Hartford

[reeder]

Critical game for the Danes on Thursday:

1. Hartford has played pretty well since their 22 point effort vs. Boston U.

2. Important momentum game going into Sunday's game at Boston U. If UA slips, they risk a possible 3 game losing streak.

3. Hartford is a pretty athletic team which means ALbany needs to protect the ball - they forced 16 turnovers in the first game.

4. Siena is playing so poorly now that each UA win will attract more attention to the program. They have some very winnable home games coming up - Hartford, Stony Brook, New Hampshire, Maine.

 

Keys for the rest of the season:

1. Minimize turnovers - that will keep them in every game they play

2. Post play will be the difference in beating the top tier teams

3. Free throws - they are much more likely to win when they get to the line.

[Dane Pound]

I agree with all your points Reeder and Hartford is 3-2 in their last 5 games. My concern is that the Danes have already beaten Hartford on the road and may be tempted to overlook them especially with BU coming up. Despite the long bus trip last week I thought they overlooked the UMBC game coming off the Maine win as some people predicted they might.

 

It has to be a totally different mindset from the last few years where they have been battling to stay out of the conference cellar. Jockeying for conference/tournament position is a completely new animal for this this program.

[AlbanyObserver]

UAlbany 73, Hartford 63

 

I expect the Danes to come out ready for this game after a four-day layoff. Hopefully, a crowd over 2,000 with the students back in town.

 

Cut down on the turnovers. Press. Get Z involved. Spend lots of time at the foul line. This is what we ask for every game!!!!! I would like to see 20 points out of Lucious. He has seemed quiet lately.

[GODANESGO]

I think this is finally the game that the Danes are going to get out of the offensive funk that they have been in the past few games. Hartford has a very poor defense and and offense that isn't much better. Hopefully the HOPEFUL added fan support with the students back will encourage them a bit too.

 

Hartford's Cook looks to be pretty deadly from beyond the arc, but he is essentially their only remote threat with the 3. We've got to play tough perimeter defense on him.

 

They don't shoot well from the free-throw line, have poor 3-point defense, and don't seem to pass the ball too much with only 10 assists per game for the team. They're also one of only 2 teams (UVM being the other) with less blocks per game than we have. They do seem to be a quality steal threat though.

 

All that said, I really look for the Danes to have an impressive win with a good offensive showing. It'd be nice to see another 4 scorers in double digits game.

 

UAlbany 76, Hartford 65