UM’s White back, set to contribute

The medical experts told him he wasn’t ready to play. Not quite yet. But as his University of Maine teammates battled to a 74-73 win over Northeastern on Sunday, Rickey White’s mind told him something else entirely.

“Every time there was a close shot, or the seconds were counting down, I’m biting my nails, and I’m stomping on the ground, punching chairs and stuff like that,” White said with a chuckle Thursday evening.

“I just wanted to get out there and do something, whether it’s pass the ball, or even take the ball out. That would have been fine with me,” White said.

White returned to the UMaine lineup Tuesday after missing seven games to a torn medial collateral ligament in his right knee. He injured the knee on Jan. 6 against Stony Brook, when teammate Derrick Jackson fell into his leg after being called for an offensive foul.

He played 12 minutes in a loss to Hartford, scoring six points and grabbing four rebounds.

He’s hoping to continue his progress tonight as the Black Bears take on Boston University in a key America East showdown. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. at Alfond Arena in Orono.

Maine is 9-12, 6-4 in America East play, while BU is 13-9, 7-3. The Terriers are in second place in the league. Vermont is in first place with one league loss, while Hartford and Maine have lost four conference games apiece.

White said his knee felt fine against Hartford, but his lack of conditioning became apparent.

“I hit the wall,” he said. “The first time playing in five weeks, I really wasn’t in the shape I thought w as gonna be in.”

White, who played his high school ball at Mount Ararat in Topsham, said he missed the daily battling he does as an undersized power forward.

“I’m out there doing the gritty stuff, getting into the passing lanes for steals, banging with the big boys down low. As a power forward, I’m only about 6-3,” White said.

“But the gritty stuff is a lot of fun. Just to get in there and battle with some cats and push them around, I like that stuff,” he said.

White has averaged 7.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 29.6 minutes per game in 14 contests.

UMaine coach John Giannini said Clayton Brown and Todd Tibbetts have each played well at times, but added that the Bears missed the steady White.

“At that position, Rickey has been our most consistent player in terms of defense, rebounding, and also playing smart offense,” Giannini said. “He doesn’t turn it over a whole lot and also shoots a good percentage. He’s just a very reliable player at that position.”

Teammate Errick Greene said those traits make White valuable.

“He gets in there, defends, rebounds, does all the nitty-gritty stuff, the intangibles,” Greene said. “And at the same time, he can jump. He can fly. I’m glad to have him back.”