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The Kentucky Wildcats open their 2015-16 season on Friday when they host the Albany Great Danes in Rupp Arena.
For Albany, Will Brown enters his 15th season as the University at Albany's men's basketball head coach. Brown is the longest-tenured coach in the America East Conference. He has led the Great Danes to five conference championships and five NCAA Tournament appearances, including last season.
Brown was named the 2015 America East Coach of the Year. He has placed more than two dozen players on the All-America East postseason teams. He was the head coach during the program's first NCAA Tournament win over Mount St. Mary's in 2014.
Last season was an unparalleled season for the program as they recorded their best Division I winning percentage (24-9, .727) and tied their highest win total. Albany won the America East by going 15-1 in league play. Playing all three conference postseason games in the confines of SEFCU Arena, Brown earned his third consecutive and fifth overall America East Tournament title, a 51-50 over Stony Brook after Peter Hooley hit a last-second three from the top of the key for the victory. The Danes were slotted in the NCAA Tournament as a 14-seed and played 3-seed Oklahoma. Albany's NCAA Tournament lasted just one game in its fifth NCAA Tournament appearance.
Speaking of Hooley, he'll be the go-to scorer for the Danes this season. Hooley ranks third in Division I career free throw percentage (299-365, .819) and 10th all-time in free throws made (299). Before the start of his senior season, Hooley is 25 three-point field goals away from passing Albany great Jamar Wilson in career three-pointers.
The Danes got two first-place votes and a total of 55 points to take the No. 2 spot in the preseason America East conference predictions. Stony Brook edged out the Danes for No. 1 with seven first-place votes and 63 points.
Getting To Know The Danes
- Head coach: Will Brown (15th year)
- 2015 record: 24-9
- 2015 postseason: NCAA Round of 64
- Conference: America East
- vs UK All-time: First meeting
Great Danes Roster
Projected Starters
G Evan Singletary -- 6'1" Sr. -- 13.0 ppg, 3.6 rpg
G Peter Hooley -- 6'4" Sr. -- 13.7 ppg, 3.0 rpg
G Ray Sanders -- 6'4" Sr. -- 9.7 ppg, 4.6 rpg
F Mike Rowley -- 6'8" Jr. -- 3.8 ppg, 4.4 rpg
C Richard Peters-- 6'11" Jr. -- 2.3 ppg, 2.3 rpg
The Game
- Date: November 13
- Time: 7:00 PM
- Network: SEC Network
- Location: Rupp Arena, Lexington
- Online Stream: Watch ESPN
- Radio: Radio: 98.1 FM and 630 AM in Lexington. Go here for a list of radio affiliates based on where you live.
- Odds: No spread has been set as of Thursday morning, but check back at Odds Shark for when there is a line.