Under the Radar Game of the Day – Friday, November 27: NJIT at Albany

Under the Radar Game of the Day: NJIT at Albany, 7:00 PM Eastern, americaeast.tv

With the two “major conference” schools in New Jersey (Rutgers and Seton Hall) both looking like they may be in for long seasons, the question of just which of the 8 Division I schools in the Garden State has the best men’s basketball team this season is now officially open for debate.  The candidates appear to be two with the team from West Long Branch currently having the early lead after a win at UCLA and the amazing upset last night of ranked Notre Dame (Monmouth’s first ever win over a Top 25 team).  However, the Hawks need to keep an eye on their neighbors from Newark, as NJIT has a solid program as well, capable of capturing the Atlantic Sun championship and making the NCAA tournament for the first time ever this year.

While Monmouth just won a big game against Notre Dame and will be getting another huge test from a very good Dayton team tonight, NJIT will be following the Hudson River north to Albany, New York to take on the Great Danes, one of the top teams in the America East.  NJIT enters tonight’s contest with a record of 3-2, having picked up wins over Boston U, Lafayette and at South Florida, while falling at Kentucky and at Providence (neither of which is by any means unforgiveable).  The Highlanders are led by Damon Lynn, who dropped 24 points on the Friars last week, but have a deep lineup that includes the likes of Ky Howard, Winfield Willis, Tim Coleman and emerging star Rob Ukawuba (20 points against Providence).

The Highlanders will have a solid road test tonight as the Great Danes of Albany (or as their uniforms tell us, UAlbany) are expected to be among the top contenders in the America East this season.  Just as NJIT did, Albany fell at Kentucky already this year.  They have also played at Boston U and at South Florida, falling in close games both time (these five teams are playing a round robin against each other as part of the exempt Hall of Fame Classic event).  Despite the 2-3 record, the Great Danes are undefeated at home so far this year.  They are led by Peter Hooley and Ray Sanders, two of the key players that led them to the NCAA Tournament last season.  If they want to return this year, the Great Danes need to start by establishing home court dominance, and winning a game like tonight’s can help them do just that.