SPRINGFIELD – With visiting Brigham Young University in mind, Saturday's pregame introductions referred to the MassMutual Center as a House of Pain.



All too often, the main source of pain at downtown events has come with the counting of the gate receipts. But not this time –- with a capacity crowd of 7,331 cheering them on, the University of Massachusetts men's basketball team ran to a 105-96 win that served several very good purposes.



"The energy level was unbelievable. They were with us every step of the way – a 5-level,'' forward Sampson Carter said after scoring 20 points.



The Minutemen have a 1-through-5 grading system for various aspects of their program. The best is 5, making Carter's assessment meaningful.



So was the win, which cemented No. 21 UMass' place as one of the nation's better teams. They have played America's toughest schedule, and they are 8-0 after outpacing a very skilled and spirited BYU outfit.



This was a tonic for Springfield as well. It was the first sellout for UMass in the city in nearly 20 years.

"It was a special day for the program. It was exciting to go around town and have people rally around the team,'' said UMass coach Derek Kellogg, a Cathedral High School graduate who grew up in Springfield.



It was a special day for Kellogg as well. He always tries to make it about the players, but make no mistake – the turnout and its decibel level left a profound sense of satisfaction.



"The only guy who was over-hyped was me. My assistants did a good job of calming me down a couple of times,'' Kellogg said when asked if the atmosphere tempted players to get too fired up and play out of control.

» Click here to view more photos from the game



It was appropriate the Hall of Fame game provided a chance for UMass to put on a clinic. There were 29 assists on 35 field goals, with Chaz Williams logging 32 points, 15 assists and one turnover.



No wonder a UMass fan hollered "Draft him!'' at BYU graduate and Celtics basketball chief Danny Ainge, who was sitting courtside.



When the UMass-Springfield connection is discussed, the memories invariably shift to the rout of No. 1 Arkansas in the 1994 Tipoff Classic. Kellogg and assistant Lou Roe played in that game, which changed the national perception of the Minutemen.

But Kellogg dislikes living in the past. Winning the Charleston Classic gave him a chance to move the 1990s trophies aside for a new one, which he relished – just as he savored Saturday's full house and victory.



The BYU game was called the Hall of Fame Holiday Showcase, not the Tipoff. These Minutemen scored 105 points to the 1994 team's 104.



The Minutemen are a Top 25 team, not Top 5, but they are for real They have speed, size, depth and cohesion, making a spot in the NCAA tournament a visible goal, if not yet inevitable.



Springfield has always supported UMass decently, but with winning will come the debate over whether the MassMutual Center is big enough to host quality matchups that would draw crowds in more spacious venues, notably the Mullins Center.



As long as Kellogg is the coach, it's hard to see the Minutemen abandoning the city. There is also the matter of whether success will lead to offers for Kellogg to leave his alma mater for a fatter contract elsewhere.



But these are concerns bred of success, which beats concerns bred of failure. For now, it's all good.



"Nobody is satisfied with our start. The guys are hungry for more,'' Williams said.



So is the Springfield market and the UMass fan base in general. For the city and the program that share a history, Saturday afternoon's spectacle made for a very, very good day.