsity basketball team.

Because her involvement on her high school team predated Title IX, which created more equal opportunities for girls and women to play sports starting in 1972, Moloney said she greatly appreciated the chance to explore her interest in basketball at the time. “You have to remember there was

â–ş See “Livingston,â€? page 11

Sections News.............................3 Campus Life..................8 A&E.............................. 6 Sports........................... 9

overlook the new talent.

But Duquette was quick to express his enthusiasm for his new team. “We’re also excited about the three new guys that we have coming in and [we] feel like they’re

Courtesy of UMass Lowell

Chancellor Jacquie Moloney has high hopes for the River Hawks this year.

no Title IX when I was growing up,� she said. “Girls definitely weren’t even encouraged to throw a ball. Literally.�

For Moloney, even more important than playing basketball was the prospect of being on an athletic team. “It was a game-changer for me to be able to be on a team, and it made me appreciate the importance of sports and athletics for everyone,� she said. “When I was on the athletic committee here years later, I remember thinking, ‘Thank God for Title IX’ because women now have an opportunity that I definitely didn’t have.�

Moloney’s playing days did not stretch into college, but her passion for the game hardly waivered for years to come. Her enthusiasm intensified with the rise of Larry Bird and the Boston Celtics in the 1980s. Besides Bird, she says Ray Allen, Danny Ainge and Isiah Thomas are some of her favorite players. “We were total devotees of the Celtics in the Larry Bird era, my husband and I, [as were] most of â–ş See “Moloney,â€? page 4

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November 15, 2016

OPINIONS & EDITORIALS Do away with one-and-dones Alexander J. Salucco Connector Editor

I love basketball, but I hate the NBA. It is not what it used to be. Yeah I know, I was not even alive to see Michael Jordan in his prime or those epic Celtics and Lakers finals, but you do not have to go that far back to notice a difference. What is that difference?

The one-and-done college player – a creation made by the league itself.

Between 2006 and 2013, there were 60 college freshman that took the leap to the NBA, 10 of which came from the University of Kentucky

since 2010. I took the liberty of going through each one of these guys to see how their careers turned out.

I ranked them as stars, above average players, rotational players or busts.

The name “stars� is pretty self-explanatory. Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant headline the eight-player list.

Above average players are guys who have enjoyed productive careers, but struggled to adjust to the NBA. All of these guys took a few years to develop and come into their own – those few years could have been spent in college.

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Greg Oden of Ohio State is one of the biggest draft busts in NBA history.

THE UMASS LOWELL

Serving the Student Body Since 1976

UMASS LOWELL CONNECTOR

EDITORIAL BOARD COLE FITZGERALD Managing Editor

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Deandre Jordan and Demar Derozan are at the top of this list that make up one-fourth of the total.

Together, rotational players and busts make up more than half of the list. The former includes players such as Austin Rivers and Spencer Hawes, whereas the latter includes Greg Oden, Anthony Bennet and Javaris Crittenton.

So where am I going with this?

During the next collective bargaining agreement, which could happen as early as 2017, the league and the players association need to decide what they will do moving forward.

There have been talks about implementing a two-and-done rule or even making a minimum age requirement of 20 to enter the draft. The National Basketball Players Association has been seeking that high schoolers should not have to attend college.

This issue pains me, because I do not agree with either side of the problem. If you actually want to make a difference regarding the individual’s skills, or more importantly their future, handle it the way Major League Baseball does. If you’re good enough for the pros; go for it. But if you decide to take a scholarship, you have to stay for three years.

Although I disagree with sending a player straight to the pros a few weeks after he takes his SATs, how are you

going to tell a 19-year-old person they cannot participate in the profession of their choosing? It is not like you need a degree to play basketball.

From what I have shown, what does one year of college really do for these guys anyway besides get paid? And I am not talking about NBA contracts, I am talking about under the table deals.

I am talking about cars, girls and cold, hard cash being given to them. But those things are illegal, so, of course, they do not transpire.

I never know how to feel about this situation because the NBA was something that I used to cherish and the NCAA was always synonymous with greed. Now you have players who are clearly not ready to be professionals spread throughout the league.

The only party that benefits from any situation is the NCAA, but the only party that should benefit are the student athletes. The ones providing the “entertainment,� the ones signing their rights away to make millions for the university and the ones that will eventually be making billions for the owners of their respective NBA teams.

The ball is in your court, Adam Silver. If you care about the future of your league, or the future of these young men; you will do everything you can to make sure these kids stay in school.

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November 15, 2016

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NEWS Financial impact of UMass Lowell basketball Syeda Nizami Connector Contributor

UMass Lowell’s recent purchase of Perkins Park Complex right next to the Tsongas Center which places about 700 students right next to the Tsongas Center, where many of UMass Lowell’s games take place, in particular ice hockey and basketball.

UMass Lowell’s NCAA Division I ice hockey team is known to draw large crowds, and that is partially due to the Tsongas Center itself.

With better accommodations for the patrons such as accessible parking, shuttles and a variety of concessions, it is a no-brainer why this venue that hosts all Division I games. And as UMass Lowell’s basketball team makes the transition from Division II to Division I, the Basketball games are also making the transition from playing at the Costello Athletic Center to the Tsongas Center.

In 2013, UMass Lowell’s basketball team began the transition to Division I, and as per their agreement, they began a four-year process of slowly transitioning the games from the Costello Center to the Tsongas. This is due to the fact that the Tsongas Center is a venue that is able to hold Division I sports in due to its accessibility, larger size and the technology implement-

ed into the building, such as the huge four-by-four screen in the middle of the arena. By the next academic year, the basketball team will play their games full-time at the Tsongas Center.

