For UMass Basketball, the long, early season trip is worth it

By Zachary Baru

It may be early season basketball, a non-conference game hosted at a neutral-site, but for UMass, the trip to Sunrise was worth it.  

Photo: Aaron Baru

The voyage to the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic not only gave UMass fans down in Florida a chance to see their favorite team, but also a spot on national television.  It may not be ABC or ESPN, but for a school trying to prove itself and their impressive 7-3 record, today's trip to South Florida has given UMass a spot on the ACC Network, one of many channels that can be found on the updated ESPN App. 

With the move to a new conference, the Mid-American Conference, and the absence of national contention for some time, UMass has a lot to prove.  The team has shot off to an early 8-3 start, and today's appearance in the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic gives the team a chance to be shown on TV outside of the New England region.  

The ACC Network is part of the ESPN family of networks, and today's game can be viewed on linear TV or on the ESPN App.  This is important for a UMass team that wants to show the country what it is capable of, and it certainly is doing that here in Sunrise this afternoon.  UMass began the double-header topping Florida St. 103-95. 

Looking around the venue, plenty of UMass fans can be seen enjoying their team, and showing the other South Florida fans just what the UMass program has to offer this season.  The feeling in the venue is that of a bigger-event, with fans from each of the four schools very prevalent.  The crowd has been locked in, more so than most early afternoon starts.  

For UMass, getting back to the national stage will not be easy, but out-of-state early season events such as this is a step in the right direction.

UMass fans make their way down to the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic in Sunrise

By Zachary Baru

Sunrise, Florida, - It did not take long to find many UMass Basketball fans for their trip down to the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic.  Within just minutes of the game, a conversation could easily be had with fellow fans regarding anything considering the 413 area code.  The game, however, is far from UMass' home of the Mullins Center, as UMass faces Florida State this afternoon at the Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida.

Photo: Aaron Baru

Located in the home of the National Hockey League champion Florida Panthers, the Amerant Bank Arena is 30 miles north of Miami.  The arena is adjacent to the Florida Everglades, with just an expressway separating the venue from the east-end of the Everglades.  Seating 19,250, the venue is large for college basketball, but a decent amount of fans have showed up for the early half of a double-header this afternoon.  And surprisingly, this early crowd is loud and engaged.

It took just minutes to meet fans from Western Mass., and groups of UMass fans can be spotted all around the venue.  The breakdown of UMass to Florida St. fans is about 80/20%, in favor of Florida St., of course. But there is plenty of UMass fans and media making the trip from UMass, making for a great day of college basketball just outside of Fort Lauderdale. While the arena is about a 45 minute drive from downtown Miami, the venue is only about a 20 minute trip west from Ft. Lauderdale. 

With an expansive alumni, and fellow Western Mass. natives who have made the move down south, it is not surprising that a decent following of UMass fans can be found so far from home.

Coverage of UMass in the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic

For the first time Western Mass Sports Biz is proud to cover UMass Basketball's appearance in the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic, live from inside the Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida.

After covering the Tip-Off Tournament at the Mohegan Sun Arena for many years, the MAAC Conference Tournament in Springfield, and the Hall of Fame Classic in Springfield, this marks the first time Western Mass Sports Biz will be covering an event outside of New England.

This event, held each year by the Orange Bowl Committee, further establishes the Orange Bowl's commitment to sports and the community of South Florida.  Unlike the Orange Bowl, held in Miami Gardens, the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic is hosted 20 miles north in Broward County in the city of Sunrise.  

The Classic brings top NCAA division 1 men's basketball teams each year to the tournament, this year hosting Florida St. vs. UMass in the first game, and the University of Florida vs. George Washington in the second game of the double-header.

Stay tuned to WesternMassSportsBiz.com all day for updates live from Sunrise, as we tap into the business-side of everything happening at the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic.  Live tweets and photos will also be available on Twitter @zbaru.