UAlbany Men's Basketball 2026-27 Season Preview

ALBANY, N.Y. - The University at Albany men's basketball team opens the 2026–27 season on Monday, Nov. 2, welcoming Rhode Island College to Broadview Center as the Great Danes begin a new campaign under head coach Dwayne Killings. Following an 11–21 season in 2025–26, UAlbany enters the new year with a revamped roster, a challenging non-conference schedule and the goal of building momentum in America East play.

With returning contributors and a large group of newcomers, the Great Danes will look to establish their identity early while preparing for another competitive season in the America East.

Setting the Standard

Dwayne Killings enters his sixth season as head coach of the Great Danes, bringing experience from stops at Marquette, Connecticut and Temple. Before arriving at UAlbany in 2021, Killings spent three seasons as associate head coach at Marquette, where he helped the Golden Eagles reach the NCAA Tournament. His coaching career also includes time at Boston University, where he was part of an America East championship team in 2010–11.

Jim Whitesell enters his fourth season on the UAlbany staff, bringing more than 40 years of collegiate coaching experience. Before joining the Great Danes in 2023, Whitesell spent four seasons as head coach at Buffalo, leading the Bulls to three Mid-American Conference Tournament appearances and an NIT berth. He also held coaching positions at St. John's, Saint Louis, Loyola Chicago, Lewis University and Elmhurst College.

Dan Madhavapallil enters his sixth season with the program after joining Killings at UAlbany in 2021 as director of basketball operations. He previously worked alongside Killings at Marquette, where he held several roles after beginning as a student manager. Since joining the Great Danes, Madhavapallil has been promoted to assistant coach and has contributed to player development and the program's community engagement efforts.

Willie Jenkins and Elijah Burns are entering their second seasons on the UAlbany coaching staff after joining the program in 2025. Jenkins arrived from Lehigh, where he spent four seasons on staff, including two as associate head coach. A former Tennessee Tech standout and Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year, Jenkins also played alongside Killings at UMass early in their college careers.

Burns returned to the Capital Region after serving as an assistant coach at Le Moyne and the College of Saint Rose. A former Notre Dame and Siena player, Burns brings both Division I playing experience and familiarity with the local basketball community to the Great Danes' staff.

Will Ferris also returns for his second season with the program, moving into the director of basketball operations role after serving as a graduate assistant in 2025–26. Ferris previously spent three years at Elon, where he worked as the head student manager, before completing his graduate studies at UAlbany.

With a mix of long-standing relationships and newer additions to the staff, the Great Danes enter the 2026–27 season with experience across multiple levels of college basketball and a coaching group familiar with both player development and the demands of America East competition.

Preseason Notice

The University at Albany men's basketball team was selected to finish sixth in the 2026–27 America East Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Great Danes enter the season looking to build on last year’s experience and climb the conference standings.

With a revamped roster and a mix of returning experience and new talent, UAlbany will look to establish itself as the America East schedule gets underway in January.

2026-27 America East Men's Basketball Preseason Poll

School – Points (1st Place Votes)

1. Vermont - 62 (7)
2. UMBC - 46 (1)
3. Binghamton - 45 (1)
4. NJIT - 38
5. Bryant – 36
6. UAlbany - 34
7. UMass Lowell - 31
8. Maine - 19
9. New Hampshire - 13

2026-27 America East Men's Basketball Preseason All-Conference Team

David Bolden - So. - G - NJIT
Keegan Harvey - Sr. - F - Bryant
Demetrius Lilley - Sr. - C - Binghamton
Victor Okojie - So. - G - UMass Lowell
Jeremiah Quigley - Sr. - G - Binghamton
Gus Yalden - Jr. - F - Vermont

Global GREATness

The Great Danes welcome 11 newcomers to the roster for the 2026–27 season, bringing together transfers, freshmen and international players from a wide range of basketball backgrounds. The group includes players from Division I programs, junior college, Canadian collegiate and prep programs, and professional clubs overseas.