However, what does this mean financially for UMass Lowell?

Hosting the games at the Tsongas Center does cost significantly more, but currently UMass Lowell does not know how much it will cost for a full year’s worth of games. Right now, UMass Lowell Athletic Department is working with the Tsongas Center Management Team in order to determine just that.

They are conducting a study to determine not only the financial impact, as well as the availability of the Tsongas in terms of the various concerts and events that are held there.

“We’re looking at this for next year right now,” said Dana Skinner, the director of athletics, “in terms of moving all the games over here [Tsongas Arena].”

UMass Lowell still has not made the complete transition over to the Tsongas, so the full costs are still unknown at this time as they work to examine the exact costs, including the cost of converting the ice rink to a basketball court, as it’s done for concerts and other events held at the Tsongas.

“Generally speaking it costs about $3,000 a night to turn the facility from an ice rink to a basketball court and back again,” Skinner said, adding that is what the general set up costs are per night, and factoring in the 20-23 home games UMass Lowell hosts each season for men’s and women’s basketball.

In terms of sales and revenue that the games make, Skinner said, “We’re working different revenue stream right now, adding to our existing revenue packages,” giving the examples of selling corporate sponsorships, internet advertisements, and even radio advertisements. This includes the newly announced package with ESPN3, where all of UMass Lowell’s games will be hosted online.

With this transition, UMass Lowell’s athletics hopes to replicate the popularity of the ice hockey team by taking a similar advertising strategy when promoting these newly held games. With the permanent transfer to the Tsongas happening the next academic year, they hope the attendance will increase as it did with ice hockey, Skinner said. He said the basketball games hosted at the Costello Center usually draws in a crowd of 300 to 400 people, while the Tsongas Center has never had a crowd less than 1,200 at their basketball games (while the ice

hockey games usually see an average crowd of 5,000). Skinner remarks that the biggest challenge is getting fans to come down and attend the games in person.

“The fans in my generation grew up attending sporting events,” Skinner said. “The fans in your generation grew up watching everything on their iPads and their iPhones.”

There has been a notable trend with the technology age, giving people less incentive to attend games when they could potentially watch it from the comfort of their home. Skinner, as well as UMass Lowell as a whole, hopes that the switch over the Tsongas Center, with its improved facilities along with the incredible basketball team will attract more attention from fans, and allow them to become more attached and invested in not only just the team, but UMass Lowell overall.

With the basketball team making their final transfer to the Tsongas Arena in the next academic year, the total costs of this move still remain unknown. But with the purchase of Perkins Park complex, as well as the implementation of advertising strategies, improved facilities and concessions, the basketball games are sure to draw in larger crowds and increased amounts of revenue.

Expected attendance increase for basketball teams Taylor Carito Connector Editor

As both the men’s and women’s teams continue to establish themselves in Division I basketball, more and more people are drawn to games to support them.

Support and attendance are continuing to grow, and more and more games are expected to be moved to the Tsongas Center to accommodate the numbers. However, until that point, UMass Lowell’s athletics department is working hard to promote both teams, especially the women’s team, and draw in more people to games and other events.

As of right now, five men’s games and six women’s games will be hosted at the Tsongas Center this season, and the hope is that with this upgrade and more space for fans, the numbers of students as well as local fans is expected to increase. The women’s basketball team almost always experiences less attendance than the men’s team for games, which is due to the atmosphere created at Costello as opposed to Tsongas.

For women’s basketball, the attendance for games is at about 200 to 300 fans when at

Costello. “We look at attendance as a whole. We want to gear it towards everybody,” said Jonathan Boswell, assistant athletic director for marketing and promotions.

Costs for using the Tsongas Center over Costello vary greatly, but also create an entirely different atmosphere for the games. Costello has a lot less seating, but saves money because it does not require changing from ice to court.

“For Costello, if you get over 1,000 people, it becomes jam-packed,” says Boswell.

The Tsongas center can hold over 4,000 people, which can contribute to encouraging more people to attend basketball games. The Tsongas Center is more ideal for both because of the atmosphere it creates and the overall attendance always tends to be greater.

This is why more and more games are being hosted at the Tsongas Center, and it is expected that all men’s games will be hosted there for the 2017-18 season.

“The experience at the Tsongas versus the experience at Costello is just dramatically different,” says Boswell, “Everything we do in terms of

gearing up attendance numbers is geared towards pushing those games that are at the Tsongas because when all the games are [at the Tsongas] that’s the experience we want [people] to remember.”

This will be the final transitional year into division one basketball for both teams and UMass Lowell’s athletics department is planning several promotional nights for the upcoming seasons. The women’s team has theme nights including themes such as Club Sports night to encourage club teams to promote school spirit, a Battle of the Bands night for bands to perform

and compete, Girls Inc. Night where members of Girls Inc. get free admission, Play 4 Kay which is a night where fans are encouraged to wear pink to support breast cancer awareness and several other theme nights to help promote attendance.

In addition, the basketball teams now have a newly renovated locker room at the Tsongas Center to add to the experience both on and off the court. The locker rooms prior to the renovation were no better than those for the visiting teams. They now are nearly identical to those for the hockey team, with updat-

ed lounge areas, lighting, carpeting, and more.

In terms of future seasons and establishment of the teams in Division I, Boswell says, “Our goals are to continue to show growth and continue to build a program that people are excited about and people connect with. There’s been a lot of departments and people on campus that are really tapping in to support both women’s and men’s basketball and some of the other different teams.”

Courtesy of UMass Lowell

The Tsongas Center is soon to become the full-time home of the men’s and women’s basketball teams.

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November 15, 2016

NEWS

Basketball is a mainstay for Chancellor Moloney ►Continued from front page

our friends,” said Moloney.

