12 former MCI Postgrads playing in two tourneys

Fans who have followed the Maine Central Institute postgraduate men’s basketball team in recent seasons will have plenty of reason to watch the NIT and NCAA college tournaments which open around the country Wednesday and Thursday, respectively.

Max Good, head coach at MCI in Pittsfield, reports no fewer than eight of his former players will be taking part in the 64-team NCAA tournament. Another four MCI alums will be helping their teams in the 32-team National Invitation Tourney.

“It’s a lot of fun to see the teams these kids play on do well,” said Good, whose program has gained a national reputation as a prep school where top hoop players from around the country can excel athletically and academically. “I’m looking forward to watching the tournaments.”

For NCAA tourney watchers, here’s the list of MCI alumni to look for:

Florida State – Sam Cassell and Derick Carroll. The Seminoles are seeded third in the Southeast Region and face No. 14 Evansville in the opening round Thursday.

UMass – Mike Williams and Ted Cottrell. The Minutemen are seeded third in the East Region. They play No. 14 Pennsylvania Friday.

Arizona – Etdrick Bohannon. Arizona is the No. 2 seed in the West Region and will face No. 15 Santa Clara Thursday.

Oklahoma State – Sean Pell. The Cowboys are seeded fifth in the Midwest Region and will take on No. 12 Marquette Friday.

Rhode Island – Carlos Easterling. The Rams are the No. 8 seed in the East and will play No. 9 Purdue Thursday.

Xavier – Steve Gentry. The ninth-seeded Musketeers take on No. 8 New Orleans Friday in the Midwest Region.

In the NIT, the MCI alums are Mike Boyd of West Virginia (which hosts Georgia Wednesday), Mark Bass and Reggie Townsend of St. Joseph’s of Philadelphia (which plays at Southwest Missouri State Thurday), and Mario Mullen of Old Dominion (which hosts Virginia Commonwealth Thursday).

“I go to the Final Four most every year and I’m going this year. I’d love to see someone I know playing there,” said Good, whose MCI squad recently won the 1993 New England Prep Championship.

Incidentally, Good likes Indiana to win the NCAA title with Cincinnati as his sleeper pick.

Another Maine connection to the NCAA men’s hoop tournament is Delaware assistant coach Darryl Hilliard. Area small college fans will recall Hilliard was a top player for the University of Maine-Farmington until his graduation in 1988. Hilliard is in his first year with the Blue Hens, the champion of the North Atlantic Conference. Delaware plays Louisville Friday in the Midwest Region at Indianapolis.