By Brian DePasquale

Great Danes Men’s and Women’s Basketball Schedules
The University at Albany recently released the men’s and women’s basketball schedules for the 2002-03 season. The Great Danes, who moved to the Division I level in 1999-2000, will compete in the America East Conference for the second straight year. The UAlbany men’s program begins its America East schedule on January 4 at Maine. The season concludes with the America East Conference Tournament on March 9, 10, and 15 at Boston University’s Walter Brown Arena.

The Great Danes’ non-conference slate is highlighted by the first meeting with Notre Dame on November 30 in South Bend, Ind. The Fighting Irish reached the second round of the 2002 NCAA Tournament, and finished with a 22-11 record. UAlbany will also battle Syracuse at the Carrier Dome on December 28 and face crosstown-rival Siena in the season opener on November 22 at Pepsi Arena. UAlbany plays a 14-game home schedule at the Recreation and Convocation Center (RACC). In addition to the America East teams, Colgate and Bucknell, of the Patriot League; Robert Morris, Long Island and Quinnipiac, of the Northeast Conference; and Ivy League foe Dartmouth visit the RACC.

Head coach Will Brown has seven letterwinners returning, including senior guard Antione Johnson, who averaged 11.3 points. Earv Opong contributed 8.2 points in his first season with the program. Opong was ranked among the conference leaders in assists (3.4 pg) and steals (1.8 pg).

The UAlbany women’s basketball program begins America East Conference play against Boston University on January 9. The conference tournament is scheduled for March 13, 14, and 15 at Chase Family Arena in Hartford, Conn.

The Great Danes open the season against Siena, a 2002 WNIT participant, on November 22 at Pepsi Arena. UAlbany is entered in the Cornell Classic on December 6 and 7. The tournament field includes Colgate and Long Island. A 13-game home schedule at the RACC begins with Ivy League opponent Yale on November 26.

First-year head coach Trina Thomas Patterson welcomes four starters back from last year’s squad. Becky Ayers (12.2 ppg) and Danielle Hutcheson had solid freshman campaigns. Hutcheson averaged 11.1 points and was third among the America East leaders in rebounding at 8.0 per game. Senior guard Jess McGinlay also scored in double figures with an 11.4 average. Three home doubleheaders are scheduled: November 26 (M-Bucknell, W-Yale), January 2 (M-Colgate, W-Lafayette) and February 8 (M&W-Maine). The February 8 doubleheader features the Big Purple Growl, the University’s Winter Homecoming.

Women's Basketball Schedule 2002-03
November
22 (Fri.) at Siena 6 p.m.
26 (Tue.) Yale 5 p.m.

December
1 (Sun.) at Sacred Heart TBA
6-7 (Fri.-Sat.) at Cornell Classic (Albany, Colgate, Cornell, Long Island) TBA
12 (Thu.) Army 7 p.m.
15 (Sun.) Wagner 1 p.m.
21 (Sat.) at St. Francis, N.Y. 1 p.m.
28 (Sat.) Towson 11 a.m.

January
2 (Thu.) Lafayette 5 p.m.
5 (Sun.) at Navy 2 p.m.
9 (Thu.) at Boston U.* 7 p.m.
12 (Sun.) at New Hampshire* 1 p.m.
15 (Wed.) at Vermont* 7 p.m.
18 (Sat.) Stony Brook* 1 p.m.
22 (Wed.) Binghamton* 7 p.m.
29 (Wed.) Hartford* 7 p.m.

February
1 (Sat.) at Northeastern* 1 p.m.
6 (Thu.) Boston U.* 7 p.m.
8 (Sat.) Maine* +5 p.m.
12 (Wed.) Northeastern* 7 p.m.
15 (Sat.) New Hampshire* 1 p.m.
19 (Wed.) at Binghamton* 7 p.m.
22 (Sat.) at Hartford* 2 p.m.
26 (Wed.) at Maine* TBA.

March
1 (Sat.) Vermont* 1 p.m.
5 (Wed.) at Stony Brook* 7 p.m.
13, 14 & 15, America East Conference Tournament (Chase Family Arena, Hartford, Conn.).

*America East Conference Opponent, +Big Purple Growl

 

Men's Basketball Schedule 2002-03
November
22 (Fri.) at Siena 8 p.m.
26 (Tue.) Bucknell 7:30 p.m.
30 (Sat.) at Notre Dame 2 p.m.

December
9 (Mon.) at Army 7 p.m.
11 (Wed.) Long Island 7 p.m.
21 (Sat.) Robert Morris 1 p.m.
23 (Mon.) Quinnipiac 7 p.m.
28 (Sat.) at Syracuse 7 p.m.
30 (Mon.) at Lafayette 7:30 p.m.

January
 2 (Thu.) Colgate 7:30 p.m.
4 (Sat.) at Maine* TBA
8 (Wed.) Boston U.* 7 p.m.
11 (Sat.) New Hampshire* 1 p.m.
15 (Wed.) Vermont* 7 p.m.
18 (Sat.) at Stony Brook* 2 p.m.
21 (Tue.) at Binghamton* 7 p.m.
25 (Sat.) Dartmouth 1 p.m.
29 (Wed.) at Hartford* 7 p.m.

February
2 (Sun.) Northeastern* 1 p.m.
5 (Wed.) at Boston U.* 7 p.m.
8 (Sat.) Maine* +7:30 p.m.
14 (Fri.) Stony Brook* 7 p.m.
16 (Sun.) at New Hampshire* 1 p.m.
20 (Thu.) Binghamton* 7 p.m.
22 (Sat.) Hartford* 1 p.m.
26 (Wed.) at Northeastern* TBA

March
2 (Sun.) at Vermont* 1 p.m.
9, 10 & 15, America East Conference Tournament (Walter Brown Arena, Boston, Mass.).

*America East Conference Opponent +Big Purple Growl