The University of Vermont has released its non-conference schedule for the 2012-13 season.
Road games: Siena, Connecticut, Northeastern, Harvard, Rhode Island, Quinnipiac and Niagara.
Home games: Yale, Towson, Dartmouth, Fairleigh Dickinson and Charleston.
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Friday, April 27, 2012
Thursday, March 8, 2012
America East Awards
Black Bears Pit hands out its awards after the conference tournament. There is no more important event during the mid-major basketball season than the league tournament, so how a player performs on the biggest stage can make a huge impact on my personal ballot.
The selection for Player of the Year is Albany's Gerardo Suero, a 6-3 guard. He was spectacular at times during the tournament and led America East in scoring. He scores easily in a league where buckets sometimes feel like a root canal. He slashes, he spins and he's got a knack for getting to the spot for rebounds. He's the best talent in the league.
Rookie of the Year goes to Hartford's Mark Nwakamma. The 6-6 forward used the tournament as a springboard. He's been a key player during the Hawks' recovery from an abysmal non-conference record, but his performance during the tournament served notice to the rest of the league. He can rebound, he can defend and he's not afraid to take a big shot.
Stony Brook's Steve Pikiell earns the Coach of the Year selection. He's got the Seawolves back in the title game after winning the regular season title. After a look at his roster and its performance last weekend, Stony Brook has the feel of a consistent contender.
For the rest of the Black Bears Pit honor roll, check out the sidebar to the right.
When perusing the Black Bears Pit honors, there's a name conspicuous by its absence: Gerald McLemore.
McLemore, a senior captain and UMaine's leading scorer, came down with an illness early in the week and was unable to play. He didn't make the trip to Hartford. In all the years of following America East (and many of those in attendance were buzzing about it), nobody could remember a player who, despite injury or illness, did not at least attend the conference tournament. There are always exceptions, of course. Evidently, this was one.
The selection for Player of the Year is Albany's Gerardo Suero, a 6-3 guard. He was spectacular at times during the tournament and led America East in scoring. He scores easily in a league where buckets sometimes feel like a root canal. He slashes, he spins and he's got a knack for getting to the spot for rebounds. He's the best talent in the league.
Rookie of the Year goes to Hartford's Mark Nwakamma. The 6-6 forward used the tournament as a springboard. He's been a key player during the Hawks' recovery from an abysmal non-conference record, but his performance during the tournament served notice to the rest of the league. He can rebound, he can defend and he's not afraid to take a big shot.
Stony Brook's Steve Pikiell earns the Coach of the Year selection. He's got the Seawolves back in the title game after winning the regular season title. After a look at his roster and its performance last weekend, Stony Brook has the feel of a consistent contender.
For the rest of the Black Bears Pit honor roll, check out the sidebar to the right.
When perusing the Black Bears Pit honors, there's a name conspicuous by its absence: Gerald McLemore.
McLemore, a senior captain and UMaine's leading scorer, came down with an illness early in the week and was unable to play. He didn't make the trip to Hartford. In all the years of following America East (and many of those in attendance were buzzing about it), nobody could remember a player who, despite injury or illness, did not at least attend the conference tournament. There are always exceptions, of course. Evidently, this was one.
Long time
On our drive back from the America East tournament, the topic of who was the last link to a Black Bears' win in the postseason was a topic of conversation.
As a trivia question, it would read: In what year did UMaine last have a player on its roster who was part of the 2005 quarterfinal win over Boston University and who was the player or players?
According to our research, it came down to a single player who was on the 2008 roster. Drum roll please ............... Jason Hight, the versatile former walk-on guard from Westbrook.
Another research topic? What school holds the America East record for consecutive tournament losses? Not sure I want to know.
As a trivia question, it would read: In what year did UMaine last have a player on its roster who was part of the 2005 quarterfinal win over Boston University and who was the player or players?
According to our research, it came down to a single player who was on the 2008 roster. Drum roll please ............... Jason Hight, the versatile former walk-on guard from Westbrook.
