Notes from UMass Heading Into Wednesday's Game

Above, Cornell's Max Groebe, a UMass transfer. Don't forget to check out The Cornell Basketball Blog's Game Preview Center for all the infortmation you need about Wednesday's Legends Classic game at UMass. Below are some bullet points referenced in UMass Athletics' "Just Take A Minute" daily notes heading into Wednesday's game.

One of the top opponents on the men's basketball schedule makes its way to the Mullins Center to take on the Minutemen tonight. Cornell and UMass battle in the second game of a doubleheader as the UMass women host St. John's at 5:30 to tip-off action. During the day, join us at the UMass Sports Luncheon for a preview of the game from Derek Kellogg, who will speak along with Kevin Morris and women's swimming coach Bob Newcomb at 12:15 p.m. at the Campus Center Room 1009.

Here are various previews of the UMass men's hoop home opener vs. Cornell. The Big Red are receiving votes in both the AP and Coaches Polls this week and have made the last two NCAA Tournaments. Outlooks from the Springfield Republican, Daily Hampshire Gazette, and Ithaca Journal, WBNG TV, and Cornell Daily Sun.

The new basketball polls came out on Monday and UMass opponents are listed in both. In the Associated Press Poll, possible foe Michigan State is still No. 2, Dayton is up to No. 18. Also receiving votes are: Florida, Xavier, Boston College and Cornell. In the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll, possible foe Michigan State is No. 2, Dayton is No. 21 and listed among others receiving votes are Florida, Xavier, Memphis, Boston College and Cornell.

UMass' Wednesday basketball foe Cornell is gaining lots of attention. In Cleveland, AP voter Elton Alexander lists the Big Red as a team to watch. He states in the Cleveland Plain-Dealer: Now, if you want to keep an eye on a team that could creep into the back of the Top 25 between now and Thanksgiving, check out Cornell. The Big Red began its season with a road upset at SEC Alabama. Next up will be a game at UMass, then home to Seton Hall, then at Syracuse. Don't let the Ivy League tag fool you, Cornell has several high-major transfers, plus 6-5 Ryan Wittman, son of former Indiana Hoosier Randy Wittman. This team finished 21-10 last season and most of its core players are back.

Looking ahead to the men's basketball home opening foe Cornell, the Big Red were big winners down at Alabama on Saturday, 71-67. It was Cornell's first win over an SEC school in 37 years. The New York Times has a blog entry from Cornell's Jon Jacques about the win.

Don't Miss This: We are two days from a basketball doubleheader at the Mullins Center. The women's team hosts St. John's at 5:30 p.m., followed by the men's home opener vs. Cornell at 7:30 p.m., the same Big Red team that knocked off Alabama on Saturday.

(updated 11.18.09)