2021-22 UAlbany Men’s Basketball Season Preview

ALBANY, N.Y. - The University at Albany men’s basketball season begins in just one week. The Great Danes, now led by first year Head Coach Dwayne Killings, are looking to bring a new MENTALITY to the court this year. A new year, a new coaching staff, and a new crop of players hungry to capture the America East crown will make for an exciting season in Albany.

Meet Coach Killings

Dwayne Killings, a native of Amherst, Mass., begins his journey as Head Coach of the Great Danes after previously serving at Marquette University, where he spent the previous three seasons. While at Marquette, Killings served under Head Coach Steve Wojciechowski. In Killings’ three years in Wisconsin, the Golden Eagles posted two winning seasons and made one appearance in the NCAA Tournament. In 2020, his recruiting class ranked in the top-20 nationally and he coached 2019-20 BIG EAST Player of the Year and AP All-American Markus Howard.

Different Viewpoints

Starting his first day on campus, Killings made it a priority to compile a coaching staff that could bring different viewpoints to the court. He did just that, assembling a staff from around the country. Assistant Coaches Hamlet Tibbs (Vermont) and Dannton Jackson (UAB) come from the college ranks, having served as assistant coaches before joining the Great Danes. Assistant Coach Matt Griffin brings a slightly different and unique viewpoint, coming from Roman Catholic High School in Philadelphia. 

They are joined by Director of Basketball Operations Dan Madhavapallil, who worked with Killings at Marquette, Director of Recruiting and Video KJ Baptiste (Penn State), and Men’s Basketball Graduate Manager Matt Cioce (Christ School, N.C.). Together, these six men are ready to help bring Killings’ new MENTALITY to UAlbany. 

Roster Changes

The coaching staff isn’t the only thing that’s new for the Great Danes. The roster has had a complete transformation from last year’s squad, which made it to the America East Quarterfinals as the No. 5 seed. Nine new student-athletes are suiting up in the purple and gold for 2021-22 - De’Vondre Perry, Matt Cerruti, Gerald Drumgole Jr., Paul Newman, Ny’Mire Little, Justin Neely, Aaron Reddish, Luke Fizulich, and Tairi Ketner. Returning for UAlbany is Will Amica, Trey Hutcheson, Jarvis Doles, Jamel Horton, Sam Shafer, and Chuck Champion. 

Along with the coaching staff, these 22 men officially make up the 2021-22 UAlbany Great Danes. In total, 16 of these individuals are new to UAlbany. 

Coaches’ Poll

A completely new team, the Great Danes were picked to finish seventh in this year’s America East Preseason Coaches’ Poll, receiving 34 points. Stony Brook came in atop the list with 77 points and five first-place votes, just ahead of Vermont with 74 points and four first-place votes. New Hampshire rounded out the top three with 64 points and a single first-place vote.

Defending champion Hartford placed fourth with 56 points, UMBC placed fifth with 49 points, and UMass Lowell placed sixth with 43 points. Following the Great Danes' seventh-place spot was NJIT (23 points), Maine (16 points) and Binghamton (14 points).

Kickin’ Things Off

The 2021-22 season officially kicks off next Tuesday at 7:00 when the team hosts Towson at SEFCU Arena. The game will mark the first time fans see the Great Danes play at home in-person since the conclusion of the 2019-20 season. Tickets for the game can be purchased by clicking here. 

Tuesday will also be the first time the Great Danes and Tigers ever play each other, but it doesn’t mean there isn’t some familiarity between the two teams. Towson’s Antonio Rizzuto was a key player in the Great Danes’ starting lineup the past three years. Last season, he was named to both the America East All-Defensive Team and All-Conference Second Team. He averaged 12.5 points and 1.6 rebounds in 16 games during the 2020-21 season for UAlbany.

Non-Conference Opponents

The Great Danes are scheduled to play13 non-conference games this year, four of them being at SEFCU Arena. After starting the season hosting Towson (Nov. 9), the team heads to La Salle to take on the Explorers on Nov. 13. The Great Danes then return home on Nov. 17 to host Harvard before playing their next five on the road. 

The road trip starts off with a visit to the state of Kentucky. The Great Danes will take part in the Eastern Kentucky Invitational, playing Eastern Kentucky (Nov. 20) and Eastern Illinois (Nov. 24) in Richmond. In between those two games, the team will travel down the road to Lexington to matchup against John Calipari and the powerhouse Kentucky basketball program. That marquee matchup is scheduled for Nov. 22 at Kentucky’s Rupp Arena. The road trip concludes with stops at Kansas State (Dec. 1) and Yale (Dec. 7).