Another research topic? What school holds the America East record for consecutive tournament losses? Not sure I want to know.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Tournament picks
Quarterfinals
Stony Brook over Binghamton
New Hampshire over Albany
Vermont over UMaine
Boston U. over Hartford
Seminfinals
New Hampshire over Stony Brook
Boston U. over Vermont
Finals
Boston U. over New Hampshire
Stony Brook over Binghamton
New Hampshire over Albany
Vermont over UMaine
Boston U. over Hartford
Seminfinals
New Hampshire over Stony Brook
Boston U. over Vermont
Finals
Boston U. over New Hampshire
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Game time set
America East has released the bracket and game times for the upcoming conference tournament. The Black Bears will play Vermont 6:05 p.m. March 3 in the first game of the evening quarterfinal session.
Sunday, Feb. 26 results
Stony Brook 55, Black Bears 48 ... Seawolves fight off UMaine for regular season title and No. 1 seed. Black Bears will be the No. 7 seed and take on No. 2 Vermont.
New Hampshire 58, Binghamton 49 ... Wildcats move up to the No. 5 seed and will play No. 4 Albany.
New Hampshire 58, Binghamton 49 ... Wildcats move up to the No. 5 seed and will play No. 4 Albany.
Today in America East
Only two games left in the America East season and both play a key role in determining seeds for next weekend's league tournament.
Black Bears at Stony Brook
A UMaine win puts the Black Bears into the No. 6 slot opposite No. 3 Boston University and leaves the Seawolves in a first-place tie with Vermont. The Catamounts own the tie-breaker and would be the No. 1 seed. ... A Stony Brook win gives the Seawolves the outright regular season title, the No. 1 seed and most likely puts the Black Bears into the No. 7 slot against No. 2 Vermont. Either way, the Black Bears open with a team that swept them during the regular season.
The pick: Black Bears shock the world - well, at least Long Island - and go into the tournament on a two-game roll.
Black Bears summary
Win or New Hampshire loss: No. 6 seed vs. Boston University
Lose and New Hampshire win: No. 7 seed vs. Vermont.
Binghamton at New Hampshire
UNH would move up to the No. 5 slot (moving Hartford to No. 6) with a victory and a UMaine loss. If the Wildcats and Black Bears both win, the 5-6-7 slots would read: Hartford, UMaine and UNH.
The pick: For UNH, the payoff is huge in this one. A win gets them a date with Albany in the 4-5 game or a matchup with Stony Brook or Vermont in the 2-7. Wildcats win this one.
Black Bears at Stony Brook
A UMaine win puts the Black Bears into the No. 6 slot opposite No. 3 Boston University and leaves the Seawolves in a first-place tie with Vermont. The Catamounts own the tie-breaker and would be the No. 1 seed. ... A Stony Brook win gives the Seawolves the outright regular season title, the No. 1 seed and most likely puts the Black Bears into the No. 7 slot against No. 2 Vermont. Either way, the Black Bears open with a team that swept them during the regular season.
The pick: Black Bears shock the world - well, at least Long Island - and go into the tournament on a two-game roll.
Black Bears summary
Win or New Hampshire loss: No. 6 seed vs. Boston University
Lose and New Hampshire win: No. 7 seed vs. Vermont.
Binghamton at New Hampshire
UNH would move up to the No. 5 slot (moving Hartford to No. 6) with a victory and a UMaine loss. If the Wildcats and Black Bears both win, the 5-6-7 slots would read: Hartford, UMaine and UNH.
The pick: For UNH, the payoff is huge in this one. A win gets them a date with Albany in the 4-5 game or a matchup with Stony Brook or Vermont in the 2-7. Wildcats win this one.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Tonight in America East
Albany at Binghamton
Bearcats host their rivals coming off first win of the season. Can they make it two in a row? Great Danes are dealing with some injury problems, but still figure to be the No. 4 seed for next week's America East tournament.
The pick: Albany
Bearcats host their rivals coming off first win of the season. Can they make it two in a row? Great Danes are dealing with some injury problems, but still figure to be the No. 4 seed for next week's America East tournament.
