Danes have two chances to deliver before tourney

     At one point or another, we've all wanted a second chance. After crushing home losses to Maine and Hartford earlier in the year, the University at Albany men's basketball team will get its own shot at redemption.

   Those shots will take place this Wednesday and Sunday, as the Great Danes take to the road to finish out the regular season.

   They lost 63-54 to Maine the first time around, in a matchup where the Danes' porous defense allowed the Black Bears to shoot an astronomical 59.5 percent from the floor and over 47 percent from 3-point range – including a 21-point performance from the America East's sixth leading scorer, Gerald McLemore. Sean McNally also torched the Danes inside and out with 14 points and 6 rebounds.

   In their 64-62 loss to Hartford, the Danes allowed 21 points from Hartford's Joe Zeglinski, whose shooting clinic kept Hartford ahead in a wire-to-wire victory, thanks in large part to a 16-5 run to start the game – a run the Danes were unable to respond to despite a late charge in which they tied the game with 5:32 to go in the second half.

   McLemore and Zeglinski are numbers one and two within the conference in terms of 3-point field goals made and both are coming in playing some of their best basketball. This includes a recent three-game stretch in which McLemore averaged nearly 26 points a game, which he finished with a 30-point outburst in New Hampshire. Needless to say, stopping them is a top priority for UAlbany coach Will Brown and his players if they are to finish the season strong. 

   "We have to limit their touches and not let them get comfortable," he said.

   Turnovers also played a huge role in both losses, with Albany committing 17 in both games, offsetting the fact that the Danes had out-rebounded Maine by 10 boards and Hartford by 3. Brown knows that won't cut it this time around either.

   "We have to help ourselves and be more aware out there," Brown said of his team's turnover woes.

   This time around UAlbany will have the services of Will Harris, who missed both of these games with a knee contusion. He will have a significant impact against Hartford especially, given Albany's rebounding advantage of four per game over the Hawks.

   They will also be able to rely more heavily on freshman point guard Mike Black, who has come into his own as of late with an increase in playing time. Look for him to exploit what Brown describes as Albany's ability to "run the floor and work at a faster tempo" against the Black Bears.

   Of course, the Danes' number one priority for these last two games is to secure some much needed momentum for the upcoming America East tournament. 

   "If you build momentum at the end of the year anything can happen," senior Scotty McRae said.

   After such a rough season, one would think that any momentum wasn't even a possibility at this point. Try telling that to this group, who is still maintaining its confidence coming down the stretch.

   "It's been a tough season for everyone involved, but I still feel that this team can win games," said senior Brett Gifford who, despite a reduction in playing time from last season, has confidence in his younger teammates to deliver late this year.

   With the marked improvement of Black, as well as freshman Logan Aronhalt, he is not alone.

   "We're one of those teams that haven't played our best basketball yet," Brown said. "You want to play your best at the end of the year."  

They will also be able to rely more heavily on freshman point guard Mike Black, who has come into his own as of late with an increase in playing time. Look for him to exploit what Brown describes as Albany's ability to "run the floor and work at a faster tempo" against the Black Bears.

   Of course, the Danes' number one priority for these last two games is to secure some much-needed momentum for the upcoming America East tournament. 

   "If you build momentum at the end of the year anything can happen," senior forward Scotty McRae said.

   After such a rough season, one would think that any momentum wasn't even a possibility at this point. Try telling that to this group, who is still maintaining its confidence coming down the stretch.
 

  "It's been a tough season for everyone involved, but I still feel that this team can win games," said senior Brett Gifford who, despite a reduction in playing time from last season, has confidence in his younger teammates to deliver late this year.
 

  With the marked improvement of Black, as well as freshman Logan Aronhalt, he is not alone.

   "We're one of those teams that haven't played our best basketball yet," Brown said. "You want to play your best at the end of the year."