Time is now

Only two weeks into the America East season and the Black Bears would appear to have arrived at a crossroads.

Three straight losses to contenders Boston University, Albany and Vermont have left UMaine at 2-3 in the league and looking to regain some of the swagger discovered during a solid non-conference schedule.

If UMaine hopes to climb back into contention for a coveted top three seed for the America East tournament, it's likely the hike begins this week with home games against Hartford (Thursday) and league-leading Stony Brook (Saturday).

Fortunes seemingly change overnight. The Black Bears can get back into the hunt without packing a bag.

National team cuts Burnatowski

Former Black Bears forward Murphy Burnatowski recently was one of two final cuts from Canada's national team. He spent six weeks competing for a roster spot with the Canadians, who are making an attempt to qualify for the Olympics.

Former Syracuse star Leo Rautins is coach of the national team. The Canadian roster includes two NBA players, Joel Anthony (Miami) and Cory Joseph (San Antonio).

Burnatowski transferred to Colgate and will redshirt the 2011-12 season.

Verbal

The Black Bears reportedly received a verbal commitment from Barry Webster, a 6-10 frontcourt prospect from England.

America East OOC

List is updated as games are discovered.

UMaine
Nov. 11: at Rhode Island
Nov. 17: at Connecticut
Nov. 30: at Eastern Illinois
Dec. 8: at Notre Dame
Dec. 19: Utah Valley
Dec. 21: Eastern Illinois
Dec. 29: at Florida Gulf Coast

Albany

Nov. 11 at Pitt
Nov. 14: vs. Brown (NIT Season Tip-Off)
Nov. 15: vs. Manhatton or Syracuse (NIT Season Tip-Off)
Nov. 21: TBD (NIT Season Tip-Off)
Nov. 22: TBD (NIT Season Tip-Off)
Nov. 25: Navy
Nov. 27: Fairleigh Dickinson
Dec. 5: at Siena
Dec. 7: Colgate
Dec. 17: at Cornell
Dec. 19: at St. Francis (N.Y.)
Dec. 23: Dartmouth
Dec. 28: at Maryland
Dec. 31 at Mount St. Mary's

Binghamton
Nov. 12: Colgate
Nov. 14: at Cornell
Nov. 18: at Fordham
Nov. 20: at St. Peter's
Nov. 27: at Missouri
Dec. 3: Army
Dec. 6: Bucknell
Dec. 17: at Hofstra
Dec. 19: Morehead State
Dec. 22: Drexel
Dec. 28: at Canisius
Dec. 30: Manhattan

Boston University
Nov. 13: at Texas (Legends Classic)
Nov. 20: at Cornell
Nov. 30: at Delaware
Dec. 10: Harvard
Dec. 29: at LaSalle
Dec. 31: at Quinnipiac

Hartford
Nov. 11: vs. Sacred Heart (Connecticut 6 Classic)
Nov. 12: at Penn State
Nov. 29: Yale
Dec. 6: Quinnipiac
Dec. 31: at LaSalle

Maryland-Baltimore County
Nov. 28: at Rutgers
Dec. 1: at American
Dec. 17: Rider

New Hampshire
Dec. 30: vs. Sacred Heart

Stony Brook
Nov. 11: at Indiana
Nov. 13: Mount Ida
Nov. 15: at Sacred Heart
Nov. 18: at Wagner
Nov. 22: Columbia
Nov. 25: at Northwestern
Dec. 3: at Eastern Illinois
Dec. 7: Fairleigh Dickinson
Dec. 11: at Boston College
Dec. 17: vs. Rutgers (Garden Holiday Festival)
Dec. 28: Cornell
Dec. 30: Rider
Feb. 17-19: Bracket Buster

Vermont
Nov. 12: at South Florida (Hall of Fame Tip-Off)
Nov. 16: at Dartmouth
Nov. 19: vs. Marist (Hall of Fame Tip-Off)
Nov. 20: vs. Long Island or Radford (Hall of Fame Tip-Off)
Nov. 23: at Old Dominion (Hall of Fame Tip-Off)
Nov. 26: Siena
Dec. 1: Harvard
Dec. 3: at Yale
Dec. 7: at St. Louis
Dec. 11: Quinnipiac
Dec. 17: Iona
Dec. 21: at Fairleigh Dickinson
Dec. 23: at Towson
Dec. 30: Northeastern

Rams for opener

The Black Bears will open the season Nov. 11 at Rhode Island.

America East non-conference dates

List is updated as games are discovered.

UMaine
Nov. 11: at Rhode Island
Nov. 17: at Connecticut

Albany
Nov. 14 or 15: vs. Brown (at Syracuse – NIT Season Tip-Off)
Nov. 15 or 16: vs. Manhattan or Syracuse (at Syracuse) – NIT Season Tip-Off
Dec. 5: at Siena

Binghamton
Nov. 20: at St. Peter's
Dec. 17: at Hofstra

Boston University
Nov. 13: at Texas (Legends Classic)
Nov. 30: at Delaware
Dec. 29: at LaSalle
Dec. 31: at Quinnipiac

Hartford
Nov. 11: vs. Sacred Heart (Connecticut 6 Classic)
Nov. 12: at Penn State
Nov. 29: Yale
Dec. 6: Quinnipiac
Dec. 31: at LaSalle

Maryland-Baltimore County
Dec. 1: at American
Dec. 17: Morgan State

New Hampshire
Dec. 30: vs. Sacred Heart

Stony Brook
Nov. 15: at Sacred Heart
Dec. 17: vs. Rutgers (Garden Holiday Festival at Madison Square Garden). Not a tournament; one-day neutral site doubleheader. Other game is St. John's vs. Fordham.

Vermont
Nov. 12: at South Florida (Hall of Fame Tip-Off)
Nov. 19: vs. Marist (Hall of Fame Tip-Off)
Nov. 20: vs. Long Island or Radford (Hall of Fame Tip-Off)
Nov. 23: at Old Dominion (Hall of Fame Tip-Off)
Nov. 26: Siena
Dec. 3: at Yale
Dec. 11: Quinnipiac

Non-conference games

Nov. 13
Boston University at Texas (Legends Classic)