Perry, Danes take on Hartford
Return boosts bid to make semifinals
Getting De’Vondre Perry back in time for the playoffs is undoubtedly a boon for the University at Albany men’s basketball team.
Before Perry’s absence due to a knee injury, he was averaging a team-high 12.8 points and 5.0 rebounds per game.
In his return Tuesday in the last game of the regular season, a loss to Hartford, he played 22 minutes and scored six points on 2-for-5 shooting.
But, as coach Dwayne Killings acknowledged after the game, the team needs to get used to having Perry back out there.
“Of course, some guys’ minutes, shots have decreased, and that’s just part of the game, and guys are adapting now,” Perry said.
“We’ll be very much more deliberate (at Friday’s practice) about the lineups and just getting them out there, making decisions together, making reads together, having defensive possessions together,” Killings said Friday.
Perry is “an extreme alpha dog on the court,” graduate Matt Cerruti said. “He can’t shy away and not play the way he’s used to playing, and I think it comes down to me, Jamel (Horton) and Chuck (Champion), being senior leaders, to figure that aspect out of inserting him the right way.”
Cerruti, Champion, Horton and Perry all share an apartment and were talking strategy even before Perry’s return.
“He kept saying he didn’t want to mess anybody’s flow up or rhythm up, but we kept telling him, it’s up to us to figure that out. You’ve been out for a while, come back and just be who you are, and we’ll figure the rest out,” Cerruti said.
Perry, too, needs to adjust to being back on the court.
“He needs time, and we don’t have a lot of time,” Killings said.
The No. 5 Great Danes (13-17, 9-9 America East) head to No. 4 Hartford (11-19, 9-9) for a 2 p.m. tip Sunday.
The Hawks were the ones to end UAlbany’s playoff run last year. Horton and graduate Jarvis Doles combined for 28 points in the loss.
“We have guys who have shown they can perform in playoff games, so that definitely gives you a boost of confidence, but we’re going to need some new guys to step up too,” Horton said.
Tuesday’s loss showed the Great Danes where they need to improve against the Hawks, particularly rebounding and defending the 3-point line. Hartford outrebounded UAlbany 34-29 and shot 54.2 percent from 3, led by David Shriver’s 8-for-11 performance.
Shriver has scored 20plus points in three straight.
“I don’t want to go crazy, but he caught our attention,” Killings said.
Horton honored as league’s top defender
UAlbany made a strong showing in the conference awards released Friday, led by Horton’s Defensive Player of the Year win. He was also named to the all-conference second team.
The senior had his eyes on the award all year.
“Why not go and be the best defender every night? Why not guard the best player on the other team, take pride in it and do it at a high level?” Horton said.
“We’re being recognized as one of the better defensive teams. A lot of it is on Jamel’s shoulders because he’s been able to guard the ball, guard some of the better perimeter players in our league,” Killings said.
Justin Neely was named Rookie of the Year, and he and Aaron Reddish made the all-rookie team.
Neely, who was Rookie of the Week six times, led the Great Danes in rebounding with 126 boards and averaged 6.6 points per game.
“From the moment he got on the court, I think people knew what he was capable of doing,” Killings said of Neely.
Cerruti, who came to UAlbany from Division II and didn’t play last season, earned a third team nod.