Tip-Off Classic Set: The UMass Minutemen will host the Alabama-Birmingham Blazers in this year’s installment of the Tip-Off Classic, set for November 27th in Springfield, Mass. UAB is coming off a strong season in which they advanced to the second-round of the NCAA Tournament, losing to Arizona. UMass will be led by first-year coach Travis Ford, and will be hoping to recapture the glory of their previous Tip-Off Classic appearance, defeating then-No. 1 Arkansas in 1994. [8/25/05] [9/19/05]