The University of Maine men’s basketball team has already gotten some recognition from national magazines and web sites. On Tuesday, it was announced the Black Bears will also be getting some national TV exposure during the season.

The America East Conference has announced that the Black Bears’ game at Stony Brook on Saturday, Feb. 12 at 11 a.m. will be broadcast before a national television audience on ESPNU.

“It is a wonderful opportunity for our program to be represented on ESPNU and be televised nationally,”Maine head coach Ted Woodward said in a statement from the conference.

Sporting News has ranked the Black Bears No. 1 in America East in its recently-released college basketball preview. Maine has 11 players and four starters back, including Auburn’s Troy Barnies and Gardiner’s Sean McNally, from last year’s 19-11 squad that finished third in America East.

Maine is followed by Stony Brook, BU, Vermont and UNH in the Sporting News rankings.

Lindy’s ranks Stony Brook atop the conference in its prediction, with Maine slated to come in second. Stony Brook is also the pick by Athlon, with Maine ranked fourth behind BU and UNH.

“We have seen great progress from these two programs the last few years and this opportunity represents just another step for them,” said America East Commissioner Patrick Nero. “We are excited and thankful that ESPN will give both teams a national audience to show how good they have become.”

Copy the Story Link