University of Massachusetts heads south NIT

While many an NIT berth a consolation prize, the University of Massachusetts coach Derek Kellogg is treating Tuesday's game with Mississippi State as a springboard for other programs to repel relevance.
During the first three seasons of Kellogg, the Minutemen did not sniff the playoffs. Patience at the University of Massachusetts to the faithful wore thin with the product of Springfield, but has not discouraged Kellogg.
Like most coaches, Kellogg has promised an exciting style of basketball when he was hired four years ago the program had helped lead a national reputation as a playmaker in the process of 1990. However, with a combined 39-53 record in his first three seasons, could not many alley-oops to attract crowds to the Mullins Center.
Despite fight, Kellogg maintains its faith in an up-tempo system that many of the principles defended by the coaches of the defense-oriented speech. Finally, after getting a point guard in the second year of the transfer Chaz Williams Hofstra to engineer rapid style, the collection of long-athletes Kellogg suddenly transformed into a formidable team.
"There were some doubts as to how we played, people and things," said Kellogg. "I think to answer the bell this year as a program. Not only have we answered the call, but the fan support is really picking up. I think there's a buzz about UMass basketball. "
The Minutemen (22-11) had his best season since Kellogg took over and made a run to the semifinals of the Atlantic 10, where they lost a heart-breaking to St. Bonaventure 84-80 on Saturday. The setback to prevent an unlikely appearance in the NCAA, the University of Massachusetts, but try to build on the success when traveling to Mississippi State (25-7) Tuesday in the first round of the NIT.
"I think kids deserve another tournament. I think they deserve to go," said Kellogg. "We beat good teams playing in one of the toughest in the country and are a fun team to watch . Why do not we see a couple of times and got us into the NIT and see if we can in a series of things that can happen? "
UMass to NIT finals in 2008, but the race does not pay dividends, because a lot of impact players and the coach Travis Ford graduate left for Oklahoma State. The reverse is true that this year the largest center Sean Carter is the only player who never returned.
The Minutemen led to early optimism unusual for a team that would play an NCAA berth Raphiael Putney yesterday, or last second 3-pointer against St. Bonaventure, fell.
"Most importantly, my people are basketball players," said Kellogg. "They want to keep playing. Our goal was to advance in the NCAA Tournament, and I think we were so far. We are just up a little."
This breakthrough season offer the highest expectations from the outside, but it will not exceed that Kellogg is targeting.
"I'm not the NCAA (appearance) a year to say, but I would be less than the conversation," said Kellogg. "I think we should be in the position of a team or NCAA tournament NIT in this document. "