UM Basketball Picked Sixth, Last In Coaches' Poll

The University of Maine men's basketball team was selected to finish in last place in the 2017-18 America East Coaches' Poll that was released on Thursday, while the women's side was selected in sixth place

The Black Bears men's received just nine total points in the poll and were seven points behind the Hartford Hawks for eighth place. Vermont was selected to finish in first place after going 16-0 in the regular season and winning the America East tournament.

Here is the 2017-18 Men's #AEHoops Preseason Coaches' Poll. pic.twitter.com/eyHpvo9bfL
— America East (@AmericaEast) October 19, 2017

UMaine was tied for eighth place in 2016-17 with a 3-13 conference mark and a 7-25 overall record.

2017-18 Men's #AEHoops Preseason Coaches' Poll
Rank       School                 Pts (1^st-Place Votes)
1.                Vermont 64 (8) - unanimous
2.                Albany         57 (1)
3                 UMBC   45
4.                Stony Brook                   38
5.                New Hampshire 37
T6.              Binghamton 29
                   UMass Lowell                 29
8.                Hartford 16
9.                Maine                             9

The UMaine women's side received 31 total votes in the poll, which put them three votes behind UMBC for fifth. The Black Bears side made it to the America East championship a year ago, but lost to Albany by a score of 66-50 for the second year in a row. Maine was 18-16 overall and 9-7 in conference play during the 2016-17 season. The program lost Sigi Koizar to graduation and All-Rookie selection Laia Sole to transfer for the team from last season.