MAINE vs. No. 4 CONNECTICUT
Time, site: 7 p.m. Thursday, XL Center, Hartford, Conn.
Records: Maine 1-0, Connecticut 2-0
Series, last meeting: UConn leads 81-16, UConn 71-54 on 12/22/09
Key players: Maine — 6-3 G Justin Edwards (24 ppg, 9 rpg, 5 spg, 3 bpg), 6-3 G Gerald McLemore (21 ppg), 6-7 F Alasdair Fraser (19 ppg, 12 rpg, 2 bpg), 6-7 F Kilian Cato (14 ppg, 4 rpg), 6-0 G Raheem Singleton (8 ppg, 9 apg), 5-9 G Andrew Rogers (11 ppg, 8 rpg, 2 spg); UConn — 6-5 G/F Jeremy Lamb (25 ppg, 5 rpg, 2.5 spg), 6-1 G Shabazz Napier (21 ppg, 4.5 apg, 2.5 spg), 6-9 F Tyler Olander (7 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 2.5 bpg), 6-8 F DeAndre Daniels (6.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 3.0 bpg), 6-9 F/C Alex Oriakhi (5 ppg, 7 rpg)
Outlook: The Black Bears likely face their most difficult matchup of the season against the Huskies. UMaine and its youthful, injury-thinned lineup must try to contain a UConn squad that won the national championship last season. The Bears will encounter tough matchups all around as UConn returns four starters and features more frontcourt size and depth. Lamb was a Final Four all-tourney pick last season. UMaine has been quite competitive in recent years against top-level teams, including last year’s 74-64 win at Penn State. However, the Bears lack the overall experience of that team. UConn also is young, with 11 freshmen and sophomores. UMaine coach Ted Woodward was an assistant on coach Jim Calhoun’s first three UConn teams (1986-89).