ALBANY - While the Great Danes just had their best performance from their bench, coach Will Brown is looking for more consistent play.

“Whether it’s making open shots like Billy Allen did the other night or Derrek Tartt getting to the basket, just need some consistent production, regardless of who it is from our bench, not one guy in particular I don’t think,” said Brown.

UAlbany got 22 points from their bench in an 18-point victory over Penn on Tuesday and it was a little from everyone as four players scored four points and another, Allen, had six.

“I like how they contributed against Penn, but it would be nice knowing that you’re going to get eight to 10 points from this guy or that guy coming off the bench,” said Brown.

It was a big confidence boost for the team to a nice win, where a lot of players contributed.

“For our guys coming off the bench, I was happy for those guys,” said senior forward Will Harris. “They got in the game and they were aggressive and that’s what we need every night.”

While UAlbany has shown that they have three big guns in Harris, Tim Ambrose and Mike Johnson, Brown doesn't necessarily think that they need a single person to step into that fourth role, but that it does need to be filled consistently by someone.

“It doesn’t have to be the same guy every night, but we can’t have a game like we had against Florida Atlantic, where our bench shot 2-for-30,” Brown said. (The bench actually shot 3-for-15 against the Owls, but I'm sure it felt like 2-30 for Brown.)

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Brown said after practice Thursday that he doesn't expect junior Louis Barraza back this season.

Barraza is dealing with a intestinal problem and has only played two games and only nine minutes this season.

Barraza also has torn ligaments in his right (shooting) hand.

The UAlbany fans and coach Will Brown have both been hoping to see more of junior college transfer Fran Urli, especially after Brown's high praise during the preseason.

That hasn't been the case though as the 6-foot-8 forward played just 21 minutes against No. 25 Syracuse before coming out with a bad ankle.

Brown said Thursday that he is hoping to play Urli, who hasn't played in the last two games, tomorrow night against Alcorn State in the 2K Sports, Coaches vs. Cancer Classic at SEFCU Arena at 7:30 p.m.

“We need him to be effective because he gives us scoring on the low blocks,” said Brown.

Even if Urli can play tomorrow night, Brown said he'd be "shocked" if he can play in all three games this weekend.

“If he can play tomorrow, Saturday (vs. Detroit) and Sunday (vs. Robert Morris), I’d be shocked,” Brown said. “I don’t know how much he can help us.”

The first day that Urli has run in practice since the Syracuse game was yesterday.

Meanwhile, junior Louis Barraza still needs a few more days, according to Brown.

Brown is hoping the team will be fully healthy for the Florida trip, when the team takes on Central Florida (Nov. 28) and Florida Atlantic (Nov. 30).

Louis Barraza is not dressed for tonight's game tonight.

Fran Urli warned up, but has since left the floor and might still play.

Jake Lindfors is in the starting lineup in place of Urli.

Stopped by UAlbany today to get some stuff for tomorrow's home opener against Morgan State, defending MEAC Champions.

The word from coach Will Brown is that Louis Barraza is dealing with a virus and will be unable to play and that Fran Urli can barely walk after injuring his ankle in the Syracuse game.

Barraza and Urli haven't practiced and Brown said that Barraza is unlikely to play Monday at American.

Here's a little more from Brown.

"We've just got to get out and play again. I think our guys felt probably a little bit better after watching Syracuse play against last night and realizing that they're pretty good. I think it made them feel a little bit better. I didn't make me feel any better. We've got work to do, but we've practiced well since the Syracuse game."

I'll have more on redshirt-freshman Logan Aronholt tonight.

ALBANY - Senior forward Scotty McRae didn't even make it to the end of the 2008-09 season as he was kicked off of the University at Albany men's basketball team.

This year, after gaining his spot back on the team, McRae is ready to try and make some significant contributions.

“Once you get accustom to something, it’s a lot easier, so I feel like I’m going to do a lot better this year,” said McRae, who averaged 4.7 points and 3.4 rebounds in 21 games last season.

McRae said coach Will Brown told him he has a clean slate this year and will be treated just like every other player.

The Eastern Wyoming transfer said that the team feels better this season with more players returning from last year.

