All Over Albany

College hoops season is back

Hey, look, college basketball season starts Friday. And all four local Division 1 teams are in action...

UAlbany
+ The UAlbany men's team takes on Iona at SEFCU Arena at 7 pm. The Great Danes were picked #2 in the America East pre-season coaches poll. And junior guard David Nichols was first team all conference last season after averaging 17.9 points per game.

+ The UAlbany women's team -- which has gone to the NCAA tournament six years in a row -- faces #15 Maryland on the road in College Park. The Great Danes were picked #2 in the American East pre-season coaches poll (where's the respect?). The team has some big shoes fill -- Imani Tate, one of the school's all-time best players graduated last year. First home game of the season is November 19 against Fordham.

Siena
+ The Siena men's team is on the road at the College of Charleston. The Saints lost of a bunch of good players to graduation from last year's team, and don't have a single senior on this year's team. The first home game of the season is November 13 at the TU Center against Florida Gulf Coast.

+ The Siena women's team is on the road at Penn State. Senior guard Kollyns Scarbrough was second team all-MAAC last year and was named to the conference preseason first team this year. The first home game of the season is November 12 against St. Bonaventure on campus.

UAlbany vs. Siena
This year's crosstown matchup between UAlbany and Siena is December 9 at the TU Center. The women play at 5 pm, the men at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $12 and up.