Tough road ahead

AMHERST, Mass. (WWLP) - It's how John Calipari built Memphis into a national powerhouse and UMass head coach Derek Kellogg is following the blueprint. UMass has a treacherous non-conference schedule this season

Kellogg will look to senior Ricky Harris for scoring and leadership this season, as UMass takes on one of its more difficult non-conference schedules ever. Games against Memphis, Seton Hall, Boston College, Rutgers, Davidson, Baylor and Florida or Michigan State highlight the Minutemen's schedule. Coach Kellogg told 22News its all part of a larger plan.

"Its all about TV and recruiting. Kids want to be on TV, they want to know who you're playing, where, when, what time. I think with this schedule we've accomplished a lot of those goals of playing high level teams. A lot of these games, unfortunately are on the road or at neutral sites this year, but that's what we have to do to get on national television."

UMass will also return to the Mass Mutual Center and play Atlantic Ten foe LaSalle in Springfield in January 2010. The complete schedule is expected out in the next week or so.