MAINE vs. OKLAHOMA

Time, site: Wednesday, 8 p.m.; Lloyd Noble Center, Norman, Okla.

Records: Maine 5-4; Oklahoma 8-0

Series, last meeting: 1st meeting

Key players: Maine – 6-5 G Mark Socoby (15.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2.6 apg, 2.3 spg), 6-3 G Gerald McLemore (12.6 ppg, .444 3-pt. FG pct.), 6-5 G Junior Bernal (9.4 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 4.1 apg), 6-7 C Sean McNally (8.0 ppg, 7.1 rpg), 6-4 G Kaimondre Owes (7.9 ppg), 6-7 F Troy Barnies (6.9 ppg, 5.7 rpg); Oklahoma – 6-10 F Blake Griffin (24.8 ppg, 16.3 rpg, .673 FG pct.), 6-4 G Willie Warren (13.5 ppg, 2.8 apg), 6-7 F Taylor Griffin (11.0 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 2.1 spg, 1.9 bpg), 6-5 G Cade Davis (8.3 ppg), 6-3 G Austin Johnson (7.6 ppg, 4.5 apg).

Outlook: The Black Bears face one of the toughest challenges in program history against the No. 5, undefeated Sooners. UMaine has won two straight, including Monday’s 67-56 win over Colgate. The Bears play an Oklahoma team that features Blake Griffin, who is a potential No. 1 pick in next year’s NBA draft. UMaine may have trouble matching up in the frontcourt with McNally and 6-9 backup center Svetoslav Chetinov its only big, rugged post players. OU owns victories over Davidson, Purdue and Southern Cal and is coming off Monday’s 69-44 win at Tulsa. UMaine coach Ted Woodward doesn’t want his players to get too worked up about the matchup: “It’s going to be exciting for us. We don’t need to be in awe of anybody. We’ve just got to go out there and try to do what we do against whoever we play against. Obviously, we’re going to be at somewhat of a size advantage. Our guys look forward to these games.”