cwdickens

From my sources UAlbany has little interest in their campus and if expansion is needed, build out into the adjacent State Office Complex. Siena is in no jeopardy, their enrollment rates and retention rates are at a satisfactory level. Further, Siena enrolled its largest freshman class. Albany Law and Russell Sage have come up as candidates for a merger or closure. Union and Skidmore do not know. Siena marketing strategy took advantage of St. Rose weakness.

The financial story surrounding St. Rose is at least 6 years old and its declining enrollment a similar timeline. Will likely knew the situation he was facing, he truly helped them out in the final year.

As much as I want UAlbany win, I want a Nicols St. upset win at Idaho too.

I would expect the AE Commissioner at Wednesday's night game.

Danes’ Abraham surging Transfer had three sacks in CAA finale against Monmouth By Mark Singelais ALBANY — When the University at Albany football team crushed Monmouth 41-0 in the regular-season finale, there was no shortage of candidates for player of the game. The Great Dane coaching staff chose Brian Abraham, a graduate linebacker and defensive end, who had three sacks against the Hawks. The performance continued the late-season surge of Abraham, in his only season with UAlbany after transferring from Yale. “It’s been awesome,” UAlbany head coach Greg Gattuso said. “He’s been fun. When he first got here, he was feeling his way a little bit. We didn’t know where he was going to play. We just kind of set him in and said, ‘All right, you’re playing here play our stand-up defensive end.’ Every week, Brian gets better and better and better.” Abraham provides another pass-rushing weapon for the fifth-seeded Great Danes (9-3), who lead the Football Championship Subdivision with 42 sacks entering Saturday’s second-round playoff game against Richmond at Casey Stadium. “When you spot the ball, you play football, you know what I mean?,” Abraham said. “It doesn’t really matter. You just find a way to get the guy on the ground, get the ball out of the guy’s hands and play football.” Abraham, who is 6-foot-5 and 221 pounds, backs up senior defensive end AJ Simon, fourth in the nation with 10 1 /2 sacks. Senior defensive end Anton Juncaj is second with 13 sacks. “(Abraham) has been tremendous the past couple of weeks,” Juncaj said. “Every time he’s in there, he’s making a play.” Abraham said he followed the advice of Edward Freeley, one of his coaches at Xaverian Brothers High in Westwood, Mass. “He told me, ‘Your biggest thing is your versatility,’” Abraham said. “’You’re an athlete. You can play anywhere on the field. You can play center, you can play guard, you can play literally anything.’ So I took that the whole time and it’s paying off right now.” Abraham entered Yale as a cornerback and later played outside linebacker. He appeared in 30 games for the Bulldogs and made 31 tackles. He graduated with a degree in political science. With a year of eligibility remaining, and graduate students unable to compete in the Ivy League, Abraham entered the transfer portal. “I wasn’t the most highly-touted person to come out of the portal,” Abraham said. “I didn’t really worry about that. I kind of just had to believe in myself, so I reached out to a bunch of people and kind of placed a little bit on myself. I told myself just to make sure I stayed with it and had faith something would show. UAlbany showed. They showed a lot of love.” Abraham is friends with former UAlbany running back Caylin Parker, who transferred from Dartmouth. With Parker’s encouragement, Abraham contacted UAlbany assistant coach Darrin Walls. “I knew it was a good spot for me,” said Abraham, who’s pursuing his master’s degree in Africana studies. Abraham also visited Butler University. He considered transferring to Butler with Yale teammate Jack Biestek. But UAlbany offered a full scholarship and Butler didn’t. “My buddy was like, ‘Yo, it’s a full scholarship opportunity. You can’t pass that up,’” Abraham said. “I had to do what I had to do.” Abraham has 25 tackles and 4 1 /2 sacks this season. He caused and returned a fumble 68 yards for a touchdown in a 37-21 win Oct. 28 at Maine. At Yale, Abraham never had the chance to play in the FCS playoffs because the Ivy League doesn’t send a representative. Now he’s in the hunt for a national championship to go with UAlbany’s first Coastal Athletic Association title. “I’m not going to lie,” he said. “I’m here for the ring.”

