Till Gloger is used to playing with his back to the basket. And that’s been the perfect vantage point for the 6-foot-8 center to see the Maine men’s basketball team transform before his eyes.

In the second year under Coach Bob Walsh, the Black Bears aspire to be a full-throttle, full-court handful for opponents. Which means Gloger has had to adapt his post-up game posthaste.

Till Gloger hasn’t done a lot of shooting at UMaine, but now, with a team emphasizing speed, he may find himself open outside. Photo courtesy of UMaine

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WHO: UMaine at UConn

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday

“That’s not 100 percent my playing style,” the amiable German said last week after scoring 22 points in an exhibition victory over Husson. “Coach Walsh, he wants to play fast, he wants to run up and down. And I’m not going to tell him, ‘Please change it.’ So I’m going to adjust.”

Gloger may still resemble a plow horse surrounded by thoroughbreds at times, but he’s also noticeably improved his conditioning as he begins his senior season Friday when Maine opens at No. 20 Connecticut.

A minute into the second half against Husson, Gloger cradled the basketball and glanced down to find himself inches behind the 3-point line, unguarded. He shrugged and launched. Swish. The smiling Gloger was so surprised he didn’t quite know how to celebrate, tentatively holding up a couple of fingers before heading back on defense.

“We’ve got to get him a little home run trot,” Walsh joked after Gloger made a second 3-pointer later in the game. “He’s a good shooter. I used to talk to him last year about why he wouldn’t shoot it. The way we’re running, if we’re putting pressure on the defense, a couple of times his man’s backing in the paint kind of just waiting for him. I mean, he was wide open. I’m very confident he’s going to make those shots.”

Gloger was the second-leading scorer last year at 11.5 points per game to go with 4.8 rebounds as the Black Bears finished 3-27 in Walsh’s first season. Gloger averaged 27 minutes per game but would be visibly fatigued when he was left on the court too long.

This year, at a trimmer 220 pounds, he finds himself surrounded by youth and energy. Walsh has brought in eight freshmen, four of them walk-ons, and hopes to use 10 or 11 players each game.

“It’s a better level of athleticism than we had last year,” Walsh said. “It should translate to being better defensively. It should translate to being better on the glass. It’s not just points and rebounds and assists, but extra-effort plays, hopefully.”

The Black Bears will be tested by a challenging – and lucrative – nonconference schedule. In addition to Connecticut, which is paying Maine $85,000 for Friday’s game, the Black Bears will travel to meet major-conference foes Marquette ($100,000) and Boston College ($70,000) next month. The $255,000 in payouts far exceeds the $100,000 that Walsh is contractually obligated to bring in.

It will be up to upperclassmen like Gloger – the only senior on the opening-night roster since Shaun Lawton has been suspended – and junior guard Troy Reid-Knight to try to rein in all the youthful enthusiasm on the court and keep the team competitive night in and night out. Reid-Knight, who scored 17 points against Husson, including five 3-pointers, welcomes the challenge.

“I’m kind of put in the role of the father figure on the team. At times they can be immature, but I pretty much make sure that they’re doing what they’re supposed to be doing,” he said.

“They really want to get better, make the team better. I feel like last year at times when we were losing, we forgot how to kind of pick ourselves up. This year I feel like it’s a new start and with all the younger guys coming in … they really haven’t been through all that, so they’re coming in with a lot of positivity (and we’re) trying to basically feed off their energy.”

Issac Vann looks to be the potential breakout star of the group. The 6-6 forward led Maine with 37 points and 24 rebounds in its two preseason victories, against Husson and Southern Maine. Vincent Eze, a 6-8 forward, provides a boisterous attitude and the possibility of being an elite defender. Ilija Stojilkovic (bruised foot) and Lavar Harewood (concussion) sat out the last exhibition but are expected back this week, Walsh said.

Walk-on guard Ryan Bernstein figures to be in the rotation as well, showing some heady play in the preseason and even outplaying incumbent starter Aaron Calixte against Husson.

“I certainly don’t look at anybody as a walk-on,” Walsh said after playing all four of his for a combined 47 minutes in the Husson game.

And then there’s Gloger, who still gives the Black Bears an interior scoring option when they pause long enough to run a half-court set. His first three baskets against Husson were on layups, then he sank a couple of free throws before stepping outside for a jumper. Walsh is hoping to get 25 effective minutes per game out of a well-rested Gloger.

“I think he’s moving a little bit better. He still carries that piano around with him when he’s running,” Walsh said. “Twenty-four minutes of Till fresh versus 30 minutes where maybe he’s conserving something, he’s getting a little bit tired, is different.”

Gloger said he’ll be in better shape merely from having to keep up with the freshmen in practices. It’s in those sessions that players earn their minutes in games, and Gloger is loving that.

“I’m definitely believing the progress we’re making every day,” Gloger said. “I think that over the years this team will have a chance to go to the NCAA tournament for sure. I’m not sure if it will be this year.

“But it’s my last go-around. I can’t wait.”

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