Last season was as good as it has been for the University of Maine men’s basketball team in a long time.
The Black Bears made it to their first America East conference championship in more than 20 years. They won their first home playoff game in 30 years. And they brought back a sense of postseason excitement the program hasn’t seen in decades.
But that was last season. Coach Chris Markwood and his team are focused on what lies ahead, not behind. And they’ll be entering the next season with more than momentum — they’ll also have more size, something UMaine was a little light on a year ago.
“I like the pieces that we have. I do think we have enough talent on paper to go win an America East championship,” Markwood said before an early summer practice last week. “But just talent on paper doesn’t win you an America East championship. It’s all the other stuff that we’ve got to really work on, grind away with and attack over the next few months.”
UMaine relied on a guard-heavy starting lineup and lockdown team defense en route to the conference championship game last season, sacrificing size for increased efficiency on the perimeter.
That defensive focus isn’t likely to shift in Markwood’s system, but the arrival of bigger bodies is going to give the Black Bears a new look this year.
“To be honest, I haven’t really thought much about last year anymore,” Markwood said when asked about the previous season. “All our energy is going into how are we going to mold this group together, figure out what we have. We know what we’ve recruited. But now we have to mold it all together and try to figure out how we’re going to win basketball games.”
Markwood and his staff have added seven new players to join eight returners. Four of those new arrivals are transfers, bringing added experience along with the excitement surrounding a group of four freshmen that includes Newport native Ace Flagg and Old Town standout Emmitt Byther.
All four transfers — Ryan Mabrey, Yanis Bamba, TJ Beal and Mekhi Gray — are bigger guards who are 6-foot-4 or taller. Flagg, Byther and fellow freshman Josh Ojuri all bring decent size to the forward position with between 6-foot-5 and 6-foot-8.
“We are going to be bigger. We’re going to be more athletic across the board,” Markwood said.
There are also some big losses from last year’s team. Three-time America East Defensive Player of the Year Kellen Tynes departed after his final year as a graduate student, and top scorer A.J. Lopez and key guard Jaden Clayton both transferred to other schools.
That will mean new roles — including new opportunities and challenges — for players like junior guard Logan Carey, who is expected to shoulder more responsibility for the Black Bears.
“Obviously, we had great guards last year, Jaden Clayton and Kellen Tynes,” Carey said. “I’m excited to kind of step into a different role.”
Carey is looking forward to having the ball in his hands more, and to show his offensive potential.
He said the new arrivals have brought good energy to practice so far.
“I think right off the bat we have a lot of size and physicality,” Carey said.
It’s a common refrain across the squad.
“I think we’re a bigger team this year. I think that’s one thing we lacked a little bit last year, is size,” senior forward Keelan Steele said. “And I think defensively, we’re going to be a presence.”
The 6-foot-10 Steele has already been a presence around the rim for the Black Bears, and said he takes pride in his defense. He’s excited for that to continue this season.
“Everyone’s really gelling well together as a team so far, so I’m really looking forward to this year,” Steele said.