“Those teams were just so exciting to watch.”

Her interest in the Celtics and the NBA has dwindled more recently in part due to having less free time on her hands as chancellor. Her devotion, instead, has shifted to the UMass Lowell basketball teams due to her heavy involvement on campus.

“Now, I’ll watch the occasional game, but my schedule’s so busy,” she said. “It’s not like I have a lot of nights where I come home and I’m looking for something to watch on TV.” In the university’s time as a Division II program, along with many other sports, Moloney described the basketball teams as perennially strong units with devoted coaches and alumni, which set a significant foundation for competition at the Division I level.

Notable former players and coaches include Akeem Williams, Darlene Orlando-Ciar-

cia and coach Stan Van Gundy, who is now the president of the Detroit Pistons.

“I think basketball was our go-to sport before hockey. It was a powerhouse for us,” said Moloney. “We’ve got to keep hold of strong coaches who are interested in and concerned about the students because that’s really what builds your future.”

For the current UMass Lowell rosters, Moloney said she is ready to see the men’s squad break out into the upper echelon of America East competition and the women’s squad make progress toward the same goal in the fourth and final year of their Division I transitions.

“Basketball is an extraordinary game, and anything can happen, especially in Division I America East basketball,” Moloney said. “I think we showed very well last year, considering it was only our third year.”

In regards to the basketball programs expanding on cam-

pus, Moloney said she appreciates the talent of the coaches and the character of the student-athletes they recruit.

While there is competitive talent on the both rosters, Moloney stresses the impact of high-quality coaching as well.

“Obviously, we take our greatest pride, first, in our students, but you can’t recruit high-quality students and good citizens unless you have good coaches,” she said. “The coaches are everything. It starts with them; they set the Courtesy of UMass Lowell Athletics

bar, and I think both Jenerrie [Harris] and Pat [Duquette] set a very high bar for their players.”

In addition to moderate success for the teams in Division I play to this point, Moloney looks ahead to when the basketball teams are full Division I programs in 2017-18.

Not only will they be eligible for conference and national postseason tournaments, but the men’s team may also host an America East tournament game if they finish in the top four of the conference next year under the current format.

To host a postseason game, Moloney said, would be “fantastic for UMass Lowell.”

For now, though, the chancellor looks to take her love for basketball at UMass Lowell one game at a time. “[There is] no crystal ball.

Just a lot of hope and excitement, and that’s the great thing about the game,” said Moloney.

Men’s basketball coach Pat Duquette has been a large factor in the team’s success during their Division I transition.

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November 15, 2016

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ng happeni What’s urt on the co ! th? this mon SUNDAY

BASKETBALL CALENDAR

NOVEMBER MONDAY

14

20

15

WEDNESDAY

16

Men’s Basketball vs Wagner Costello Athletic Center, 7pm

Men’s Basketball at Indiana Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, 7pm

Celtics at Pelicans Smoothie King Center, 8pm

Celtics vs Mavericks TD Garden 7:30pm

21

Women’s BBall vs Longwood Tsongas Center 2pm

TUESDAY

Men’s Basketball at Liberty The Vines Center 6pm Celtics at Timberwolves Target Center 8pm

22 Men’s Basketball at Mississippi Valley State The Vines Center 6pm

23 Women’s Basketball at Indiana Assembly Hall 2pm Celtics at Nets Barclays Center 7:30pm

THURSDAY

17 Women’s Basketball vs Fairfield Costello Athletic Center, 7pm

24

FRIDAY

18 Celtics vs Warriors TD Garden 8pm

25 Celtics vs Spurs TD Garden 1pm

SATURDAY

19 Men’s Basketball at Fort Wayne Gates Sports Center, 7pm Celtics at Pistons Palace of Auburn Hills, 7pm

26 Men’s Basketball vs LIU Brooklyn Tsongas 2pm Women’s Basketball at Boston U Case Gymnasium 2pm

Calendar listings are FREE when space is available. To better ensure your listings placement, get your information in two weeks in advance by e-mailing connector@uml.edu

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November 15, 2016

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Connector Editor

Soccer, but with rocket-powered RC cars. This is the core conceit behind “Rocket League,” a multiplayer sports game created by indie studio Psyonix back in July 2015, and it is a conceit that has paid off in dividends for everyone involved. Since its release, the game has sold over six million copies and has been recognized as an officially sponsored e-sport, which is quite the achievement for a game whose predecessor, “Supersonic Acrobatic Rocket-Powered Battle Cars,” was barely even noticed upon its own release. But unlike many modern games that try to reach that level of success by exploiting internet hype culture and overpromising, “Rocket League” succeeds by making an experience that is easy to pick up and play, but has surprising depth and strategy underneath the surface.

The vast majority of your time with the game will be spent in online matches, where teams of up to four players try to score points by ramming a gigantic ball into the other team’s goal. Your control over the RC car is not just limited to accelerating however. Like the title suggests, every player’s car is equipped with multiple rocket boosters, allowing them to temporarily move faster as

well as double jump and perform mid-air tricks. While the idea of cars doing wheelies and backflips may seem pointless at first (outside of their inherent silliness), these maneuvers actually serve a strategic purpose since they give the

direction one wants it to.

If there’s one thing that does need to be addressed up front about the game, it is the seeming lack of content. Outside of a handful of timed skill challenges and offline matches against AI opponents,

power and balance as the primary mode. And while there are a good number of uniquely themed arenas to play in, all but one are designed in exactly the same way, leaving most of them practically interchangeable.

Courtesy of Psyonix

The Rocket League National Championships were held on Saturday, November 12.

player other ways to hit the ball besides ramming straight into it, lending a degree of unpredictability to every match.