In the backcourt, junior Ollie Engen joins UAlbany from Queen's University in Ontario, where he earned second-team All-Canadian recognition. Junior college transfer Papa Kounta arrives from Triton College, while Pedro Santos joins the Great Danes after playing at UT Martin. Freshman Tyler Jones, a Memphis, Tenn., native who attended Christ School in North Carolina, adds another option to the guard rotation. Moustapha Ndao, a freshman from Dakar, Senegal, brings international experience after playing for Al Ahli in Qatar.

The frontcourt features a mix of collegiate transfers and international newcomers. Benjamin Michaels joins UAlbany from Vermont, bringing Division I experience to the forward position. Kean Webb arrives after stops at Portland State and San Diego, adding size and versatility to the frontcourt. Freshman Callum Smith, from Ottawa, Ontario, joins the Great Danes from Ridley College.

UAlbany also adds three newcomers with experience in European basketball. Erwann Bussing arrives from Limoges CSP in France, where he competed in the club's youth program and made appearances at the professional level. Petar Miovic joins the Great Danes from KK Dubrovnik in Croatia, while Ndao adds another international connection to a roster with a growing global presence.

Rounding out the incoming group is freshman forward U-Mier Graham, a native of Albany who attended Green Tech before completing a postgraduate year at The Knox School. His local background gives the Great Danes another Capital Region connection as he begins his collegiate career.

With 11 newcomers joining four returning players, the Great Danes will spend the early part of the season building chemistry and defining roles across the lineup. The mix of collegiate transfers, freshmen and international experience gives UAlbany a new group to develop as it prepares for non-conference competition and the start of America East play.

Back FOUR More

While the Great Danes welcome a group of newcomers, four returning guards provide familiarity and experience heading into the new season.

Zacharie Matulu returns after a breakout 2025–26 campaign in which he averaged 9.9 points and 5.7 rebounds across 21 appearances, including 18 starts. Matulu finished the season with 207 points, 120 rebounds, 38 assists and 26 steals. He also shot 36.0 percent from three-point range, connecting on 31 of 86 attempts. A native of Albany, Matulu brings local ties and valuable experience to the backcourt.

Miles Rose provides another experienced option in the backcourt. In his first season with the Great Danes in 2025–26, Rose appeared in 29 games where he recorded 42 assists and delivered a career-high 20 points at New Hampshire on Jan. 24.

Wilkin Paulino enters his sophomore season after redshirting in 2025–26. The Worcester, Mass., native attended Proctor Academy before joining UAlbany and will look to compete for a role in the Great Danes' backcourt as he continues his collegiate development.

Abdoulaye Fall also returns after averaging 9.6 points and 3.4 rebounds in seven appearances last season, shooting 45.3 percent from the field and 85.7 percent from the free-throw line. He scored a season-high 16 points in a victory over Vermont on Jan. 19.

Together, the returning guards give UAlbany a foundation of familiarity as the Great Danes integrate their newcomers and prepare for another season of America East competition.

Schedule Highlights

The Great Danes open the 2026–27 season at home against Rhode Island College on Monday, Nov. 2, at 6:30 p.m. UAlbany then begins the America East–Metro Basketball Challenge with a road matchup at Manhattan on Nov. 5 before returning to Broadview Center to host Merrimack on Nov. 8. Dartmouth visits UAlbany on Nov. 11 before the Great Danes continue their non-conference schedule.

The Great Danes will also face a variety of non-conference opponents before opening America East play in January. The schedule offers opportunities to test the team's depth and chemistry against different styles of play ahead of the conference season.

The annual Albany Cup returns to Broadview Center on Saturday, Dec. 12, as the Great Danes host crosstown rival Siena at 7 p.m. For the first time, all available seating locations at Broadview Center are on sale, with tickets now starting at $45. Prices increase by $5 every two weeks leading up to the rivalry matchup, reaching $60 during game week.