The pick: Albany
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Wednesday, Feb. 22 results
Black Bears 71, New Hampshire 58 ... signs of life from UMaine with a solid, wire-to-wire performance in the home finale. .. The victory moves the Black Bears into sixth place in America East. UMaine is tied with UNH at 6-9, but hold the tiebreaker. ... The win snaps a five-game losing streak for the Black Bears. ... New Hampshire had won four straight and five out of six.
Boston U. 73, UMBC 52
Boston U. 73, UMBC 52
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Wednesday night in America East
New Hampshire at Black Bears ... How do you motivate the unmotivated? Try a billboard-sized sign at shootaround that reads, "Binghamton 57, Vermont 53 ... What are you guys waiting for?" ... America East has been mediocre to weak each of the past three years and, somehow, the Black Bears have found a way to play their worst basketball of the season by the time the conference tournament rolls around. Can this year's edition find a way to reverse the trend? There are two games left in the regular season. ... I'll write it again, Binghamton 57, Vermont 53.
The pick: Nothing wakes up a hiberating bear ... UNH.
Boston U. at UMBC ... Well, if Binghamton can beat Vermont, the Retrievers certainly can topple the Terriers, true? No.
The pick: Boston U.
The pick: Nothing wakes up a hiberating bear ... UNH.
Boston U. at UMBC ... Well, if Binghamton can beat Vermont, the Retrievers certainly can topple the Terriers, true? No.
The pick: Boston U.
Tuesday, Feb. 21 Results
Binghamton 57, Vermont 53 ... The team with the worst record, worst RPI rating and longest losing streak in America knocks off the hottest team in America East that was two wins from locking up a share of the league title, the No. 1 seed for the conference tournament and and a guaranteed NIT bid. ... So, Black Bears, are you paying attention? Do you think you might be able to muster up the energy to play for 40 minutes?
Stony Brook 74, Hartford 50 ... Seawolves take care of business and now a victory over UMaine from earning the No. 1 seed.
Stony Brook 74, Hartford 50 ... Seawolves take care of business and now a victory over UMaine from earning the No. 1 seed.
Tonight in America East
Vermont at Binghamton
Catamounts on their way to at least a share of the league title and the No. 1 seed for the America East tournament. ... Bearcats still searching for first win only three years removed from a league title and NCAA bid.
The pick: Vermont all day, every day.
Stony Brook at Hartford
Had the Black Bears shown up last week in Hartford, this tilt would have carried some import in the race for the No. 5 spot. The Hawks, after a one-win non-conference run, are .500 in America East and still have a shot at the No. 4 seed. Stony Brook, looking for a piece of the regular season title, won't roll over like UMaine.
The pick: Stony Brook
Catamounts on their way to at least a share of the league title and the No. 1 seed for the America East tournament. ... Bearcats still searching for first win only three years removed from a league title and NCAA bid.
The pick: Vermont all day, every day.
Stony Brook at Hartford
Had the Black Bears shown up last week in Hartford, this tilt would have carried some import in the race for the No. 5 spot. The Hawks, after a one-win non-conference run, are .500 in America East and still have a shot at the No. 4 seed. Stony Brook, looking for a piece of the regular season title, won't roll over like UMaine.
The pick: Stony Brook
Friday, February 17, 2012
BracketBuster weekend
America East's Bracket Buster schedule:
America East record: 5-4
Marist 77, Maine 71
Albany 70, Rider 61
Radford 64, Binghamton 59
Loyola of Maryland 69, Boston U. 56
Hartford 67, St. Peter's 51
Canisius 73, UMBC 66
New Hampshire 72, Towson 58
Stony Brook 76, Northeastern 69
Vermont 92, Niagara 70
The fortunes for the Black Bears and their BracketBuster opponent, Marist, have flipped nearly 180 degrees since the day ESPN announced the pairings.
UMaine was coming off a solid nonconference performance and had seemed to stabilize themselves in America East. Marist was in the throes of a long losing streak. But the Red Foxes are coming of a string of strong performances that include a nine-point loss to MAAC leader Iona and a win over contender Loyola of Maryland.
The Black Bears will enter Saturday's game against Marist on a four-game losing streak that includes an inexplicable 14-point loss at Hartford Wednesday.
