It’s an interesting matchup for SLU against UMass on Wednesday. UMass has been very bad but has seemed like a team that has the potential to bust out. The Minutemen may have done that on Saturday against Dayton, but it remains to be seen if they can do it consistently. The timing could be good for SLU — it’s always best to play a team after a big win — but it could be bad if UMass is a team that has finally gotten its act together.

Majerus on UMass: “They’re all fifth year, fourth year players who know how to play. They’re very good on the offensive glass. They have a very good offensive rebounding team. Everyone will be tested in terms of transitioning back defensively and keeping their man in front of them.” He said UMass is a quick team in “the NASCAR division.”

UMass’ Tony Gaffney has a sore back but said he expects to play. The most interesting quote from Gaffney is:

“Their two guards are studs, and they play like brutes down in the paint,” Gaffney said. “But I’ll be ready.”

 On the league conference call on Monday, Xavier coach Sean Miller praised the SLU team’s potential.

St. Louis’ front court, the future of conference is very bright when you look at guys like Conklin and Reed. In the backcourt, everyone talks about Lisch and Liddell, but I was really impressed with their freshman point guard. We had more experience and were able to take advantage of that in our and their first conference game.

 Apprised of that later in the call, Majerus scoffed:

“Derrick Brown should give Reed a big call (of thanks). Reed gave up 3 3’s and then fouled a 3-pointer. That was nice of Sean to say that, it’s nice to be magnanimous in victory, but in this case, we’re a ways away.”

Today’s halftime festivities: the great baby race.