It's postseason honors time. Sandwiched between the end of the regular season and the conference tournament is the period when we salute the best of America East. We'll get things started with the All-Rookie team and the Rookie of the Year. Steve and I made our selections and then compared notes. Our All-Rookie team was unanimous.
Dylan Talley
Binghamton
6-5 -- Guard
10.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2 assists
The rangy guard has been a key figure in Binghamton's surprising fifth-place finish.
Murphy Burnatowski
Maine
6-7 -- Forward
5.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.1 assists
Burnatowski has become a force on offense and defense for the Black Bears. While his offensive numbers are modest, he is now at least someone opposing coaches must consider in their gameplans.
Ferq Myrick
New Hampshire
6-6 -- Forward
6.7 points, 2.1 rebounds
Might be the most offensively skilled freshman in the league. He has the potential to be a very good America East player in upcoming years.
Mike Black
Albany
6-0 -- Guard
6.6 points, 2 assists
He's had some outstanding games and has gotten better as the season progressed.
Adrian Satchell
Maryland-Baltimore County
6-5 -- Forward
6 points, 5 rebounds
Like Myrick, another raw talent that is waiting to burst out.
Honorable Mention: Charles White, Hartford, Logan Aronhalt, Albany, Marcus Rouse, Stony Brook, Chandler Rhoads, New Hampshire.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR -- MURPHY BURNATOWSKI
He gets the nod over Talley based on his contributions to a 19-win regular season and his ability to impact a game on both ends of the floor. Murphy's got a chance of becoming only the third UMaine player to win the award and first since Francois Bouchard in 1991. Rick Carlisle ('80) is the other.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Itinerary taking shape
The schedule for our trip to Hartford is coming into focus. After a loss to Albany Saturday night, the UMaine women will start our weekend with the play-in game against UNH. That contest will start at 6 p.m. and is followed by Albany and UMBC on the men's side.
If the UMaine women win against UNH, they'll play top-seeded Hartford at 6 p.m. Friday.
Saturday brings the men's quarterfinals. We know the Black Bears will play in the evening session, but the time slot depends on the outcomes of two games on Sunday -- Albany at Hartford and Stony Brook at UNH.
If the UMaine women win against UNH, they'll play top-seeded Hartford at 6 p.m. Friday.
Saturday brings the men's quarterfinals. We know the Black Bears will play in the evening session, but the time slot depends on the outcomes of two games on Sunday -- Albany at Hartford and Stony Brook at UNH.
Boston U. 76, Black Bears 56
UMaine didn't defend well, didn't rebound, didn't shoot well, turned the ball over and got beat to numerous loose balls. That about covers Saturday's loss at Boston U.
The Terriers used a barrage of three-pointers, many of them uncontested, to build a big early lead and cruised to the America East victory.
The loss locks the Black Bears in at the No. 3 seed for next week's America East tournament. Boston U. goes in as the No. 4. UMaine will play Hartford or New Hampshire in the quarterfinal round.
Forget this one. It's tournament time and if a team doesn't bring it now, the season will be over.
The Terriers used a barrage of three-pointers, many of them uncontested, to build a big early lead and cruised to the America East victory.
The loss locks the Black Bears in at the No. 3 seed for next week's America East tournament. Boston U. goes in as the No. 4. UMaine will play Hartford or New Hampshire in the quarterfinal round.
Forget this one. It's tournament time and if a team doesn't bring it now, the season will be over.
Quarterfinals taking shape
Regular season champion Stony Brook has selected a noon starting time for its quarterfinal round game on March 6. The Seawolves will play the winner of the March 4 play-in game between Albany and Maryland-Baltimore County.
That means the Black Bears, as the No. 2 or No. 3 seed, will play in the second quarterfinal session at either 6 p.m. or 8:30 p.m. Today's game at Boston University and Vermont's date with Binghamton Sunday will determine the schedule.
Boston U. and Binghamton are set as the 2:30 p.m. quarterfinal matchup following Stony Brook.
