UAlbany men's basketball scores highest preseason projection since 2017

ALBANY, NY (NEWS10) -- The UAlbany men's basketball team is seemingly trending in the right direction. Last season, the Great Danes hosted their first playoff game since 2018. This year, the Great Danes received their best preseason projection since 2017.

UAlbany was picked to finish in a tie for second in the America East Coaches Poll, released Monday. "I think there's a respect value for what the coaches have done in terms of recruiting," said head coach Dwayne Killings. "There's a respect value in the players that we've identified that can help us have success this season. It's votes from other coaches in the league, so I think people understand the kind of program we're capable of being and the abilities and the potential of this group. But what I said to our team is, that's a small population, right? There's another population maybe doesn't think we can get that done. Then we have our own internal belief. It's about the internal belief. Then we've got to go out there and get it done. It's about being the best team at the end of March."

It's a new look roster for the Great Danes, with 11 new faces on this year's team. The team's leading returner is sophomore guard Amir Lindsey, who was named to the Preseason All-Conference team on Monday. Lindsey says the team isn't satisfied with a second place projection. "It's an honor for people that believe in us and people who voted for us," said Lindsey. "Obviously as a team, we're not settling for two. We want to be one and we feel like we're going to be one. Like I said, it's an honor that we're a preseason pick that high, but we obviously haven't proven anything."

The Great Danes begin the season at Marquette on November 3.