Commonwealth Classic
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| Boston College | UMass |
|---|---|
| (23) | (18) |
| 1906 1914 1918 1919 1927 1929 1932 1938 1943 1949 1958 1969 1970 1972 1974 1979 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 |
1905 1935 1942 1950 1971 1973 1976 1976* 1977 1978 1990 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2007 |
| *2 Games Played in the year 1976 | |
| Ties (0) | |
| -- | |
 |
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The Commonwealth Classic, also known as Commonwealth Cup[1] or Governor's Cup (for the trophy awarded to the victor of the game),[2] is the title of the basketball rivalry between Boston College and the University of Massachusetts. The name refers to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the New England state in which both universities are located. The game has been played a total of 40 times. BC leads the series 23-18.
Contents |
[edit] History
The first game between BC and UMass was held in Amherst, Massachusetts on December 8, 1905 and was won by UMass, then known as the Massachusetts Agricultural College. In 1995, the series was officially designated as the "Commonwealth Classic" by then-Massachusetts Governor William Weld and members of the Massachusetts General Court who were among the nearly 20,000 spectators to watch the game at the new FleetCenter (now the TD Banknorth Garden). It was the first college basketball game played in the new arena. The 1995 game holds the record for college basketball attendance in New England. The series has been held annually since 1995.
[edit] UMass Dominance in the 1990s
The 1990s were the best decade of UMass Minutemen Basketball as the Minutemen went to the 1996 Final Four and went 6-0 in the decade against Boston College. Their longest winning streak ever against their cross-state rivals.
[edit] BC Dominance in the 2000s
After going 0-6 against UMass in the 90's, BC has bounced back and won every game so far in the 2000s, going 7-0. Not only have they beaten UMass 7 straight times but they've also made 4 straight trips to the NCAA Tournament. This streak was snapped on December 12, 2007 when UMass edged BC 83-80.
[edit] The Future of the Commonwealth Classic
Under Travis Ford, UMass has greatly improved and has a great chance of returning to their 1990s form, however unlike the 90's Minutemen they will have to deal with a top notch Boston College program.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ University of Massachusetts Media Guide (PDF)
- ^ Boston Globe coverage of the 2006 Commonwealth Cup
[edit] External links
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