With only two of their remaining pieces from the " Why Not Us ? " team still intact , Brian Connelly and Jimmie Covington , the Danes would look to rebuild with eight newcomers to the team . They would start the season 0 – 2 after matchups with Big East opponents Villanova and DePaul in " homecoming " games for their seniors . A 5 – 0 run after the slow start would put the Danes ' in prime position to upset their crosstown rival Siena Saints , who had just endured 3 loses over 4 days at the 2008 Old Spice Classic in Orlando , Florida . However the Danes ' would fall short by seven points . The Great Danes would win three of their next four games including a game postponed for snow and difficult travel conditions in Fairfield , Connecticut , against Sacred Heart before closing out the calendar year against the defending national champions Kansas Jayhawks . The purple-and-gold squad would fall behind early and not show any signs of life against the Jayhawks , in a 79 – 43 loss on nationally televised ESPNU
Big East
Big East Conference (1979–2013)
Albany Great Danes men's basketball