MBB: Second-half defense propels UNH 71-56

by **Tom Nolette** » Wed Feb 07, 2018 4:09 am

FEBRUARY 8, 2018
MBB at University of New Hampshire
7:00 PM
ESPN 3

by **Tom Nolette** » Thu Feb 08, 2018 4:26 am

Black Bears Venture to New Hampshire For Thursday Night Showdown

LAST TIME OUT: With Maine holding a slim 81-79 advantage with 10 seconds remaining in overtime, Binghamton's Fard Muhammad attempted to shoot the go-ahead 3-pointer, but Isaiah White recorded a block. The Bearcats gained possession following the swat, but failed to connect on a game-winning shot, as Maine held on to beat Binghamton on Saturday afternoon at the Cross Insurance Center. The game marked the first time this season that Maine won a game that they were outrebounded in (42-35).

THE SERIES: Maine snapped a six-game losing streak to its oldest rival in New Hampshire on Jan. 24, taking down the Wildcats in a thrilling fashion at the Cross Insurance Center. The Black Bears trailed 68-66 in the final minute, before Aaron Calixte drained a deep contested 3-pointer with 21 seconds left. The Wildcats failed to score on the their last possession, with Maine earning its first win over UNH since the 2014. Calixte tied a career-high with 24 points, on 9-of-20 shooting from the floor. Maine became the first America East team to outrebound UNH this season, as the Wildcats have only been outrebounded in 5 games before Jan. 24. Thursday's meeting marks the 189th meeting, with the two teams meeting every season since 1945-46.

A LOOK AT UNH: The Wildcats sit at an even 5-5 in conference, which put UNH at fifth in the America East standings. Since falling to Maine on Jan. 24, New Hampshire has gone 1-2, with its lone win coming against Binghamton on Jan. 27. Iba Camara continues to excel off the glass, ranking second best in the nation in defensive rebounds per game (8.54). In America East games, Tanner Leissner is fourth in the conference in scoring (17.8 ppg.), fifth in rebounding (7.0 rpg.), and ninth in free throw percentage (.766).

http://www.goblackbears.com/news/2018/2 ... wdown.aspx

by **Tom Nolette** » Thu Feb 08, 2018 4:36 am

Audio: Bob Walsh 2.6.18 with Rich Kimball

Maine men’s basketball coach Bob Walsh discusses the team’s overtime win against Binghamton and Thursday;s game with UNH.

http://www.downtownwithrichkimball.com/ ... sh-2-6-18/

by **thebam** » Thu Feb 08, 2018 9:31 pm

This is some bad basketball. Good lord. Quite seriously.. if Maine makes a change of Head Coach after this season , I don't even care if every player on this roster transfers out. There isn't a player on this team worth a damn. Total garbage. There are High School teams in Maine that could beat this group of misfits. What a total embarrassment , not only to Maine but to the game of basketball. Disgusted beyond words.

by **mainejeff** » Thu Feb 08, 2018 10:55 pm

Walsh should be embarrassed. He just throws the kids out there & lets the BS play out game after game..... :oops:

by **bcbc55** » Fri Feb 09, 2018 12:46 am

mainejeff wrote:Walsh should be embarrassed. He just throws the kids out there & lets the BS play out game after game.....

MJ: Yeah, but he is still very busy "supervising all those substitutions", trying to officiate on the sidelines and he does allows the players to decide who shoots, when they shoot and where they shoot from!

Hey, but they are not '"living and dying by the three" as much the last five games as they have only taken 19, 16, 19, 19 and 20 3 point attempts while before going into these last 5 games they were averaging 25 - 3 point attempts per game and they are 2-3 in the last 5 games.

by **Tom Nolette** » Fri Feb 09, 2018 2:49 am

Second-half defense propels UNH men’s basketball team past UMaine

...Aaron Calixte paced UMaine with 16 points, including the 1,000th of his career, but managed only four points in the second half.

Andrew Fleming added 12 points for UMaine while Isaiah White had eight points and five rebounds and Dusan Majstorovic also scored eight points, all in the first half.

UNH scored the game’s first seven points, but UMaine called timeout and immediately countered with six unanswered points, and the Black Bears eventually built a 26-21 advantage on two Calixte free throws with 5:16 left in the opening half.

The first of those two free throws enabled the redshirt junior guard to become the 30th Black Bear overall to reach the 1,000-point career milestone and the first since Gerald McLemore in 2011.

http://bangordailynews.com/2018/02/08/s ... st-umaine/

UMaine recap: http://www.goblackbears.com/news/2018/2/8/mens-basketball-calixte-scores-1000th-point-in-loss-at-new-hampshire.aspx

by **Linguist** » Fri Feb 09, 2018 8:09 am

thebam wrote:This is some bad basketball. Good lord. Quite seriously.. if Maine makes a change of Head Coach after this season , I don't even care if every player on this roster transfers out. There isn't a player on this team worth a damn. Total garbage. There are High School teams in Maine that could beat this group of misfits. What a total embarrassment , not only to Maine but to the game of basketball. Disgusted beyond words.

I disagree.

Isaiah White is a keeper, he is a 6'5" wing player who can shoot, get to the rim, and defend. Please don't transfer.

I love Danny Evans, another 6'5' player who defends multiple positions, and can shoot and score. Some how ends up in the dog house. Please don't transfer.

Vernon Lowndes, Junior, another 6'5" player can defend, rebound and shoot. Please don't transfer.

Trae Bryant, a 6'1" point guard who looked good before his injury, please don't transfer.

I think Vince Eze is an America East contributor, and with his size and development during the last couple of years he can provide solid play defensively and on the boards in the middle. He's not an A10 player, but he can go at this level.

Fleming can stick around as a nice 4th option, if he wants to work hard.

Araujo is a decent back up to Bryant, Miks Antoms is going to be a solid role player and backup.

Other than that. Wipe it clean

by **mainejeff** » Fri Feb 09, 2018 10:38 am

Hopefully Barron can retain the players worth keeping. And maybe he can start to turn things around with DISCIPLINE & COACHING. As Barron demonstrated with the womens team...it all starts with the big D (efense). Less talented teams can have some success if they are committed to playing defense. That is the only way up for the next couple of seasons until Barron can (hopefully) bring in some better talent.