That means the Black Bears, as the No. 2 or No. 3 seed, will play in the second quarterfinal session at either 6 p.m. or 8:30 p.m. Today's game at Boston University and Vermont's date with Binghamton Sunday will determine the schedule.
Boston U. and Binghamton are set as the 2:30 p.m. quarterfinal matchup following Stony Brook.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Give a T to Maine sports fans
Can hardly believe it's been 11 years since attending our first America East Tournament in Delaware. We look forward to this event so much every year and enjoy the atmosphere and competition.
It's truly a pleasure to see ballplayers at this level of Division 1, competing for that one shot at playing in an NCAA Tournament. While the big time D1 programs are permeated by a professional "hands off" type of atmosphere, leagues like America East have a unique closeness about them. You can talk to the players and coaches and they actually enjoy the relationships and appreciate their fans.
The only regret I have is that UMaine, for whatever reason, does not have the type of following evident at other schools in America East. And it's not even close. At any other place in the league, a team having the success that Maine has had this year would have been banging out their arenas and gyms.
Not in Orono, though. The Black Bears get no home crowd. Ever.
Nineteen-win seasons don't grow on trees in Maine. Yet, no one seems to have noticed. Guess there's just only so much room at the Maine sports fans' table.
It's truly a pleasure to see ballplayers at this level of Division 1, competing for that one shot at playing in an NCAA Tournament. While the big time D1 programs are permeated by a professional "hands off" type of atmosphere, leagues like America East have a unique closeness about them. You can talk to the players and coaches and they actually enjoy the relationships and appreciate their fans.
The only regret I have is that UMaine, for whatever reason, does not have the type of following evident at other schools in America East. And it's not even close. At any other place in the league, a team having the success that Maine has had this year would have been banging out their arenas and gyms.
Not in Orono, though. The Black Bears get no home crowd. Ever.
Nineteen-win seasons don't grow on trees in Maine. Yet, no one seems to have noticed. Guess there's just only so much room at the Maine sports fans' table.
Black Bears (19-9, 10-4) at Boston U. (16-12, 10-5)
Saturday, Feb. 27, 2:30 p.m.
Case Gym, Boston
Boston University can pull into a third-place tie with the Black Bears in the standings, but it can't get to the No. 3 seed. UMaine has clinched the No. 3 spot, but with a victory, puts itself in position for a possible No. 2 seed (if Vermont loses to Binghamton Sunday).
Since a 19-point loss at Stony Brook, the Black Bears have won three straight by average of 15 points a game. BU will seek to avenge a last-second loss at Orono. The Black Bears won that game on a Mike Allison put-back off an inbounds play.
The Terriers feature one of the most potent lineups in America East with four players averaging double figures. Junior forward John Holland scored 43 points in BU's Bracket Buster win over Delaware. He is a threat from anywhere on the floor. Senior guard Corey Lowe can get hot from outside. Sophomore forward Jake O'Brien was last year's rookie of the year and has elevated his game this season. Guards Carlos Strong and Tyler Morris (back from injury) are veterans capable of strong games.
While the Terriers haven't quite lived up to their pre-season selection by coaches to win the regular season title, they are adjusting quite nicely under first-year coach Pat Chambers. Chambers replaced longtime BU bench boss Dennis Wolff.
Terriers to watch:
John Holland, 6-5 junior forward ... 19.8 points, 6.1 rebounds
Corey Lowe, 6-2 senior guard ... 14.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.3 assists
Jake O'Brien, 6-8 sophomore forward ... 13.1 points, 6.6 rebounds
Carlos Strong, 6-2 senior guard ... 10 points, 4.9 rebounds, 48 percent on 3-pointers
For UMaine to win: Block out, block out, block out ... Black Bears must hold their own on the boards. BU is one of the teams in the league that can play muscle-ball with UMaine. Terriers have two guards averaging five rebounds. They put a big lineup on the floor that features bruising 6-9, 240-pound center Jeff Pelage ... Take care of the ball. UMaine committed just six turnovers against Albany. A repeat performance would be huge against BU ... Chase Strong, Holland and Lowe off the three-point line. Don't let them get comfortable from behind the arc.