America East record: 5-4
Marist 77, Maine 71
Albany 70, Rider 61
Radford 64, Binghamton 59
Loyola of Maryland 69, Boston U. 56
Hartford 67, St. Peter's 51
Canisius 73, UMBC 66
New Hampshire 72, Towson 58
Stony Brook 76, Northeastern 69
Vermont 92, Niagara 70
The fortunes for the Black Bears and their BracketBuster opponent, Marist, have flipped nearly 180 degrees since the day ESPN announced the pairings.
UMaine was coming off a solid nonconference performance and had seemed to stabilize themselves in America East. Marist was in the throes of a long losing streak. But the Red Foxes are coming of a string of strong performances that include a nine-point loss to MAAC leader Iona and a win over contender Loyola of Maryland.
The Black Bears will enter Saturday's game against Marist on a four-game losing streak that includes an inexplicable 14-point loss at Hartford Wednesday.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Wednesday, Feb. 15 Results
Hartford 64, Black Bears 50
New Hampshire 56, Boston U. 54
UMBC 70, Binghamton 56
Vermont 50, Albany 47
The Black Bears sleepwalked through their loss at Hartford and will end up as either the No. 6 or 7 seed in the America East tournament. UMaine appeared totally disinterested in participating in the competition from the outset. ... New Hampshire, the Black Bears' next league opponent, continued a late-season surge with its first win at Boston U. in 18 years. UMaine bears little resemblance to the team that won 80-69 at UNH just two weeks ago. ... The Black Bears were thoroughly outplayed by pair of Hartford freshmen, Nate Sikma and Mike Nwakamma. Offensively, UMaine spent the entire game dribbling around aimlessly and jacking up off-balance jump shots. Defensively, the Hawks continually burned the lazy UMaine effort with back doors and basic give-and-gos.
New Hampshire 56, Boston U. 54
UMBC 70, Binghamton 56
Vermont 50, Albany 47
The Black Bears sleepwalked through their loss at Hartford and will end up as either the No. 6 or 7 seed in the America East tournament. UMaine appeared totally disinterested in participating in the competition from the outset. ... New Hampshire, the Black Bears' next league opponent, continued a late-season surge with its first win at Boston U. in 18 years. UMaine bears little resemblance to the team that won 80-69 at UNH just two weeks ago. ... The Black Bears were thoroughly outplayed by pair of Hartford freshmen, Nate Sikma and Mike Nwakamma. Offensively, UMaine spent the entire game dribbling around aimlessly and jacking up off-balance jump shots. Defensively, the Hawks continually burned the lazy UMaine effort with back doors and basic give-and-gos.
America East tonight
Black Bears at Hartford
UMaine must avenge its loss at home to the Hawks to retain any hope of landing in the 4-5 game of the America East tournament. Hartford has been starting three freshmen so the experience and chemistry factor would seem to favor the Black Bears. Black Bears next two games are against the teams competing for the No. 5 position.
Hartford is 6-7 in AE and finishes with UMaine, Stony Brook and at Boston U. (so a win tonight for UMaine will almost assure the Hawks of finishing at 6-10. ... UNH is 5-8 and has already lost to the Black Bears. The Wildcats finish at Boston U., at UMaine and at home vs. Binghamton. ... UMaine finishes at Hartford, home against UNH and at Stony Brook.
Gerald McLemore passed Kevin Reed on UMaine's all-time 3-point list. Reed, in 2005, was a member of the last Black Bears team win an America East tournament game, a feat G-Mac no doubt would also like to match in his final year. Tonight in Hartford would be a good place to start building toward a tournament win.
The pick: Black Bears
Vermont at Albany
The Catamounts just keep winning. Mike Lonergan built a program and John Becker is picking up where he left off. Vermont finds ways to win. Mostly by playing smart, consistent basketball. If Vermont and Stony Brook win out, the Catamounts will grab the No. 1 seed courtesy of their sweep of Boston U.
The pick: Vermont
New Hampshire at Boston U.
Wildcats are improving, but Terriers have too much muscle underneath and, oh, yeah, Darryl Partin and D.J. Irving on the perimeter.
The pick: Boston U.