UALBANY MEN’S BASKETBALL Danes seek win in new arena By Mark Singelais ALBANY — The blowout win over Siena could lure fans to Wednesday’s home opener. A $12 million, refurbished arena will make them comfortable. Now it’s up to the University at Albany men’s basketball team to christen the building with a victory over Boston University at the renovated Broadview Center on campus. The Great Danes (3-3) enter the game with the momentum of a 35-point blowout of Siena in Sunday’s Albany Cup at MVP Arena. “If I was being honest, obviously, the game against Siena was a huge thing for us in the community to tell people what kind of team are we, what are we capable of,” UAlbany head coach Dwayne Killings said. “Now we have the new arena. I think there’s some interest about the arena, our team, so you’ve got to take another step. You’ve got to perform.” At the same time, Killings cautioned his team needs to do more than just step on the court that’s been rotated 90 degrees from its old position, when the building was still known as SEFCU Arena. “The message to our team is, it’s not about performing tomorrow at 7,” he said. “It’s about practice, it’s about preparation, it’s about the film work, about the things we need to do, the habits we’re trying to build. But it’s a big-time opportunity. I’m very grateful for our president, our athletic director, putting this project forward because I think it’s a huge statement about how important basketball is and what we’re trying to do on our side of town.” UAlbany sophomore guard Marcus Jackson, an Albany Academy graduate, was part of last year’s team that played its home games at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy during the makeover. “I’m excited,” Jackson said. “Personally, I can say the same thing for (Jonathan) Beagle (sophomore forward from Hudson Falls). We’ve never had the opportunity to play a home game at UAlbany, even being here a year already. It’s actually pretty dope.” The Great Danes have practiced inside Broadview Center, which has a new seating capacity of 3,800, a reduction of 700 after the reconfiguration with additional chair-back seating and hospitality areas. “I’d definitely say it feels like a home court,” Jackson said. “We’ve been able to be in there for a good amount of time now. We’ve been getting in there a little bit early while certain technical stuff was getting worked on. But definitely feels like a home court and we’re appreciative of it.” Jackson said it hasn’t been an adjustment to the shooting background or lighting at Broadview Center. Teammate Sebastian Thomas, a junior guard, did notice at least one thing. “Got to get used to the rims,” Thomas said. “The rims are a little bit stiff. But like Marcus said, it’s just basketball. Ball and a hoop. Hopefully the ball goes in tomorrow night for us.” Thomas didn’t have to go through last year’s trials because he was at the University of Rhode Island. “Multimillion dollar project, I’m just excited to see all the fans,” Thomas said. “Hopefully, it gets packed out. I think the atmosphere will be great tomorrow.” Fans will get another look at red-shirt sophomore guard Amar’e Marshall, a Hofstra transfer who scored a career-high 33 points against Siena. “Being a transfer student, the guys telling me the gym they were coming from, and having the opportunity to be the first guy to play on that court is definitely an amazing opportunity and I can’t wait to get it started,” he said. Boston U. (2-4) of the Patriot League has beaten Bryant, an America East rival of UAlbany. The Terriers have no one averaging in double figures in points, but freshman guard/forward Makai Baptiste (8.3 ppg) won his league’s Rookie of the Week Monday. Note: UAlbany redshirt sophomore forward Justin Neely (ACL) said he won’t make his season debut on Wednesday. He has another doctor’s appointment this week. UALBANY VS. BOSTON UNIVERSITY When: 7 p.m. Wednesday Where: Broadview Center, Albany Radio: WTMM 104.5 FM

