ESPN

AMHERST, Mass. -- Gary Menin's last-minute decision to take part in the halftime ceremonies at UMass' annual spring game Saturday wasn't by design.

Menin, a 30-year-old attorney, held back tears as he explained the shock of hearing the news Friday morning of the death of his former roommate of two years in Somerville. He collapsed to his knees and broke down in his Milton home, in shock and disbelief.

Sean Collier, a 26-year-old MIT campus police officer, was slain in the line of duty during the nearly 20-hour manhunt for two suspects connected to Monday's Boston Marathon bombings.

"I didn't know him in the capacity of a cop. I knew him grilling in the backyard. I knew him playing Frisbee in the park by Tufts," Menin began, eyes welling up. "He's a real person, and now a lot of people aren't going to get to know him. They'll read about him, but you don't get to hear his voice, or play 'Rock Band' with him, you know, stuff you do with roommates."

Saturday afternoon at McGuirk Alumni Stadium, those who were unable to finish Monday's marathon were invited to run a ceremonious "finish" at halftime of the annual intrasquad scrimmage that concludes spring practices. Menin was among the six taking up the offer, running a lap around the perimeter of the gridiron and finishing with a scamper across the 50-yard line, with football players forming a gauntlet along the last 50.

Menin, a UMass alum, was one-tenth of a mile from the finish line when the explosions went off, and found himself circumnavigating around the block another mile to find his family, who were waiting at the finish line at the time.

He may not find closure over losing his former roommate to such senseless violence.

"If this is how I feel, I can't imagine what his family is going through," Menin said.

But he felt honored to be able to partake in today's ceremonious run.

"Unfortunately I found out very last minute I wanted to do this for Sean," he said. "It's nice to have everyone here. Everyone's been so great in Boston, but in Massachusetts and all around the world as well."

Shrewsbury resident Lisa Lunt, 30, was stopped a few miles back from the finish line when the explosion went off, and Saturday wielded an American flag during the lap -- just as she did for the entire race on Monday, as a tribute to servicemen deployed overseas.

"I'm a UMass alum, and today I really wanted to be a part of it," Lunt said. "If people can die overseas for our country, I can carry a flag for 26 miles. It's a small price to pay."

Players also paid tribute to Collier and the three victims who lost their lives in Monday's bombing by placing the full names of each on their nameplates on the backs of their jerseys. Defensive back Randall Jette wore the nameplate of Collier; he was joined by linebacker Stanley Andre (Martin Richard), wide receiver Klysmann Afonso (Krystle Campbell), tight end Brandon Howard (Lu Lingzi), and tight end Rob Blanchflower, who wore a "#BostonStrong" nameplate.

"I know how it is growing up in Dorchester," says Andre, who hails from the same part of Boston as Richard, the 8-year-old who lost his life in Monday's bombing. "Dorchester is a tough neighborhood. Not to see him grow, it's tough to experience and witness. It's really an unfortunate tragedy."

Afonso, a midyear walk-on from Medford, grew up on the city's Lawrence Street, a short distance from the 29-year-old Campbell's Park Street residence. And while he didn't know Campbell or her family personally, he knew folks that were close to her.

"I know some of my friends who have worked with her family and said she was just a joy to be around," he said. "I was so proud to have her name even on my nameplate. That was just a huge honor for me to represent Medford, her and the bombing victims."

UMass head coach Charley Molnar called Saturday's event "really high" on the list of most memorable moments of his decades-long coaching career.

"This is was much bigger than I ever thought it would be," he said.

He also said he plans on trying to run for next year's race.

"After the events on Monday, I was absolutely determined that I want to run Boston in 2014," he said. "I'm going to enter my first marathon in Long Branch, N.J., in a few weeks, and just see where I'm at, and maybe get a couple more under my belt to see if I can qualify."

In previewing the Atlantic 10 tournament, which begins Thursday at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, ESPN.com college basketball writer Eamonn Brennan lists UMass point guard Chaz Williams as one of his five players to watch and lists the Minutemen, who open play Thursday night at 9 against George Washington, as his sleeper pick:

Sleeper pick: This is kind of a funny question, because as I mentioned in the intro, at the start of the season it felt as though this league had about 10 sleepers. Those ranks have dwindled, of course, but there are still plenty of threats that didn't get a first-round bye. Xavier has improved steadily over the course of the season (and the first rule of Xavier is never bet against Xavier); Richmond is a threat to get hot and rattle off a handful of wins with Derrick Williams back from injury; anything can happen with Charlotte, but it's a tough out; and Saint Joe's … well, OK, let's not go too far. If I had to settle on one, I'd probably go with UMass. The Minutemen are the team with the most on the line, and they certainly have the talent to go deep.

