TU Blog

[Clickclack]

UAlbany men’s basketball and the America East Conference will be unveiled to the public over the next few days.

 

The Great Danes will hold their intrasquad scrimmage on Saturday at 2 p.m. in SEFCU Arena, preceded by an alumni game at 1 p.m. Both are free to the public as part of Homecoming weekend.

 

Then on Monday at 11:30 a.m., the America East will hold its media day at the Fort Orange Club in Albany, where all nine league coaches will convene and the preseason poll will be released.

 

UAlbany coach Will Brown said he’ll hold a practice on Saturday morning that will be lighter than usual so his players will be rested for the scrimmage.

 

“We’ve always come out and really grinded them and had nothing left for the scrimmage,” Brown said. “What we’re going to do is probably have a 1 1/2-hour mental practice, go over the offensive and defensive schemes and makes sure we’re comfortable with what we’re going to do come (Saturday) afternoon.”

 

Brown will observe from the opposite sideline while his assistants run the scrimmage. Great Dane players will be separated into two teams and three referees will be present.

 

It will be the public’s only chance to see the team play before the season opener at Villanova on Nov. 14. UAlbany has closed scrimmages against other Division I schools on Nov. 1 and 8. Brown declined to say whom the Great Danes are facing because of NCAA rules against publicizing closed scrimmages.

 

Brown wrote on his Web site that former Great Danes Jon Iati, Brent Wilson, Jerrad Knotts, Jason Graber and Andre Duncan (who’s being inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame this weekend) are all expected to participate in the alumni game.

 

On Monday, the America East media day will gather coaches in one location for the first time since Boston University hosted the event in 2003. Since then, the America East had made coaches available via conference call or in videos posted on the league’s Web site.

 

America East spokesman Sean Tainsh said the league decided to have a formal gathering this year to help promote the conference tournament, which is being held at UAlbany’s SEFCU Arena on March 6-8.

 

Former Vermont coach Tom Brennan, now an ESPN studio analyst, will emcee media day. Rodger Wyland will broadcast his Big Board Sports show on WOFX (980 AM) from the Fort Orange Club on Monday from 9 a.m. to noon. He’ll talk to America East coaches and administrators throughout the morning.

 

 

 

The question is....will KB put aside the tough guy persona and shake hands with our staff.....or will he go pushing and showing again. Unlike the guy from the ALeast blog....I am NOT a KB guy!