BANGOR, Maine — Nobody feels worse about the struggles of the University of Maine men’s basketball team than head coach Bob Walsh.
On Thursday night, facing a University of Maryland Baltimore County team that has experienced its own difficulties, the Black Bears were again ineffective.
The 76-59 America East setback at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor was the 13th in a row for UMaine (1-18, 0-6 AE) and extended the longest losing streak in program history.
Throughout the game, and reportedly during the halftime break, UMaine’s first-year coach exhibited anger about his team’s poor play. Walsh admits that he had never been more disappointed in one of his teams, or in his own inability to get results on the court.
The dust had barely settled on Thursday night when a cordial Walsh sat down to address a small gathering of media. Reporters and broadcasters expected to hear brief comments, especially since he declined to bring any players to the session.
Instead, Walsh spent 10 minutes pouring his heart out about how the most recent loss and the Black Bears’ continued ineptitude was affecting him.
He tried to put it in perspective, based on the overall dynamic surrounding the program.
“I’m thrilled to be the coach every day,” he began. “The history of this program and the passion for basketball in the state of Maine and the support is unbelievable from our fans and longtime supporters and other coaches.
“We joke that we’re the most revered one-win coaching staff in the country,” he said, “and our fans and everybody who supports this program, and everybody who does that who’s made me feel great about being here every day, deserves so much better than what we’re giving them.”
Walsh is genuinely concerned about how the men’s basketball team has been unable to put a better product on the floor during his first season.
“There’s so much pride in the University of Maine, and our team is not coming close to living up to that standard,” he said. “I’ve got to be better. We’ve got to give them better. I’m just thoroughly disappointed in myself.”
Rather than talk about the specifics of how the Black Bears played, and some of their considerable deficiencies, he instead took responsibility for the inability to teach or motivate the players.
Instead of pointing to lack of skills or talents, Walsh believes it is the job of the coaches to instill a passion for intensity, fight, competitive spirit and cohesion, intangibles that if demonstrated consistently can help UMaine overcome their limited experience and lack of all-star talent.
“I’ve got to get the message across. It’s clear I’m not doing that,” Walsh said. “Leadership is not about the message you give, it’s about the message they receive.”
One reason for Walsh’s frustration is that he seems to truly enjoy the group of players with which he is working.
“We’ve got a great group to be around, really good kids, a really together group,” he said.
And Walsh continues to espouse the belief that the Black Bears can be much better.
“We won’t stop fighting, I know that,” he said. “I’ve told our kids from Day 1, it may be hard, it may get difficult, but we will never give up on you.”
UMaine is back in action on Sunday afternoon at Hartford.