The best reminder was yesterday's article in the Times Union: SIENA MEN’S BASKETBALL No ‘magic potion’ after Cup blowout Saints coach never part of rout like that By Mark Singelais Olivia Witkowski/Siena athletics Siena men’s basketball coach Carmen Maciariello said he didn’t sense urgency from his team in Sunday’s 86-51 loss to UAlbany. ALBANY — The Siena men’s basketball program has lost 11 of its past 12 games dating to last season. Sunday night was the low point. The Saints were embarrassed on their home floor in an 86-51 loss to crosstown rival University at Albany for the Albany Cup. Siena coach Carmen Maciariello said he’d never been part of a defeat like that one, the most lopsided in the rivalry’s Division I era. “I didn’t see an urgent team,” Maciariello said. “I didn’t see a team that was trying to win something. I didn’t see a team that wanted to compete for a MAAC title. I didn’t see a bunch of hungry guys that they would do anything it took to win the basketball game. I think we’ve got a bunch of nice guys. That doesn’t win championships.” Siena (1-5) opens Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play on Friday against league favorite Rider (1-4) at MVP Arena. The loss showed regression for a young team that appeared to be coming around in competitive losses to Central Michigan and Milwaukee in the Sunshine Slam in Daytona Beach, Fla., a week earlier. The Saints even got back injured guards Michael Eley and Zek Te-kin for the UAlbany game. “We show glimpses against Central Michigan and glimpses against Milwaukee, and we think it’s just a magic potion that’s going to be able to all of a sudden show up when you want?” Maciariello said. “It’s not how this thing works. It’s not how life works. You have to earn it every single day. So like I said, I apologize to our fans. But like I said, credit to Albany.” The 35-point defeat didn’t sit well with red-shirt sophomore forward Giovanni Emejuru, the Sam Houston State transfer who had six points and four rebounds in 23 minutes in his first Albany Cup experience. “Just not good enough,” he said. “It’s not acceptable in any way, shape or form that we just didn’t come out to perform today.” After the two-point loss to Milwaukee, Maciariello responded to fan criticism of his recruiting philosophy, calling it “garbage” in a postgame radio interview. He elaborated on Friday, two days before the Albany Cup loss. “I try to make sure our fans understand how we do our job and how we build rosters,” Maciariello said. “Obviously, injuries happen no matter what. Also, you want to have a locker room that’s unified. If you have too many guys that play the same position, now you’re not creating a chemistry and love for one another in the locker room when you’ve got guys thinking they’re better than this guy or better than that guy. For us, I don’t really get concerned with that, but I wanted to help give a lens from a coach.” There’s no more help coming, unless redshirt junior transfer guard Sean Durugordon wins his appeal for an NCAA waiver to play right away. The Saints will have to improve from within with four freshmen and five sophomores in their rotation. Maciariello talked about simplifying things for his team. “I know they want to win,” he said. “Now it’s how are we getting there. How are we making sure we’re ready to play.”

FYI for people attending any of the three sporting events this weekend: Athletics Advisory for December 2, 2023

Siena is currently 2-1, with a game at the time of this posting, Please note: The UAlbany WBB begin the evening of the official Grand Opening of the Broadview Center. Athletics Advisory for December 2, 2023 Dec 2 (Sat) 5:00 PM vs Siena Albany, N.Y. Broadview Center ESPN+ Int'l Video Live Stats Tickets History

I have spoken to my Delaware connection, while not a Delaware, his neighbors are, and the discussion about leaving the CAA has been an on-going for over one year. The primary reasons are: The departure of Old Dominion and JMU Allowing NEC and MEAC teams into the conference, which has diminished the quality of the in-conference competition Upgrades already made to the basketball arena and the football stadium deserve a better quality teams. Delaware has a long term plan to spend fifty million dollars into their sports facilities Improve TV revenues and visability from a higher level conference other the CAA The older, deeper money pocketed supporters of Delaware sports want a change of conference and are willing to cover the cost to move to the next level Downside: Certain sports may have to seek affiliated association with other conferences, these sports include MLAX, WLAX, Field Hockey.

Yesterday, UAlbany MBB was the perfect storm and $iena was the boat caught in the storm and saw the reputation and perhaps, their season sink to the ocean floor. We need to repeat these efforts in every game going forward. Let us not forget UMass - Lowell at 4-1 and UVM 5-2 (2 DIII wins). Interesting comparison this season, as all three teams will play Dartmouth in the non-conference section of their schedule.

