Albany is really good...
My brother and I went to Stony Brook Wednesday night for the SBU-Albany game. The Danes won by 16, and if Ricky Lucas hadnt? gotten hot with his three-pointers late in the game, UA could have won by 25. It showed, of course, that Stony Brook is not yet ready for Prime Time, but also that Albany has put that UNH lost behind them and is still a top team in this conference.
Albany beat Vermont 80-79 in overtime last week to avoid falling into a brutal 0-2 hole, and now sit, technically because of Hartford?s 1-0 record, in third place.
If Binghamton wants its first road win of the Kevin Broadus era, it likely won?t happen Saturday. Albany has won 21 of its last 23 conference home games, of course all but one of those wins came with Jamar Wilson leading the charge. But this year?s team is fully capable of winning the America East. Of upsetting UConn, probably not.
Albany?s probable starters are:
<br /><strong>F Brian Connely-</strong> The junior has a good handle on the game, hits a lot of jumpers from 10-feet out, and scored 11 points against Stony Brook.
<br /><strong>F Brent Wilson- </strong>Preseason all-conference selection hit six three-pointers against Stony Brook, but also took some ill advised shots. If his shot isn?t falling, BU should have a chance.
<br /><strong>C/F Jimmie Covington-</strong> Didn?t do much against SBU, 6?11? Kirsten Zoelnerr wannabe Brett Gifford played a lot better in the middle.
<br /><strong>G/F Jerel Hastings-</strong> Highly touted junior transfer has struggled but went for 11 points and nine rebounds against Stony Brook.
<br /><strong>G/F Brian Lillis- </strong>The Wilsons and Jason Siggers have overshadowed him in the past, but the senior is the heart and soul of this team. He does it all, evidenced by the SBU game where he put up 19 points, four rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks. He?s also the Dane most capable of a highlight real play, since he creates so many fast breaks off his steals. But, as my brother pointed out, he isn?t too good at free-throws and his misses almost let Stony Brook reenter the game.
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The thing that struck me most about Albany on Wednesday, is that they all look the same. They?re all similar heights, they all could probably play the same position. I?m not sure if that?s a good thing, of course a team that can?t handle 6?5? guards, it could be trouble. Mike Gordon and Richie Forbes both barely push 6 foot, so look for Albany?s guards to potentially run wild. Of course Binghamton should have some mismatches at forwards, Lazar Trifunovic is definitely a better inside player than Albany has, and Reggie Fuller should be able to control their inside game, so that could be an advantage. Unfortunately Albany?s big men, especially Brent Wilson, can light up from outside, so if these guys get hot, expect the Danes to run away with it quickly.
<br />Senior guard and former AE Rookie of the Year, Jon Iati doesn?t start but he plays a lot and is very dangerous if his shot heats up. He?s also the only Dane who doesn?t look like the others, because he?s 5?9?.
I wasn?t too impressed with Tim Ambrose, my earlier pick for conference Rookie of the Year. My brother has been talking him up, but he?s a huge liability on defense, and can?t score if he isn?t locked in. He doesn?t have a chance of overtaking Alvin Abreu as Rookie of the year.
Also of note, in Albany's pregame prospectus section "About Binghamton" Devon McBride is one of the players of note. Readers are informed that the "strong athletic freshman" was recently named AE Rookie of the Week. Now these blurbs come from the other athletic departments, let's hope when Binghamton's comes out, McBride will no longer be a guy they're bragging about.
<br /><strong>Bottom line:
<br /></strong>It?s going to take a monstrous effort from everyone on this team if BU wants to pull off the upset. Broadus said the GW win was the biggest in school history, ending a nine-game road losing streak with a win against the two-time defending conference champions, who also happen to be your biggest rivals? That?s bigger if you ask me. Still not going to happen.
<br /><strong>Prediction: Albany 76, Binghamton 65</strong>? but the streak should end next week against New Hampshire
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