BY MATT DIFILIPPO

Staff Writer

For several years now, the University at Maine-Farmington men's basketball team has counted on its solid defense. Now, there are question marks both on defense and offense.

UMF coach Dick Meader sees the potential for positive answers to those questions. But it will all depend on how much players can step up on offense and how well the Beavers can rebound defensively.

The Beavers open their season at 7:30 tonight at home against Newbury on the first day of the Hight Chevrolet Tournament. UMF will face either Elms or UMaine-Presque Isle on Saturday.

UMF's offensive questions came about due to graduation. The top three scorers for the Beavers last season were seniors Sean Fry, Matt St. John and Isaac Hutchinson. Those three players combined for 53 percent of UMF's points.

"I think we've got some guys who are ready to step up and shoot the ball," Meader said. "We don't have as much size as we've had, but through ball movement, I think we can score some points."

The leading returning scorer is sophomore Andrew Dean of Gorham (6.5 points per game), who shot 56 percent from 3-point range last winter. Deering High School graduate Eric Lelansky (3.9 ppg) can also shoot the 3, and Mt. Blue graduate Ted Neil (6.4 ppg) can score both inside and out.

Meader also sees a chance for big improvement in production from 6-foot-5 sophomore Eric Taylor of Oakland, who averaged 2.9 points in 7.9 minutes per game last season.

"He's capable of 12, 15, 18 points a night," Meader said.

Josh Tanguay (4.6 ppg, 6.0 rebounds per game) will also get a chance to increase his scoring average, and Pat Howell (3.7 ppg), the sixth man last winter, will move into the starting lineup.

UMF's defense is usually able to keep games close, and more than half of the Beavers' games last season were decided by 10 points or less. UMF opponents shot barely 40 percent from the field last winter.

"Last year, we were 28th in the nation in field goal percentage defense," Meader said. "The previous four years we were in the top 20. This team's not quite as big, not quite as physically strong, so I'm not sure we can maintain that."

What success UMF does have on defense, Meader said, will be tied to its ability to keep opponents from getting multiple shots on the same possession.

"I know this team will compete," Meader said. "It will certainly work hard enough. It's just a question of, are we going to be big enough and strong enough to get the ball off the backboard?"

Some of the answers to UMF's questions will come tonight, and more will arrive when the Beavers open their North Atlantic Conference schedule Dec. 10 at home against Thomas. In the conference's preseason poll, UMF was picked in a tie for sixth, although Meader believes his team should think higher.

"I think we can do things that can keep us in games and give us a chance to win," Meader said. "I feel confident about this group of guys."

Matt DiFilippo -- 861-9243

mdifilippo@centralmaine.com