Virginia @ Massachusetts preview

Mamadi Diakite began to flash some offensive ability to complement his defensive prowess during Virginia's NCAA Tournament title run last season, and it's clear from his performance this season that he has not rested on his laurels. The 6-9 senior attempts to continue what has been a stellar beginning to the season Saturday when the sixth-ranked Cavaliers square off against Massachusetts in the Naismith Bracket at the Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament in Uncasville, Conn., on Saturday.

Diakite, whose most notable offensive contribution last season was hitting a short jumper at the buzzer of regulation to send the game into overtime in Virginia's Elite Eight victory against Purdue, is averaging a team-high 15.8 points and 8.3 rebounds - more than double his marks from 2018-19. The preseason All-ACC first-team selection tied a career high with 19 points in Tuesday's 61-55 victory over Vermont, but it was his ability to shut down the Catamounts' Anthony Lamb late after the reigning American East Player of the Year had torched the Cavaliers for 30 points. The Minutemen may lack a player with Lamb's credentials on their roster at the moment, but they boast five double-figure scorers and are off to their best start since the 2013-14 team won their first 10 and finished 24-9. UMass has won four of its first five by at least 10 points, although the Minutemen's one game away from home was the exception - a 62-60 triumph at Fairfield on Nov. 9.

TV: Noon ET, ESPNews

ABOUT VIRGINIA (4-0): Junior center Jay Huff is thriving after playing less than 10 minutes per game in each of his first two seasons, averaging 11 points and eight rebounds in 26.5 minutes. Braxton Key (11.0 points, team-high 8.8 rebounds), who is shooting 50 percent from the field despite averaging 3.5 3-point attempts so far, is tied with Huff for second on the team in scoring and has collected nine rebounds in three of the first four games. Sophomore point guard Kihei Clark (10.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, team-high 5.5 assists) scored 12 of his season-high 15 points in the second half Tuesday and has already scored in double figures more times this season (three) than he did as a freshman (two).

ABOUT MASSACHUSETTS (5-0): T.J. Weeks (team-high 14.8 points) nailed all six of his 3-point attempts Wednesday and scored 21 points in 21 minutes before fouling out against Rider; he ranks ninth nationally in 3-point accuracy (63 percent) and is tied for 18th in Division I with 17 3-pointers. Fellow freshman guard Sean East II (13.4 points, team-high 6.8 assists) has reached double figures in every game and is tied with Weeks for the team lead in steals (two per game) while also shooting a team-high 57.8 percent from the field. Junior guard Carl Pierre (13.2 points), who is one of only four upperclassmen on the roster, knocked down four triples and scored 23 points versus the Broncs - both season highs.

TIP-INS

1. The winner will face either Arizona State or St. John's in the championship game of the Naismith Bracket on Sunday.

2. The Cavaliers are holding opponents to 29.7 percent shooting inside the arc and have forced significantly more turnovers (55) than they have allowed 2-point field goals (30).

3. The Minutemen are seeking their first win over a top-10 opponent since 2004.

PREDICTION: Virginia 66, Massachusetts 55