All of these systems put together lead to some incredibly chaotic matches, with both teams haphazardly slamming into each other in desperate attempts to direct a ball that never seems to fly in quite the

“Rocket League” does not have any gameplay beyond its standard game-type. Granted, there are some small novelty modes that are enjoyable for a match or two, including a basketball mode which is the only reason this game is being reviewed in The Connector’s the Basketball Issue, but none of them have the same staying

This overall dearth of traditional content may be a turnoff to some, and that’s perfectly fine. But it can also be argued that “Rocket League,” like more traditional sports, makes up for a lack of overall content thanks to an openness for higher level strategy and skill. While one’s first few matches in the

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

‘Rocket League:’ The little indie that could Brendan Jacques

November 15, 2016

game may seem like an incomprehensible mess of cars crashing into each other, one needs to only switch into the more competitive servers to see a more calculated style of play, where careful team coordination and mastery of the car’s movements are as key to victory as scoring the perfect shot. And even if one does not have friends to network with, there are dedicated servers for solo players and a bevy of easy to use chat shortcuts, meaning no player is left out of the fun.

“Rocket League” is an almost flawless exercise in using simple mechanics to create a satisfying and deep playing experience. Once one gets past the madness of its premise, it is not a particularly complex game by any means.

But the developers at Psyonix pull off that premise with so much polish and style that a lack of complexity is easy to overlook. It would be nice if the servers for the game were more consistently stable, as this is the type of game that lives or dies on its online play, but some faulty connections here and there are excusable when the core gameplay is this high quality. Even if one is not at all interested in sports games, “Rocket League” is absolutely worth a chance.

The game is available on PC, Xbox One and PS4 for $20.

Final Grade: B+

‘Air Bud:’ What were they thinking?

Owen Johnson Connector Staff

There is an episode of “The Simpsons” where Krusty the Klown decides to run a new cartoon in place of Itchy and Scratchy. The cartoon ends up being so stupid and baffling that he just blankly stares at the cartoon before asking, “What the h-ll was that?” in complete confusion. That was my reaction to “Air Bud” verbatim.

After moving to a new town, a young boy named Josh (Kevin Zegers) finds an abandoned golden retriever that he quickly befriends. While playing basketball, Josh discovers that the dog is able to also play basketball. Whacky children’s movie hijinks soon ensue.

The movie is filled with horror movie-esque visuals and depressing drama, which does not work well when it is juxtaposed with the whacky scenes with the dog and the silly premise of the movie. There Courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures

There are fourteen movies in the “Air Bud” series.

is the late Michael Jeter in a clown costume that is more frightening than Tim Curry’s clown in “It,” blatantly showcasing that Michael Jeter’s character is abusive towards the dog, and even the first basketball coach tormenting and acting abusive towards one of his players. All of these things are mixed into a movie where a golden retriever is dressed in a basketball jersey and sneakers, and shoots hoops. This strange juxtaposition of tones ends up making this a movie for no one.

One would think with this premise that the movie would have a lot of comedy in it, but it does not.

There are the general comedy moments that a movie like this needs, but it is mostly played straight with the horror-esque and drama elements.

Even with that strange juxtaposition of horrifying visuals and ideas with the playfully eccentric premise, the oddest thing is how disjointed the movie feels. For example, the second coach in the movie, Arthur Chaney (Bill Cobbs), is a former player for the New York Knicks who was working as a janitor at the school. That is fine, but the discovery of this feels out of order. It starts with Josh randomly venturing into his office to find Chaney’s Knicks stuff, to Josh asking him to sign his Chaney card, to him discovering Chaney playing basketball after school one day. The entire string of events is out of order.

“Air Bud” also features all of the cliches of sports movies and children’s animal movies, usually poorly executed, making it uninspired and predictable.

There is the dramatic scene where the bad child actor has to say goodbye to the animal, resulting in an

Courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures

“Air Bud” made $30 million during it’s initial release.

uncomfortable situation for the viewer. There is the former star athlete that ends up coaching the team, but as stated in the paragraph above the chain of events for that makes no sense. It all comes down to one of the final teams about to win by a single point, but there is no established rivalry between the two teams, meaning there really is not much weight to the final game.

“Air Bud” is a movie that ends up not being made for anyone. Kids will probably be turned off by the amount of drama and the lack of comedy, and it is not the kind of children’s movie that a parent can watch and either like or tolerate: they’ll notice all of the glaring structural and tonal problems.

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Game day pump-up songs Christopher Romano Connector Staff

As fun and exciting as basketball is, the crowd needs music to go along with the game. Music can help a losing team pick up their stamina or further push a winning team towards victory. Music that motivates and encourages players to perform well often is included in warm up playlists. These five songs will pump up the players and the crowd to cheer their team on.

1) The White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army” is a staple at all American sporting events. The bass line that is known around the world can pump anyone up. Crowds love to cheer, and this song provides one of the most chant-able tunes in modern history. This song, on The White Stripes’ album “Elephant,” rocketed the band into success. It would be hard to find any sporting event that does not play this song at least once during the game.

2) The Black Keys’ “Gold On the Ceiling” dominated basketball games throughout 2012. Right after the band released their seventh studio album, “El Camino,” this single was heard almost everywhere. The song was used as the March Madness theme that year. With a driving rhythm section, the song makes any listener want to keep pushing on.

The chorus is catchy and has an organ riff that stays

in your head all day.

3) Kanye West took inspiration from Daft Punk to release “Stronger” in 2007. However, his music is still heard today at basketball games. A slowed Courtesy of Easy Eye Sound Studio

“Gold on the Ceiling” was the third song on the Black Keys album “El Camino”, released in 2011.

down version of “Harder Better Faster Stronger” was used for Kanye to rap over. The song can be

heard across basketball courts across the nation.