Case Gym, Boston
Boston University can pull into a third-place tie with the Black Bears in the standings, but it can't get to the No. 3 seed. UMaine has clinched the No. 3 spot, but with a victory, puts itself in position for a possible No. 2 seed (if Vermont loses to Binghamton Sunday).
Since a 19-point loss at Stony Brook, the Black Bears have won three straight by average of 15 points a game. BU will seek to avenge a last-second loss at Orono. The Black Bears won that game on a Mike Allison put-back off an inbounds play.
The Terriers feature one of the most potent lineups in America East with four players averaging double figures. Junior forward John Holland scored 43 points in BU's Bracket Buster win over Delaware. He is a threat from anywhere on the floor. Senior guard Corey Lowe can get hot from outside. Sophomore forward Jake O'Brien was last year's rookie of the year and has elevated his game this season. Guards Carlos Strong and Tyler Morris (back from injury) are veterans capable of strong games.
While the Terriers haven't quite lived up to their pre-season selection by coaches to win the regular season title, they are adjusting quite nicely under first-year coach Pat Chambers. Chambers replaced longtime BU bench boss Dennis Wolff.
Terriers to watch:
John Holland, 6-5 junior forward ... 19.8 points, 6.1 rebounds
Corey Lowe, 6-2 senior guard ... 14.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.3 assists
Jake O'Brien, 6-8 sophomore forward ... 13.1 points, 6.6 rebounds
Carlos Strong, 6-2 senior guard ... 10 points, 4.9 rebounds, 48 percent on 3-pointers
For UMaine to win: Block out, block out, block out ... Black Bears must hold their own on the boards. BU is one of the teams in the league that can play muscle-ball with UMaine. Terriers have two guards averaging five rebounds. They put a big lineup on the floor that features bruising 6-9, 240-pound center Jeff Pelage ... Take care of the ball. UMaine committed just six turnovers against Albany. A repeat performance would be huge against BU ... Chase Strong, Holland and Lowe off the three-point line. Don't let them get comfortable from behind the arc.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Black Bears 66, Albany 53
With Wednesday's win over Albany, the Black Bears have clinched no worse than the No. 3 seed in next week's America East Tournament in Hartford. UMaine could move to the No. 2 spot if the Black Bears win at Boston U. Saturday and Vermont loses to Binghamton Sunday.
Either way, UMaine will play either Hartford or New Hampshire in the quarterfinals.
Murphy Burnatowski led the Black Bears attack offensively and defensively. He had 20 points, six rebounds, 4 steals and two blocked shots. Junior Bernal had 10 points and six assists. Gerald McLemore tossed in 13 points.
UMaine had 10 steals in the game and committed only six turnovers. The Black Bears held Albany to 22 second-half points.
Boston U. can pull into a tie with the Black Bears for third place. UMaine would get the No. 3 seed in the tie-breaker, though, with its win over Stony Brook.
The America East Tournament gets underway Thursday, March 4 with the first round game between UMBC and Albany. The quarterfinals are scheduled for Saturday, March 6 and the semifinals Sunday, March 7. The time slots for the semifinals will be announced shortly after the completion of the regular season on Sunday.
Either way, UMaine will play either Hartford or New Hampshire in the quarterfinals.
Murphy Burnatowski led the Black Bears attack offensively and defensively. He had 20 points, six rebounds, 4 steals and two blocked shots. Junior Bernal had 10 points and six assists. Gerald McLemore tossed in 13 points.
UMaine had 10 steals in the game and committed only six turnovers. The Black Bears held Albany to 22 second-half points.
Boston U. can pull into a tie with the Black Bears for third place. UMaine would get the No. 3 seed in the tie-breaker, though, with its win over Stony Brook.
The America East Tournament gets underway Thursday, March 4 with the first round game between UMBC and Albany. The quarterfinals are scheduled for Saturday, March 6 and the semifinals Sunday, March 7. The time slots for the semifinals will be announced shortly after the completion of the regular season on Sunday.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