Do you think any of the $iena community members will pick up a copy of the Times-Union. Not likely... Danes pound Saints for Cup Marshall scores career-high 33 to pace UAlbany to 35-point win By Mark Singelais Lori Van Buren/Times Union UAlbany’s Amar’e Marshall dunks against Siena’s Zek Tekin during the Albany Cup game at MVP Arena in Albany Sunday. Marshall led all scorers with 33 points. ALBANY — The University at Albany men’s basketball team wasn’t about to blow another big second-half lead in the Albany Cup. On Sunday night, the Great Danes put Siena farther and farther into their rear-view mirror en route to the biggest margin of victory in the Division I history of their rivalry. UAlbany redshirt sophomore guard Amar’e Marshall scored a career-high 33 points to lead the Great Danes to an 86-51 romp over Siena on Sunday night before a crowd of 7,605 at MVP Arena. “Honestly, I think it was really just overall emotional maturity,” said UAlbany sophomore guard Marcus Jackson, an Albany Academy graduate. “I think last year we got too high. I think this year we did a good job of just staying poised and staying into the game.” Unlike last year, when the Great Danes squandered a 16-point, second-half lead to lose 75-62, UAlbany kept rolling on Sunday on its way to a 35-point victory, surpassing Siena’s 83-54 rout in 2009. “It obviously feels really good,” said UAlbany sophomore forward Jonathan Beagle, a Hudson Falls native. “I remember how I felt last year. Going into halftime, we just came out, we knew we had to keep the pedal on the gas and keep going. We knew they’re a very talented team and they could turn it on at any time.” Junior guard Sebastian Thomas added 14 points and Beagle had 13 points for the Great Danes (3-3). Siena sophomore guard Michael Eley, back after missing four games with an ankle injury, led the Saints with 20 points. Siena (1-5) lost its fifth consecutive game. “It’s not a good feeling at all,” Eley said. “I hate losing, but like Coach said, we’ve just got to get better on Wednesday when we get ready for practice and get ready for conference. This game’s over with, learn from it, but the biggest thing, I think we just need to play hard. Guys have really got to grow up and they’ve got to give it out on the floor.” Siena head coach Carmen Maciariello credited UAlbany and said, “They kicked our butts.” Perplexed by his team’s lack of energy, Maciariello also apologized to the Saints fans, alumni and season-ticket holders. “This is embarrassing,” Maciariello said. “We should be embarrassed.” UAlbany used a 20-0 run that bridged the first and second halves to take a 43-23 lead with 16:49 to play. The Saints went scoreless for 8:03. After leading 28-23 at halftime, the Great Danes outscored Siena 58-28 in the second half. “We had a little lead, but we knew we could play a lot better than we did in the first half,” Thomas said. “It was a team thing.” Jackson said he reminded his teammates of last year’s loss during a timeout early in the second half. He told them to stay poised and locked in on the scouting report. UAlbany shot 70.6 percent (24-of-34) from the field in the second half. The Great Danes outrebounded Siena 45-33 and had edges of 26-1 in fast-break points and 23-6 in points off turnovers. These teams are much different this year. UAlbany was infused with transfer talent, including Marshall from Hofstra and Thomas from Rhode Island, and Siena has a much younger roster. Sunday’s game was supposed to be played at UAlbany’s Broadview Center before caution over arena renovations caused the venue to be switched to MVP Arena. Homecourt advantage didn’t matter to the Great Danes, who cut Siena’s lead in the series to 11-8 since the rivalry was renewed in 2001. “I just want to compete and play,” UAlbany head coach Dwayne Killings said. “If they said we’re going to play the game on outdoor courts on campus, so be it. Whatever. All that stuff is just distractions. … We’ll have an opportunity to host it next year. I know it’ll be electric. Obviously, they’ll have more motivation for it.” UAlbany next plays Boston University on Wednesday in the Broad-view Center reopening. Siena opens MAAC play at home against Rider on Friday.

Considering what it took to get this current three deal, the possibility of a pause in playing each other is real.

Attendance 7605, I strongly suspect the reasons behind the numbers are: Two poorly performing teams, now we know LCC is worse off than anyone knew. Date and time of the game. Sunday, 5:00 PM of Thanksgiving weekend was the worse decision made by Siena for attracting fans. Lack of marketing of the game, I can recall three or so TV ads for the game. That being said, I would not expect a significant number of Siena fans showing up at Broadview Center next year.