With a building electronic section, the track makes the listener feel powerful. The players and crowd feel as though they are in control of the court and will come out on top.

4) Dj Snake and Lil Jon released what was one of the most listened to songs in 2014. “Turn Down for What” was played many times a day on top 40 radio stations. The song is comical, but exciting.

The buildup allows for tension and is resolved with a strange vocal melody probably played through a keyboard. People know the song and had fun singing along at games.

5) Macklemore and Ryan Lewis released “Can’t Hold Us” in the midst of their newfound fame.

This song, made by the creators of “Thrift Shop,” has a pounding beat that makes the listener want to keep chugging on. The scattered and anxious piano playing mixed with the drum beat allows both players and the crowd to feel empowered and ready to play basketball.

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UM ASS L OWELL C ONNECTOR

Page 8

November 15, 2016

CAMPUS LIFE

Top 10 NCAA basketball throwback jerseys 10. Marcus Camby – UMass Minutemen A quarter-length sleeve shirt and This is the first top 10 list that the knee-length padded pants – imagine town of Amherst will see in a long Lebron James barreling down the time. The “U” and the “Mass” across lane in that. In the early 1900s, that the chest are in different fonts – classic was the appropriate attire. After com- Amherst. piling this list of NCAA basketball 9. Len Bias – Maryland Terrapins throwback jerseys and realizing I saw This is the last jersey to be worn by half of these guys play in my lifetime, perhaps the best player to never play I feel old. at the professional level. The standard red and white is okay, but the alternate red and yellow is other-worldly.

8. Allen Iverson – Georgetown Hoyas The Georgetown gray and blue is simultaneously plain and busy.

Iverson balled on the Big East while looking like a 12-year-old.

This jersey makes for a perfect stocking stuffer, as it is half the size of your standard stocking (do-rag sold separately).

7. Steve Nash – Santa Clara Broncos Here is a simple, but unique, jersey. Until recently I thought a white T-shirt was included with purchase. I saw somebody rocking this on Clearwater Beach and Photo Courtesy Southeastern Oklahoma State University hugged them without initiating any conversation – top five deciDennis Rodman played for the Savage Storm. sion I have ever made.

Alexander J. Salucco Connector Editor

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Bill Walton won two consecutive NCAA Championships at UCLA.

6. Christian Laettner – Duke Blue Devils This might be the most purchased jersey that was bought with the intention to be burned. With that being said, the classic, clean Duke jersey is a staple in any jersey collection.

5. Michael Jordan – North Carolina Tar Heels This would be higher if you could go one week without seeing somebody wearing this.

4. Ervin “Magic” Johnson – Michigan State Spartans A frequent selection among NBA fans, but Johnson revolutionized the point guard position. You cannot forget about the cursive “State” across the chest, either.

3. Bill Walton – UCLA Bruins There might not be a better colorway in sports than the UCLA gold and blue, and there definitely is not a better model for them than Bill Wal-

ton. If you accompany that with the headband, locks and pasty white legs, it is a thing of beauty.

2. Larry Bird – Indiana State Sycamores Often mistaken for a Tar Heel jersey from behind, this rarity is a gem.

The first “I” in “Indiana” is shaped like the state of Indiana. It is not the most aesthetically pleasing jersey, but it screams old-school.

1. Dennis Rodman – Southeastern Oklahoma State Savage Storm The small Division II school that introduced Dennis Rodman to the world has the best nickname in college sports: “Savages.” The word is displayed across the chest of the jersey. If there was one person on this Earth that embodied a “Savage,” it is Rodman. The NBA’s most tenacious rebounder had over 2,800 career fouls and certainly played his career like a savage.

Great treats for fans at games Shane Foley Connector Editor

Amongst the many bullets on Men’s and Women’s Basketball’s to do list this year will certainly be to raise their attendance numbers.

While the few games last year at the Tsongas Center were played to large home crowds, Costello Gym has traditionally had a rougher time getting students through the door.

In response to this, the schedule for both basketball teams have a couple theme nights and other intriguing surprises for attendees at Costello Gym this year.

On the Men’s side, Basketball will be hosting a Bingo Card giveaway at one of the Tsongas games, as well as a River Hawk Sock giveaway at the same venue later on. There will also be a UMass Lowell flag giveaway at a game at Costello and an art contest at the Tsongas.

For Women’s Basketball, there will be a Battle of the Bands at one of the events. Also, there will be a princess night, where the first 100 children under 12 will receive a free tiara, and there will be a camo basketball giveaway for one game.

These special events and giveaways are not uncommon for the basketball teams, who typically incorporate fun and engaging programs into their schedule. One popular marketing tactic from last year was giveaways from Wings at their games. Many fans might be looking forward to other food related events. There is scheduled to be a student fan fest for both basketball teams, where attendees can get free food before the game.

Who knows what else we could see down the line. Egg Roll at a basketball game maybe?

Another marketing tool seen at other games often that might also be effective are themed nights. An example would be Star Wars night at a hockey game last year. Who knows what possible themes they could incorporate to basketball games this year/upcoming years. Could we see a Marvel superhero night in the future? A Harry Potter night?

While these ideas may never come to fruition, the marketing events already scheduled should definitely increase attendance at the games.

Page 9

UM ASS L OWELL C ONNECTOR

November 15, 2016

SPORTS

UMass Lowell women’s basketball drops season opener 90-56 at Towson UMass Lowell Athletics

TOWSON, Md. – Freshman Megan Hendrick (Alexandria, Va.) hit five threes and scored a teamhigh 15 points in her collegiate debut, but the UMass Lowell (0-1) women’s basketball team dropped its season opener, 90-56, to Towson (1-0) on Friday night.

