A trio of individual performances stand out as memorable as much for their diversity as their accomplishment. Maine’s heart and soul is sophomore wing man Lucious Harris. Harris not only led the team in scoring by almost five points a game last season but lead the conference in dropped jaws from the fans on shots he hit from the rafters. Harris, a junior this year, goes 6’3 and is a scorer and can shoot with anybody. He has that incredible ability to block out the last shot he just missed and keep firing away. Harris is also a terrific all-around performer.  He is solid on the boards and can guard people.  He may not quite be in the same league as Reggie Lewis of Northeastern as an all-around talent but there is no one else in this league who can match his play on the wing.  He is that good. 

The opposite end of the spectrum for the Bears is their big post men Jeff Cross and Bob Warner.  Sophomore to be Cross is an intimidator who is best trying to defend the castle against oncoming intruders. Cross is not afraid to bang against anybody and has the body to do it.  He gives Maine a presence that befits their nickname. Cross did not start the season as a main post guy but earned his role as the guardian of the goal and was great during the second half.  Cross was good enough to earn honorable mention all-conference in his first year and got his scoring average almost into double digits.  This Chicago kid may be the only player that has a pro style body as he is six ten and goes about two forty so he can definitely hand with the big boys at the next level.  That is if he keeps improving as much as he did his first year. 

The other stud on the team up front is the Junior power forward Bob Warner who did most of the dirty work in support of Cross underneath.  A solid rebounder who backs away from no one, he combined with Cross to give the other members of the American East Conference an intimidating pair to do battle against.  Warner led the team in boards and fouls and also has a solid post- game.  He will not be confused with Cross as far as intimidation as he only goes 6’6 but he most definitely gets the job done.  Warner may not have the upside and domination of Cross but he is a very solid low post player for Maine who came to play each and every night.  He takes care of his body and loves the weight room and is a former high schooler here in the Pine Tree State who has two more years in Orono to bang with the big boys of the AMEC.  Now for the rest of the team because if Maine had 10 more of these type of players they would not lose a game in or out of this conference. 

Seniors Skip Chappelle and Jim Stephenson battled for playing time opposite Harris at the other wing position.  Stephenson goes 6’3 and is a better scorer though Chappelle can hit one handed jumpers all day.  Chappelle is a six footer who has a huge Basketball IQ and was an extra Coach on the court.  He may have a future coaching and the fans in Orono love him. They were a solid tandem though they were not the most athletic wings ever.  Stephenson might have a bit of an advantage due to his size but both of these cats will play unless the new kids in Orono are all that and a bag of chips.  Legendary Senior Keith Mahaney is coming back for one more year after a tour of duty overseas that lasted longer than expected.  Mahaney is a stud who led the team in scoring before he left a couple of years back but will be asked to run the team this year.  A terrific ballhandler this should be no issue after he gets the rust off but McCall has brought in a bunch of point guards, both 4 year and transfers, to challenge the elder statesmen of this team.  It is not often that 26 year olds get to play on D-1 teams especially nowadays but Mahaney had earned the privilege and has already been named team captain.  The funny thing is they had to take his # 24 out of the rafters so that he can wear it one last year, and, yes, he is that big around these parts.  All three of these Orono legends have had great careers here and are coming back for one more shot at glory and to finally get a damn trophy. 

The rest of the Maine team was filled with a group of talented but inconsistent Upperclassmen who will compete for minutes behind the starters.  The youth movement will get their shot as well and these vets hope that ‘Only Lovers Left Behind’ does not become their theme song.  Seniors Don Sturgeon, John Gillette, Hugh Campbell, Guy Strang (what a name), John Norris and Larry Schiner are a bunch of undersized warriors who got unceremoniously dumped to the bench with the matriculation of Cross to Orono from the Great Lakes.  Sturgeon was the incumbent starter but was too small for D-1 though he could really board.  Schiner used to be the man in Orone but is even smaller and has slipped far down the food chain.  The rest have had roles in the past but will be lucky to stay on the 15 man home roster (no way any of them make the 13 man traveling roster).  Junior Peter Gavett was one of the biggest recruits in Black Bear history after a stellar High School Career in Bangor.  Gavett had some off the court issues that kept him from starting the year with the team last year after a terrific first year in Orono.  He came back and played well off the bench will have to earn minutes back which will be easier said than done with the two ‘true’ bears in front of him.  He is stuck behind Cross and Warner but at 6’5 can also play a little wing.  Gavitt will be a great third option rotating in as he was the second half of the year but you know this kid wants to start again.  Fellow juniors Kevin Nelson and Roger Lapham have better shots of getting minutes than any of the seniors.  Nelson is a good defender underneath and does not take bad shot.  This lefty plays smooth and played well last year.  He will be hard to keep off the court.  Lapham also plays tight end on the football team but can play.  He goes 6’5 235 and his screens will leave a mark but he is not as skilled as the rest of the guys down low.  As for the backcourt, there is not near as much depth.  Senior Terry Carr played often last year but is more of a two guard than a point and will probably take a seat with Mahaney back in town.  Junior Rick Boucher and sophomores Jimmy Boylen and Jeff Sturgeon are also back and will challenge for roles.  This trio rotated between varsity and JV and at point and they can play.  Sturgeon was a huge recruit who has size at 6’4 was supposed to be the starter this year but was a bit inconsistent in his first year here and might need another year on the JV especially with Mahaney back.  Boylen can score some and will push hard if Mathaney doesn’t adjust well to D-1. ‘Don’t call me Bobby’ Boucher has some size at 6’3 but does not bring much offense though he is a good defender.  

Maine had an up and down season that ended up as it quite usually does with a middle of the Sloth finish.  Incredible play by wing Rufus Harris and the tough down low play of two big guys highlighted the roller coaster season.  There is hope for the future in Orono but they will need to get better guard play to move up the food chain.  Most all of the players return and the signs of life seemed to show up late in a stretch when the Bears won 6 of their last 9 regular season games.  The future is not exactly so bright you have to wear shades but with all of the key players returning (and a legend returning from War) the fans are hopeful they finally get to go dancing this year.   One thing is for sure the fans in Orono will be seeing plenty of Mr. Harris and the beefy combo of Warner and Cross up front.  And Memorial gym will be filled every night just like it has been for years in the eastern most D-1 school in the country.