When I think of UMass of course the first thing that comes to mind is basketball hall of famer and former Virginia Squire Julius "Dr. J" Erving. The Doctor averaged 26.3 ppg and 20.2 rebounds during his two varsity seasons at UMass. After forgoing his senior season, Erving joined the Squires in the old ABA and made the All-Rookie team averaging 27.3 points and 15.7 rebounds finishing second to Artis Gilmore for the Rookie of the Year award. That season the Virginia Squires were truly a state team playing home games in Richmond, Hampton, Norfolk, and Roanoke.
Erving posted 21 points and 19 rebounds in his pro debut in a 118-114 victory over the Carolina Cougars. In his home debut in Richmond, Erving delivered 26 points, 16 rebounds in their 103-99 win over the Dallas Chaparrals. That Virginia Squires team also featured the 1971 ABA co-rookie of the year Charlie Scott, the first black scholarship athlete at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
Once upon a time, UMass also had the NCAA national player of the year Marcus Camby who lead them to the Final Four under coach John Calipari in 1997. Unfortunately, their Final Four appearance was vacated by the NCAA because Camby had been found to have accepted $28,000 from two sports agents.
VCU’s first game against UMass was on Valentine’s day in 2013 at the Siegel Center. The Ram’s sent their love to the Minutemen with an 86-68 beat down which included a 21-1 run that blew the game wide open. VCU got a breakout night from freshman guard Melvin Johnson, who had 18 points.
It is also ironic that the soon to be ex-coach of our opponent tonight (Travis Ford) leveraged his three year stint at UMass to land his P6 gig at Oklahoma State.
