MAINE vs. BUTLER
Time, site: Saturday, 4:30 p.m., Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indianapolis
Records (2013-2014): Maine 6-23, Butler 14-17
Series: 1st meeting
Key players (2013-2014 statistics): Maine — 6-4 G Zarko Valjarevic (11.3 ppg, 1.4 apg), 6-5 G Shaun Lawton (8.1 ppg, 4.2 apg, 2.0 spg), 6-8 F Till Gloger (7.8 ppg, 4.0 rpg), 6-7 F Ethan Mackey (5.1 ppg, 4.8 rpg), 6-5 G/F Garet Beal (4.5 ppg, 2.0 rpg), 5-11 G Aaron Calixte (1st season); Butler — 6-6 G Kellen Dunham (16.4 ppg, 4.0 rpg), 6-4 F Roosevelt Jones (10.1 ppg, 5.6 rpg), 6-9 F Kameron Woods (7.5 ppg, 9.0 rpg), 5-11 G Alex Barlow (6.6 ppg, 3.5 apg, 1.9 spg), 6-7 F Andrew Chrabascz (6.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg).
Coach Bob Walsh’s comments: “I think their size is something that we have to contend with. They generally play big and I think they’re tough. They’ll be good on the boards.”
Game notes: The Black Bears jump into the new season with a road game against the Bulldogs of the Big East Conference. They’ll play 11 of their first 13 contests outside Maine. UMaine will give away a few inches across the board. Butler returns four starters and Jones, who started the previous year but was injured last season. With Troy Reid-Knight sidelined by an injury, Calixte, Lawton and freshman Kevin Little will be charged with keeping the Bears in synch at the offensive end. The Bulldogs went 4-14 in the Big East last season but were 10-2 in nonleague play.