ORONO, Maine – The University of Maine men’s basketball team made strides in its second season under head coach Chris Markwood a year ago despite the fact its America East record was the same: 7-9.
The Black Bears finished 15-17 overall which was two more wins than the previous year when the 13 wins represented the most since 2010-11.
Six of those losses last season were by five points or less.
Now, the Black Bears are looking to win the close games and climb the America East standings.
UMaine finished in a three-way tie for fourth but was seeded sixth due to the tie-breakers and was ousted in the quarterfinals by third seed Bryant (R.I.), 84-58.
UMaine junior guard and co-captain Jaden Clayton pointed out if they had been able to win some of those close games, they would have hosted a quarterfinal round game instead of having to go to Bryant.
“We were right on the cusp but we didn’t have the experience to get over the hump,” said Clayton. “Now we have the experience to close out games.”
Graduate student guard and co-captain Kellen Tynes has been around long enough to know what needs to be done.
“We have to make sure we stay disciplined and execute late in games,” said Tynes, a two-time America East Defensive Player of the Year and all-conference selection. “You have to put together 40 minutes of basketball, especially against a team like Vermont. You can put together 39 minutes and 59 seconds but it’s that one second where they will take advantage of you.”
Markwood said winning close games is a learning process, even for a coach.
“Going into my third year, I’m learning how to manage the game a little better in those situations,” said Markwood, noting that he and members of the team watched video of all the close games so they can prepare for similar scenarios this season.
“The bottom line is we have to be better in all areas and be a more complete basketball team to close those games out,” said Markwood.
The one glaring weakness in their game last season was 3-point shooting.
The Black Bears shot just 29.47 percent from beyond the 3-point arc which was 334th among 351 Division I teams.
“That hasn’t been our greatest suit. That’s why we have guys in the gym all the time,” said Clayton, a 30 percent 3-point shooter last season who expects the Black Bears to make significant strides in that area.
“Jaden and I have been working on that, separately and together. Everyone has,” said Tynes, who was 23.9 percent from long distance.
“For me and Kell, our 3-point percentage isn’t where it could be. But now he and I are going to take it to the next level,” said Clayton.
The addition of Appalachian State transfer Chris Mantis should help in that department according to the co-captains.
The 6-foot-7 forward was a 34 percent three-point shooter at Appalachian State.
“He is going to be a big part of what we’re doing here, especially with the way he shoots the ball,” said Clayton, who was UMaine’s second-leading scorer (12.6 points per game) behind the departed Peter Filipovity (14.4 ppg) a year ago. “He can really shoot it.”
“He doesn’t miss. He should help us a lot,” said Tynes, who was the No. 3 scorer at 9.2 ppg.
Markwood is optimistic the team’s shooting will improve.
“Our shooting, collectively, should get a lot better for a couple of reasons,” said Markwood. “We’re bringing in a kid like (Mantis) who will do what he’s done his whole life. He is as good a shooter as Gedi (Juozapaitis) was here. A.J. Lopez and Quion Burns shot the ball real well and they will get a big jump in minutes because they will be in bigger roles.”
Juozapaitis shot 39.9 percent beyond the arc in 2022-23.
Lopez, who missed six games due to injury, shot 41.4 percent from the floor and 34.2 percent beyond the arc while Burns was 39.6 percent and 29.5 percent from long distance although Markwood pointed out that Burns shot well from 3-point range in his last five games (41.2 percent).
Tynes said this is the most talented UMaine team he has played on and that they have the talent to compete for the America East championship.
“That’s what we want. That’s what we come out and work for every day,” said Tynes, the NCAA Division I leader in steals two years ago with 98.
“It’s looking good. We’ve got a lot of returning guys with a lot of experience,” said Clayton.
Markwood said having Tynes and Clayton as his co-captains is a joy.
“To be a head coach and having those two guys driving the bus in the backcourt enables me to go to bed every night and sleep pretty well,” said Markwood. “A lot of coaches can’t say that. It’s not just because they’re good basketball players, they are amazing young men.”
UMaine opens the season against Newport phenom Cooper Flagg and his Duke University Blue Devils at 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 4 in Durham, N.C.