CLICK HERE to read the rest of Brennan's A-10 tourney preview.

The pairings are set for the Atlantic 10 tournament, with the sixth-seeded University of Massachusetts to open against No. 11 George Washington on Thursday night (9 p.m.) at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

The winner of that game will face No. 3 seed Temple in the quarterfinals. The Owls beat VCU, 84-76, on Sunday.

UMass, which was 9-7 in the A-10 for the second straight year, suffered what may have been their worst loss of the season -- at least in terms of their standing in the eyes of the NCAA tournament selection committee -- at the hands of the Colonials, losing 79-76 on Jan. 19 in Amherst. The Minutemen trailed much of the day and fell behind by 16 in the second half before staging a furious rally that fell short.

UMass' chances of getting an at-large bid to the Big Dance appear slim, although wins of Temple and second seed VCU in the semifinals could conceivably at least put them in the bubble conversation. But clearly if the Minutemen want their first NCAA bid since 1998, they'd best win four games in four days. And the way the bracket sets up, they could have four teams who already have beaten them -- GW, Temple, VCU and St. Louis or Butler -- lined up ahead of them.

Former University of Massachusetts pitcher and Pittsfield, Mass., native Matt Torra, a 28-year-old minor leaguer still working at earning a shot in the bigs, hopes to open some eyes while pitching for Italy in the World Baseball Classic next month.

Torra's paternal great-grandfather was born in Italy, which makes him eligible for that country's team in the WBC.

"I'm really looking forward to that opportunity," Torra told the Daily Hampshire Gazette. "I think it's going to be a great experience."

Torra, who was a sandwich pick (between the first and second round) in the 2005 MLB draft, signed a minor league deal with the Washington Nationals in December and expects to be assigned to the team's Triple-A affiliate in Syracuse.

"As I'm getting later in my career as a minor leaguer, joining the Nationals is hopefully going to give me that boost that I need," Torra told the Gazette. "Hopefully something positive comes of it."

Torra was profiled last summer in a feature story by ESPNBoston.com contributor Marty Dobrow (CLICK HERE).

The University of Massachusetts' hopes to make the NCAA men's basketball tournament for the first time since 1998 have taken a major hit with news that junior guard Jesse Morgan will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL.

Morgan, the Minutemen's starting shooting guard and their second leading scorer at 13.4 points per game, was injured in Thursday's 70-62 loss at St. Louis. Morgan's right knee buckled as he drove to the hoop and he howled in pain while being tended to by team trainers.

The initial diagnosis was a sprain, but after Morgan was seen by doctors on Tuesday, the tear was discovered. He is expected to have surgery next month.

The Minutemen are 11-4, 1-1 in the Atlantic 10.

Coach Derek Kellogg likely will use senior Freddie Riley in Morgan's place, as he did in Sunday's 77-73 win at Fordham. In that game, Kellogg also used regular point guard Chaz Williams in the off-guard slot with freshman Trey Davis playing the point.

“I feel bad for Jesse obviously,” Kellogg told the Daily Hampshire Gazette. “He’s worked really hard to be one of our team leaders and one of our better players. To have an injury like that cost him the rest of his junior year is tough for him. It’s tough for our team to a certain extent. We have some other guys that are ready to step up and play for Jesse.”

In addition to being an explosive scorer, as evidenced by his 35-point effort against Ohio on Dec. 19, Morgan is UMass' top perimeter defender and a key 3-point threat, which is a big part of the Minutemen's offense.

While Riley has been a solid contributor both offensively and defensively over the last half-dozen games, averaging just over 11 points, he's been a bench player most of his career. Even if Riley approaches Morgan's production, the loss in depth figures to hinder the aggressive, pressing defense the Minutemen have used with good results the last couple of seasons.

Davis had the best game of his career against Fordham with 12 points and 4 assists in 21 minutes.

AMHERST, Mass. -- Despite a 5-3 record and a season's worth of heart-stopping victories, the University of Massachusetts men's basketball team really hadn't found its rhythm entering Wednesday night's game at the Mullins Center against Ohio.

But on Wednesday, junior guard Jesse Morgan hit a groove that would make salsa-dancing UMass alum Victor Cruz jealous.

