Men’s basketball

MAINE vs. NORTHEASTERN

Time, site: Saturday, noon; Alfond Arena, Orono

Records: Maine 3-2; Northeastern 1-2

Series, last meeting: NU leads 63-46; NU 71-61 on 2/17/07

Key players: Maine – 6-5 G-F Mark Socoby (16.4 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 2.4 apg), 6-9 C Brian Andre (14.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg), 6-5 G Junior Bernal (12.2 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 3.2 apg), 6-3 G Robby Hanzlik (5.2 ppg, 3.0 spg, 2.2 apg), 6-10 F-C Jordan Cook (5.0 ppg, 4.4 rpg); Northeastern – 6-4 G Chaisson Allen (13.7 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 4.0 spg, 2.7 apg), 6-8 F Manny Adako (13.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg), 6-4 G-F Matt Janning (12.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg), 6-9 C Nkem Ojougboh (9.0 ppg, 12.3 rpg), 6-8 F Eugene Spates (6.3 ppg, 2.7 rpg)

Outlook: The Black Bears may be young and more inexperienced compared to recent squads, but they’ve exhibited veteran toughness in terms of rebounding (43.4 per game to opponents’ 33.8) and defense, holding foes to 36.8 percent shooting from the field. Coach Ted Woodward would like to see his Bears cut down on their 20.2 turnovers per game. The physically imposing Huskies will be a good test for Maine, which has won three straight. NU, which has won three straight over the Bears, is coming off a seven-point win over America East favorite Boston University but has been equally impressive in two losses: 74-72 to ACC power Maryland and 63-55 to Big Ten standout Illinois.

Men’s hockey

MAINE vs. VERMONT

Time, site: Sunday, 2 p.m.; Alfond Arena, Orono

Records: Maine 4-6-1 (2-4-1 Hockey East); Vermont 3-5-1 (3-2-1 HE)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 12-9-1; Maine 1-0 on 2/10/07

Key players: Maine – D Bret Tyler (3 goals, 4 assists), LW Chris Hahn (3 & 1), LW Billy Ryan (2 & 2), RW Andrew Sweetland (2 & 2), RW Rob Bellamy (0 & 3), D Travis Ramsey (1 & 0), G Ben Bishop (4-6-1, 2.26 GAA, .926 save pct.); Vermont – C Dean Strong (2 & 6), RW Peter Lenes (3 & 4), LW Viktor Stalberg (2 & 5), RW Corey Carlson (3 & 3), C Brayden Irwin (3 & 3), D Mark Lutz (0 & 0), G Joe Fallon (3-4-1, 3.05, .900)

Outlook: After scoring only 12 goals in their first seven games, the Catamounts have broken out with nine goals in their last two: wins over Boston University (5-4) and UMass (4-2). Vermont has won three of its last four. Maine is winless in five (0-4-1), scoring just five goals and going 1-for-18 on the power play. Strong is one of the league’s best forwards and the Bears will have to find a way to neutralize him. The teams have a lot of similarities. Both suffered significant graduation losses, both lost a prolific scorer early to the pros in UVM’s Torrey Mitchell and Maine’s Teddy Purcell, both returned a stellar veteran goalie and both have been playing three freshman defensemen. Maine has to play physical, put more pucks on net and drive the netfront with urgency while maintaining defensive focus. UVM needs to play with high energy.