BOSTON – Last year, injuries, suspensions, and a backcourt lacking talent, depth, and/or experience failed to stop the streak.

This year, despite leadership and experience; one of the best frontcourts in America East; and a revamped backcourt with speed, offensive firepower, and depth, the University of Maine men’s basketball team couldn’t make its fifth straight appearance in the AE tournament semifinals.

“Last season we had an undertalented team that just wouldn’t quit … This was a talented team,” said head coach John Giannini, the disappointment evident in his voice after having just watched his team lose a 71-68 heartbreaker to Northeastern Sunday afternoon. “We struggled to meet our own expectations all year long, yet every practice, every week, they worked to make things better.”

In spite of the presence of one of the premier collegiate centers in the Northeast – maybe in the country – and statistical output that puts the Bears among the conference’s elite teams, Maine could do no better than a quarterfinal playoff loss and 14-16 record.

“I’m not talking elite, I’m talking going from average to good. We’re certainly nowhere close to being elite, but we are very close to being a good team,” Giannini said. “I really thought this was a team that would win 17 to 19 games and have a chance to get into the championship game. I look at our talent and I think that’s the type of season this team should have had, but we just couldn’t get there.”

Why? The easy answer is in two fundamental categories: turnovers and foul shots. It’s the easy answer, but not entirely correct.

The Bears started out the season committing a bewildering number of turnovers (187 in their first 10 games) and finished their season ranked last among nine AE teams in turnover margin with 18.1 per game while opponents averaged 13.9 against them. Maine’s margin of -4.23 is almost three less than eighth seed New Hampshire (-1.86).

Maine was also seventh with a 64.7 shooting percentage at the foul line.

“Our two Achilles heals throughout the year were turnovers and free throw shooting,” Giannini said. “Turnovers have just been tragic for us all year.”

The Bears got better at taking care of the ball down the stretch, but still averaged 17.9 in the last eight games. What hurt them most was when those turnovers were made and the points they both cost Maine and gave to the opposition.

Sunday’s loss to No. 4 Northeastern on a 3-pointer with 0.8 seconds left encapsulated Maine’s entire season.

“We’re the only team in America that could shoot 48 percent, which reflects good execution and knowing what you’re doing, and hold a team to 34 percent, really locking them down, and still lose in the second half,” said Giannini, who has compiled a 105-101 record in seven seasons at Maine. “We’ve done that so consistently.”

Maine committed 15 turnovers Sunday, but it was the last two in the game’s final 68 seconds that spelled its doom most. It didn’t help that the Bears hit only nine of 16 free throws and missed three of their final five, two of them 1-and-1 bonus opportunities.

“We basically play better offense than our opponent, play better defense than our opponent, but lose the ball too much and miss free throws and it’s really a shame,” Giannini said.

Maine fans have reason to be optimistic about next season. The backcourt should be even better as the Bears lose only Derrick Jackson to graduation. And although all three starters in Maine’s frontcourt are seniors, not all are gone as 6-foot-4 senior forward, leading scorer, and 2003-03 AE first team selection Rickey White, who lost his freshman year to academic ineligibility, will get that year back as long as he graduates on time (in four years) this spring.

The loss of 6-7 forward Clayton Brown may not hurt as much either, as Maine will have 6-4 guard-forward Chris Markwood in the lineup after the 2003 fall semester ends in late December. The 202-pound Markwood is a South Portland native who transferred to Maine from Notre Dame.

The two toughest voids to fill are at center, where the 7-0 Rowe, Maine’s all-time leading shot-blocker, averaged 10.3 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 4.2 blocks (226 in just two years); and the defensive/leadership combo offered by Jackson. Someone will have to step into Jackson’s role. White is a good bet to fill the leadership role while junior 6-2 guard Eric Dobson and 6-1 freshman guard Kevin Reed were first and second, respectively, in steals on the team.

Tournament notes

Maine was represented well in the America East all-conference team lineups announced Saturday. Rickey White was a first team selection after averaging 13.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.6 steals per game. Justin Rowe was a second team pick this year. He and Boston University’s Billy Collins were both AE first-teamers last year. Freshman guard Kevin Reed, who led all AE players with 80 3-pointers, was named to the all-rookie team.

A favorite to win AE rookie of the year, Northeastern freshman guard Jose Juan Barea may have used some extra motivation to fuel his 38-point outburst against Maine.

“When you don’t get what you think you deserve, the first thing you think of … is ‘all right, I’ve got this tournament so I’m going to prove myself here,” said Rowe. “With the timing and all, you have an immediate opportunity to prove them wrong.”

Rowe can relate as he lost out to Binghamton sophomore center Nick Billings for AE defensive player of the year.

“The first thing I thought about when I wasn’t defensive player of the year was to prove I was in this tournament,” Rowe said after an 11-point, 11-rebound, 6-block game. “Obviously it didn’t work out.”

Proud alumnus

Sunday’s loss was tempered somewhat for Maine sophomore guard-forward Joe Campbell by a call from his parents.

The son of Niron Campbell and Julie Lebowitz was informed that his alma mater’s basketball team, the Bangor High Rams, had upset top-ranked and previously unbeaten Brunswick to win the Eastern Maine Class A title Saturday night.

“I actually found out just a few minutes ago from my parents,” Campbell said after Sunday’s America East quarterfinal loss. “That’s awesome. I’m really excited. I’m going to catch the [state championship] game. I can’t wait.”