One of the first things I noticed from stopping by practice today to get some feel for the UAlbany game tomorrow against Stony Brook is that this was a team relaxed by a much-needed win.

The Great Danes seemed a little less tense and a lot more focused as they try to improve an embarsseing 1-7 road record.

Another positive for the team is that freshman point guard Josh Martin, who had snuck into the starting lineup before a injury Friday, is off of crutches.

Martin's injury is to his the medial collateral ligament in his right leg and even though he should be out for a few weeks, being off the crutches is a good sign.

He will travel with the team that actually, as I'm writing this, has already left for the game.

The accolades continue for senior Brian Lillis, whose 29-point, 7-assist, 7-rebounds game really propeled the Great Danes to the win Sunday against Vermont.

On Tuesday, Lillis was named the Mid-Majority.com Baller of the Week.

Lillis not only hit the eventual game-winning shot against the Catamounts, but got a piece of Marqus Blakely's shot as the buzzer rang out to end the game.