UM frosh Campbell exceeds expectations

After falling victim to yet another textbook Joe Campbell afternoon Sunday, New Hampshire coach Phil Rowe discounted the theory the University of Maine freshman has put up numbers against unsuspecting foes.

“I’ve seen the kid play enough to know that he can shoot the ball,” Rowe said after Campbell had done just that … again … en route to a 4-for-6 effort from behind the 3-point line and a 15-point game.

“He may be sneaking up on somebody else, but he didn’t sneak up on us,” Rowe said. “But I guess he fooled my team.”

Campbell and his teammates will try to post a season sweep against Binghamton tonight when they take on the Bearcats at 7:30 p.m. at Alfond Arena.

Campbell, a 6-foot-6 forward from Bangor, has surpassed all expectations after showing up at UMaine in September with a simple plan.

“My expectation was, I wasn’t gonna play,” said Campbell, who was a recruited walk-on – or non-scholarship – player. “I was gonna become a practice player and help the team prepare for every game. I was gonna come in and stay after practice and work on my shooting, and get into the weight room as much as possible and get stronger.”

Campbell is believed to be the only non-scholarship freshman starter in NCAA Division I hoop.

His plan changed when the Bears lost two of their top two perimeter threats – Huggy Dye and Ricky Green – before the season started.

It changed even more when Clayton Brown and Derrick Jackson were injured in a car accident on Thanksgiving weekend.

And it continued to change as Campbell did the one thing that many people didn’t think he’d be able to do: make 3-pointers.

After playing largely in the low post during his Bangor career (and hitting, let’s not forget, one of the most spectacular shots in state championship history to give the Rams the title in March), Campbell has had to adapt to playing more on the perimeter.

“The only thing I’m really surprised at is the shooting,” coach John Giannini said. “But I’m no longer surprised, because he puts in the extra work and he shoots it in practice the same way he does in games.”

Here’s what that means: Campbell is connecting on 3-pointers at a clip that no Black Bear has ever done since the shot was instituted in the college game back in 1986-87.

Over his first six games as a Black Bear, Campbell didn’t attempt a shot from beyond the arc. Since then he has made 26 of 44 attempts (59.1 percent).

To put that in context, the nation’s leader, Dante Swanson of Tulsa, is shooting just 53.9.

The catch: Campbell has made just 1.44 3-pointers per game. In order to be listed in NCAA rankings, shooters must make 2.0 per contest. America East rules are easier, but still knock Campbell from contention: The league requires players to make 1.5 per game.

If Campbell continues at this pace – or anything near it – he will establish a school single-season record. The existing mark is Matt Rossignol’s 54-for-115 effort (47.0 percent) back in 1986-87.

Campbell’s success has come entirely within the flow of the offense, as he waits for opportunities to shoot, rather than trying to create his own chances.

Both he and his coach say that philosophy leads to better, more open looks at the hoop.

“Joe is the consummate team player,” Giannini said. “When he’s open, he’s gonna shoot. When he’s covered, he’s gonna pass.”

Campbell said he’s willing to be patient on offense.

“Right now I’m more of a role player. I feel as though I shoot when I’m open and when I’m supposed to shoot,” Campbell said. “I’m trying to create for myself, but not to the extent that I need to shoot the ball. I feel as though the older players and the captains should get the majority of the shots and control the ball the most.”

But make no mistake about it: When Campbell’s shot comes, he’s willing to take it.