Men's Basketball Picked Second in America East Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Cambridge, Mass. – After winning a pair of America East Conference men’s basketball championships and making consecutive NCAA appearances, the University at Albany has been picked to finish second in the 2007-08 conference preseason poll, according to a vote of the league’s head coaches as announced on Tuesday, Nov. 6. The Great Danes begin their schedule on Saturday, Nov. 10 against Bucknell.

Boston University has been installed as the preseason favorite to win this year’s championship. The Terriers, whose selection is based largely on a talented sophomore class, received five first-place votes and 61 total points. UAlbany earned the remaining four first-place votes and had 55 points. Vermont and Binghamton were third and fourth, respectively, in the poll

“It’s a credit to the young men on the past two teams that made the NCAA Tournament that we were picked second and received four first-place votes,” said UAlbany coach Will Brown, whose team lost two first-team all-conference performers, including Associated Press All-America Jamar Wilson, from last year’s club. “We appreciate how the coaches view us, but we realize that in order to have an opportunity to win a third straight championship there’s a lot of hard work ahead of us. We welcome that challenge as we start the season.”

UAlbany put together another list of impressive accomplishments in 2006-07. The Great Danes, who posted back-to-back 20-win campaigns for the first time in 17 years, set the program’s Division I record for most regular-season victories (20) and single-season victories (23). UAlbany (23-10) became the second No. 2 seed to defeat a top seed on its home floor in the conference championship game en route to winning back-to-back titles.

Brent Wilson, a 6-foot-8 senior, was one of five players selected to the 2007-08 America East Preseason All-Conference squad. Wilson, a two-time third-team all-league selection, averaged 11.0 points and 5.0 rebounds, plus led the team with 71 three-point field goals.

Brian Lillis, a 6’5” swingman, was chosen the conference’s top defensive player one year ago. A contributor in many ways, Lillis averaged 6.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.5 steals. Jon Iati, one of the top three-point shooters in the program’s history, provides an offensive spark off the bench. Jimmie Covington (6’7”) and Brian Connelly (6’8”) played in all 33 games last season.

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2007 America East Conference Preseason Men’s Basketball Poll

1. Boston U. (5), 61; 2. Albany (4), 55; 3. Vermont, 50; 4. Binghamton, 45; 5. UMBC, 33; 6. Hartford, 31; 7. Stony Brook, 19; T8. Maine, 15; T8. New Hampshire, 15. ( ) – first-place votes



2007 America East Preseason All-Conference Team

Mike Gordon (Binghamton), Senior, Guard

Brian Hodges (UMBC), Senior, Guard

Tyler Morris (Boston U.), Sophomore, Guard

Mike Trimboli (Vermont), Junior, Guard

Brent Wilson (Albany), Senior, Forward