Brown, Great Danes open vs. Calipari, UK
The non-conference schedule was released Monday for the U Albany Great Danes men's basketball team. Their season begins with a Nov. 13matchup at Rupp Arena against national semifinalist Kentucky.
ALBANY>> The University at Albany announced its 20152016 non- conference basketball schedule on Monday. The Great Danes will open the season on Nov. 13 at Rupp Arena against national semifinalist Kentucky Wildcats and head coach John Calipari.
“I am looking forward to the upcoming season and I am confident that our nonconference schedule will prepare us for America East Conference play,” said head coach Will Brown, in a statement. “We are excited about opening the season at Kentucky as part of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Classic. The schedule is challenging and will provide us with the opportunity to compete against several programs who will be vying for conference championships and postseason play.”
The Great Danes follow their matchup with the Wildcat with a Nov. 16 contest at Boston University before their home opener against Colgate on Nov. 19.
The three-time defending America East champions are also slated to play at South Florida on Nov. 24, at Holy Cross on Dec. 5, and at Siena on Dec. 12 in their cross-town rivalry.
College Basketball
SIENA >> Siena head coach Jimmy Patsos has been enlisted in “Operation Hardwood” by the United Service Organizations ( USO) and Armed Forces Entertainment.
Patsos and other U. S. college coaches will head to the Persian Gulf to tour military bases with the mission of lifting the morale of soldiers through basketball instruction.
“I’m happy to be involved,” Patsos said, in a statement, of Operation Hardwood. “They’re the real heroes. It’s a once-in- a-lifetime opportunity, and something I’m really looking forward to. We owe a lot to these guys.”
It’s the 10th anniversary of Operation Hardwood, which was created by USO in 2005 to boost morale and bring a touch of home to those in uniform, according to their website. Operation Hardwood has deployed more than 35 NCAA basketball coaches and sports personalities to Kuwait and Japan over the last 10 years.
While Coach Patsos is in the Persian Gulf, Siena assistant Greg Manning will be leading a team of college student- athletes on an eight- day, fourgame tour of Croatia. Junior point guard Marquis Wright and freshman recruit Kenny Wormley are both a part of Manning’s diverse roster.
“It’s going to be a good experience for all the players,” Manning said. “Marquis and Kenny will get a chance to play against professional teams. This is like training camp and exhibi- tion games for them. It’s a very good level over there.”
Manning coached an 11-player team in Belgium and Germany in 2012 and a 10-man team that included Siena players Lavon Long and Javion Ogunyemi in Brussels, London, Amsterdam and Paris last summer.
Baseball NY-Penn League
TRI- CITY 6, LOWELL 3 >> TriCity extended its lead over Lowell in the Stedler Division with a 6- 3 victory Sunday night. The game was the first of a six-game homestand for the ValleyCats.
Trailing 2- 0 in the fourth, ‘ Cats designated hitter Hector Roa hit a solo home run, his fourth of the season, to cut the deficit to 2-1. Two batter later, first baseman Dexture McCall gave Tri- City (28-21) its first lead of the game with a two-run homer that also scored Pat Porter, McCall’s third of the season.
All- star pitcher Alex Winkelman tossed five innings, allowing five hits and two runs, while striking out three to improve to 5- 0 with a 1.90 ERA for the ValleyCats.
Austin Rei led the Spinners (25-24) with a solo home run in the seventh inning that made the score, 4-3, ValleyCats.
Tri- City now has a three game lead in the division.