Ok, I am starting to get the man crush like MidRangeGame. Justin Edwards is a beast, it is that simple. He confirmed it earlier today as Maine defeated UMBC easily 89-70. Yes, Edwards was only 2 for 8 from the field. Yes, he finished with 11 points and three rebounds. However, you only need to see the following to understand his greatness...

Yes, he actually did that. The one play overshadowed everything else, including the fact that he wasn't even close to being the top scorer in the game. That honor went to Gerald McLemore, who finished with 29 points. Edwards finished fourth in scoring for Maine, behind Raheem Singleton and Alasdair Fraser. However, with plays like this, Edwards could soon become a household name across the country. The victory for the Black Bears puts them in a tie, for now, for first in the conference at 2-0.

Turnovers and fouls continue to hurt UMBC. Despite another solid performance from Chase Plummer and Ryan Cook, the Retrievers allowed Maine to go to the line 29 times and committed 17 turnovers. UMBC is now 1-2 in conference.

UA fans are questioning and wondering about the future of Will Brown. Despite bringing two conference championships to the Capital Region, many believe he could lose his job if he does not deliver another one very soon. Dennis Wolff, who had been on the sidelines for 15 years, was fired after a winning season. He was not producing enough for the heads of BU. People and fans at these schools expect results. Being mediocre is not accepted.

Then we have Maine. Where they have employed Ted Woodward. The same Ted Woodward who has been at the helm for eight seasons (including this season). The same Ted Woodward that has a career record at Maine of 97-125. The same Ted Woodward that allowed his team to finish conference play 1-7 after starting conference play 8-1 last season. The same Ted Woodward who lost in the first round of the conference tournament last season to a team that sits currently at 0-11 and finished last season 11-20. The same Ted Woodward who was given a contract extension to the end of the 2015 season yesterday.

More Woodward Extension bashing after the jump

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Justin Edwards entered the Notre Dame game as the top freshman scorer in the nation (20.2 PPG), so yes, I expected him to be pretty good. But there's no way I expected him to be that good.

For most of the game, Edwards was one of, if not the, best player on the court against Big East talent. At 6'3, he was constantly in the lane, but it wasn't the bullish, single-minded hammering of Gerardo Suero, it was basketball. Something of Tim Ambrose at his best, the 6'3 Canadian hanging in the air just a second longer than anyone else and then doing silly things with the backboard. He has an incredible feel for floaters, how to avoid contact, and when to force the issue.

Maybe I'm just fragile and looking for a rebound after the Siena-Albany game broke my heart, but Edwards looks like a lock to be the next John Holland -- but with more savvy and no delusions about the being a three point shooting prodigy. He leaves his feet quickly, but he showed court awareness to pop it out to the wings when he got stuck -- and even made some very nifty tight passes to inside cutters.

I suppose it's true that other players were on the court, and I'm getting to them eventually, but wow.

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Last Season: 15-15, 9-7

Head Coach: Ted Woodward

Key Losses: Troy Barnies, Sean McNally, Murphy Burnatowski (transfer)

Newcomers: Zarko Valjarevic, Noam Laish, Xavier Pollard, Justin Edwards, Kilian Cato, Ethan Mackey, Stefano Mancini

Projected Lineup: 

- G: Raheem Singleton, Sr.
- G: Gerald McLemore, Sr.

- G: Justin Edwards, Fr. (Andrew Rodgers will probably start in this spot h/t comm thread)

- F: Alisdair Fraser, So.

- F: Mike Allison, Jr.

- Bench: Svetolav Chetinov Sr. C, John McAllian Jr. G, Andrew Rogers Sr. G, Travon Wilcher Sr. F

Look Back: 

Maine was 8-1 mid way through league play last year. Troy Barnies appeared from nowhere to score and rebound (and earn all-conference honors). Raheem Singleton played a masterful point, Gerald McLemore had a few off nights but was as dangerous a 2 guard as the AE had. The bulky boys pounded the glass and they won in everyone’s gym. Then, tragically, January ended. From there, the Black Bears lost every game save one night in Durham. Whether you view it as forgettable (Woodward) or bleak (fans), the chances of repeating it is nearly impossible.

Hoards of Talent for a Team Picked 6th in a weak conference (sleeper alert):

Barnies graduated and Murphy Burnatowski, who was once thought to be a future AE superstar, transferred to Colgate, but Maine retains more than adequate talent and depth. Raheem Singleton is one of the league's better pure point guards (and he's a year to learn the offense) and Gerald McLemore is one of the league's best shooters. A year ago, it seemed like McLemore was a lock to be the next in the succession of easy POY choices -- but he sputtered at times and didn't take on a lead role. Don't doubt though, that he has the talent for it.  

Scot, Scot, Scot:

I've made it pretty clear already with a sleeper profile and naming him a top-10 player in the league, but I think Ali Fraser has more than an outside chance to be the best post-player in the league -- and that bears repating. 

Americans Need Not Apply:

The incoming class includes a Canadian, Israeli, Fin, and Serbian. Who are these assistant coaches? And why aren't they working for the UN?!?

Best Recruiting Video:

....after the jump!

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Before you get too far, this isn't about Alasdair Fraser, the Scottish Fiddler. 

Now that we've cleared out a few obscure google alert hits, we'll hone in on the subject to the 5th installment of "breakout players" to watch (by circumstances of a false start last Monday pushed into obscurity the week after parts 1-4 were posted).

I was first keyed into Fraser, a hulking 6'7 Scottish important, due to Sam Perkins, the wise elder statesman of America East journalism over at One-Bid Wonders, and his budding mancrush on the Alasdair's bruising style of play. 

America East can almost always boast a number of tall, large big men who are mostly good at fouling (or nothing, see: Giff), but Fraser is unique in that he combines of mass and offensive ability. Fraser didn't tear up the European U-18 league before he went to Canada Orono by just standing under the hoop like the biggest kid in a rec league -- he has some of the best post moves in the league.

Preseason first team all-conference pick Gerald McLemore might garner the most attention on Maine, but the prolific shooter might lead the team to another disappointing year (and maybe cries of "bust") if Fraser cannot carve out a reputation in the middle. After the sudden rise then graduation of Troy Barnies -- who stepped into the leadership/ elite player roll that most expected would belong to McLemore -- Maine is going to be in need of an inside presence.

This post is more enjoyable when read in a Scottish accent after the jump

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