UAlbany Women’s Basketball Picked First In America East Preseason Poll, Men Picked Fourth, Three Great Danes Named To All-Conference Teams [VIDEO]

Yesterday was America East media day, a day in which the league's annual preseason coaches polls and preseason all-conference teams are announced. The event took place at SEFCU Arena, on the campus of the University at Albany, the site of this year's 2013 America East Basketball Championships, which wasn't the only good news for the Great Danes as their women's basketball team was picked to finish atop the conference and three Great Danes were selected to their all-conference teams.

The day started with an address from America East Commissioner Amy Huchthausen, along with some words from UAlbany Athletic Director Dr. Lee McElroy.

Then it was time for the coaches of the preseason number one teams to address the media, starting with UAlbany Great Danes head coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson.

UAlbany's women also had two players selected to the preseason all-conference team in leading rebounder Julie Forster, and two time defending America East Defensive Player of the Year Ebone Henry, both of whom helped UAlbany to their first NCAA Women's Tournament appearance last year, in which they gave Texas A&M all they could handle as a 14 seed.

Next up was Vermont Catamounts men's basketball head coach John Becker, who won the conference tournament and an NCAA Tournament game last year, in his first year as the team's head coach.

As for the UAlbany men's squad, they were chosen fourth by the America East coaches, behind Boston University, Stony Brook, and Vermont. Senior point guard Mike Black was selected to the men's all-conference team.

Both teams start their season in a double header on November 9, with the men hosting Duquesne at 6:30 p.m. and the women raising their America East championship banner to the SEFCU Arena rafters at 8:30 p.m. before their game against Fordham.