Morgan erupted for 35 points and sparked a 23-1 first-half run that paced UMass (6-3) to its best outing of the season, an 85-76 win over the Bobcats (7-4).

Morgan's outburst came on 12-of-18 shooting, 7-of-10 from beyond the arc. He came within 3 points of the school record at the Mullins Center set by Marcus Camby in 1996. Morgan's previous career high was 25 points last season.

"I've seen him do that before, but to see him do that in a college game was really kind of uplifting for the team, I think uplifting for the fans," UMass coach Derek Kellogg said. "And as a coach, when he's rising up and you think it's going in, instead of praying it goes in, I felt really confident."

Save for Sampson Carter's uncontested layup off the opening tip, the Minutemen came out disjointed on both ends of the court, with Ohio taking an 18-6 lead after a UMass turnover and a breakaway layup by D.J. Cooper with 15:19 remaining. At that point, the Bobcats were 6-of-8 from the floor, the Minutemen 2-of-7. That would change in a heartbeat.

Out of the break, the trio of Cady Lalanne, Maxie Esho and Freddie Riley entered the game and helped provide the energy and spark the Minutemen were lacking. Add in some unconscious shooting by Morgan, and UMass had found its formula for success.

Lalanne and Esho took control of the paint under the UMass hoop and started cleaning up the glass, which was a problem in the early going. Offense? That was Morgan's department.

The junior from Philadelphia was coming off his worst game of the season, and one of the worst of his career, hitting just 1 of 9 shots in a 78-73 overtime win over Elon on Saturday. In fact, Morgan has had trouble finding his stroke much of the season. In his previous six games, he was just 25-for-81 from the field (31 percent) and 14-for-37 (38 percent) from behind the arc. Take out a 7-for-14 game against Northeastern on Dec. 4 and the numbers fall to 27 percent from the field and 33 percent from deep.

But Morgan has shown in the past he can heat up in an instant. Morgan's outburst in the first half Wednesday was a certified bonfire. Morgan fueled the 23-1 run, scoring 16 points, that exhibited the promise UMass has fulfilled only sporadically to this point in the season.

In a flash, the 18-6 deficit was a 29-19 lead, with Morgan doing much of the damage from 3-point land. He finished the half with 22 points and was 4-for-4 on 3-balls, and UMass led 48-40.

After Ohio erased the Minutemen's lead in the first five minutes of the second half, Morgan had another outburst, immediately answering with the first of his three 3-pointers as part of a 13-2 spurt that put UMass in control for good.

Morgan said he was firing away from his "in-the-gym range." "After a while I just black out," he said. "Shots just fall."

But Morgan's night started with an emphasis on defense, as he was the primary defender on Cooper, Ohio's leading scorer and floor general.

Morgan said the assignment helped him get in the flow of the game.

"Coach was talking about what a good player he is so I want to step up and take on the challenge. I didn't visualize this," Morgan said, referring to his career night offensively. "I visualized that I was going to play defense and play well."

While it's hard to look past a night like Morgan's, we all know that 3-point shots can come and go. More encouraging for the long-range hopes of the Minutemen was the performance of Lalanne, who asserted himself in particular on the offensive glass and showed the energy UMass will need from him.

"I thought he played a really good game," Kellogg said of the 6-foot-9 Lalanne. "Defensively he took up a lot of space and those offensive-rebound putbacks are huge."

Lalanne finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds (5 offensive) in 23 minutes, and came up big defensively at key stretches.

It was Lalanne's second game after serving a 12-day suspension, missing one game, after his Dec. 1 arrest for disorderly conduct at an on-campus event. Since a solid outing in the season opener against Harvard, Lalanne's impact had been limited, averaging 4.3 points and 4 rebounds in less than 20 minutes per game.

Lalanne said he used the time off to get his legs stronger and get his wind up.

"I'm feeling a lot better," he said. "Coach has said to bring energy so that's what I'm trying to do."

University of Massachusetts center Cady Lalanne was reinstated to the team Friday by athletic director John McCutcheon after being suspended for 12 days following his arrest at an on-campus event.

Lalanne, who had started all six games prior to his suspension, missed two contests -- both wins -- before returning for Saturday’s 78-73 overtime win over Elon.

The 6-foot-9, 250-pound sophomore had six points and six rebounds in 12 minutes off the bench against the Phoenix. He’s averaging 5.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game in 2012-13.

Lalanne was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct, assault and battery on a police officer and resisting a police officer making a lawful arrest on Dec. 1.

According to the university, the case is still pending but until it is resolved Lalanne will be eligible to practice and play with the Minutemen.