“We have a lot of freshmen (this year) who are really attentive and listen to everything we say,” said McRae.

McRae also sounded very mature with his talking about this being his last collegiate season.

“Not only is it our last chance, it’s the end of our college careers,” McRae said. “No matter what happens after we leave Albany, this will be our last 31 or 32 games to play as Great Danes. That’s really important for all of us. It’s our last chance to play for Coach Brown and getting to play for this whole community, so it’s really important that we bring everything we have every single game because it’s not going to be promised to us anymore.”

The point guard position is very up in the air for the Monday's game against Syracuse.

Senior Mike Johnson is serving a team-imposed two-game suspension and freshmen Derrek Tartt and Mike Black are both suffering from injuries.

Tartt has a sore lower back, which was sustained during the team's first scrimmage and initially extended all the way down to his legs, not a good sign.

“I think any time you’re talking about lower back, it’s serious,” said Brown.

Black has what Brown called "severe tendinitis" in both of his knees.

UAlbany will be looking at junior Tim Ambrose or senior Louis Barraza (see below) playing significant minutes at point guard against the Orange on Monday.

Barraza has injury issues of his own.

The shooting specialist was wearing a brace on his right ring finger at Media Day on Wednesday.

Brown said the ligaments in that finger are shredded, but he hasn't taken a day off from practice yet, fighting through the pain.

“We’re banged up pretty good right now and I saw that with a smile because I guess if we’re going to be banged up, we want it to be now,” said Brown.

It's been an interesting year for UAlbany junior transfer Scotty McRae.

At 6-foot-8, McRae certainly brings a lot to the table in terms of size, athleticism and ability.

This season though has been a rollercoaster ride for the Rosedale, N.Y., native.

McRae has played in 21 games and is averaging 4.7 points per game.

His best game recently came Feb. 9 at Binghamton, where he scored 12 points and grabbed three rebounds off the bench in a 88-75 loss.

McRae was kicked out of practice on Tuesday and obviously things haven't gotten any better as Friday it was announced that he is suspended from the team indefinitely.

That means McRae will miss Sunday's game against Maine at the SEFCU Arena.

Freshman point guard Anthony Raffa (sprained left toe) and sophomore Louis Barraza (right Achilles strain) also will not play on Sunday.

This means that on Senior Day for Jerel Hastings, Brian Connelly and Jimmie Covington, the Great Danes will have just eight players.

Right after the Great Danes loss to Lehigh, UAlbany coach Will Brown said he put together a scouting report on his team, like he and his staff would do for an opposing team.

Brown made a full 5-page report that included notes on each player, what his team does offensively and defensively, their strengths and weaknesses and keys to beating them and the Great Danes' keys to winning.

"I think that opened up some eyes," said Brown just before the team departed for Sacred Heart on Thursday.

UAlbany (6-4) plays the Pioneers (3-4) Friday night at 7 p.m.

Brown said he thought that the report had worked.

"I think that helped them understand where I was coming from a little bit," Brown said.

Brown also said that he spoke with two coaches from teams that UAlbany has already played and will not play in the future to exchange scouting reports and see what other teams think of his squad.

"That gives us a good feel, as a staff, for what people think about us as a team," Brown said. "That also gives our opponents an idea of what we think about them and that helps us get better and improve."
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UAlbany beat Sacred Heart 75-57 last season at SEFCU Arena, but one player that the Great Danes didn't see was Joey Henley.

Henley missed all of last season with a knee injury, but is averaging 13.6 points and 7.4 rebounds per game this year.

"He's really tough," UAlbany junior Scotty McRae said. "He plays football. He's an animal. He's kind of small, but he's going to play hard."

McRae knows Henley because he worked out with him a few times over the summer along with fellow Sacred Heart player Josh Marshall, who played with McRae at Lawrence Woodmere Academy on Long Island.

"He's a really good athlete," McRae said. "If we keep up with him in transition and we keep him off the glass and we know what moves he likes and if we can take those away, we can do a good job at him."
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Sophomore guard Louis Barraza will not make the trip because he has been sick with a stomach virus.