“Towson did a great job out there tonight,” stated Head Coach Jenerrie Harris. “They came out with a lot of momentum and were able to force us into mistakes. We weren’t able to make any adjustments and that was the difference out there.”

The Tigers’ Raven Bankston scored 31 points to lead all scorers and helped propel the hosts to a 16-6

lead with 5:57 left in the first. The River Hawks responded and went on to hit their next five field goals, and behind a 5-0 run got within 16-11. Nicole Hayner (Bedford, N.H.) connected on her first three-pointer of the season to spark the spurt.

The Tigers took a 24-16 lead into the second quarter, but two newcomers led the way for the visitors as Tyshay Britten (Norristown, Pa.) and Shawnkia McCallum (Perry Hall, Md.) each had four points in the opening 10 minutes. After a scoreless first quarter, Hendrick drilled her first career three-pointer to begin her impressive debut.

Britten led the River Hawks with eight points in the first half, but the hosts were able to limit scoring in the second quarter to take a 41-22 lead into intermission.

Britten became the first River Hawk to score double figures with a jumper 15 seconds into the fourth, and finished the game with 11 points in her UMass Lowell debut. McCallum chipped in nine points and five assists, while Katherine Smith (Fort Wayne, Ind.) recorded nine rebounds, eight points with a career-high six assists.

Hendrick connected on four of her triples in the second half, and Smith contributed eight of her points in the final 20 minutes.

Sianna Martin chipped in 20 points for Towson and registered a team-high five assists. Bankston recorded a game-high four steals.

The River Hawks are back in action on November 13, as they take on No. 6 Maryland in College Park at 1 p.m.

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Page 10

UM ASS L OWELL C ONNECTOR

November 15, 2016

SPORTS

SPORTS

River Hawks fall in season opener at Masschusetts, 90-76 UMass Lowell Athletics

AMHERST, Mass. – Junior Matt Harris (Erie, Pa.) tallied a team-high 16 points, as UMass Lowell fell, 90-76, in the 2016-17 season opener at in-state foe Massachusetts (1-0) on Friday afternoon.

“First of all, this is a great game for our university and we are happy that UMass Amherst agreed to play us,” said Head Coach Pat Duquette. “It’s a great experience for our kids and I think it’s good for the university system. It wasn’t our best game, not to discredit UMass at all, they did plenty of good things. But for us, we really need to take care of the basketball. Typically, we’re very efficient with the ball and shoot a high percentage. We didn’t do that tonight.”

Harris was a perfect, 6-for-6 from the line en route to his 16-point performance. Redshirt-junior Jahad Thomas (Williamsport, Pa.) followed closely with 15 total points, while pacing the squad on the glass with eight rebounds. Freshman Stefan Borovac (Stoney Creek, Ontario) rounded out the River Hawks’ double-digit scorers with 10 points in his collegiate debut. Fellow rookies Connor Bennett (Wilmington, Mass.), Rinardo Perry (Washington, D.C.) and Cameron Wolter (Fisher, Ind.) made their first appearances for UMass Lowell in the outing, as well.

The Minutemen got on the board first, but soph-

omore Isaac White (Ashland, Ohio) pulled up for a long three from the top of the key to score the River Hawks’ first points of the year and help the squad jump out to an early 7-2 edge. Although the home team would follow with 10 unanswered, Harris drained a jumper from beyond the arc and Wolter added four points of his own, knotting the score at 16-16 with 12:13 remaining in the first half.

Massachusetts led by as many as seven in the next four minutes until Thomas drove hard to the basket to draw the and-one, making it a two possession game, 27-23, at 8:23. UMass Lowell was then able to put together a 7-2 spurt with the help of five from Harris to cut the deficit to just one at 31-30 with 6:22 to play in the half. However, the home squad retaliated with 12 consecutive points, and despite trading points in the waning minutes, Massachusetts would head into the break, up 48-37.

Coming out of halftime, the River Hawks were held without a field goal for four and a half minutes, as the Minutemen pushed their lead to 20 at 61-41. Thomas banked in a layup at 15:29, but the River Hawks were unable to come any closer until sophomore Logan Primerano (Peru, Ind.) sparked an 11-3 run that made the score 76-59 with 8:28 left in the outing. UMass Lowell took a 17-14 scoring edge in the final minutes of the game, thanks in part to seven down the stretch from Thomas, but Massachusetts would seal the 90-76 decision.

Men’s basketball on the rise ► Continued from front page

ready to contribute as well. We feel like we have more talent and depth than we’ve ever had in the program,” said Duquette.

The three new freshmen on the roster – guard Rinardo Perry, guard/ forward Stefan Borovac and forward Cameron Wolter – certainly have something to prove coming into such a veteran team.

“Each kid’s different. Some kids are ready right away and are just fearless and jump right in. Other kids take time to either learn your system or to develop the confidence that they need,” said Duquette.

Duquette showed enthusiasm for the future. “I’m fully confident that all three of our freshmen are going to be really good players here,” he said.

The freshmen are definitely going to have to step up along with the 10 returning players if they want to make an impression this year, especially when facing new opponents like Indiana, a Big Ten conference team ranked 19th in the country.

It is important to note that Duquette and the River Hawks have exceeded expectations all three years they have been together. The confidence the team has brought to the table is what helped bring the River Hawks to a sixth, fifth and another fifth-place finish in the last three seasons, all while being projected to end up last.

This year, finally obtaining some of the respect they rightfully deserve,

they are projected fifth in America East.

