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Selection Sunday and the circulation of brackets around offices and dorms all over the country are still three weeks away. However, for the University of Maine men’s basketball team, you might say that March Madness is coming a little early this year.
The America East schedule makers saved the best for last: The Black Bears travel to second-place Boston University tonight and host regular-season conference champion Vermont Sunday to cap off the 2004-2005 campaign. UMaine will be hoping to carry the momentum of a gusty 61-58 come from behind win over Hartford into this week’s games.
“Saturday’s win over Hartford was a testament to this team’s heart and attitude of refusing to lose,” said UMaine head coach Ted Woodward.
“All our guys are playing hard and we’ll certainly have to play very good basketball in every phase of game against the opponents we’ve got coming up this week. To be the best you’ve got to beat the best and we’re looking forward to it.”
The Black Bears will be without junior guard Ernest Turner for the fifth straight game; the team’s leading scorer is nursing a shoulder injury. Fellow junior Kevin Reed has carried the scoring load in Turner’s absence, averaging 14.7 points per game over that stretch. Reed is also the fourth leading rebounder in conference at 7.2 boards per game.
Boston University outlasted the Black Bears 52-43 in a defensive battle at Alfond Arena Feb. 2 and stands at 19-6 and 13-3 in conference play.
“They capitalize on your mistakes, and they play great defense,” said Woodward. “We’ve got to have as much balance as we can scoring. Chaz Carr and Rashad Bell have been winners throughout their careers and it’ll be a great challenge facing them in their last home game.”
Bell leads the Terriers in scoring averaging 15.6 points per game while Carr is just behind at 13.6 ppg.
The road won’t get any easier for the Black Bears when the Catamounts of Vermont come to town Sunday. Vermont is coming off two consecutive NCAA tournament appearances and touts the 14th-ranked RPI in the country. The Cats have already clinched the first seed in the America East conference tournament.
“They’re trying to win every game down the stretch to get a shot at an at large bid to the NCAA’s,” said Woodward.
The Black Bears dropped a tough decision 67-66 at Vermont in Jan. UMaine was the only team to give the Cats a run for their money at Patrick Gym this year and held them to just 39 percent shooting, one of the Bears’ best defensive performances of the season.
UMaine will be looking to send their four seniors out on a positive note this week. Captains Joe Campbell and Chris Markwood have provided the Black Bears with leadership on and off the court all season and throughout their careers.
“Joe Campbell’s come out of no where to be one of the all time leading rebounders here at the university,” said Woodward. “He has a tremendous amount of respect around the league for the way he plays. The best way to describe Joe is that he’s a winner.”
Markwood suffered a broken hand earlier in the season and has been playing through a strained hamstring recently. Despite his injuries, Markwood is the only Black Bear to play all forty minutes in a game this season.
“Chris has never had a complete season, but he’s worked extremely hard to be the best he can be and he’s giving us everything he has out there,” said Woodward. “What he’s playing through is a testament to his heart, courage and loyalty to this team.”
Also playing in their final games for UMaine will be centers Mark Flavin and David Dubois.
“David and Mark have been an integral part of our basketball team and have had some great games over the last two years,” said Woodward.
UMaine’s seniors will look to guide the Black Bears to their first NCAA tournament appearance by winning the America East tournament in Binghamton, NY Mar. 5 and 6. The elder Black Bears have played in two America East championship games in their careers.
“These guys have been through their share of adversity, but they haven’t gotten down at all,” said Woodward. “They’re confident, but they respect all their opponents too. They know this league is the best it’s been in a long time, and the tournament will be a tremendous challenge. But they’ve been there and they’re really looking forward to it.”