UAlbany then hosts Columbia (Dec. 11) before traveling to Boston College (Dec. 13), Niagara (Dec. 18), and Lehigh (Dec. 21). Non-conference action wraps up on Dec. 29 with the Great Danes hosting Bucknell. 

America East Lineup

Conference action kicks off after the new year with the great Danes traveling to face Vermont on Jan. 2. The team plays their first America East game at home that same week with a matchup against Binghamton slated for Jan. 6. Other home conference matchups include UMass Lowell (Jan. 12), NJIT (Jan. 15), Stony Brook (Jan. 22), UMBC (Feb. 2), Maine (Feb. 9), Vermont (Feb. 12), New Hampshire (Feb. 19), and Hartford (Mar. 1).

Secure Your Tickets

This year marks a new chapter in history for the Great Danes, don’t miss out! Season tickets for UAlbany basketball can be purchased by calling the UAlbany Ticket Office at (518) 442-DANE or by visiting UAlbanySports.com/Tickets.

Drive the Lane with UAlbany Hoops

It was recently announced that UAlbany had expanded its partnership with ESPN Radio 104.5 The Team and City Line Bar & Grill. Coaches Dwayne Killings and Colleen Mullen, along with select student-athletes, will join ESPN Radio 104.5 The Team's Charlie Voelker and Dan Bahl every Monday from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. live from City Line Bar & Grill for a weekly segment entitled 'Drive the Lane with UAlbany Hoops'. 

Fans are invited to come out to City Line Bar & Grill to join Coach Killings, Coach Mullen, student-athletes and the ESPN Radio 104.5 The Team crew. Food and drink specials will be available on a weekly basis as the teams embark on their new seasons and talk hoops every Monday, all season long. 

Social Central

Stay up to date with UAlbany men’s basketball by following the team on Twitter (@UAlbanyMBB) and Instagram (@ualbany_mbb) for all of the latest news and highlights throughout the season. 

MEET THE TEAM

#0 Ny’Mire Little

Guard

6-4, 203, Fr.

Chester, Pa./Westtown

First Year at UAlbany

#1 Will Amica

Guard

6-0, 170, So.

Syracuse, N.Y./West Genesee

Second Year at UAlbany

#2 Dre Perry

Forward

6-7, 220, Gr.    

Baltimore, Md./Polytechnic Institute (Temple)

First Year at UAlbany

#3 Trey Hutcheson

Guard/Forward

6-5, 195, Jr.

Marion, Iowa/Linn-Mar

Third Year at UAlbany

#4 Jarvis Doles

Forward

6-9, 215, Gr.

Baltimore, Md./Hammond (Drexel)

Second Year at UAlbany

#5 Jamel Horton

Guard

6-4, 190, Sr.

Queens, N.Y./Holy Cross (Pratt CC)

Second Year at UAlbany

#10 Aaron Reddish

Forward

6-7, 185, Fr.

Norristown, Pa./Pebblebrook

First Year at UAlbany

#11 Tairi Ketner

Forward

6-7, 263, Fr.

South Philadelphia, Pa./Woodstock Academy

First Year at UAlbany

#12 Justin Neely

Forward

6-5, 200, Fr.

Miami, Fla./West Oaks Academy

First Year at UAlbany

#13 Gerald Drumgoole Jr.

Guard/Forward

6-5, 214, Jr.

Rochester, N.Y./La Lumiere (Pittsburgh)

First Year at UAlbany

#20 Matt Cerruti

Guard

6-4, 190, Gr.

Huntington Valley, Pa./Archbishop Wood (Lock Haven)

First Year at UAlbany

#23 Sam Shafer

Guard/Forward

6-6, 200, R-Jr.

Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East (Southern Illinois)

Third Year at UAlbany

#24 Paul Newman

Center

6-9, 225, Gr.

Philadelphia, Pa./St. Andrew’s (Bucknell)

First Year at UAlbany

#25 Luke Fizulich

Guard

6-2, 185, So.

Harrington Park, N.J./Archbishop Stepinac (Marquette)

First Year at UAlbany

#30 Chuck Champion

Guard

6-4, 185, Gr.

Philadelphia, Pa./Friends Central (Loyola Md.)

Second Year at UAlbany