I like to think UAlbany MBB is the best D1 MBB school in the Capital District. Kudo's to AD Mark Benson for sticking with Dwayne, however, this game clearly places Carmen in the hot seat with the LCC fan base. Let us hope Killings and the team can build on this win. On to Wednesday night!!!

Dec 2 (Sat) 12:00 PM vs Richmond Bob Ford Field at Tom & Mary Casey Stadium 104.5 The Team Live Stats Tickets History

The Times-Union article about today's game: UALBANY WOMEN VanDerveer faces Danes, to meet with them after By Mark Singelais Jim Franco/Times Union archive UAlbany coach Colleen Mullen said she was greatly influenced watching Tara VanDerveer’s teams at Stanford. The Great Danes and Cardinal play each other Sunday in California. Stanford’s Tara VanDerveer, the winningest coach in the history of women’s college basketball, plans to visit the University at Albany locker room after Sunday’s game in Maples Pavilion. The fourth-ranked Cardinal (6-0) and UAlbany (4-1) tip off at 4 p.m. VanDerveer, a Schenectady native who played her freshman season at UAlbany in 1971-72, accepted an invitation from UAlbany assistant coach Yvonne Hawkins to speak to the players afterward. “I think women’s basketball, we’re really in the process of growing our game,” VanDerveer said in a phone interview Friday. “Just wanted them to know maybe my connection to their school. When I was there, I watched them build the towers (on campus). I watched them build that school and it’s a great, great university. Letting them know that they’re playing up and I’m going to be rooting for them after that.” UAlbany coach Colleen Mullen said her team will tour the Stanford campus after speaking to VanDerveer, who has won 1,192 games and three NCAA championships. She’s 11 victories from passing Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski as the all-time winningest coach in men’s or women’s college basketball. Mullen and VanDerveer will meet for the first time. “I mean, she’s a trailblazer in women’s basketball,” Mullen said. “She’s an icon. She’s a Hall of Fame coach. She’s just a very strong female leader that I want players to get the opportunity to get to know. … To have that experience of meeting her, hearing her perspective, hearing her path for success and any nuggets or words of wisdom that she can share with our players to make the experience that much more memorable.” Raised in Chelmsford, Mass., Mullen said she fell in love with basketball watching VanDerveer’s Stanford teams on television when there wasn’t as much visibility for women’s basketball. That personal history was incentive for Mullen to schedule this game. She also wanted to get her players a trip to the Bay Area to face one of the most prolific programs in the women’s game. Mullen has never faced Stanford as a player or a coach. VanDerveer said her director of basketball operations, Eileen Roche, set up the game. “We needed a home game and I think that Albany, they’ve traditionally had a really good team,” VanDerveer said. “When she said, ‘Hey, would you like to play them,’ I said, ‘Sure.’ We’re excited they’re coming out.” VanDerveer went to The Milne School in Albany, which didn’t have a girls’ team, from seventh grade on before attending UAlbany for one season. Looking for better competition, she transferred to Indiana for her final three years. At UAlbany, VanDerveer lived in Dutch Quad. Her roommate Pat Gold had a daughter, Ros Gold-Onwude, who ended up playing for VanDerveer at Stanford. Gold-Onwude is now a broadcaster for ESPN. “I have just incredibly strong, positive memories and connections to Albany,” VanDerveer said. She sent them a video message before UAlbany lost at Louisville two years ago in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. “I think just play hard and be yourself,” VanDerveer recalled as her message. “You’re in the NCAA Tournament and have fun.” UAlbany hopes to win another America East title this season. Mullen thinks this game will help toward that goal, regardless of the outcome. “I think they’re a national championship-caliber team,” Mullen said. “We’re obviously going to have to play a very flawless game to upset them. My focus is that the players have fun and enjoy the experience and they feel good about executing a game plan.” VanDerveer said she hopes the game will be beneficial for both teams. “We know that Albany is a great program,” she said. “We’ve been playing great competition, and Albany will be no exception.” UALBANY VS. STANFORD When: 4 p.m. Sunday Where: Maples Pavilion, Stanford, Calif. TV: Pac-12 Network

