Picks are in

For the first time in many a year, the border-war games between UMaine and New Hampshire likely will have a direct bearing on the America East basketball race. Should be a fun winter in northern New England. Now, if UMaine can just get everybody healthy ...

Steve and I turned in our picks with the biggest disparity being where to peg our boys, the Black Bears. I have them pegged for another fourth-place finish while Steve has them moving up a couple notches to No. 2.

No surprise that Boston U. is our unanimous pick for No. 1. They've got the league's best player in John Holland and another guy, Jake O'Brien, who can score from anywhere.

Despite the injury to Tommy Brenton, I've got Stony Brook staying a solid second. The Seawolves might have the deepest roster in America East and I think that will allow them to hold the fort until Brenton returns.

New Hampshire and the Black Bears fall into the same bucket o' fish in my opinion. If some things break right (i.e., injuries, schedule, good whistles, etc.,) either of these two teams could contend for the league title.

Alvin Abreu is a stud and UNH has a solid roster. UMaine has enough experience to know the season begins in January. Big question on Black Bears' mind might be the point guard position. Andrew Rogers is back and he's joined by Raheem "Radio" Singleton. If one of those two turns into a bonafide AE point (or if they provide a solid combination) it'll improve UMaine's chances considerably.

Coach Reed

Kevin Reed, the top three-point shooter in UMaine history, has accepted the head basketball coaching position at Bangor Christian High School.

Good luck, coach.

One of my favorite Kevin Reed moments:

When my daughter was younger, she used to pick a favorite Black Bears player every year.

Some her favorite players were Huggy Dye, Justin Rowe, Eric Dobson, Joe Campbell and Kevin Reed. One year, we found her a baby blue basketball outfit with Kevin Reed's number on it. We affixed the letters K. REED and she used to wear it all the time.

At one game, she was walking somewhere near the bench and I could see from a distance that one of Reed's friends in the stands yelled something to him. Reed turns around and broke into a smile when he saw her.

She's older now, but she still has her favorite ... Troy.

M*A*S*H

The Black Bears apparently will enter the season with a couple players on the injured list. Seniors Sean McNally (foot/ankle) and Terrance Mitchell (finger) have sustained injuries.

Mitchell recently had surgery on his hand is said be out at least six weeks. McNally's appears to be less severe. McNally tweeted that he stepped on a Cape Breton player's foot during the exhibition game. He said he was outfitted with a flexible walking cast.

Not the way you want to start the season, but it'll give some players an opportunity to step in and show what they can do. Those two guys represent a lot of minutes.

Exhibition place

The Black Bears downed Cape Breton Saturday in an exhibition game at Alfond Arena.

Steve attended the game and called in a report:

* Sean McNally appeared to have trimmed down a bit and was moving very well on the inside until an apparent ankle injury knocked him out of the exhibition early in the second half. According to published reports, the injury is not serious. McNally was on the bench for the duration of the contest.

Hopefully, the injury won't become a lingering issue.

* Raheem Singleton (above) doesn't mind physical play; an important characteristic for guards in America East. Once conference play begins, guards who can't withstand constant hand-checks, clutching and grabbing get pushed around and eventually out.

* UMaine dominated the rebounding (to be expected), but also committed a ton of turnovers (not necessarily expected).

* Troy Barnies brought his usual energy and effort.

* Murphy Burnatowski came off the bench and looked good. The starters were Gerald McLemore, Singleton, McNally, Barnies and Malachi Peay.

* Terrance Mitchell and Travon Wilcher were held out of the game.

Next stop Utah Valley State on Nov. 12.

First look

Fans will get their first look at the 2010-11 Black Bears Sunday at the annual Blue-White game. It's safe to say that expectations for a UMaine men's hoop team haven't been this hopeful for at least five or six years.

The Black Bears have a strong nucleus returning from a 19-11 squad that surprised last year and finished third in America East. Based on that performance, many publications and league coaches have picked UMaine to finish high up in the standings again.

The common refrain heard around the team is "if things break right and fall into place" maybe this club could do the unthinkable and win the league title and the program's first-ever NCAA berth.

To which we say, "whoaaaaaa, Nellie." There's a lot of turf to cover before the club gets to that point. One only has to look across the parking lot to the football field to find an example of a team talking bravely (and listening to glowing reports) before the season only to have it unravel in a matter of weeks.

Remember, this Black Bears basketball team hasn't won a postseason game since assistant coach Chris Markwood was lacing them up. This Black Bears team was the only higher seeded team to lose its America East quarterfinal game last year.

Sure, we all love to read the glittering reports about the Black Bears and once again enter a season with a little swagger. But remember, it's all just so much talk unless it is backed up.

Sunday we'll be re-introduced to the Black Bears. Three weeks from Sunday, another college hoops journey begins.

Longing for Pit renovation

UMaine announced today that it has received a $5.5 million challenge grant from the Harold Alfond Foundation for renovations at Alfond Arena and the planned renovation of Memorial Gym, aka, The Pit.

Of the $5.5 million, $2 million is a challenge grant for the $14 million renovation of Memorial Gym and Field House. A written release did not specify how much has been raised to date for the project.

Plans include a renovated facility to serve as home to the men's and women's basketball teams, replacement of the indoor track, renovated athletics department office space and other modifications, said the university.

The rest of the grant goes to renovations planned for the arena, which will continue to serve as home of the hoops teams for the foreseeable future.

Renovation work will begin at Alfond Arena later this fall. No time frame for work on The Pit was announced.

Now, if I could just win the Powerball ... UMaine would, in short order, be able to hold another press conference announcing a new home for UMaine hoops.

Preseason All-America East

UMaine junior guard Gerald McLemore has been chosen to the America East preseason all-conference team.

He's joined by Boston University forward Jake O'Brien, Vermont forward Evan Fjeld, Binghamton guard Greer Wright and Boston University guard John Holland.

Wright and Holland were unanimous selections.