“We have far surpassed everybody’s expectations in our first three years in Division I. And this year it’s a credit to our players and the success they’ve had,” said Duquette.

Proving the team’s worth this year is going to be huge, because next year the team will be fully eligible to compete in the conference tournament and will also have the opportunity to play in the NCAA Tournament. Duquette assures students that the team is on the right track to success.

“I think the students can be proud of where their men’s basketball program is… We’ve got just about everybody returning next year, so we feel like we’re in a good position to get to the top of the league and to be competitive when we’re NCAA eligible,” said Duquette.

The River Hawks are nothing without the passion and the support of the student body. Getting as many wild and crazy-passionate fans to the games is what makes it all worthwhile on the path to success.

Duquette says he hopes that nobody undermines this and the importance the student presence can have on the road ahead.

“We love their support at our games. It means a lot to our players and [while] it’s important as we’re building our program on the floor, it’s just as important to build it off the floor,” said Duquette.

Page 11

UM ASS L OWELL C ONNECTOR

November 15, 2016

Lone senior on men’s basketball team embarks on final season of a whirldwind career

Rashaan Holloway paced the Minutemen with a game-high 21 points, while Donte Clark and Luwane Pipkins chipped in with 14 points apiece. The team forced 28 River Hawk turnovers and totaled 17 steals.

Friday’s contest marked the fourth meeting between UMass Lowell and Massachusetts in the sport of men’s basketball. The Minutemen hold onto a 3-1 lead in the all-time series. The River Hawks are slated to play their home opener on Monday, November 14 when they welcome Wagner to Costello Athletic Center for a 7 p.m. tilt.

Courtesy of UMass Lowell Athletics

Redshirt junior forward Jahad Thomas looks to make a play against a Massachusetts defender.

► Continued from front page

try out for the team.

After becoming connected to head coach Pat Duquette through a prior chance meeting with the Chancellor of UMass Lowell, the coaching staff watched him play at the CRC and gave Livingston the ultimate test: to play in an open gym with the team.

“It was tougher than any other game I had ever played because it was better competition but… I definitely knew I could play. It was awesome. I felt really good about it,” said Livingston.

Livingston has been wearing the number 24 for UMass Lowell ever since.

“Sometimes I take for granted how lucky I am to be here, because the system fit me perfectly. I don’t think I could have done this at any other school,” said Livingston.

Despite coming so far and making the team as a walk-on, Livingston said that he was not sure if he was going to play in that first game of his freshman season against the No. 7 ranked University of Michigan.

“You see them and you’re like, ‘Okay, this is unreal,’ so you’ve got to take a moment to appreciate how far

you’ve come,” said Livingston.

In the basketball team’s first game as a Division I program, they tied with Michigan at halftime. Although the River Hawks went away with a 6942 loss, Livingston had 10 points and nine rebounds in his first career game.

“It was the best day of my life, probably. It was the coolest thing, because I never thought I’d be in that position,” said Livingston.

Livingston’s first season with the River Hawks was discouraging at times. The season started out 0-11 in nonconference play. Duquette suggested that the players take time off with their families following a crushing 40-point loss at the hands of Columbia University. After that, the River Hawks got rolling and finished with a 10-18 record.

Livingston finished the year with 744 minutes played. He was eighth in the America East conference with 3-point field goals made.

Livingston says that he “wanted to be good at everything” during his first year at UMass Lowell. While he says that it took him a while to recognize his strengths and work on them, his mindset shifted once he did that.

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“I tried to be a lot of everything, and sometimes when you’re a lot of everything you’re not that good at anything,” said Livingston.

He points to then-assistant coach Mike Harding for helping him change his philosophy. Livingston said that while Harding was always tough on him, he considered him as a mentor figure. Harding suggested that Livingston focus on becoming the best shooter in the conference. After achieving that, everything else would come.

“So I just tried to channel my mindset into, ‘I may not be the best shooter, but in my mind I’m confident that when I’m open, I’m going to hit a shot.’ When you have that mindset, other teams play you a certain way,” said Livingston.

Livingston credits the coaching staff at UMass Lowell for encouraging him and giving him opportunities to play, as well as fostering a school-first culture that produces good kids and teammates that Livingston says are the highlight of his basketball experience.

“I’ve made the best friends in my life. I have kids I’ll talk to forever and

the coaches are unbelievable,” said Livingston.

As the team’s only senior, he feels that he is in a leadership position. He acknowledges that while there will be tough times ahead in the season, it is gratifying to be a part of a program on the upswing.

“We’re just building it… from the ground up. It’s the best thing to be a part of. You can always say ‘we were the first’ and that’s our biggest thing right now. We’re trying to be first to do everything,” said Livingston.

Livingston said that it is not sad for him to embark on his final year as a River Hawk; it carries a sense of finality that is difficult to shake, but he is wholeheartedly grateful for his time at UMass Lowell.

He intends to have fun with his teammates, and hopes to have a great year as an individual player.

“As a team, I’d love to win the most games we ever have. I’d love to finish high in the conference, maybe even win the conference, and just go out on a high note,“ said Livingston.

UM ASS L OWELL C ONNECTOR

Page 12

November 15, 2016

SPORTS

Women’s basketball’s transition mirrors that of their coach Alexa Hyde

Connector Editor

Just entering its fourth year of Division I play, the UMass Lowell women’s basketball program is aptly headed by a woman whose story aligns with the River Hawks’ transition.

Jenerrie Harris, a native of Columbus, Ohio, played college hoops as a walk-on at the University of Kentucky. From there, Harris served as an assistant coach for a successful Navy team. She helped to propel Navy to three NCAA tournaments.

