Twitter
Facebook
Reddit
Digg
Tell us what you think!Send a letter to the editor about this or any other article in The Maine Campus.
For the University of Maine men’s basketball squad, the road has become quite the familiar place.
Over the past two months, the Black Bears have played 10 of their 13 regular season games away from the friendly confines of Orono. The recent surge of wanderlust for UMaine is not about to disappear, with two of the team’s next three decisions on the road. Up next for the Black Bears and their traveling band of dribblers is the University of New Hampshire, who will play host to UMaine’s rowdy road tour this Thursday. The Black Bears will return home briefly to grapple with a vastly improved Albany team this Sunday before next Wednesday’s trip to the Constitution State to face Hartford.
The Black Bears currently stand at 7-6 overall and 2-2 in conference play. They are ranked fifth in the America East with a .500 record.
Although head coach Ted Woodward believes his team has improved their play from the start of the season, he still believes improvement is needed for their upcoming road stretch.
“We feel like we are trying to get more consistent. This is the time of the year where you make a push to be amongst the top teams in the league,” said Woodward. “We have some very good moments and some others we want to improve upon.”
Thursday’s match against the Wildcats will provide the Black Bears with their first chance to hit the court since the most heartbreaking defeat of their season last Saturday. UMaine enters the game coming off a near upset of conference darling University of Vermont.
Before a typically rowdy crowd at Patrick Pass Gym, the Catamounts managed to narrowly escape with a 67-66 win over the Black Bears, thanks to a Taylor Coppenrath basket with just 6.1 seconds remaining.
Woodward commented on his team’s narrow defeat and his players’ performances later on in the week.
“I thought we played very well, its a very difficult environment to play in,” said Woodward. “Our guys did everything they could to put themselves into a position to win.”
Nearly ten months since he last crushed hearts at UMaine, Coppenrath did it again with a twisting shot from inside the paint that fell exuberantly into the basket. Coppenrath, who dismantled UMaine in last year’s America East title match, hauled in 28 points on the afternoon. The game-winning play came when ESPN heartthrob T.J. Sorrentine was fouled on a lay-up with 17 seconds remaining in the match. With the Catamounts down by one and Sorrentine at the charity strip, the sparky guard proceeded to miss the free throw only to see the rebound result in a jump-ball call that was awarded to Vermont. On the following play Coppenrath tallied his game winning basket.
A Black Bear victory against the top-ranked Catamounts would have likely sent shock waves throughout the entire conference and given UMaine some semblance of revenge after last season’s defeat. However, the Black Bears will now have to wait for their regular season finale against Vermont for retribution. The decision, which saw UMaine enter half-time down 30-26, marked the Black Bears second straight defeat.
UMaine was led by head-band wearing dynamo Ernest Turner, who scored a career-high 28 points. Kevin Reed, who entered the game off the bench for the first time on the year chipped in 13 points, along with three rebounds. Jermaine Jackson rounded out the leading scorers recording 10 points. Local boy Joe Campbell hauled in a game-high 10 rebounds.
Woodward believes Saturday’s game will provide motivation for his squad later on in the year.
“It was a very good effort, but we are disappointed we didn’t come out with a win,” said Woodward. “We’re looking forward to taking our game up a level so we can win those games.”
The biggest story that came out of the game was the play of freshman guard Jon Hight, who entered the season as freshman walk-on. Due to a recent barage of injuries, Hight saw a season-high 27 minutes against the America East’s two-time defending champion. The most notable of injuries saw senior point guard Chris Markwood sidelined for three to five weeks with an injured broken hand against Stony Brook Jan. 2. Hight, who entered the game averaging just barely two minutes on the year, collected two pivotal baskets along with three rebounds. Hight’s Rudy-esque story will undoubtedly continue to find the headlines with him filling the role at point over the next month. Woodward had nothing but high praise for Hight’s performance.
“Jay Hight in his first really significant action of the season stepped up in a pressure packed environment,” said Woodward.
Hight will need to continue to play above himself against a improved Wildcat squad Thursday night if UMaine hopes to come away with the victory. Woodward credits UNH with developing tremendously from last season.
“New Hampshire is a much improved team over what they have been, they have gotten off to a great start,” said Woodward. “They have lots of guys that can shoot the basketball and you have to cover them in all five positions, so they will be a very tough match-up for us in their own gym.”
The Wildcats enter the contest 5-8 on the year and 1-3 in conference competition. Coming off a 73-64 defeat to Stony Brook on Sunday, the Seawolves are led by Blagoj Janev who is averaging 12.8 points per game. Janev has managed to pull down 5.9 rebounds per game and leads his crew in three point field goals with 26 points. Also contributing important numbers for UNH is Durham’s scoring sensation Ben Sturgill, who has added 10.4 points per game and a team-high 6.7 rebounds per game. Jermaine Anderson rounds out the scoring for the Wildcats post 8.5 points per game.
UNH will enter the game shooting 41.9 percent from floor with their opponents connecting on 40.8 percent of their shots. The match marks the 165th meeting between the two programs with the Black Bears retaining a 103-61 advantage. UMaine has also enters the game having won the last three meetings with the last duel coming last February when the Black Bears merited a 60-58 victory.
UMaine will be hoping to see Turner continue his recent run of success. Turner comes into the match averaging 14.7 points per game and 39 assists on the year. Turner has shot .476 percent from behind the three point arc in conference play.
“Ernest, game by game, is getting better,” said Woodward. “He’s starting to feel more comfortable on the court and in the things we do, I just think he’s a real versatile player.”
Woodward is also impressed with Turner’s progression in other areas opposed to scoring.
“I think he’s become an excellent passer and his defense is something he’s starting to take tremendous pride in,” said Woodward.
Turner will be supported in the back court with high flying conference player of the year candidate Reed, who has recently seen time drop due to undisclosed minor injuries. However, Reed is sure to be back in the starting lineup Thursday. The junior guard will be looking to inch close to the 1,000 point plateau. He currently has 956 points in 73 career games. He enters the game averaging 11.4 points per game and 6.8 rebounds game. Reed, coming in at a mighty 6’2,” leads the Black Bears in rebounding. Reed leads the America East in rebounding.
“Kevin is a warrior, he’s an absolute warrior,” said Woodward. “He’s a great shooter but he does so much more,” said Woodward.
The high praise for the likable Reed doesn’t stop there for Woodward.
“Kevin is the heart and soul of our basketball team along with Joe Campbell,” said Woodward. “I feel Kevin has really grown into a role as a leader,” said Woodward.
The Black Bears will return back to Alfond Arena for a Sunday date with a team that Woodward feels could be very dangerous in the America East.
“Albany is the most improved team in the league,” said Woodward. “They had several transfers sitting out last year and Jamal Wilson who was Rookie of the Year two years ago is back.”
The game against the Great Danes is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. Albany stands at 2-2 in the conference and 6-7 on the year.
“I think they are a very good basketball team,” said Woodward. “They have had some good wins this season and I really think they are a team to reckon with.”
Bangor Daily News