UM motivated in quarterfinal against BU Bears seeking upset tonight

There’s no lack of motivation as the University of Maine men’s basketball team prepares to play third-seeded Boston University in the America East Tournament quarterfinals.

There are plenty of things to fire up the No. 6 Black Bears for their game tonight at 8:30:

. None of the current players have experienced a win over the Terriers in their collegiate careers at Maine.

. Maine has lost the last 10 straight and 11 of the last 12 games against BU.

. The Terriers have been ranked among the top five Division I programs nationally for much of the season in scoring defense (currently fourth at 55.7 points per game by opponents) and field goal percentage defense (currently second at 36.9 percent).

. BU hardly ever beats itself and frequently outhustles and frustrates its opponents, forcing teams to remain patient if they are to beat the veteran group.

. Maine, a top-four preseason pick in the conference, has not met expectations due to rash of injuries, player defections, and distractions. The Bears are as close to full strength now as they’ve been since the first week of the season. If they are to show they’re a legitimate AE title contender, this is the last chance for a team that has four integral seniors at its core who are getting their last shot for college hoops glory.

“We feel good and we can’t wait for Saturday. We have everybody back and we’re ready to go,” said junior guard Kevin Reed, who has played in all 27 games and started 26 this season for the 13-14 Bears.

Senior point guard Chris Markwood is as close to 100 percent as he’s been since the first of the year, before he suffered a broken hand; junior guard and leading scorer Ernest Turner has two games under his belt following a separated left shoulder that made him miss two weeks and four games; and senior forward Mark Flavin has shown flashes of the post play that made him a second team all-conference player last season.

“When we were at full strength, we were playing some great basketball. We played the way we envisioned ourselves playing since we left for Boston College,” said Maine head coach Ted Woodward.

Throw in the surprisingly rapid development of unheralded walk-on freshman Jason Hight from Westbrook and the invaluable contributions of guard-forward Joe Campbell, the steady play off the bench by senior forward David Dubois, and the continued seasoning of sophomore guard Chris Bruff and there is reason for optimism.

“What happened with poor Teddy with all the injuries and a couple guys walking out, that’s a rough go for a young kid doing this for the first time,” Vermont coach Tom Brennan said, referring to Woodward’s first season as a head coach. “I think they are going to be dangerous in the tournament.”

Sunday’s 87-66 win over Vermont, which didn’t have its two top players, seemed to provide a much-needed spark for Maine.

“It’s the best time to be clicking like that [against Vermont],” said Campbell, a senior from Bangor who is the only player to start all 27 games this season. “We were all able to play, everybody was getting shots, we moved the ball really well, and when you have everybody playing at a high level, you all play well.”