Fans can purchase Albany Cup tickets here and secure their seats early to save on this year's Capital Region rivalry.

America East play begins at home against Bryant on Jan. 7, followed by another home matchup against Binghamton on Jan. 9. The conference slate will feature additional home contests against New Hampshire, Maine, NJIT, UMBC, Vermont and UMass Lowell, along with road tests throughout January and February.

UAlbany closes the regular season at Broadview Center against UMass Lowell on March 2 before the America East Tournament begins.

Ticket Central 

The Great Danes' home schedule features a full lineup of games at Broadview Center, giving fans plenty of opportunities to support UAlbany throughout the season.

The home slate includes the Albany Cup against Siena, the America East opener against Bryant and a variety of promotional events, including 518 Day, Hometown Heroes, Neon Night, Mascot Madness, Big Purple Growl and more.

Single-game tickets and additional ticket information are available through UAlbany Athletics.

Men's Basketball Tickets

For additional information, fans can contact the UAlbany Ticket Office at (518) 442-DANE or GreatDaneTickets@albany.edu.To read more about our promotional schedule and how to get your single-game tickets, click here

Free for Students

UAlbany students can attend UAlbany basketball home games all season long for FREE by claiming a ticket through the UAlbany Sports Mobile App , which can be downloaded on the Apple App store or Google Play.

Note: UAlbany Athletics is no longer utilizing UAlbany IDs as a form of entry for ticketed events.

Game Day Vibes

UAlbany will host a full lineup of themed promotional nights throughout the 2026–27 men's basketball season, offering fans a variety of ways to experience Great Danes basketball at Broadview Center.

Men's Promotional Schedule

Nov. 2 vs. Rhode Island College – Opening Night
Nov. 8 vs. Merrimack – 518 Day
Nov. 11 vs. Dartmouth – Veterans Day Matinee
Dec. 5 vs. Army West Point – Hometown Heroes
Dec. 12 vs. Siena – Albany Cup
Dec. 29 vs. Columbia – Family Day
Jan. 7 vs. Bryant – Union Night
Jan. 9 vs. Binghamton – 2-for-1 Day
Jan. 21 vs. New Hampshire – Neon Night
Jan. 23 vs. Maine – Mascot Madness
Feb. 4 vs. NJIT – Black History Month Celebration / Spread Respect
Feb. 6 vs. UMBC – Big Purple Growl
Feb. 13 vs. Vermont – Rivalry Night
Mar. 2 vs. UMass Lowell – Senior Night

For the full schedule and ticket information, visit the 2026–27 Basketball Promotional Schedule release.

Drive the Lane with UAlbany Hoops

Drive the Lane with UAlbany Hoops returns for its sixth consecutive season in partnership with ESPN Radio 104.5 The Team and City Line Bar & Grill.

Every Monday, members of the UAlbany men's and women's basketball teams will join the radio crew at City Line Bar & Grill on Western Avenue for an hour of basketball conversation. Fans will have the opportunity to meet student-athletes, hear from head coach Dwayne Killings and learn more about the Great Danes throughout the season.

The show airs live from 5–6 p.m. with Charlie Voelker and Vinny Fredericks. Fans can attend in person or listen live on 104.5 The Team. Episodes are also available the following day on Spotify, Amazon Music and Apple Podcasts.

The first show is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 2.

UAlbany Coaches Show with Dwayne Killings on Big Board Sports

UAlbany men's basketball head coach Dwayne Killings will join ESPN Radio 104.5 The Team every Wednesday at 12:45 p.m. throughout the season.

The weekly segment will give fans an inside look at the Great Danes as Killings discusses recent performances, upcoming matchups and storylines surrounding the program.

Social Central

Stay up to date with UAlbany men's basketball by following the team on X (@UAlbanyMBB), Instagram (@ualbany_mbb), and the team’s brand new official Facebook (UAlbany Men’s Basketball) for all of the latest news and highlights throughout the year.