COLLEGE BASKETBALL / NCAA MEN’S TOURNAMENT : NCAA EAST REGIONAL : Roe Steps Forward for Massachusetts

Massachusetts had a long list of contributors in its 75-53 victory over Stanford on Sunday in the second round of the NCAA tournament. Coach John Calipari wants to make sure everyone knows only one name matters.

“I’ve said it over and over again and I’ll keep saying it. As Lou Roe goes, we go,” Calipari said of his senior forward. “He played great. He played above the rim, and as long as he’s above the rim, I’m happy with our chances.”

Roe had 16 points and eight rebounds as the second-seeded and seventh-ranked Minutemen (28-4) advanced to the regional semifinals for the second time in school history.

On Friday night at East Rutherford, N.J., Massachusetts will play Tulsa, a 64-52 winner over Old Dominion on Sunday.

The only other time Massachusetts advanced that far was in 1992, when Kentucky beat the Minutemen at Philadelphia in the round of 16. Roe was a freshman then, and since then, there have been two second-round losses, including last season’s defeat by Maryland.

“I’m happy the second-round jinx is over,” Roe said. “With everybody healthy and feeling strong we’re ready for the next tournament.”

The Minutemen are looking at each weekend of the NCAA tournament as a tournament in itself, and they ended the first one in impressive style, taking a 43-23 halftime lead over the 10th-seeded Cardinal (20-9) and cruising from there.

Stanford, which was making its third NCAA appearance since winning it all in 1942, wasn’t able to handle Massachusetts’ size inside or quickness all over the floor. The Cardinal had 21 turnovers and shot 34%.

Massachusetts had 12 blocks, one shy of the NCAA tournament record set by Louisville in 1989 and matched by Brigham Young in 1991.