Commonwealth Classic
Encyclopedia
The Commonwealth Classic, also known as Commonwealth Cup or Governor's Cup (for the trophy awarded to the victor of the game), 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 45 times. BC leads the series 26-19.
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.
The 2010 game was played at TD Garden at a part of the Boston Tip-Off Classic, benefiting Children’s Hospital Boston & Al’s Angels.http://www.bostontipoffclassic.com/
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
rivalry
Sports rivalry
A sports rivalry is intense competition between athletic teams or athletes. This pressure of competition is felt by players, coaches, and management, but is perhaps felt strongest by the fans. The intensity of the rivalry varies from a friendly competition on one end to serious violence on the...
between Boston College
Boston College Eagles men's basketball
The Boston College Eagles are a Division I college basketball program that represents Boston College in Chestnut Hill, MA. The team has competed in the ACC since 2005, having previously played in the Big East. Home games have been played at the Conte Forum since 1988, having previously been played...
and the University of Massachusetts
UMass Minutemen
The UMass Minutemen are the athletic teams that represent the University of Massachusetts Amherst in NCAA Division I sports competition. The nickname is also applied to club teams that do not participate within the NCAA structure. Strictly speaking, the Minutemen nickname applies to men's teams and...
. The name refers to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
state in which both universities are located. The game has been played a total of 45 times. BC leads the series 26-19.
| Boston College | UMass |
|---|---|
| (26) | (19) |
| 1906 1914 1918 1919 1927 1929 1932 1938 1943 1949 1958 1969 1970 1972 1974 1979 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2008 2009 2010 |
1905 1935 1942 1950 1971 1973 1976 1976* 1977 1978 1990 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2007 2011 |
| *2 Games Played in the year 1976 | |
History
The first game between BCBoston College Eagles men's basketball
The Boston College Eagles are a Division I college basketball program that represents Boston College in Chestnut Hill, MA. The team has competed in the ACC since 2005, having previously played in the Big East. Home games have been played at the Conte Forum since 1988, having previously been played...
and UMass
UMass Minutemen
The UMass Minutemen are the athletic teams that represent the University of Massachusetts Amherst in NCAA Division I sports competition. The nickname is also applied to club teams that do not participate within the NCAA structure. Strictly speaking, the Minutemen nickname applies to men's teams and...
was held in Amherst, Massachusetts
Amherst, Massachusetts
Amherst is a town in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States in the Connecticut River valley. As of the 2010 census, the population was 37,819, making it the largest community in Hampshire County . The town is home to Amherst College, Hampshire College, and the University of 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
William Weld
William Floyd Weld is a former governor of the US state of Massachusetts. He served as that state's 68th governor from 1991 to 1997. From 1981 to 1988, he was a federal prosecutor in the United States Justice Department...
and members of the Massachusetts General Court
Massachusetts General Court
The Massachusetts General Court is the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The name "General Court" is a hold-over from the Colonial Era, when this body also sat in judgment of judicial appeals cases...
who were among the nearly 20,000 spectators to watch the game at the new FleetCenter (now the TD Banknorth Garden
TD Banknorth Garden
TD Garden is a multi-purpose arena in Boston, Massachusetts. It is named after its sponsor, TD Bank, N.A. and is often simply referred to by local Bostonians as, The Garden, The Fleet Center, or the traditional Boston 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.
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.BC Dominance in the 2000s
After going 0-6 against UMass in the 90's, BC has bounced back and won the first seven games in the 2000s, going 7-0. This streak was snapped on December 12, 2007 when UMass edged BC 83-80.The 2010 game was played at TD Garden at a part of the Boston Tip-Off Classic, benefiting Children’s Hospital Boston & Al’s Angels.http://www.bostontipoffclassic.com/
See also
- Boston College Eagles men's basketballBoston College Eagles men's basketballThe Boston College Eagles are a Division I college basketball program that represents Boston College in Chestnut Hill, MA. The team has competed in the ACC since 2005, having previously played in the Big East. Home games have been played at the Conte Forum since 1988, having previously been played...
- UMass Minutemen men's basketball
- College rivalries