ORONO – After taking over as the head women’s basketball coach at the University of Maine, Cindy Blodgett sat down and started watching game tapes from the 2006-07 season.

She wanted to see some of the returning players in action to gauge their ability.

“I quickly found out that it was a pretty much a waste of my time,” Blodgett said. “I was watching four seniors play 75-80 percent of the minutes.”

With only three upperclassmen (one senior), a handful of untested players and four freshmen in the fold, the Black Bears are starting over.

“We are building the foundation,” said Blodgett, whose team opens the season Friday night at Clemson.

“With graduation of four seniors that played so many minutes, we’ve got some big holes,” she added. “Our success, short term, will depend on how quickly we can fill those holes.”

UMaine must replace six of its top nine players. Senior guard Kris Younan and sophomore guard Amanda Tewks-bury are the only players with starting experience.

Blodgett contacted her players early last summer and shared with them her lofty expectations for them in terms of being physically and mentally prepared for the preseason.

Some got the message, while others didn’t.

“I try not to make judgments on them,” she said. “You have to invest in them, let them know you care about them, and know they’re going to be pushed.”

Younan, who is playing for her third head coach in four years, appreciates the standard Blodgett has tried to establish.

“She’s really pushing us and I respect that and like that she’s doing that,” Younan said. “We have goals that we want to reach and she knows how to get there.”

Even though UMaine lacks experience and is thin in spots, Blodgett wants her players to aspire to greatness.

“I want to win championships and that’s what we talk about,” she said. “People probably look at this team and don’t think that can happen, but I believe it can happen.”

Blodgett has based early personnel decisions largely on the players’ effort and performance during preseason.

“We are just looking for progress every single day,” Blodgett said. “We’re not going to beat teams because we generally have more talent than them. But we are going to beat teams because we’re willing to outwork them.”

Blodgett told her players they can make a new beginning, regardless of what their roles were in the past.

Among those who have taken that to heart are sophomores Kristin Baker of Bingham and Brittany Boser who, along with Tewksbury, are the captains.

Baker, a walk-on from Class D Valley High, played only 17 minutes last season. She was the starting point guard in UMaine’s exhibition win over the University of New Brunswick and scored 18 points.

Boser, a power forward, is in her third season. She logged only 6.1 minutes in 13 games last winter after redshirting in 2005-06. Boser had 16 points and nine rebounds against UNB.

“I’ve told them right from Day 1, I don’t want to hear anything about last year or the last two years,” Blodgett said. “I expect a great deal from them and I want them to know that I believe in them.”

Baker is the starting point guard, but the Bears have some backcourt versatility. Younan handed out 93 assists last season and can run the offense, while freshman Emily Rousseau of Biddeford is a good shooter who also is capable of playing the point.

Younan, Rousseau and Tewksbury, who played 17 minutes per game and got eight starts last season, mostly at small forward, all are in the mix at shooting guard.

The small forward spot is dominated by newcomers. Tanna Ross of Hampden and Magdala Johnson are expected to compete for time there. Both have 3-point shooting range, but must be also able to create shots for themselves.

Junior Brittany Bowen, who missed the preseason with an injury, could chip in later at shooting guard/small forward.

UMaine has another unproven corps of players in the frontcourt. Boser has set the tone among the power forwards, while sophomore Katia Bratishko is strong but needs polish. Junior Colleen Kilmurray is a sound contributor who can play there or at center.

In the middle, 6-foot-6 sophomore Sandra Vaitkute continues to improve but has limited quickness. Kilmurray and freshman Christina Mosher of Farmington are the other options.

Overall, UMaine will be undersized in the frontcourt.

Blodgett is still trying to establish a lineup and a regular rotation. It’s a process that may take considerable time.

“My goal is to make sure that we are playing our very best come March,” Blodgett said.

The Bears look to build around cohesive defense and tenacious rebounding. Blodgett said UMaine will rely on the 1-2-2 matchup zone but must be able to go man-to-man and implement pressure and trapping.

UMaine will run triangle and box offenses, the latter of which features some quick-striking options. The Bears will run when they have an advantage.

“I like their willingness to learn. They work very hard to do the right things,” Blodgett said.

She is aware UMaine may struggle as it attempts to put all the pieces together.

“I expect them to make mistakes. I expect to make mistakes.,” Blodgett said. “But we’re in it together and we’re in it for the long haul. I’m sure it’s going to be a wild ride.”

UMAINE SCHEDULE

November

9 – at Clemson, 5 p.m.

15 – Dartmouth, 7:30 p.m.

18 – Holy Cross, 1 p.m.

Dead River Co. Classic

23 – Harvard, 7 p.m.

24 – Qunnipiac/Hofstra, 3:30/6 p.m.

29 – at William & Mary, 7 p.m.

December

2 – at Fairfield, 2 p.m.

8 – at Massachusetts, noon

14 – at St. John’s, 7 p.m.

16 – at St. Francis (N.Y.), 2 p.m.

22 – at Boston College, noon

Miami Holiday Tournament

29 – vs. Miami, 5 p.m.

30 – vs. Central Arkansas/Toledo, 5/7 p.m.

January

5 – Maryland Baltimore County, 7 p.m.

13 – at Albany, 2 p.m.

16 – at Stony Brook, 7 p.m.

19 – Hartford, 7 p.m.

23 – Boston University, 7:30 p.m.

26 – at Vermont, 1 p.m.

30 – at New Hampshire, 7 p.m.

February

2 – Binghamton, noon

9 – at Maryland Baltimore County, 1 p.m.

13 – Albany, 7:30 p.m.

16 – Stony Brook, noon

19 – at Boston University, 7 p.m.

23 – at Binghamton, 2 p.m.

27 – Vermont, 7:30 p.m.

March

1 – at Hartford, 2 p.m.

5 – New Hampshire, 7:30 p.m.

13-16 – America East Championship, at West Hartford, Conn.