JEC's ALBANY LEGACY

[jec1521]

ALBANY HIRES COSTA FOR PROGRAM TURN AROUND

11/2-Albany,NY-The Athletic Director of The University of Albany hired Coach Jay Costa, formerly of Bergen Catholic High School, expecting him to turn around this program. Coach Costa lead his previous team, the Bergen Catholic Crusaders to a State Championship 2 years in a row and is expected to have the same impact for the Albany Great Danes. "This team has a lot of potential," Costa said on Sunday's press conference. "We're gonna' try and win at least half of our games this season. That's the goal for this season. Every year the bar will be set higher and higher until we are a National Powerhouse. There is no reason that we shouldn't be ranked by next year." Costa said confidently. Coach Costa has a tough opponent on the Season opener home against #14 Pittsburgh. "First game will be tough, but nothin's impossible. All I want is for these kids to play their hearts out the whole season and we'll do fine." Will Jay Costa turn around this program? only time will tell.

[jec1521]

ROSTERS AND SCHEDULE RELEASED.

Here are the projected starters and benchman this season for the Albany Great Danes.

Starters
Pos.# Ht. Cl. Name Ovr.
PG 4 5'9" Fr. John Iati (72)
SG 31 6'1" So. Jamar Wilson (78 )
SF 1 6'7" Fr. Todd Martin (73)
PF 11 6'6" So. Levi Levine (76)
C 5 6'8" So. Jerrad Knotts (70)

Bench
SF 44 6'6" Jr. Aquawasi St. Hillaire (70)
PG 2 6'0" Fr. Courtney Johnson (68 )
C 20 6'8" Sr. Janis Pipikis (68 )
SF 45 6'9" So. Unknown (68 )
SF 21 6'6" Jr. Chris Wyatt (66)
C 23 6'6" So. Unknown (65)
PG 22 6'0" So. Marvin Cheese (64)


Here is the schedule for the Albany Great Danes.

11/28 #14 Pittsburgh Home
12/5 Army Home
12/20 Bridgeport Tech Away
12/22 Lehigh Home
12/30 Wagner Home
1/2 MD-Baltimore Home
1/4 Boston Home
1/8 New Hampshire Away
1/11 Northeastern Away
1/14 Binghamton Home
1/18 Maine Away
1/21 Stony Brook Away
1/25 Hartford Away
1/28 Vermont Home
1/31 Boston Away
2/4 MD-Baltimore Away
2/7 New Hampshire Home
2/11 Binghamton Away
2/14 Maine Home
2/18 Stony Brook Home
2/21 Hartford Home
2/26 Vermont Away
2/29 Northeastern Home

[jec1521]

ALBANY LOSES TO PITT IN HEARTBREAKING SEASON OPENER

11/28-Albany,NY-What a game it was for Jay Costa and the Great Danes on Costa's first game as Head Coach. Albany came out hitting on all cylinders having a 25-8 lead with 10 minutes left in the half. It looked like Albany could not miss and their Full court press worked all night against the confused Pittsburgh guards. But after a series of off shots for the Danes, Pittsburgh made up some of the deficit by halftime with the score 39-28. The 2nd half started out with a drought for both teams because of Pitt's 2-3 Zone and Albany's Full court press. But as soon as they got the ball rolling, Pitt slowly chipped away at the lead. They went back and forth until the lead was down to 4 with 6:36 left in the game. they again went back and forth missing and making all kinds of shots. But with Pitt down 3 with 10 seconds left, the Pitt coach could think of no other than Julius Page. He drained the three with 2 seconds left and then they went into OT. But the Pittsburgh Panthers simply outlasted the danes in OT and Pitt won 67-60. "Tough loss," Coach Costa says. "when you worked so hard the entire game, but fall short to an outstanding basketball team. We could of had 'em. But our boys played their hearts out and like I said before, that's all I ask from any of my teams. As long as we're competitive the whole game I'm happy."

Game Stats
Jamar Wilson 14 pts 2 rbs 2 ast
Jon Iati 9 pts 1 ast 1 rb 2 blks
Levi Levine 9 pts 9 rbs 1 blck
Todd Martin 8 pts 2 rbs 1 ast 1 st
Jerrad Knotts 6 pts 13 rbs 2 ast 2 blks
Janis Pipikis 0 pts 10 rbs

[baitman]

Tough loss man.....but it looks like your boys will be more than capable of making a run for your conference crown.

That's all you really have to shoot for is the conference bragging rights, atleast then your boys will be able to take dance lessons. :wink:

Good luck,
baitman

[vandnbyriver5]

good start,
Tough loss (let it be known, Pitt is my Pick for the National Champions)
Great Job, I was thinking about Albany but they dont have size. period
Best of Luck!
River