UMass starting center Cady Lalanne has been suspended from the team by coach Derek Kellogg after being arrested on campus on Saturday night, the team announced in a statement Monday.



Lalanne will not travel to Boston with the Minutemen on Monday and will not play in the game against Northeastern on Tuesday night.

Lalanne was arrested at the UMass student union and charged with disorderly conduct, assault and battery on a police officer and resisting a police officer making a lawful arrest, according to the university's arrest log.

The 6-foot-9, 250-pound sophomore was averaging 4.8 points and 5.2 rebounds in 20.5 minutes a game in 2012-13. The Orlando, Fla., native had started all six of the Minutemen's games to date, leading the team in blocks (1.8 per game) and ranking fifth in rebounding.

Lalanne was limited to 14 games last season with a foot injury and did not play after Dec. 30.

AMHERST, Mass. -- The Harvard men’s basketball team, coming off its first NCAA tournament appearance since 1946, was dealt a serious blow before the season even started when a pair of would-be seniors, forward Kyle Casey and point guard Brandyn Curry, left the school in the wake of a cheating scandal.

That left the keys to the Crimson offense to freshman Siyani Chambers, and while there surely will be some growing pains, Chambers impressed with his poise in Harvard’s near-upset of UMass, 67-64, Tuesday morning at the Mullins Center.

The Minutemen like to press on defense as much as any team in the country, normally a recipe for disaster with such an inexperienced point guard, but Chambers more than held his own, committing just one turnover, to go with seven assists and 14 points, while playing all 40 minutes.

“For him to play as well as he did the whole game and go against an outstanding guard and the kind of pressure that UMass brings to have just one turnover, I thought that was a magnificent performance,” Harvard coach Tommy Amaker said, referencing Chambers.

“In his first road game as a college player, to play the way he did with his energy and his spirit, I think he’s shown he’s going to be an outstanding player. It’s just too bad we couldn’t cap it off with a victory to make it that much sweeter for him.

“We knew for us to have a chance against their pressure and how they would normally play, we knew how critical our ball-handling would be. Siyani and Wesley [Saunders] were going to do the bulk of the ball-handling and I thought they did as well as you could possibly ask.”

UMass guard Chaz Williams said of Chambers: “He played really good, he was solid. The kid has a lot of heart.”

Although Amaker cited UMass’ 29 points off turnovers as the difference in the game, particularly two critical miscues in the last minute and a half, UMass coach Derek Kellogg thought the Crimson did a good job dealing with the Minutemen’s pressure and backed off somewhat in the second half.

“We talked a lot about maintaining composure,” Amaker said. “The keys for us were concentration, composure and confidence coming in here. I thought we did that as best as we possibly could. That’s what makes it tough, when you do those things and come up on the short end.”

LALANNE BACK IN THE LANE: UMass got a significant boost with the return of sophomore forward/center Cady Lalanne, who was limited to just 14 games last season because of a foot injury. Lalanne’s presence was felt from the get-go, as he was active on the boards (eight of his 13 rebounds came in his first half) and under the hoop (four blocks).

Lalanne slowed down some in the second half, but showed enough to get his coach excited and not worry about easing him back.

“He’ll play as many minutes as he can,” Kellogg said. “If he’s still playing hard and competing, I think he gives us a weapon that you just saw a little bit of. I think he’s got a chance to be a really, really good player. If you see him get in little bit better shape, I think he’s going to become a big-time player.

WILD START TO THE SEASON: The Minutemen as a team certainly aren’t easing in. After a 10 a.m. start Tuesday, the team was scheduled to catch a 2:30 p.m. bus for a 5:10 flight for the Puerto Rico Tip-Off tournament. UMass opens against Providence on Thursday night.

Kellogg said he doesn’t mind the whirlwind start.

“I’m not one for sitting around much, so I think it’s pretty good for the kids. There’s no more easing into the season. Everybody’s playing, teams are ready to play. With the summer and the longer preseason, I think you see teams that are a little further along. Harvard looked like they were in midseason form. I thought they played really well.”

Is this the breakthrough year UMass fans have been waiting for?

That's one of the five things ESPN.com college basketball reporter Dana O'Neil can't wait to see in the Atlantic 10 this season. (For the other four, CLICK HERE.)

Here's what O'Neil has to say about the Minutemen:

Since Derek Kellogg returned to his alma mater in 2008, folks have been waiting for the glory years he enjoyed as a player to return to Amherst. Of course that would be a rather tall and ridiculous order, considering Kellogg went to the NCAA tournament four years in a row, including the Elite Eight, and won four consecutive Atlantic-10 regular-season and tournament titles as a player.

