One-Bid Wonders

Nate Philippe is all smiles after being hired to the staff at American University

The most famous shipwreck in history occurred a little more than 101 years ago, but former Maine assistant coach Nate Philippe may be able to tell you about surviving the Titanic.

After two years on what has been a sinking ship at Maine, Philippe has followed departed players Justin Edwards, Alasdair Fraser and Jon Mesghna out of the University and into the life boats, taking a job on the staff of newly hired head coach Mike Brennan at American University.

During his brief time at Maine, Philippe established himself as a steady sideline presence, a builder of big men and an impact recruiter (much like another Maine assistant coach). After all-conference players Fraser and Edwards abandoned ship in the wake of yet another Black Bears late-season torpedoing, Philippe shouldered much of the burden of rebuilding.

Philippe played a key role in landing the likes of recently signed recruits Erik Nissen, a 6’9 long, skilled and athletic left-handed face-4 who rebounds and defends; Mario Pirovic, a 6’7” face-4 that can play some 3, shoot and rebound and was a member of the Canadian Junior National Team; Troy Reid-Knight, a 6’1”, very physical point guard with lock-down defender potential and a 6’7” wingspan; and Christian Ejiga, a physical, rough-around-the-edges 6’9” 230 pound post player with a high upside. He was also popular among his players and peers.

And now Philippe is gone, adding on to the already massive void in Orono. (more…)

OBW First Team All-Conference selection Alasdair Fraser is leaving Maine early (Photo by Sam Perkins).

(Orono, Maine) – For three years, University of Maine center Alasdair Fraser has left the earth quaking, backboards shaking and a trail of battered opponents, bruised egos, bent rims and busted basket supports in his wake.

On Tuesday, Fraser once again shook the earth at the University of Maine, but in a very different fashion.

In a story first broken by One-Bid Wonders, the junior center and OBW All-Conference First Team selection officially requesting his release from the university, bringing to an end his Black Bear career before his senior year. Fraser will either sign an overseas contract and begin his professional career, or transfer to another Division I institution to use up his final year of eligibility.

And with that, the dark days in Orono have turned pitch-black; the hurricane already raging has now grown into the storm of the century.

Listed at 6’7” 230 (and weighing in closer to 260) pounds of muscle, Fraser has stood tall for the Black Bears as a Scottish Wall on defense and immovable object on offense. As a junior Fraser averaged 13.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game, ranking eighth, fourth and second in the conference, respectively. Fraser also finished fifth in scoring in America East Conference games at 14.3 points per contest.

Sheer numbers do not do Fraser justice or accurately encompass his impact: Arguably the league’s most dynamic center, Fraser displayed a brilliant and diverse arsenal of low-post moves as well as a silky-smooth jumper out to the NBA 3-point line. He also ranked as one of the most efficient players in the league using NBA-style advanced metrics, despite drawing nightly double – and often triple – teams every trip down the court while playing in a chaotic and dysfunction system in which he was criminally underused and overlooked.

He was also the rarest of rare-breeds: a Black Bear player who continued to grow, develop and improve every year in Orono. Fraser made the leap from a bruising bulldozer and America East strongman as a freshman, to a cerebral big-man with a refined low post game and automatic mid-range jumper as a sophomore, before making another stride as a junior, adding a 3-point shot and deft passing touch.

Fraser showcased the depth of his talent and abilities in a January 22nd upset over Vermont, just missing a triple-double; pouring in 20 points on 9-of-15 shooting, ripping down 10 rebounds and dishing out eight assists while swatting a pair of shots.

Maine was already dealing with the crippling blow of losing its top scorer, most athletic player, and best raw talent in high-flying wing Justin Edwards, who announced his decision to transfer out of the university a month ago. Edwards led league in scoring at 16.7 points per game despite only scratching the surface of his raw abilities.

