Among them, the Maine men’s basketball team is establishing itself at the top of the America East and the women’s squad boasts two players who continue battle through injuries with remarkable dedication.

Ted Woodward is turning his team’s sixth-place preseason ranking into formula for success as he has his squad at 8-5 overall and one of two unbeaten teams in conference play (2-0; Stony Brook, 3-0). Riding the league’s top-scoring trio of Gerald McLemore (20.5), Justin Edwards (15.6) and Alasdair Fraser (14.2), Maine has jumped out of the gates in conference play.

The Bangor Daily News published a piece today detailing how the Black Bears have responded from losing some of their top talent from a year ago. It doesn’t appear like they’ve missed a beat with contributions coming from just about everyone on the roster.

Meanwhile, the Portland Press Herald dubbed Maine a contender today, as well. With a lot of nice pieces in place, Woodward still thinks there can be improvement.

"I like a lot, and there's a lot to work on," Woodward said in the article. "I like the way we're sharing the ball on offense."

As Richard Barron continues to lay the foundation for his Maine program, he has two players that Pete Warner, a writer for the Bangor Daily News, calls “shining examples of determination and optimism.’ Samantha Wheeler and Rachele Burns have battled chronic injury issues during their time in Orono but that has not kept them from doing everything in their power to get back on the court. Warner blogged about the two player in “Warner’s Corner.”

For more of the Daily Word, check out the AExtra Blog.