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The University of Maine men’s basketball team has been the youngest in the America East conference for the past two years, and much of the 2009 – 10 team’s core resides in sophomore and junior classes. After adding some experienced talent and returning four starters and nine letter winners, the Black Bears should be ready to compete in what figures to once again be a competitive conference.
Last year, the Black Bears were crippled by inconsistent three-point shooting and a lack of size and depth in the front court. Both issues were addressed by coach Ted Woodward in this year’s recruiting class.
“Three-point shooting was something we wanted to address,” said Woodward. “Last year we only had a couple guys that could shoot it, and Gerald McLemore was the only one that shot for a high percentage. But four of the five guys we brought in can shoot it, so we are hoping that can become a strength for us, and help us spread the floor.”
Two Alabama junior-college recruits should help relieve UMaine’s shooting woes.
Terrance Mitchell, a 6-foot-3-inch guard from Faulkner State Community College, averaged 20.5 points per game last year, while shooting 45.2 percent from beyond the arc.
Jerrell Boswell, a 6-foot guard from Snead State Community College, averaged 18.3 points per game and just under five three-pointers. Boswell drained 15 threes in a single game, which is the second-most in National Junior College Athletic Association history.
These two, along with redshirt freshman sharpshooter Jon McAllian, will give Woodward more options on the perimeter and the big men more room to operate down low.
Last year’s front line was plagued by a lack of size and experience. This year, that could be a strength.
Junior Sean McNally provided stability for UMaine at the center position last year, averaging 9.6 points and 7.4 rebounds in 31.4 minutes per game, but the Black Bears were very thin up front otherwise.
Junior guard Malachi Peay garnered the majority of minutes at power-forward last year, but he will be able to move back to his natural position on the outside this year.
“Malachi will not be in the post this year,” Woodward said. “He’s 6-4. He needs to be on the perimeter. We appreciate what he did for us down there last year, but he is a guy that needs to be out there on the perimeter.”
To help fill the gap down low, Woodward will look to junior forward Troy Barnies and sophomore forward and center Svetoslav Chetinov. Chetinov could be in for an expanded role after an active offseason.
“Chetinov put in a lot of work and had a great summer,” Woodward said, “He is the biggest guy on the team. He is 6-foot-10, 265 pounds with no fat on him. He can run the floor and give us a big body down low, and that’s tough to match up with.”
UMaine added two freshmen from Canada to the front-court, which remains intact from a year ago. Mike Alison, a 6-foot-9-inch forward, can play both power-forward and center and can shoot out to the three point line. Murphy Banatowski is a 6-foot-7-inch forward who will provide versatility and athleticism at both ends of the floor.
Said Woodward of the two in a press release earlier this spring: “Both of these young men love the game, work very hard at it and have been key players as part of the Canadian Junior National Program, allowing them to play versus great international competition throughout the world. We are greatly looking forward to their contributions next season.”
The biggest contributions will likely come from Mclemore, UMaine’s top scorer last year. As a freshman, Mclemore was the team’s most consistent perimeter threat, averaging 12.1 points and 2.5 three pointers per-game. Woodward expects more from him going forward.
“I’ve always said, the biggest jump is from the freshman to sophomore year, and Gerald has definitely put in the time, and I think he has a chance to be one of the best perimeter players in the conference.”
It will be interesting to see how this still-young team fares in what is an otherwise upperclassman-heavy America East conference.
To prepare for the grueling conference schedule, Woodward has once again prepared a daunting non-conference slate. Matchups with Big East Conference powers University of Connecticut and Syracuse University, as well as Boston College from the Atlantic Coast Conference, will give the Black Bears a chance to test their mettle against the nation’s best.
The team tips off for the first time this year in an exhibition against Laval University at Alfond Arena on Nov. 1.
