ORONO – Joanne Palombo-McCallie likes the looks of things these days in and around the University of Maine’s Memorial Gym.

While the Black Bears’ practice court is still “The Pit,” the brand-new hardwood floor and the brightly painted, complete with UMaine and America East logos, are a sign of a fresh start, which is what the team will get once classes begin.

Palombo and her staff have welcomed a new assistant coach in Carla Debro, who arrived last month. Debro takes over for Barbora Garbova, who returned to her native Czech Republic to resume her playing career.

“She went to play professionally back home,” Palombo said Friday. “We knew that she still had the wanting-to-play bug. She did a great job for us.”

In contrast to Garbova and most third assistants, Debro brings a wealth of experience to her UMaine position. She served a stint as the interim head coach at Division I Chicago State and also has been a Division II head coach.

“She has a diverse background,” Palombo said. “She’s got a lot more hands-on experience. For Barbora, the position was a little more of an internship.”

Palombo said Debro is a full-time UMaine employee, as she also is working in the compliance office under Tracey Flynn, the assistant athletic director for compliance.

It’s a good news-bad news situation on the women’s basketball injury and illness front. Freshman guard Ellen Geraghty, who sat out last season with mononucleosis, appears to be on the rebound.

Geraghty had her tonsils removed this summer, which appears to have hastened her recovery from the illness.

“[Her doctors] felt the tonsils were a problem as far as keeping the bacteria around,” Palombo said. “She’s better, the mono’s gone, and she’s very excited to come back. I feel confident that she’ll be good to go.”

Sophomore Eva Moldre is recovering from surgery to repair her left knee. The 6-foot-3 center had injured it during a practice last October, then had a flare-up while going through offseason conditioning.

“They found a tear and bone fragments in there,” Palombo said. “She’s on rehab and she’s on the road to recovery.”

Palombo and her staff have been busy recruiting this summer. The Bears will have four spots available for 2000-2001, including those now held by star center Jamie Cassidy and standout point guard Amy Vachon of Augusta.

“Any time you have to sign four people, that’s extremely busy,” Palombo said. “We get to do our home visits in September.”

Chris Markwood chooses Irish

South Portland guard Chris Markwood, a first-team NEWS All-Maine selection, has verbally committed to attend Notre Dame next fall.

The 6-foot-4 Markwood averaged 21 points and eight assists per game for the Red Riots as a junior.

The University of Maine also recruited him heavily. Notre Dame coach Matt Doherty became interested after watching film of Markwood. He saw Markwood in person at the AAU national tournament in Florida in July.

Thomas joins NCAA ranks

Thomas College in Waterville, in an effort to improve its image and possibly move out of the NAIA, has been accepted as a provisional NCAA Division III member.

Athletic director Chris Young said the business school’s decision to affiliate itself with the NCAA should strengthen the perception of Thomas’ athletic programs.

“In my opinion, the NAIA is in trouble,” Young said. “It’s lost a ton of members over the last few years.”

Young views NCAA Division III athletics as a good, competitive fit for Thomas, which will remain a member of the NAIA and the Maine Athletic Conference. However, Young sees the school becoming an NCAA-only institution in the long term.

Thomas and other schools in the MAC, which banned athletic scholarships four years ago, have been competing against scholarship programs in postseason play. Young sees the eventual move out of the NAIA as inevitable.

“Husson (College of Bangor) took the same step a year ago,” Young said. “The NCAA is a much more widely recognized organization. There’s been a stigma associated with the NAIA going way back. I think that’s what we’re trying to shed.”

Young explained Thomas is already nearly 100 compliant in terms of NCAA rules, which for basketball allow fewer games and a shorter season than the NAIA.