Albany @ Stony Brook Preview

Does It Matter?

This game is more important to the programs and the conference than these teams...

I repeat...this game is more important to the programs, than either 2015-16 team.

While the contest itself may mean a little more to Albany than Stony Brook; since Albany already has a conference loss, the conference season is way too young to make this a do or die game for either squad.

Both teams do a nice job of blocking out the noise. The issue for Stony Brook is that even with a victory, shade will still be thrown on them for their inability to get over the Albany hump in March. 

A Seawolves blowout of Albany on Friday night would shut some people up, but not most.

An Albany win would go a long way towards getting them back into the race for first in the America East. That being said, they'd still face Stony Brook one more time with a season split the likely outcome.

This game is for the programs

Maybe the outcome affects seeding (and home court) in the America East tournament, maybe it doesn't. Only time will tell...

What it definitively does is bring exposure to two MBB programs (coaches and assistants) on the rise.

The game will be shown on ESPNU at 9pm EST this Friday, 1/22. Television exposure benefits everyone. The players, the coaches, the programs and the conference. 

The fact the game is between the conferences two best teams this season isn't by accident. Stony Brook hosts in their state of the art Island Federal Credit Union Arena which opened in the fall of 2014. The 21.1 million dollar renovation of the USB Sports Complex increased their seating capacity from 1,680 to 4,008.

Albany (who has won the America East Conference Tournament the past 3 seasons) plays their contests in SEFCU Arena which seats 4,538 and has gone through recent improvements of its own, with more expected in the future.

While this contest does little to determine who will dance come March, it does a lot to promote two programs that have accomplished a lot, in less than 20 years at the Division 1 level.

The Matchups

Jameel Warney vs Greig Stire, Mike Rowley and Richard Peters

Rayshaun McGrew vs whoever isn't covering Jameel Warney

Evan Singletary vs Carson Puriefoy

Ray Sanders vs Ahmad Walker

Peter Hooley vs Bryan Sekunda

X Factors- Joe Cremo - Albany, Ahmad Walker - Stony Brook
Most Important Players- Ray Sanders - Albany, Rayshaun McGrew - Stony Brook
Most Valuable Players - Peter Hooley - Albany, Jameel Warney - Stony Brook

The Tempo

Both teams like to play slow. Albany enters the contest 9th in the America East at 68.6 possessions/per 40, while Stony Brook enters 8th in AEast at 69.0 possessions/per 40. The question becomes: Will either team try and speed the other up?

Both have point guards capable of pushing the ball, (Carson Puriefoy for Stony Brook, Evan Singletary for Albany) and wings who could execute in transition.

The issue is in doing so, Albany would be playing at a pace they're not accustomed to, and Stony Brook would be taking their best player (Jameel Warney) out of the game.

The Stats

Stony Brook enters the contest leading the America East in almost every major statistical category. The keys are offensive points per possession and defensive points per possession. Stony Brook currently leads the conference in both categories while Albany is second.

Forget the offenses, when these two teams meet it almost always results in a defensive battle.

The Seawolves and Great Danes are 5-5 in their last 10 meetings with the winner averaging 65.1 points. Albany has won 3 out of the last 4 contests averaging 60.75 points. The Great Danes have won 5 out the last 7 meetings, while Stony Brook won the previous 5 meetings.

Last season Albany won on Stony Brook's floor (the first game Peter Hooley missed to be with his ailing mother), while Stony Brook got revenge visiting Albany later in the regular season.

The conference tournament finals was one to remember. The game started out sloppy, and was eventually taken over by Stony Brook. Sam Rowley did everything he could to keep Albany within striking distance until they made their late run. Then this happened...

Scoring Leaders

Albany

• Evan Singletary 12.8 ppg
• Peter Hooley 12.5 ppg
• Ray Sanders 11.0 ppg
• Joe Cremo 10.9 ppg

Stony Brook

• Jameel Warney 18.4 ppg
• Carson Puriefoy 13.6 ppg
• Ahmad Walker 11.1 ppg
• Rayshaun McGrew 10.8 ppg

Rankings

KenPom

Albany - 115

Stony Brook - 53

BBState.com RPI

Albany - 115

Stony Brook - 76

Record

Albany- 15-5

Stony Brook- 14-4

Who Wins?

A stacked Stony Brook team wants their revenge, and you can't blame them. The only thing that could possibly prevent a raucous crowd would be the expected snow storm arriving a day early.

Albany thrives as an underdog. They haven't played their best basketball of the season yet. Their wins have come with different pieces carrying the load, rather than everyone putting their best games together on the same night.

The only outcome that would surprise me is a double-digit Albany victory. It's entirely possible Albany wins close, Stony Brook wins close or Stony Brook wins by 10 plus.

Albany leads the nation in free throw's and shoots 73.8% from the charity stripe. Stony Brook doesn't foul much, only committing 15 per game; good for 1st in the America East and 3rd in the nation.

This is the one thing I'd watch out for in this one. How often is Albany able to get to the line? They've made a killing from the charity stripe so far this year, it's carried them in a majority of their games.

Will the refs be affected by the home crowd? How physical will the game be? Will freedom of movement remain a focus on the perimeter, or will the refs allow some bumping?

The refs will have a major influence over the game, expect both coaches to work them hard.

I think if the score gets into the high 60's or 70's it's Stony Brook's game. If Albany can keep it in the 50's or low/mid 60's it's theirs for the taking.

Regardless, Friday evening sets up to be a perfect college basketball atmosphere between two programs that are ready for the bright lights.