But this could at least be the year the Minutemen return to NCAA tournament relevance.

UMass rolled to the NIT semifinals last season, riding on the coattails of guard Chaz Williams. The Hofstra transfer averaged 16.4 points and 6.4 assists per game and is exactly the sort of bona fide star you can build something special around.

If Williams picks up where he left off (he upped his scoring numbers through the NIT to 21.8 per game), UMass might see itself on the big ticket for the first time since 1998.

ESPN.com has a whole lot more in its Atlantic 10 preview, including columns, videos, a podcast and team-by-team previews by Blue Ribbon (Insider content). You can find it all RIGHT HERE.

It was the type of play that stays with you.

The shotgun snap came from the 9-yard line, meaning UMass running back Michael Cox took the handoff at about the Miami (Ohio) 13. A hole opened up the middle, and he hit it. A linebacker tried to fill the gap, but Cox brushed away Jaytee Swanson’s waist-high arm tackle and bounced out to the right and into daylight.

Tight end Rob Blanchflower ran a crossing pattern over the middle and cleared out another linebacker, opening a wide lane to the end zone.

Safety Justin Bowers was the last line of defense, starting in the end zone and charging toward Cox.

The next part happened in a hurry. The 6-foot-3, 214-pound Cox launched himself up and over Bowers, doing a front flip into the end zone and landing on his back.

“It was just kind of a natural reaction I guess,” Cox said in a phone interview Tuesday. “I had seen him in the end zone, and I was thinking in my head, ‘I've got to score this.’ It looked like he was about to go low on me so I had to go high.”

And high he went, landing at No. 5 in the “SportsCenter” top plays for the night and leading off this compilation of the top plays in college football this week.

“Honestly I knew that he could have a big game, I thought he would,” UMass coach Charley Molnar said in a phone interview Tuesday. “We went in thinking we could run the ball against Miami. I knew he would be over 100 yards, I didn’t necessarily expect him to be closer to 200.”

Cox finished the Minutemen’s 27-16 loss to Miami (Ohio) with 30 carries for 188 yards and two scores.

It was the kind of breakout game Cox had hoped for when he decided to transfer to UMass for a season, after spending four years on the bench at Michigan. He earned a degree in general studies in Ann Arbor and was eligible to transfer and play immediately under NCAA rules.

“I think Mike was always a driven individual, he didn’t turn on the switch at UMass,” Molnar said of his new starting tailback. “This gives him a new lease on life and he’s certainly taken advantage of it.”

The Dorchester, Mass., native had only 19 carries for 169 yards and two touchdowns in three seasons with the Wolverines (he redshirted in 2008). He said the opportunity to earn real playing time at UMass was a big draw.

But Cox is not bitter about his time in Ann Arbor.

“I loved my experience at Michigan,” he said. “I wish I could’ve played more but I'm still happy with everything there.”

When UMass traveled to Ann Arbor in Week 3 to face the Wolverines, who coasted to a 63-13 win, Cox admitted it was a bit weird for him. Seeing the places he used to live, walking into the Big House, Michigan Stadium, where he spent so many Saturdays, then heading into the visiting locker room didn’t feel natural.

He carried the ball 18 times for 76 yards in that game, both at that point season highs for the Minutemen.

“It definitely was fun,” he said of going back to Michigan.

As it turns out, that performance may have foreshadowed what he did against Miami (Ohio).

“He had great yards after contact,” Molnar said of Cox’s outing against the Redhawks. “There were times he was hit by a linebacker or down lineman and he ripped right through the contact. He never went out of bounds willingly. Almost every time he would bring wood to the defender.

“I saw him in the locker room afterward, and he was as fresh as if we’d just gone through a Friday walkthrough.”

Both Cox and Molnar credited the offensive line for part of the improvement in the running game, the coach saying having the same starting line two weeks in a row helped the entire offense.

Molnar called Cox a natural leader, saying he’s a great presence in the locker room. His experience at a big-time football institution can only help as the Minutemen transition to the FBS level this season.

“He’s got a good personality,” the first-year coach said. “He’s not the loudest guy in the locker room but certainly his voice can be heard.”

The other thing that can be heard in the UMass locker room is the music Cox often plays to get himself ready for practice and keep his teammates loose. When told his coach couldn’t recognize any of the songs or artists he plays, Cox had a good laugh.

