ORONO – For a second straight year, the University of Maine men return virtually their entire basketball roster while also introducing some new faces.

The Black Bears will be smaller up front and inside with the graduation of 6-foot-9, 310-pound center Brian Andre, but quicker with better perimeter shooting with the addition of freshman guards Doran Mitchell, Andrew Rogers, Jon McAllian of Bangor, Gerald McLemore, and Ryan Martin of Wayne.

For both McAllian and Martin, suiting up for the Bears is a dream come true.

“It’s awesome just having a Division I school in your back yard and being able to come here,” said McAllian, a NEWS All-Maine second team selection last year. “In second grade I came to camps here, but when I really thought it might be a reality was after my junior year in high school.”

“I’ve been wanting to play Division I basketball since I got in high school and there’s no better school to come to for that for me than the University of Maine,” said Martin, a two-time BDN All-Maine first-teamer. “Midway through my senior year, I came up here to talk to coach [Ted] Woodward and he really showed a lot of interest and that’s what made it something I wanted to do.”

Both the men’s and women’s basketball teams held their annual media days Wednesday as they prepare for their openers. The men open vs. Northern Illinois in the 100 Club Classic in Kennesaw, Ga., on Nov. 14, and the women visit Durham, N.C., on Nov. 16 to take on Duke, coached by former UMaine coach Joanne P. McCallie.

Woodward is excited about his team’s potential and talent.

“This is a different team. This is one with a lot better shooting, a lot quicker, a lot faster and a lot more depth on the perimeter,” said Woodward. “It’s a top-heavy league with a lot of the better teams returning most of their talent, but I think we’ll be a lot of fun to watch.”

The Bears return four starters from last season’s 7-23 squad (3-13 in America East), including guards Junior Bernal, a former Maine Central Institute postgrad star, and Mark Socoby, a former Bangor and Houlton High School standout, and Kaimondre Owes, along with forward Jordan Cook of Hampden.

Other key players back are forwards Sean McNally of Gardiner (14 starts), 11-game starter Troy Barnies of Auburn, and Philippe Tchekane Bofia (12).

“Sean had a great February last year and now weighs 250 and lives in the weight room,” Woodward said. “Troy Barnies has put on 25 pounds and still running 51/4-minute miles.”

McNally weighed 230 pounds a year ago.

Medical problems and lingering injuries will likely limit and possibly even end playing time for Bofia and former Westbrook star Jason Hight.

“Phil is still very questionable as far as how much, if anything, he can give us this year. He’s just hurting,” Woodward said. “Jay will be around helping us out, more in a student assistant coaching role as I don’t expect he’ll even be able to play.”

Women’s team still rebuilding

When recruiting this year’s freshman class, Cindy Blodgett put all her cards on the table.

“I told them, ‘we’re in the middle of building a program. If that’s a challenge you want to accept, Maine is the place for you,'” Blodgett said.

To help expedite the process, and integrate the freshmen, the Black Bears spent the summer together in Orono.

“I think we bonded well as a team,” said freshman Jasmine Rush of Houston.

“I got to know everybody on the team and got to hang out with them,” Rush said. “I think that helps with chemistry when the season starts up, because we got to see each other’s strengths and weaknesses.”

The Bears hope to mesh on and off the court after experiencing the departure of six players in the last year. That leaves UMaine with 10 players.

“People left for different reasons, but the thing to focus on right now is, the people here are the ones that want to be here and are willing to work hard to do what it takes to have a great season,” said junior Brittany Boser. “We all really believe in each other and we’re all together in this.”

Blodgett is excited about how this year’s team appears to be coming together, having seen their level of commitment and interaction last summer.

“It shows me how much they’re invested,” the second-year coach said.

“The freshmen have done a phenomenal job of following the returning players and the returning players have shown great character in taking care of the four freshmen,” she said.

UMaine is coming off a 7-23 season, during which it went 4-12 in America East play and lost to Stony Brook in the tournament play-in game.

The Bears’ nucleus features four returning starters in forward Colleen Kilmurray, the only senior, along with three juniors in forward Brittany Boser, and guards Amanda Tewksbury and Kristin Baker of Bingham.

Sophomore guard/forward Tanna Ross of Newburgh returns after off-season knee surgery, while junior forward Katia Bratishko will provide frontcourt depth.

The experience gained last winter by that group should be apparent this season.

“I think we’re really excited to get another chance to be out here on the court after all the hard work we’ve put in, with the experience we have from last year,” Tewskbury said.

The freshmen are point guard Brittany Williams, forward Samantha Wheeler, post player Samantha Baranowski and Rush, a combo guard.

The focus is making sure everybody is on the same page in all aspects of the program.

“I think they know the expectations we have for them as a coaching staff,” Blodgett said. “I think they’re more comfortable.”

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