UMaine women`s BB 20-21:

You believe Stony Brook got the same slot as Maine based on what exactly? If Maine had won, its NET would have likely been in the mid-70s. Compare that to Stony Brook`s final NET ranking, 100, and I find it hard to believe that Maine wouldn`t have at least received a slightly better seeding than the Seawolves. Also, prior to the AE title game, Charlie Creme had Maine as a #13 seed. After the AE title game, Charlie Creme had SB as a #15 seed.  

If for whatever reason Maine had faced Arizona, I think the Black Bears would have really struggled against the Wildcats. We all know that dribble penetration/quick guards has been a bit of a bugaboo for Maine in past years. If Maine had trouble handling Dingle, can you imagine what Aari McDonald would have done? Arizona has been inconsistent all season, but when they`re firing on all cylinders (like they did against SB), they`re scary good, like Final Four-caliber good.  

Bob, re. your comments about parity in the women`s game, I think the following statements can be simultaneously true (and I think this is the point you were making): 1) five or six teams have a realistic shot at winning the national title, and this makes it one of the most wide-open women`s fields in history and 2) we are still a long way from men`s tournament-level parity. Completely agree on your theory re. the root cause of the lack of parity.     

  Yes, 99. Women`s basketball is solidified into two groups, the top half or so of each P5 conference (P6 if youi include the Big East now that UConn has come home) and everyone else. That top half is a larger group than it used to be (UConn, UT, Baylor, Notre  Dame).

  This year, it includes UConn, Baylor, NC State, Stanford, South Caroline, Maryland, Texas A&M, Louisville, maybe UGa. At their best -- I didn`t see the Stony Brook-Arizona game -- maybe Arizsona, too. Of the traditional powerhouses that once in a while threatened UConn, looks like UT may be done, Notre Dame is surely out, Duke will be out for a while, and Mississippi State is out.  

  I think the overall quality of play among the other 300 teams is at a much higher level than it was 20 or 10 years ago. (As great as Cindy was in 1994-98, would she lead the nation in scoring today?) But without more resources and respect for the women`s game (and all women`s sports and all the so-called minor sports), athletic departments won`t invest the necessary resources to elevate most of those programs. 

  As to the seeds, I think you`re right about a 13, but a 12 still seems a stretch to me. With a win over Stony Brook, Maine would have been 18-2 with 11 wins on the road. Maine might have stepped into the 50s in NET, maybe 58 or 57, but more likely Maine just moved up in the 60s to, say, 63 or 62,. The seed wouild have depeneded a great deal on how many teams higher than Maine did not make the tournament. There must be close to 10 (Bucknell, Colorado, Drake, etc.) above Maine that didn`t make it. If Maine had had a 58 NET and 10 teams higher were not invited, Maine would have had the 48th highest NET. At the very best, that would be a 12. I still think a 13 was our best shot.

  SBU went in at 15-5 and had the same bad loss as Maine, at UNH. It also lost to Fordham, Syracuse and Lowell. I believe Stony Brook was 107 in the NET before it beat Maine in The Pit. 

  As a 13, all other seeds being equal, Maine would have faced, Arkansas, UK, West Virginia or Indiana. Arkansas, the only team to beat UConn this year, lost in the first round. It was only 19-8 going into the NCAAs, so it had a consistency issue. UK has been up and down but finished strong. WVU rises or falls with Keysr Gondrezick, and Indiana may be the most under-rated P5 team, though it stumbled in the BIG tournament, losing to MSU in the quarters. An IU-Maine game would have been fun. Maine would have had a fighting chance, I believe, against UK or WVU. 

  But, that`s all speculation. Wait till next year.

   Bob Neal, New Sharon

Guess this more of a 21/22 post but Dor Saar to enter the transfer portal for next year. After watching alot of the women`s NCAA tournament and seeing the different talent levels that exist I don`t think there are many Maine players who are going to transfer and play at much of a higher level but wish her all the success.

Yeah....I think that Saar could struggle at a level much higher than Maine.  I`m sure that she will get plenty of interest though.  She has a great basketball mind and "quick" hands....but she is not quick and that combined with her height might limit her P5 type of offers.  She was the glue for Maine though and had an incredible career for the Bears.....all the best to her!

Best of luck to Saar she was fun to watch

You were right about Arizona!

Haha, well, I suppose a broken clock is right twice a day! 

* National championship game good.

Sorry (not sorry) for that tough matchup, Stony Brook... 🤣🤣