While Edwards’ departure sent the Black Bears to the mat for an eight-count, it is Fraser’s that might KO the program for the upcoming season – and beyond. (more…)

Maine guard Justin Edwards flies above the fray and skies past Northeastern forward Reggie Spencer (44) for two of his career-high 30 points Wednesday night. Edwards powered the Black Bears to a 76-73 win.

(ORONO, Maine) – The America East’s top scorer, and arguably the league’s most dynamic, athletic and physically gifted player is taking his talents elsewhere: University of Maine sophomore scoring-machine Justin Edwards is leaving the Black Bears.

In a press release published earlier today, the University of Maine announced that Edwards would transfer from the school at the end of the semester, confirming rumors that had swirled for several days.

“Justin is a fine young man and we thank him for his hard work and accomplishments in our program. We wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors,” said Maine head coach Ted Woodward in a prepared statement.

A 6’2” guard with jaw-dropping athleticism, Edwards averaged 16.7 point per game to tie for the league-lead in scoring with Binghamton freshman Jordan Reed. Edwards averaged 5.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists and a 1.9 steals (which led the league) and 32.7 minutes per game while being named to the America East Second Team All-Conference as voted on by the coaches (he was selected to the OBW Third-Team).

As a freshman, Edwards averaged 13.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.4 steals per game, was named to the All-Rookie Team and finished as the runner-up to then Vermont guard Four McGlynn for league Rookie of the Year Honors.

Edwards played elbows above the rim and reigned as the league’s best dunker – regularly rattling the back-board in games with dunk contest-worthy slams, including multiple 180-degree reverse jams on of alley-oops. (more…)

Tommy Brenton, 6’5” 230 R-Sr., F, Stony Brook
Overall: 31.2 MPG, 8.9 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 4.9 APG, 1.6 SPG, 2.3 A/TO, 109.8 ORtg
Conference: 30.9 MPG, 10.1 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 4.9 APG, 1.4 SPG, 1.4 APG, 112.1 ORtg
Brenton does everything for Stony Brook: The engine that powers the Seawolves, he is the heart and soul, leader, and toughest player. A point-forward, Brenton runs the Seawolves offense and ranks among the league leaders in assists and assist-to-turnover ratio, while also cleaning up the glass as one of the conference’s top rebounders. Add in a career high in scoring, and Brenton’s overall offensive package stands as one of the league’s most valuable. That is in addition to Brenton’s status as the league’s premier defender and enforcer. As impressive as his numbers are, they fall short of summarizing his overall impact. (more…)

Compared to the major conferences, America East may be a bit undersized, but the AE still has its fair share of guys who want to throw it down with authority. Here’s our list of the newest inductees into the America East chapter of Phi Slamma Jammma:

Justin Edwards, 6’3” 185, Soph., G/F, Maine: Likely the league’s most athletic player and best leaper, Edwards is far and away the America East’s best in-game dunker. Adept at jamming on the breakaway and in the half-court, on a lob or off the bounce, with one hand or two, jumping off one leg or two, he dunks it all. Among his notable slams are multiple two-handed reverse slams, including some on alley-oops. (more…)

Sponsored by Marcie Mitler

6’6″ 250 pound Boston University forward Dom Morris (right) drives against 6’7″ 260-plus pound Maine center Alasdair Fraser (left) Tuesday night. Morris scored a career-high 20 points for the Terriers in a 79-72 win, while Fraser was held to 16 points in the loss (Photo by Sam Perkins).

(Boston, MA) – If the definition of insanity is repeating the same mistake over and over again and expecting different results, then the Boston University Terriers and the University of Maine Black Bears played one bat-something-crazy game Tuesday night.

Facing off for the 100th and final time as conference foes, both teams continued their season long trends of shooting themselves in the foot while doing their best to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

The Terriers pounded Maine’s porous perimeter defense, burying 11-of-22 3-pointers and rode a scorching hot first half to a 79-72 win, but not before nearly blowing a 22 point second half lead while displaying an inexcusable lack of effort.