“I just try to play whatever,” he said. “I play a lot of different stuff.”

And while Molnar may not know Lil Wayne from Reggie Wayne, he knows that Cox continuing to play at a high level will be important to the Minutemen’s continued improvement.

“There’s no doubt,” he said. “As we hit some tough weather, especially in those Midwest games, even in Boston, we’re going to have to run the football. I feel really good not only with Mike but also with the other guys we have in the offensive backfield.”

It’s important to remember that Cox wasn’t the starter to open the season, with redshirt senior Chris Burns getting the bulk of the carries in the opener against UConn. Cox still has to prove his day against the Redhawks wasn’t a fluke.

But a day like he had this past Saturday will stay with anyone who sees it.

“I haven’t seen it yet,” Cox said of his personal highlight, “but everybody’s been telling me I made it on ‘SportsCenter,’ made it to No. 5. It definitely felt great, being recognized on a show like that. Everybody in the country is trying to get on that. All my friends back home were telling me they saw it. It was pretty cool.”

Asked if it was a once-in-a-lifetime move, Cox left himself room for a repeat.

“We’ve got a long season,” he said, “so you never know.”

Jack McCluskey is an editor for ESPN.com and a frequent contributor to ESPNBoston.com. Follow him on Twitter @jack_mccluskey.

Though the final score was far from pretty, Charley Molnar believes that the experience UMass gained in a 63-13 loss to No. 18 Michigan will pay off eventually.

“When you play in front of that noise and that crowd, there’s naturally a certain pressure involved,” Molnar said of playing in a place like Michigan Stadium. “That’s gonna help us down the line when we play in big games in our conference. If it’s not this year, then it’s in the next two or three years.”

The Minutemen (0-3) open conference play this weekend (noon ET, ESPN3) when they travel to Oxford, Ohio, to face Miami (Ohio). The Redhawks are 1-2, with a win over Southern Illinois sandwiched between lopsided losses to Ohio State and Boise State.

Molnar said he believes his players are charged up for the start of Mid-American Conference competition.

“I think in some ways they’re more excited,” he said. “They know that this is where it’s at. … Winning your conference and performing well in your conference is always a measuring stick.

“They sense the opportunity in front of them.”

The Redhawks finished 4-8 (3-5 MAC) last season, scoring 21.3 points and giving up 22.9 points per game. Leaning on then-junior QB Zac Dysert, Miami passed for nearly 300 yards a game while running for just more than 70.

Dysert, a senior now, is again the focal point of the offense. Through three games, he’s tied for eighth in the country in completions (79) and is 13th in the country in attempts (116).

“Definitely he’s a BCS-level QB,” Molnar said of Dysert. “He’s got a strong arm, good pocket mobility, can tuck it and run.”

But unlike Indiana’s Tre Roberson and Michigan’s Denard Robinson, who might be stronger running the ball than throwing it, “This guy’s primary strength is passing,” Molnar said. “He’s got a lot of experience, he’s won a lot of football games. This guy is about as good of a QB as we’re gonna face all year.”

The Minutemen have given up more yards on the ground than through the air this season, but part of that is no doubt due to opponents choosing to pound the ball and run the clock to protect leads. Darren Thellen and the defense will have their work cut out for them against Dysert & Co.

As for the offense, Molnar said the return of offensive lineman Anthony Dima helped the unit considerably. Now, the coach just wants the offense to stop beating itself.

“The biggest challenge is just for us not to sustain self-inflicted wounds,” he said.

The Minutemen can’t afford penalties, because right now they're just not good enough to overcome them.

Molnar said he’s been happy with quarterback Mike Wegzyn’s progression, especially regarding ball security after a pick-six in the opener against UConn.

“Wegzyn makes pretty good decisions,” the coach said. “He’s not forcing the ball into spots it shouldn’t be.”

The offense is averaging a modest 6.3 points and 194.0 yards a game so far in the transition to the Division I-A level. Both of those numbers are last in the MAC, trailing Bowling Green by more than 10 points (16.7-6.3) and this weekend’s opponent Miami (Ohio) by almost 100 yards (291.7-194.0) a game.

But Molnar remains upbeat.

“I think our team is in a very good place,” he said. “Going into it right now I have no reason to believe our team’s not prepared. We’ve had good enthusiasm in practice. Our guys attack everything we throw at them.

Jack McCluskey is an editor for ESPN.com and a frequent contributor to ESPNBoston.com. Follow him on Twitter @jack_mccluskey.