America East Conference Promotes UAlbany's SEFCU Arena as Basketball Championship Host

Albany, N.Y. -- America East Conference Men’s Basketball Media Day was held at the historic Fort Orange Club in downtown Albany on Monday, Oct. 27. City of Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings welcomed the conference membership to the Capital Region. The 2009 America East Men’s Basketball Championship will be held at the University at Albany’s SEFCU Arena on March 6, 7 and 8.

The nine-team tournament begins with a first-round game on Friday, March 6. Quarterfinal and semifinal games follow on Saturday, March 7 and Sunday, March 8, respectively. The championship will be played on Saturday, March 14 at the home court of the higher remaining seed.

“Anytime a conference, especially at our level, moves a tournament, it is great to go to an area where the host school is in an area that has an interest in basketball,” said New Hampshire coach Bill Herrion, who guided Drexel to three America East titles. “Albany has that, especially with the team being successful the last few years. Albany is a great basketball town; it will be great having the tournament here. It should be exciting.”

Boston University coach Dennis Wolff continued, “I think moving the tournament from city to city is an exciting way to involve different communities. Albany has a great fan base which will make the tournament a well-supported event.”

Boston U. was chosen first in the America East preseason poll by the league’s head coaches. The Terriers received five of a possible eight first-place votes. Vermont was second in the rankings and had four first-place votes. Hartford earned the third spot and defending league champion UMBC was placed fourth.

UAlbany was picked sixth by the coaches. Brian Connelly is the top returning scorer (10.1 ppg) and rebounder (5.3 pg). Jimmie Covington and Jerel Hastings are also experience starters, while sophomore Tim Ambrose was a member of last year’s America East all-rookie squad. Will Brown, one of 10 head coaches to have won multiple conference championships, will incorporate eight first-year players into the mix, including Virginia transfer Will Harris.

Boston U. won nine of its final 12 games last season and returns its top seven scorers from that team. Corey Lowe, a second-team all-conference player, was second in the league in scoring at 18.1 points per game. John Holland (15.5 ppg) was named the America East Rookie of the Year. Vermont has two of America East’s top three scorers in Marqus Blakely and Mike Trimboli. Blakely, a 6-foot-5 junior, led the conference in scoring (19.0 ppg), rebounding (11.0 pg) and blocked shots (2.7 pg). Trimboli is America East’s active scoring leader with 1,496 points.

“Today was a great day to tip off our season,” America East Commissioner Patrick Nero stated. “We are pleased with the momentum and enthusiasm that UAlbany has generated for our season and our championship in March.”

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2008 America East Conference Preseason Men’s Basketball Poll

1. Boston U. (5), 59; 2. Vermont (4), 55; 3. Hartford, 51; 4. UMBC, 45; 5. Binghamton, 37; 6. Albany, 30; 7. New Hampshire, 24; 8. Maine, 13; 9. Stony Brook, 10.