Has Maine Ever Played in the Men’s March Madness Tournament?

The NCAA tournament is always a major event when March comes around, but have the Maine men’s team ever qualified?

When you hear ‘basketball,’ ‘tournaments,’ and ‘Maine,’ your mind probably goes straight to high school hoops, since we take our state tournament so seriously. But it's a fair question—Maine has a university that cares about sports, so has our men's team ever made it to March Madness?

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Before we dive too deep, let’s first answer the question: What exactly is the March Madness tournament?

March Madness is the annual NCAA basketball tournament held in March, featuring 68 college teams competing in a single-elimination bracket to crown a national champion. It’s called ‘March Madness’ because of the tournament’s wild upsets and unpredictable moments, making it an event that fans love to follow for its excitement, drama, and the chance to witness underdog teams make history.

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Now that we’ve covered that, let’s get back to the main question—has the University of Maine men’s team ever played in the March Madness tournament?

No, unfortunately, the University of Maine men’s basketball team has never played in March Madness. The Black Bears are one of several Division I programs that have never made the NCAA tournament, and their 78-season drought is the sixth longest in history.

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That isn’t the case for the University of Maine women’s basketball team, which has a strong history in the NCAA tournament.

The Black Bears have made the tournament more than ten times, including six straight appearances in the late 90s. In 1999, they even reached the Round of 32.

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And there you have it—unfortunately, no. The University of Maine men’s team has never competed in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.

Is this surprising to you, or is it something you already knew? When will we finally break into the tournament? We’d love to hear your thoughts! Join the conversation by messaging us on the app.

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Gallery Credit: Brian Budzynski