March 28, 2024
BANGOR DAILY NEWS (BANGOR, MAINE

N’Diayes UM escape overlooked

There were several “big” sports stories in Maine last year.

Locally, the obvious ones were: 1. The announcement of penalties levied against the University of Maine for violations of NCAA rules; 2. The termination of of John Winkin’s 22-year affiliation with the UMaine baseball program.

Also, 3. The surprising 7-4 season turned in by the UMaine football team; 4. UMaine women’s basketball player Cindy Blodgett leading the nation in scoring; and 5. The Bangor Blue Ox.

But one of the most intriguing sports stories of 1996 has been forgotten. It didn’t appear on anybody’s Top 10 list, so I’ll refer to it as the Most Overlooked Maine Sports Story of 1996.

Coach Rudy Keeling’s departure from the University of Maine in June set off a disastrous chain reaction of events that will haunt the Black Bear men’s basketball program for years to come.

Keeling, who had never felt appreciated for his efforts in eight seasons behind the UMaine bench, took the job at America East rival Northeastern.

As a result, assistant coach Mike LaPlante applied for, and later pulled out of, the job as Keeling’s replacement. LaPlante, who realized he could do better elsewhere, eventually was hired as an assistant at Auburn.

In the meantime, UMaine hired John Giannini, who was faced with re-recruiting 7-foot Senegalese recruits Mamadou N’diaye and Ndongo N’diaye. Giannini also nearly lost John Gordon and Allen Ledbetter, both of whom seriously considered transferring.

The N’diayes, both considered pro prospects, would have given the Bears unprecedented height, an attribute long lacking in Orono, along with regional and national media attention. But LaPlante’s untimely escape opened the door for the N’diayes to begin contemplating reneging on their National Letters of Intent to attend UMaine.

Giannini’s efforts were in vain, and the two players used a technicality to avoid being admitted to the university. That made them “free agents.” Mamadou N’diaye wound up at Auburn and Ndongo N’diaye went to Providence.

UMaine was left out in the cold, having lost two guaranteed impact players and the prospect for improved on-court performance and recruiting.

Instead, UMaine wasted the two scholarships, which could have been used to attract other student-athletes, and lost an entire recruiting class, which can’t be replaced.

So, rather than challenge for the America East title and the program’s first trip to the NCAA Tournament, UMaine is destined to struggle through a .500 season while trying to rebuild.

– Pete Warner, BDN


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