Being selected to take part in the men’s NCAA Tournament means you’re part of a select group.

If you’re a member of the University of Maine men’s basketball team, you’re a member of an even more exclusive club.

There are 65 teams (if you include the teams in the preliminary “opening round” game added in 2001) which have the opportunity to play in “March Madness,” but there are only 54 current Division I teams who have never played in an NCAA Tournament game. Maine is one of those Forsaken 54 hoping to someday join the Select 64.

Since moving on up to the NCAA’s Division I level, the Black Bears have never been asked for a whirl around the court at “The Big Dance,” but they’re not alone. They have plenty of company and a good portion of those other 53 teams hail from the same conference.

Maine is one of seven America East conference teams which are waiting for their first appearance at college basketball’s premier event. Of those seven, Maine and New Hampshire have been waiting the longest (42 years). The others and the number of years at the Division I level without a tourney appearance are as follows: Hartford (1985), University of Maryland Baltimore County (1987), University of Albany (2000), Stony Brook (2000), and Binghamton (2002).

Maine’s best chance came two years ago, when the Bears advanced to the America East championship game, but lost to Boston University by 26 points.

Whitehead downplays 150th

University of Maine men’s hockey coach Tim Whitehead downplayed his 150th career win which he obtained last Saturday with a 4-0 triumph against the school he used to coach, the University of Massachusetts Lowell.

“It doesn’t have a lot of significance for me,” said the 42-year-old Whitehead. “We have a lot of objectives we want to achieve this year. It’s always nice to win games but we want to focus on the postseason here.”

Whitehead will take a 150-123-26 record into this weekend’s series against Boston College. He is 74-28-15 in his three seasons at Maine.

He said beating UMass Lowell, where he was 76-93-11 in five seasons, “always feels good. But, at the same time, our focus is on our next objective which is Boston College.”

Whitehead left UMass Lowell when he couldn’t reach an agreement with athletic director Dana Skinner on a contract extension.

McCue like a Sailfish in water

Hampden native Jesse McCue has found smooth sailing on the basketball court since he decided to attend Palm Beach Atlantic University.

McCue, who helped lead Hampden Academy to an Eastern Maine Class A runner-up season before attending Winchendon Prep School, has turned into a big catch for the Sailfish since he decided to attend the West Palm Beach, Fla., school.

The 6-foot-4 junior forward has started all 30 games he’s played for the Sailfish this season, averaging 11.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.2 steals per game.

McCue is coming off a game in which he led PBA with 23 points and six rebounds in a 94-83 loss to Florida Gulf Coast University, which has won 28 straight games.

McCue is a big reason the Sailfish are 20-12 and the No. 3 seed in the National Christian College Athletic Association South Regional, which starts Friday. The Sailfish will take on defending NCCAA champion and No. 2 seed Tennessee Temple (12-15) Friday at 6 p.m.

The winner of that game will play in Saturday’s championship game. The South region champ will then advance to the NCCAA national championships March 18-20 in Frankfort, Ky.

Braves excited to play for Winkin

Husson College catcher Jason Folsom and pitcher Barrett Dionne said they are looking forward to their first season under coach John Winkin.

The 84-year-old Winkin, who was 934-670-11 in his career at Colby and the University of Maine, replaced John Kolasinski, who left after 15 years to take a similar position at Siena Heights University (Mich.).

“Coach Winkin lights a fire under us,” said Folsom. “He really gets us excited to play because he’s always excited. He loves baseball. He’s a real good coach. It’s an honor just to play under him.”

Dionne added, “He’s a real competitor. He doesn’t like to lose.”

Husson opens its season in Florida against Rhode Island College on Wednesday.