Maine Basketball Teams Tipped for America East Success in 2025-26 Season

As the 2025-26 college basketball season approaches, the University of Maine men's and women's teams are poised to make a strong push for America East Conference titles. According to the preseason coaches' poll released on October 21, 2025, both the Black Bears squads have been picked to finish second in their respective divisions.

On the men's side, Maine tied with Albany for the second spot, receiving 47 points and one first-place vote. Vermont, which lost to Maine in the conference tournament semifinals last season, was tabbed as the favorite, earning 63 points and seven first-place nods. The Black Bears are coming off a 20-14 overall record and a 10-6 conference mark in 2024-25, reaching the America East final for the first time in two decades.

The Maine women's team also received two first-place votes and finished with 55 points, trailing only Vermont's 63 points and seven top votes. The Black Bears, who went 15-16 overall and 9-7 in the league last season, will be boosted by the return of Adrianna Smith. The reigning conference player of the year missed the entire 2024-25 campaign after suffering a knee injury during preseason practice.