UMBC at Binghamton
These two teams will square off again in 15 days during the play-in game of the America East tournament. Bearcats in search of win No. 1, still lead the league in attendance.
The pick: Binghamton
UMaine must avenge its loss at home to the Hawks to retain any hope of landing in the 4-5 game of the America East tournament. Hartford has been starting three freshmen so the experience and chemistry factor would seem to favor the Black Bears. Black Bears next two games are against the teams competing for the No. 5 position.
Hartford is 6-7 in AE and finishes with UMaine, Stony Brook and at Boston U. (so a win tonight for UMaine will almost assure the Hawks of finishing at 6-10. ... UNH is 5-8 and has already lost to the Black Bears. The Wildcats finish at Boston U., at UMaine and at home vs. Binghamton. ... UMaine finishes at Hartford, home against UNH and at Stony Brook.
Gerald McLemore passed Kevin Reed on UMaine's all-time 3-point list. Reed, in 2005, was a member of the last Black Bears team win an America East tournament game, a feat G-Mac no doubt would also like to match in his final year. Tonight in Hartford would be a good place to start building toward a tournament win.
The pick: Black Bears
Vermont at Albany
The Catamounts just keep winning. Mike Lonergan built a program and John Becker is picking up where he left off. Vermont finds ways to win. Mostly by playing smart, consistent basketball. If Vermont and Stony Brook win out, the Catamounts will grab the No. 1 seed courtesy of their sweep of Boston U.
The pick: Vermont
New Hampshire at Boston U.
Wildcats are improving, but Terriers have too much muscle underneath and, oh, yeah, Darryl Partin and D.J. Irving on the perimeter.
The pick: Boston U.
UMBC at Binghamton
These two teams will square off again in 15 days during the play-in game of the America East tournament. Bearcats in search of win No. 1, still lead the league in attendance.
The pick: Binghamton
Monday, February 13, 2012
Black Bears held Lin to 2
The recent explosion of Jeremy Lin fever in the NBA sent me scrambling for a review of a long ago game I attended between the Black Bears and Harvard at Lavietes Pavilion in Cambridge.
Basketball's newest sensation, Lin, played his college ball at Harvard and I figured he just might have been with the Crimson for that November game in 2006. Although I was there, I had no recollection of him.
What I did remember was Harvard shooting a lot of free throws in a close game.
Sure enough, Lin came off the bench and played 25 minutes for the Crimson. He scored two points on 1-for-6 shooting, had six rebounds, two assists and four steals.
As for the foul shots? Harvard made 28 of 37 to the Black Bears' 10 of 15 and won the game, 75-71.
So, there you go. The Black Bears held Jeremy Lin to two points.
Two years later, however, Lin and Harvard visited Orono and posted a 76-63 victory and Lin did what he's doing now in the NBA, filled the stat sheet.
In the December 2008 game, Lin led the Crimson with 18 points. He also had seven rebounds, six assists, two steals and a blocked shot.
Basketball's newest sensation, Lin, played his college ball at Harvard and I figured he just might have been with the Crimson for that November game in 2006. Although I was there, I had no recollection of him.
What I did remember was Harvard shooting a lot of free throws in a close game.
Sure enough, Lin came off the bench and played 25 minutes for the Crimson. He scored two points on 1-for-6 shooting, had six rebounds, two assists and four steals.
As for the foul shots? Harvard made 28 of 37 to the Black Bears' 10 of 15 and won the game, 75-71.
So, there you go. The Black Bears held Jeremy Lin to two points.
Two years later, however, Lin and Harvard visited Orono and posted a 76-63 victory and Lin did what he's doing now in the NBA, filled the stat sheet.
In the December 2008 game, Lin led the Crimson with 18 points. He also had seven rebounds, six assists, two steals and a blocked shot.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Sunday, Feb. 12 Results
Vermont 68, Stony Brook 49
Hartford 62, Binghamton 60
New Hampshire 66, UMBC 60 ... 'Cats move into sixth-place tie with Black Bears
Hartford 62, Binghamton 60
New Hampshire 66, UMBC 60 ... 'Cats move into sixth-place tie with Black Bears
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