Fans get first look at UM Men’s, women’s basketball Blue-White games Sunday

ORONO – People who have played basketball for the University of Maine women’s basketball team will tell you there’s nothing quite like playing in front of Black Bear fans at Alfond Arena.

Coach Sharon Versyp’s team will have that opportunity Sunday when UMaine plays its annual Blue-White intrasquad scrimmage at Alfond Arena.

The women’s game begins at 2:30 p.m., after coach John Giannini’s Black Bear men open the afternoon’s festivities at 1 p.m.

Versyp said the Blue-White game is exciting for the players, who have been battling each other in practice the last two weeks.

“It’s always a great experience for the freshmen, but the upperclassmen get excited just as much,” Versyp said. “The Alfond’s a very special place to play.”

UMaine will go through four, 10-minute quarters. Each will feature different player groups and varied strategies and plays.

“My approach to the Blue-White game is just to see a lot of different combinations out on the floor, whether it’s a quick lineup or a big lineup or seeing where we are with our presses and things of that nature,” Versyp said.

Fans may get a glimpse of all 14 roster members Sunday, although Versyp said one or two could be held out of action as a precautionary measure.

UMaine opens its exhibition season Thursday at 7 p.m. against a Basketball Travelers team from Austria.

UMaine line deals with injuries

The UMaine football team continues to deal with some injury and illness situations on the offensive line going into today’s key Atlantic 10 game at Delaware.

Starting guard Ryan Bird will miss his second straight game while recovering from an infection in his leg, while starting tackle Matt Hammond is in the lineup despite having a broken hand.

Bird, a sophomore, has been out since the morning of the Oct. 18 game at Northeastern. He was admitted to a Boston hospital after being evaluated for an infection on his leg.

The 6-foot-3, 290-pounder from North Andover, Mass., spent three days in the hospital, but has since returned to school in Orono. He has not practiced since.

Coach Jack Cosgrove, who is prohibited from discussing the details of Bird’s situation, said the Bears hope he might be back in a week or two.

Hammond, a senior from Elmira, N.Y., broke a bone in his left hand during last weekend’s win over James Madison. Despite having a cast placed on the arm earlier in the week, Hammond said he plans to play with the cast wrapped in padding.