Today's Times-Union "nonsense" article about the game later today: ALBANY CUP Saints, Danes to battle Local bragging rights on the line when Siena, UAlbany meet By Mark Singelais Jenn March/Times Union archive Siena men's basketball lifted the Albany Cup last year after rallying from 16 points down in the second half to beat UAlbany. Jenn March/© Albany Times Union 2022 © Jenn March Photography UAlbany head coach Dwayne Killings got his introduction to the Albany Cup last year and called this year’s edition “a huge opportunity.” ALBANY — There are players who will try to treat Sunday like it’s just another game when it clearly isn’t. There are newcomers who have no idea what the Albany Cup game is about. Siena and the University at Albany will battle for local bragging rights at MVP Arena, where this edition of the Albany Cup wasn’t even supposed to be played, for a rare Thanksgiving weekend matchup of the area’s two Division I programs. Tip-off is 5 p.m. “It’s very meaningful,” said Siena sophomore guard Mason Courtney, a Shenendehowa graduate. “As a kid, I remember coming to these games with my dad and my family, so that means a lot. But Coach Carm (Maciariello) has stressed this week that we can’t over-stress about it. It’s just another game. We follow our rules. We played really well against Milwaukee. We’re building steps. We’re going in the right direction, so don’t overhype yourself up. It’s another game, so go out there and do what we do.” The Saints (1-4) are trying to snap a four-game losing streak, including back-to-back losses to Central Michigan and Milwaukee in the Sunshine Slam in Dayton Beach, Fla. The Milwaukee loss came on a basket with 0.2 seconds left. Meanwhile, UAlbany (2-3) is trying to build off Tuesday’s 62-59 win over Army at Cool Insuring Arena in Glens Falls. This is the Great Danes’ last game before they return to campus in a renovated Broadview Center. This year’s Albany Cup game was scheduled for Broadview Center before it was moved in May out of caution over whether the renovations would be completed in time. They’ll meet next season at UAlbany in the final game of a three-year contract. Sunday will be UAlbany’s first game played in Albany since last year’s Albany Cup game, won by Siena 75-62. The Great Danes played their home games off campus at Hudson Valley Community College last season. “It’s a huge opportunity for us, obviously,” UAlbany coach Dwayne Killings said. “It’s been a while since we played a game here in Albany. … Now we have a chance to play in front of our home fans in the city. It’s a game for bragging rights. The game means a lot to all of the people that are part of our program, part of our campus community, part of the community of people that root for us. Our kids are excited for it.” There should be a smaller crowd than last year, which drew 9,561 for the first Albany Cup since 2017. This is only the second time they’ve played on a Sunday on Thanksgiving weekend since the rivalry was renewed in 2001. There were 6,597 tickets sold as of noon Friday. “I’m really hoping we get a lot of people,” Courtney said. “We’ve been trying to do a good job of reminding our classmates, reminding people that we do have a game this Sunday. … I think we’re going to get a pretty good turnout, similar to last year.” UAlbany had a 16-point lead over Siena in the second half last year before the Saints dominated the final 16 minutes. That memory stuck with UAlbany sophomore Marcus Jackson, an Albany Academy graduate. “I just remember us being up and letting our age and immaturity hurt us in a way,” Jackson said. “Siena had a very mature group, older guys, and it showed in that game. That’s something this year I’m going to try to go in and focus on.” Siena guard Michael Evbagharu, who had 18 points and14 rebounds against Milwaukee, is a freshman from Toronto on a much younger team and getting his baptism to the Albany Cup rivalry. “I just heard it’s kind of like a big rivalry game, a game that gets the fans packed out in MVP,” Evbagharu said. “Just kind of looking forward to it.” Maciariello said he will probably decide at the game-day shoot-around whether starting guards Michael Eley (ankle) and Zek Tekin (concussion protocol) will play. They both practiced Friday. UAlbany redshirt sophomore Justin Neely, who tore his ACL in last year’s Albany Cup game, hasn’t played yet this season. “He had a really good day of practice (Thursday),” Killings said. “When he gets back on the floor is up to Justin and his family. We’re kind of taking it day-by-day. There’s no rush for him right now.” Siena leads the Division I rivalry with UAlbany 11-7. UALBANY VS. SIENA When: 5 p.m. Sunday Where: MVP Arena Radio: JAMZ 96.3 FM, WTMM 104.5 FM

If Richmond wins today, the Spiders will come into Casey Stadium with a chip on their shoulder and attitude. At 7-1 in conference, Richmond will want to demonstrate to the Selection Committe that not giving them a bye was the wrong choice.

