UA1882

Looking completely out of sorts.  Will Brown teams seemed to lack the talent later in his tenor, but they were always prepared.  Could always see what they were trying to do.  

Not so much with this team.  Even last year there were several times where I just said ....what is going on?

Have a long way to go.  We will see.  

NEED TO FIRE GG NOW. Promote the OC and let him see if he can change things for the final handful of games.  

I have cut my annual giving to almost nothing.  I won't support a program that does not support itself.  Cancelled my season tickets 2 years ago.  

Benson needs to be asked tough questions but we are not a big time program so it will never happen.  Poor poor poor coaching. Poor poor poor leadership.  

Interesting that we don't have a "secret scrimmage" set up.  My guess is that we need every practice possible.  I don't expect a lot from this team this year.  I just hope that this team is fun to watch.  

Similar talent as last year's team. Horton and Perry were pretty good last year. 

We may play faster this year. The season will depend on how good the players that where hurt last year are. 

Nothing special at all. Hope I'm wrong but I see another under 500 season.  

Anyone receive their second email about ordering advanced siena game tickets yet?  The previous email said the next day.  That was a couple of days ago. 

This team is poor.  I feel bad for the kids. The worse part is the team lost by 5. Which means we will hear about how close they were and if only a couple of plays were different....ect.... Things losers say. 

There have been additional pledges to my understanding. It's all private funding.  That's how the university pitched it and that's what they got. 

On 9/3/2022 at 6:05 PM, olddog71 said:

Money games. We need the cash for the SEFCU reno.

It's my understanding that the sefcu renovations are already completely paid by private funds. 

That being said, I think these are the games thay Killings wants to play year in an out. I'm truly not sure about this team,  since it lost its 3 leading scorers.  Only time will tell. 

It's very early but coaching is our issue.  Delay of game on the first drive.  Time out before delay of game on second drive.  There is no way any of our coach lovers can defend that. That's very bad. 

5 hours ago, Dane96 said:

Agreed...by far it is the toughest UA schedule....EVER.  No questions asked.  It is is actually being discussed in hoops circles as in:

 

1. Is this a sign we are going to the CAA?

2. Is this merely because we don't have a home and might as well get paid?

3. Is this because the administration said: You need to play games and get paid?

4. All the above.

This is a MONSTER of a lineup. 

If I'm going to be honest . To me, this is a coach schedule, no more.  I'm not looking any farther then that.  

Killings seems to want to play a tough national schedule.  

I guess we will see.  

2023 6'9 forward Jack Margoupis (

) has committed to UAlbany. Three level scorer who also was being recruited by Bucknell, Gardner-Webb, USC Upstate, & Colgate.

All fascinating stuff. On a similar note I wonder, if ever, Albany attempts to combine with Albany Med, Albany Law, Albany Pharmacy. I know there were rumors years ago but nothing came of it. You want to talk about a game changer for the University, that would be it. 

Probably a pipe dream but that and getting the Nano back (have heard nothing more about that either) would be bigger news then a move to the CAA. 

Pure speculation however to answer the above questions for the Armory. 

1) there is little scheduled at the armory so I don't think this will be much of an issue.  

2) home games are either at 7pm or on the weekends. For practices, The drive from suny to the armory will have little impact on the players.  

3) there was a pro team playing there.  They have locker rooms, concession stands, ect.  I'm sure it would pass NCAA standards. 

4) like I said above there is very little scheduled at the armory, at least publicly.  

5) the patroons had internet TV broadcasts of their games or there must be something there. 

They may not play there at all but my guess it would be the easiest if the armory and UA wanted the games there.  

If I were the AD this is what I would do:

Play only 1 or 2 non conference "home" games.  Let us get a little used to the venue for the conference schedule.  Playing mostly away games this year will allow us to have a larger home non conference schedule next year.  The 1st year of the new arena.  

I would play this year at the Albany Armory. I went there for the  Championship a couple of weeks ago.  It was hot but there were 2k people there.  The parking was fine and the venue was fine.  It's a smaller venue so even with only 1k people there I'm sure it can get very loud and be a decent home court advantage. 

