Open Thread & How to Watch or Listen: Maine at UConn | TV: 7:30 p.m., SNY/ESPN3

Game Facts

Series: 100th meeting (UConn leads all-time, 83-16)

TV: SNY, 7:30 p.m. (Gary Apple, Tim Welsh, Kerith Burke)

Radio: WTIC 1080 (Joe D'Ambrosio, Wayne Norman)

Fun Fact: UConn has won 58 of its past 70 season openers, with the last loss coming in 1999.

Another Fun Fact: The only team UConn has defeated more than Maine is New Hampshire (91).

Here we go. It's time for the 2015-16 season to get rolling. After a long offseason—made longer by the failure to get out of the first round of the NIT—UConn begins the season Friday night at Gampel Pavilion against the Maine Black Bears.

It was a long first season for Maine under new head coach Bob Walsh. The Black Bears finished 3-27, but they are expecting a better season in Year 2.

UConn, which begins the season ranked No. 20 in the AP Poll, will be without backup center Phil Nolan Friday night. The senior from Milwaukee is out with a foot injury. That could open the door to plenty of minutes for Steve Enoch in his UConn debut. The freshman from Norwalk has not received the same pomp and circumstance as Jalen Adams, but he is another top-100 player who could prove to be a key contributor in the front court.

Have thoughts on the game? Feel free to share them in the comments section below as part of our first open thread of the season.