“We played a great first half,” said BU head coach Joe Jones. “The first seven, eight minutes of the second half I was pleased with and then we lost our concentration: I thought we could have extended our lead – it was really poor on our part in terms of decision making on offense down the stretch.”

The league’s worst 3-point field goal percentage defense, the Black Bears once again employed their never-fails-to-fail 2-3 zone defense of doom in an attempt to combat a barrage from downtown – a defense as useful defending the 3 as a screen door is on a submarine.

“We missed a couple shots, they got a couple turnovers, they got in transition and they hit 3’s – it wasn’t 2’s,” said Maine head coach Ted Woodward.

Not to be out-done, after dropping four conference games – along with a near epic meltdown against an overmatched UMBC squad – by simply not playing hard until the final buzzer, the Terriers once again failed to show even the slightest sense of urgency while mailing it in down the stretch.

“When we don’t play with energy, we’re not very good,” said Jones. “If we’re not going to come out and go after people, we’re going to struggle.”

The Terriers shot 58.1 percent from the floor (18-of-31) and 57.1 percent from behind the arc (8-of-14) in the opening stanza, and 49.1 percent from the floor (28-of-57) and 50 percent from three (11-of-22) for the game. BU dished out 18 assists, forced 18 turnovers and won the rebounding battle against the bigger and stronger Black Bears 34-33.

But the Terriers committed 16 turnovers of their own – many of them by simply being lazy and careless with the ball – resulting in 24 Black Bears points, allowing Maine to make a game of it. The Black Bears also scored 38 points in the paint to the Terriers 20, but shot just 26.7 percent from 3 (4-of-15).

“There were some really positive things: we shot 58 percent in the first half, we were 11-for-22 [from three], we had 18 assists – which is huge,” said Jones. “But if we want to be a championship caliber team… We have to concentrate at a higher rate a lot more consistently.”

Junior forward Dom Morris scored a career-high 20 points shooting a stellar 9-of-13 from the floor, to go with seven rebounds, two steals and a block to pace the Terriers.Freshman point guard Maurice Watson Jr., scored 14 points, dished out eight assists and swiped three steals. Freshman gunner John Papale scored 16 points on 6-of-12 shooting and junior wing Travis Robinson added nine; The duo combined to shoot 7-of-13 from behind the arc. Junior guard D.J. Irving struggled through a tough night on offense, shooting just 1-of-5 from the floor and committing six turnovers, but the diminutive 5’10” guard found a way to contribute, pulling down a game-high 10 rebounds. (more…)

Hartford freshman guard Evan Cooper slices through five Maine defenders to finish off a Mark Nwakamma (not shown) pass for a big second-half bucket. Cooper scored 13 points and Hartford won 68-61 (photo by Sam Perkins).

(West Hartford, CT) — There’s a world of difference between high volume and high percentage shooting, and it’s the difference between current University of Hartford Men’s basketball team and its previous incarnates.

The Hawks have always played hard – furious, frenetic energy is a staple of teams playing under fiery third-year head coach John Gallagher and a prerequisite for players he recruits. Now, the Hawks are playing smart; forgoing the bombs away offense relying on forced three’s in favor of running their offense through their front court, hitting the glass and taking what defenses gave them.

On Wednesday, playing a matinee which tipped off at noon before a raucous crowd of nearly 3,000 – almost all students from local grade and high schools – in a battle between unbeatens in America East play, the Hawks played a near-perfect game and knocked off visiting Maine 68-61.

“I thought our guys really, really came out ready to go,” said Gallagher after the game. “We have the talent, now we’re starting to really learn how to play together.”

Sophomore forward Mark Nwakamma led Hartford with a game-high 23 points on 10-of-17 shooting, dished out a career-high eight assists to just three turnovers and pulled down a team-high seven rebounds – all on the defensive end. Freshman point guard Evan Cooper scored 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting to go with three steals and two assists and sophomore guard Yolonzo Moore II scored 16 points while drilling 4-of-8 three’s, while dishing out five assists and swiping three steals.