After being recruited by former Chancellor Marty Meehan and UMass Lowell Athletic Director Dana Skinner, Harris left her assistant coaching position to take over as head coach for the newly Division I River Hawks.

“The idea of being a head coach for the first time was appealing to me at a place like UMass Lowell was because they were also going through this transition and learning at the Division I level,” Harris said.

After their first year of Division I play, the River Hawks earned a 5-23 record during the 2013-14 season, the year before Harris took over.

Harris gave a nod of respect to her successors and those she worked with early on in Lowell. “I believed [in] the vision of our team at that time.

They had specific goals. That was encouraging, and I wanted to be a part of it,” she said.

Harris quickly got to work focusing on building relationships with her players. Having gone through a coaching change during her own playing days, Harris made it an objective to have all players feel confident and excited in the changes coming to the program.

“I wanted to feel like those players were my players,” coach Harris said.

At the helm of the team, Harris has led the squad to an overall record of 18-39 and America East record of 8-24 going into her third season.

Under her leadership, the River Hawks have seen two alumni turn professional in European leagues.

“It’s neat when you get to be part of something special; it always felt special. It was unique,” said Harris on UMass Lowell’s appeal.

Harris has been instrumental during the River Hawks’ transition into Division I. Despite a losing record last season, the team still boasted some of the best statistics in the conference, including the top performance in three pointers and the number 10 point-scorer in the conference, Lindsey Doucette. Returning forward Kayla Gibbs lead the America East in offensive rebounds and completed shots.

“I definitely believe that we are a program that can be successful in the America East,” Harris said.

Frequently crediting the team, not herself, with the success that they have had and the growth that they have achieved so far, Harris said that, especially at the start, she would, “rely really heavily on our returners and the people who have been here… they know where we started, they know what the expectations are of the program.”

Never one to take credit for the team’s accomplishment, the head coach was sure to note her pride in the team.

“I’m proud of them… We still have some growing to do because they’re still trying to find their confidence,” said coach Harris.

So far, the River Hawks’ road to success has been

U P C OM I N G

River Hawk Games Monday, Nov. 14

7 p.m.

MBB vs. Wagner

Wednesday, Nov. 16

7 p.m.

MBB at IndianaF

Thursday, Nov. 17

7 p.m.

WBB vs. Fairfield

Saturday, Nov. 19

7 p.m.

MBB at Fort Wayne

Sunday, Nov. 20

2 p.m.

WBB vs. Longwood

Monday, Nov. 21

6 p.m.

MBB at Liberty

For more sports information and full game schedules visit goriverhawks.com

rocky. Despite strong players and frequently close games last year, the team was unable to match the success of the 2014-15 season.

However, these moments seem to be growing pains as the transition enters its final year. The combination of a coach new to the top position and a team new to Division I play is coming to fruition as the team and coach gain experience together.

Harris commented on the duel investments from the program and herself.

“You’re willing to invest in a young coach and believe in me as I grow, and I want to invest in you guys as a program and as a school who’s also learning and growing as you develop into this Division I school,” coach Harris said.

About the partnership, in both its past and its future, Harris said, “I just felt like our roads and our paths were parallel,” she said.

Women’s basketball looks to find success in 2016-17 season Alexa Hyde Connector Editor

As the final year of UMass Lowell’s Division I transition comes underway, the women’s basketball team travels to face the Towson Tigers on Friday, followed by a match up against No. 6 Maryland.

With seven new faces added to the team, this will prove to be the first test for the River Hawks.

Having ended the last season with a 4-24 record, despite several close games, the women’s basketball team looks to add more to their win column, both in conference and out of conference.

“Some of the very narrow ones at the end came down to not having bodies, we were so injury prone last year. Just having fresh legs on the floor is crucial,” said head coach Jenerrie Harris. Harris is in

her third year with the program.

The team will not begin play against another America East team until Jan. 4 when they will square off against the University of Albany. In the 2015-16 season, UMass Lowell led the conference in three pointers with 33.2 percent of their shots made. The River Hawks ranked third in the America East on assists with a total of 332 assists made in 28 games, and fourth in points averaging 58.1 per game.

Last season’s River Hawks were led by offensive powerhouses, Lindsey Doucette and Melissa Frase, who led the team in points and assists, respectively.

“Lindsey [Doucette] and Mel [Frase] are probably some of the greatest competitors that we’ve had a chance to coach in our time here,” said Harris.

Despite the loss of two of the team’s most

Senior co-captain Asia Mitchell-Owens played 40 minutes in a game three times last season.

dominant players,” Harris said, “We’re replacing two with seven, so that’s been fun.”

With five freshmen, the young River Hawks will have a lot of work ahead of them this season. Four of the freshmen are true freshmen, while the fifth, Amanda Ortiz, transferred to UMass Lowell last spring and will enter her first season with the River Hawks this year.

The team also added two transfers to the roster.

Junior forward Kiana Batagelj and graduate studies forward Tyshay Britten bring experience from playing in the junior college system.

“We have a lot of new faces and my hope is just that we can put all those pieces together quicker than teams typically do. I think that we’re going to be a different team in the second half of the year than we will be now,” coach Harris said.

With eight members of last year’s squad returning for this season, the River Hawks look to get a strong start to the season.

Nicole Hayner and Asia Mitchell-Owens, cocaptains of the team, led in three-pointers last year and were behind only Frase for assists.

Junior forward Kayla Gibbs was second to Doucette in scoring last season earning an average of 11.9 points per game. Combining the talents of last year’s offensively driven squad with the talents of the incoming class will prove to be the key for the team.

“I think that if we can put our best product out on the floor that we can be right now… sooner than later… in terms of our chemistry, our focus. And people playing off one another’s tendencies, that would make for a really great start,” said Harris.