Women's Golf Announces Spring Schedule

Stanford is 6-0 (two wins over ranked teams) while Albany is 4-1, the caliber of our opponents is as expected less. Nov 26 (Sun) 4:00 PM at #4 Stanford Stanford, Calif. TV: Pac-12 Networks Pac-12 Networks Live Stats Tickets History

From today's Times-Union: Danes know what Cup means By Pete Dougherty Jenn March/Times Union UAlbany’s Jonathan Beagle shoots the ball over Siena’s Jackson Stormo in last season’s Albany Cup game. Since the start of last season, the University at Albany basketball program has played one game in Albany County. That was the Albany Cup game against Siena at MVP Arena. Coach Dwayne Killings and the Great Danes return there Sunday, 54 weeks later and three days before they finally get to play a game on their own campus. He said he learned a lot from his first Albany Cup experience, a 75-62 Siena victory in front of 9,591, and hopes that some of the passion can travel five miles down Western and Washington Avenues to UAlbany’s home base. The Danes, who managed their entire home schedule last season at Hudson Valley Community Center in Troy, open their renovated Broad-view Center (formerly SEFCU Arena) on Wednesday night in a nonconference game against Boston University. “People really care about basketball in this community,” Killings said Friday. “People really care about our program. Next week we open up the building here. Our expectations are we fill the building. My mind went to another space once the game got over, and I was thinking, ‘How can we replicate this environment more often?’ “People really do care. Basketball means a lot. Our program means a lot. The kids and what they’re playing for and what they represent, there’s a huge value, a huge premium on that. It gave me goose bumps walking out there to coach the game, just seeing people nodding their heads. Every game’s a big game, but that game obviously meant a little bit more.” This year’s meeting with Siena initially was scheduled for UAlbany, but the schools swapped seasons to allow additional time for Broadview Center to finish construction. Siena will play in UAlbany’s 3,800-seat campus facility next year. The Danes (2-3) have four Capital Region players on their roster — 6-foot-7 graduate transfer Marcus Filien from Albany Academy, 6-2 sophomore Marcus Jackson of Amsterdam, 6-10 sophomore Jonathan Beagle from Hudson Falls, and 6-2 freshman Zach Matulu of Shaker — who knew about the Albany Cup long before becoming collegians. “It’s a really big game in the area,” said Fi-lien, who transferred in from Cornell. “The energy in the building would be amazing. It’s fun to be able to play in one now instead of being 5, 6, 7, 8 years old in the stands running around crazy. It’ll be a really cool experience come Sunday.” “We’ve got a couple of more local guys, so it definitely hits home for a lot more people,” Jackson said. “It’s just good to really get back out with my guys and prove what we’ve got.” Nostalgia aside, Jackson and Beagle, in particular, have memories of last year’s game that they would prefer to erase or at least avenge. “I remember the feeling after the game of losing it, and just how hard it is to win in college basketball,” said Beagle, who had nine points and eight rebounds in the game. “We were up 17 points and they came back, and I think we got way too high in our emotions. “We were a young group, I was a freshman, so I wasn’t poised at all. We thought we were going to win, just like in high school if you were up. College basketball’s a different beast. We’ve just got to be more poised and never take any opportunity for granted.”

$iena will never tell a team to kick rocks, which results in a home game this year vs waiting to next year for a home game. Otherwise, the date and timing of this is horrible, kudos to both AD's for undoing a Capital District tradition. Oh, not to mention, not going.

Attended Tuesday's game in person, I walked away thinking is this team of matching last year's win-loss record. Just not sure, what I do know, lose one or two certain players to injuries for any period of time, a total disaster will exist.

Great job Greg Gattuso, contract extension?