Men’s basketball

MAINE TIP-OFF TOURNAMENT

Maine vs. UMaine-Fort Kent

Time, site: 5 p.m. Saturday; Alfond Arena, Orono

Records: Maine (0-0); UM-Fort Kent (1-1)

Series, last meeting: first meeting

Key players: Maine – 6-2 G Derrick Jackson ( 7.5 ppg, 2.8 rpg last season), 6-1 G Kevin Reed (freshman) , 6-2 G Eric Dobson (junior college transfer), 6-6 F-G Joe Campbell (6.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg) , 6-9 F David Dubois (0.8 ppg, 0.4 rpg); UMFK – G Jose Frias (20.0 ppg), G Andrew Clavette (13.2 ppg), F Bartas Samaitis (12.0 ppg), G Vladimir Khazanovitch (10.2 ppg)

Outlook: The Black Bears come into their season-opener with their entire starting frontcourt and another big man serving three- to five-game suspensions for secondary NCAA rules violations, so coach John Giannini has had to radically retool his starting lineup and rotation the last three days. Ironically, the suspensions may force the Bears to rely on a guard-heavy lineup – quite a switch from last year when the backcourt was a glaring weakness in terms of quality and quantity. Once again, Campbell will be counted on to fill a starting role after expecting to serve more as a sub off the bench. James Graffam’s Bengals, who shot 60.3 rom the field in their opener, return four starters from last season’s 17-14 team. UMFK is shooting 41 percent from 3-point range (17-for-41). This is the first time Maine has played an in-state school since beating UM-Presque Isle and Husson College in 1997-98.

Georgia Southern vs. John Jay

Time, site: 7:30 p.m. Saturday; Alfond Arena, Orono

Records: Georgia Southern (0-0); John Jay (0-0)

Key players: Georgia Southern – 6-2 G Julius Jenkins (14.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.5 apg last season), 6-7 F Frank Bennett (9.4 ppg), 6-4 F Kordel Gibson (7.4 ppg), 6-1 G Terry Williams (9.0 ppg), 6-3 G Kenny Faulk (6.2 ppg); John Jay – 6-1 G Tim White, 6-5 F David Barry, 6-0 G Harry Stanley, 6-1 G Pablo Palma, 5-9 G Joe Williams

Outlook: Both teams feature strong backcourts and both are coming off championship seasons, Georgia Southern winning the Southern Conference’s south division and John Jay taking the CUNY north division title. Both the GSU Eagles and the Bloodhounds have three starters back to complement solid recruiting classes. Both Eagles coach Jeff Price and Jay’s Charles “Guy” Rancourt are in their fourth seasons and have won conference coach of the year honors. Jenkins is a two-time all-conference pick and one of the top players in the tourney field. Both teams can start four guards at once and shape up as difficult teams to generate defensive pressure on.