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ORONO – Losing three of five starters will invariably lead to changes on any basketball team, but when that team also adds seven new players to the roster, it’s time to get out the lineup cards.
It’s a new season for the University of Maine men and nearly a new lineup.
The Black Bears, who went 14-15 and advanced to the America East semifinals last season, came into this season with their starting backcourt intact, but then star guard and preseason AE All-Conference pick Kevin Reed suffered an undisclosed left foot injury that knocked him out of the lineup for the first month of the season.
Losing Reed is effectively equal to losing two key players because of all the things he does – and does very well – for the Bears. The 6-foot-2, 222-pound guard is the unquestioned team leader. He is the conference’s leading returning rebounder with 6.9 per game last season and was the leading rebounder in the country last season for players 6-foot-2 or shorter.
Reed is also Maine’s career-leading 3-point shooter with 235, and was the league leader in steals with 2.2 per game last season. He averaged 12.8 points per game last season.
The silver linings around Reed’s loss are A) he likely won’t miss any conference games and B) his absence provides an opportunity for some of the newer players to show what they can do and develop more quickly.
“It’s important for us to improve and get confidence with Kevin out, and then when he gets back, we’ll be even better,” said Ernest Turner, the other member of Maine’s potent returning backcourt duo.
The 6-2 Turner will be counted on to provide much of the on-court scoring punch and team leadership in Reed’s absence. He led Maine in scoring (13.7 ppg), foul shooting percentage (73.6), and assists (70) last season.
The sharp-shooting guard should benefit from the arrival of quicksilver junior college transfer guard Rashard Turner (no relation), who is a one-man press-breaker with effective scoring and passing ability. The 5-10, 195-pound Turner should greatly improve Maine’s transition game and add more speed to the fast break.
“Rashard is a guy I’ve been recruiting forever. I really enjoy his game and I think he has great on-court control and is a floor general,” said Ted Woodward, now entering his second season as Maine’s head coach. “I know how good he has a chance to be before he’s done.”
The Turner tandem figures to be a lock in the starting lineup. The rest of the starting five could be a work in progress, but if preseason lineups are any indication, it will consist of 6-10 center Olli Ahvenniemi, 6-1 junior college transfer guard Jon Sheets, and fifth-year senior Freddy Petkus, who missed all of last season with back problems.
Much is expected of Ahvenniemi, who is in his third season. One of the best defensive big men for Maine last year, the Vaasa, Finland, native will be counted on to be productive offensively as well. Woodward also needs him to decrease his fouling frequency as he will be logging more minutes.
“It’s a great opportunity for Olli,” Woodward said. “He’s a defensive stopper who keeps his feet moving and blocks shots. That’s a huge facet for us.”
Petkus is a matchup problem for most opposing guards because of his 6-7 frame and long-range shooting ability. He will be counted on to fill the perimeter shooting void created by Reed’s injury and be a defensive presence much like Joe Campbell of Bangor was the last three seasons.
“Having Freddy back will help a lot in terms of leadership and passing and shooting,” Woodward said. “He doesn’t rebound like Joe did, but he’ll add some things too.”
Sheets also adds speed, ballhandling and perimeter shooting ability to the lineup. The junior guard averaged 13 points and six assists for the top JUCO team in California last season.
Other promising newcomers include true freshmen Philippe Tchekane Bofia, a 6-6 forward and rebounding machine from Yaounde, Cameroon, and 6-5 guard Junior Bernal, who played at Maine Central Institute in Pittsfield as a postgrad.
Redshirt freshman Christian Cavanaugh is a 6-10 forward who, at 207 pounds, isn’t bulky, but can run and shoot.
“We think a lot of him. He has some versatility to him, he’s athletic and has a good scoring sense,” said Woodward.
Returning 6-4 veteran guards Jason Hight of Westbrook and Chris Bruff of Bloomfield, Conn., should also further develop after showing flashes of productive ability last season.
The rest of the bench includes redshirt freshman Jesse Keith, a 5-10 guard from Hermon; 6-8 junior college transfer center Dominique Scales of Dallas; 6-6 freshman forward Tyson Hartnett of Medford, N.J.; and 6-6 sophomore forward Ammar Harknell of Stockholm, Sweden.
Maine was picked third in the AE preseason coaches poll behind favored Albany and No. 2 Boston University. If the new players develop quickly, especially in Reed’s absence, the Bears could be a postseason player.
“We have good senior leadership and it’s really helped us get ready,” said Rashard Turner.
2005-06 SCHEDULE
NOVEMBER
18, at William and Mary, 8 p.m.
19, vs. Holy Cross or High Point at William and Mary, 6 p.m.
22, UMaine-Fort Kent, 7:30 p.m.
26, at Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m.
28, at Robert Morris, 7 p.m.
DECEMBER
3, at Hartford, 1 p.m.
5, Morgan State, 7:30 p.m.
10, Boston University, 1 p.m.
13, Darmouth, at Portland, 7 p.m.
15, at Rutgers, 7:30 p.m.
29, at Chattanooga, Tenn., 8 p.m.
30, vs. Mercer or Howard, at Chattanooga, Tenn., 6 or 8 p.m.
JANUARY
3, UMaine-Machias, 7:30 p.m.
7, at Albany, 7 p.m.
12, Binghamton, 7:30 p.m.
15, Vermont, 1 p.m.
19, at New Hampshire, 7 p.m.
22, at Maryland-Baltimore County, 4 p.m.
25, Stony Brook, 7:30 p.m.
29, at Boston University, 1 p.m.
FEBRUARY
2, Hartford, 7:30 p.m.
5, at Binghamton, 1 p.m.
11, Albany, 7:30 p.m.
15, at Vermont, 7 p.m.
19, New Hampshire, 1 p.m.
23, Maryland-Baltimore County, 7:30 p.m.
26, at Stony Brook, 1 p.m.
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