Hartford shot 52.2 percent from the floor (24-of-46), 47.6 percent from behind the arc (10-of-21), and dished out 18 assists to 13 turnovers. (more…)

Maine guard Justin Edwards flies above the fray and skies past Northeastern forward Reggie Spencer (44) for two of his career-high 30 points Wednesday night. Edwards powered the Black Bears to a 76-73 win (Photo by Sam Perkins).

(Boston, MA) – With a massive neck, colossal chest, hulking shoulders, and monstrously powerful jaws, the North American Black Bear is an imposing and intimidating animal. Reaching heights of seven-feet tall when standing on two legs, weights in excess of 500 pounds, and capable of running at speeds up to 30 miles per hour, the Black Bear is an impressive and imposing physical specimen.

Yet, despite its ferocious appearance and prodigious power, the Black Bear’s personality is far more timid than tenacious; A full-grown Black Bear is far more likely to turn tail and flee from an encounter with not only humans, but also with smaller mammals, than it is to stand its ground and fight.

The monstrous appearance but meek persona of the Black Bear has made the animal a fitting mascot for the University of Maine men’s basketball team over the past three seasons:Maine has had the size, athleticism, and physicality to take the America East by storm. But after hot starts in each of the past three seasons, and in spite of their fearsome abilities, the Black Bears have folded down the stretch, turning tail instead of fighting through adversity.

After opening the year with four straight losses, it appeared the Black Bears were set to skip over the promising starts of seasons past, and begin their annual hibernation four months ahead of schedule.

But over the last two games, the Black Bears stirred: After showing fight in a 72-66 win over Siena on Sunday, Maine made it two straight wins over quality opponents on Wednesday, by hanging on against a heavily favored Northeastern team playing on its home court.

Sophomore forward Justin Edwards was a monster, center Alasdair Fraser was a beast on the blocks, sophomore fill-in point guard Xavier Pollard was ferocious on defense, and the Black Bears hung on for a 76-73 win over Northeastern at historic Matthews Arena. Maine saw three starters foul-out and an 11 point lead shrink to one in the games final minutes, and survived Northeastern forward Quincy Ford’s potential game tying three, which went in and out before the buzzer sounded.

“Obviously, it was a tremendous effort by our guys,” said Maine head coach Ted Woodward, “For us to be in such foul trouble, it was very much gut-check time. It was very much a team win.”

Edwards exploded for a career-high 30 points, shooting an unconscious 11-of-12 from the floor, and added five rebounds, three steals, two assists and a block. Fraser bulled his way to 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting before fouling out, and Pollard dished out seven assists, scored eight points and was a tornado on defense, plundering the Huskies back court for four steals. (more…)

Mike Black, Albany, Sr., PG, 6’ 180:
2011-12 stats: 13.4 PPG, 4.3 APG, 109.5 ORtg
Black is the best point guard in the league, plain and simple. He quarterbacks the offense, makes precision passes on a dime, attacks the hoop ferociously, finishes in traffic, can drain it from deep. He defends. He’s a leader, a workhorse and a warrior. He’s the total package, and will likely be one of the top candidates for conference Player of the Year honors. Black makes the Great Danes go on both ends of the floor, and with the loss of Gerardo Suero and Logan Aronhalt, will need to be even bigger this season for the ‘Danes. He’s up to the task.

OBW Preseason Player of the Year/Defensive Player of the Year
Tommy Brenton, Stony Brook, R-Sr., F, 6’5” 230
2011-12 stats: 7.8 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 113.7 ORtg, 3.4 APG, 1.7 SPG
“The Bill Laimbeer of America East basketball,” as Albany head coach Will Brown likes to say, Brenton is THE enforcer in the league. Arguably the toughest and most physical player – and certainly the most hated among opposing players and fans – Brenton plays balls-out for 40 minutes a game. He’s big, strong, fast, extremely athletic, a terror on the glass and a tornado on defense. Did we mention he’s physical? Brenton has spent his first three seasons of eligibility doing all of the little things for the Seawolves, while doing it all on the defensive end, glass, and running the offense. Now the Seawolves need the point/power forward to step it up and score; with good footwork and several low-post moves, he has the ability, he needs the mindset. Brenton guards the opposition’s best offensive player, regardless of position, and changes the game defensively. His Basketball IQ and instincts are off the charts.