There is not a ton of stuff there so scheduling should not be an issue. I'm also guessing it will not cost the university much and will keep the games in albany. 

From Twitter 10 hours ago:

Peter Lash tells me that the latest schools to contact him are UAlbany, Holy Cross, and Flagler. Lash has been offered by three D2 programs.

28 minutes ago, Dane96 said:

I would be paranoid as well

I believe the transfer window where you don't need to sit out a year has closed.  

So I would think he would at least play this year and see how it goes.  

It appears our transfer recruiting is winding down and to say I'm disappointed is an understatement.

On paper (I know games aren't won on paper) we are worse than the 13-18 team a year ago. Lost 2 conference players and our best player before he got hurt to graduation and brought in no where near that talent. 

I work in finance. If I'm brought in to a company because I have a reputation of brining in big fish then I am expected to perform.  Killings was called a recruiter. I don't see that "yet". 

We had some key players hurt last year and that can help. Really need the freshman to take a large step up. Hopefully the new recruits come in playing hard.  

I will always root for Albany but at least right now 10 wins would be the Vegas over / under unless there is marked , marked , marked improvement from the returning players , which is always possible.  

6 hours ago, Dane96 said:

Today’s official UA announcement means Jackson is on scholarship.  You cannot officially announce walk ons.  Also says he signed an NLI.  Clearly, something changed.   

My guess is that we are having trouble signing people.  This kid can score the ball.  Defense is not good. Not good at all but hopefully can be taught that. 

To this point it has been a completely underwhelming transfer period but I wont make any judgements until it's over. 

7 hours ago, Dane96 said:

I’ve watched him play, multiple times. Solid guard, all NEC rookie team.   

On paper (which I know the games are not played ), he is not a bad player.  It's a bad signing.  

Unless Amica, listed at 6'0, is hurt this is a bad signing.  Reports were he was our best player in the fall last year.  

Now you have LISTED, 5'10 Edmean. 6'0 Amica. And 6'0 Davis (who I'm sure did not come here for a year to sit the bench.) 

All small point guards who really can't play together.  I know Amica is hurt a lot but if we can get lucky and he plays I would expect him to play 25-30 mins a game and have a real Impact.  Does not leave much for 2 guys. Seems very much like a waste. 

Malik Edmead has committed. That's all I have to say about that. 

From Twitter:

Cornell transfer guard Sarju Patel (

) has now heard from Canisius, Chattanooga, Niagara, UIC, & Furman in the last week. 10+ other programs have contacted. Patel's stats in Ivy play were 22 MPG, 10.1 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 52% from the field, and 43% from three.

Patel has heard from The Citadel, Siena, and UAlbany this week. Will have an in-home visit with UAlbany soon. Chattanooga also is in the mix.

My honest opinion is..... maybe a little. .. 

The first couple of years with it being new I would assume attendance will be up. But unless we put a better team on the court, and maybe a new conference,  I don't see a huge jump in attendance overall. 

Plus I hope Albany does not get cute and raise prices.  If anything they should lower prices, get people in the door,  have a good time,  and raise them gradually. But I have no confidence that will happen.  

For me it is the people who run the parking.  It's atrocious. People not knowing that you need to be a season ticket holder to go to the Sefcu lot. Holding up the line. It's really bad. Have someone out front to direct people !!!!!! It's not that hard. 

The athletic department has to see this and the fact they do nothing about it is mind boggling.  Simple things like this are the reason I dislike our AD. 

6 minutes ago, classof95 said:

Is it too late to join for Fall 2022? Would this have to start in 2023?

My guess is we could join in the fall.  We are already there for football and I would not take much to add us for other sports.  But again it's a guess.  That's if we are even invited.  Haha 

I absolutely agree that he played very well at Binghamton but I'm sorry he can't shoot(At least not last year). He shot 38 percent overall and 31 percent from 3. Those numbers are very very poor for a 5th year senior playing the 4 position.  He averaged 3.8 rebounds a game in 21 minutes.  Again not very good at all.  

We should be able to find someone better then that and hopefully with more eligibility.