Danes set for summer trip
Ualbany to play three exhibition games in Canada
ALBANY — The University at Albany men’s basketball program will get a chance this summer to play a series of exhibition games as part of a foreign tour.
After his team’s second official summer workout, coach Dwayne Killings said Wednesday that the Great Danes will play three games in Montreal as part of a trip that lasts from Aug. 4-8.
“I thought it was a really good, and economical way, to do a foreign tour,” Killings said. “Our guys have never been to Canada.”
Like most programs across the country, Ualbany brings a heavily revamped roster into the 2024-25 season. Among the team’s 13 scholarship players are four returners, six transfers and three freshmen. The chance to play in Montreal against Canadian teams — specific opponents and game days were unclear Wednesday — gives the Great Danes a chance to see their remodeled roster in action well before the start of the nonconference season in November.
“I thought it was a good cultural experience, a good team-bonding experience — and we get to play,” Killings said.
College basketball teams are able to play a summer foreign tour once every four years. The Ualbany men’s basketball program last played a summer international trip in 2019 when it went to Montreal and Ottawa.
Also this August, the Siena College women’s basketball program will play exhibition games in Ireland.
Amar’e Marshall, Ualbany’s
leading returning scorer, said the trip of games will be beneficial for a program looking to rebound from a 13-19 season.
“I think it’s going to be fun,” Marshall said. “Having a brand new team with a lot of new faces, it’s going to be good to play … and just have a head start playing the game.”