Alasdair Fraser, Maine, Jr., F/C, 6’7” 260
2011-12 Stats: 12.9 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 1.4 BPG
The Scottish-Wall/One-Man Army, Fraser is an immovable object once he establishes positioning on the low-blocks. Surprisingly athletic for such a broad player, Fraser has the best all-around low-post game in the conference, combining an array of low-post moves, tremendous strength, rebounding and play-side defense. He also has a soft touch and was near-automatic from mid-range when left open, so defenses can’t sag off him away from the hoop. Despite a marked increase in touches and workload from his freshman to sophomore season, Fraser’s offensive efficiency held steady. He’s the rare big man who will give you 28-30 effective and impactful minutes every night on both ends of the floor. While not a help-side defender, he routinely sends his own man’s shot packing when challenged. A huge match-up problem in the league, the only defensive strategy likely to work on him is active ball denial. He also loves haggis – seriously, I’m not kidding – so that’s gotta count for something.

Chase Plummer, UMBC, Jr., F, 6’6” 230
2011-12 stats: 15.4 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 34.4 Poss%, 180 FTA
Puh-puh-puh-puh-puh-puh-Plummer (Terry Crews Voice)! Plummer put up serious scoring and rebounding numbers last season despite being swarmed every time he touched the ball and getting hammered around the hoop. Plummer shouldered the heaviest load in the conference, due almost completely to the lack of any sort of supporting cast (especially in the front court). He finished second in the league in free-throw attempts, and first among returning players. He also crashes the glass at both ends, can score in a variety of ways around the hoop and behind the arc, and vastly improved his 3-point and free throw shooting from his freshman season. While his field goal percentage was poor for a front court player, it was largely due to the double and triple teams he faced on a nightly basis. His production was all the more impressive considering that he didn’t have a true point guard on the floor for the entire season. While UMBC had a terrible season last year, in many games Plummer was the only reason UMBC was even competitive. He also made noticeable strides down the stretch last season in decreasing his turnovers – the biggest flaw in his game – cutting his turnover rate by about 40 percent in his final seven games. With the addition of center Brett Roseboro and point guard Aaron Morgan, teams will no longer be able to double-team him the moment he steps off the bus, and his efficiency and shooting percentage are likely to improve drastically as a result. The safest bet of any player in the league to finish in the top 5 in scoring this season.

Brian Voelkel, Vermont, Jr., F, 6’6” 230
2011-12 stats: 4.6 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 5.1 APG, 1.7 SPG, 2.6 A/TO
He can’t shoot, run, jump, or move in any sort of agile or speedy manner, but Voelkel does literally everything else on the floor and has literally dominated games without scoring a point. A point/power forward, Voelkel owns the glass and has an insanely high basketball IQ. He is in all likelihood both the best passer and the best rebounder in the conference, which is a truly rare combination. Voelkel possesses every single intangible a player can have in basketball, and is what makes the Catamounts go. The quarterback on offense and defense, he’s gritty, physical, tough, and plays tremendously hard every night. He is a tremendous help-side defender who makes up for physical limitations with tremendous anticipation.

The America East Tournament is always a place where one can expect to find the good, the bad, and the ugly, usually in equal parts. Yesterday, though, the bad and the ugly took center stage, with the first game of the evening session providing both in abundance.

If fans were looking for offense in this one, there wasn’t much. As Groucho Marx would put it, “In the beginning, there was nothing.”

“Then God said, ‘Let there be light.’ And there was still nothing, but you could see it.” (more…)