UAlbany Opens Season Against Rhode Island College
Forward Abdoulaye Fall returns from injury on a minutes restriction as UAlbany begins its 2026-27 campaign.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Basketball
UAlbany men's basketball opens its 2026-27 season Monday, November 2, against Rhode Island College at the Broadview Center. The Great Danes return several players from an 11-21 team, with senior forward Abdoulaye Fall beginning the year on a minutes restriction.
Why it matters
Fall is expected to play a central role this season after a 2025-26 campaign cut short by a knee injury. His availability and that of guard Pedro Santos, who is recovering from a fractured foot, will shape the team's depth for the schedule ahead.
Fall played seven games and 215 minutes last season, averaging 9.6 points and 3.3 rebounds before a knee injury ended his year. The exact minutes cap for the season opener has not been disclosed.
The players
Abdoulaye Fall
A 6-foot-8 senior forward from Senegal who averaged 9.6 points and 3.3 rebounds last season before a knee injury ended his year early.
Dwayne Killings
The head coach of UAlbany men's basketball who is managing Fall's minutes restriction and aiming to have key players healthy for the heart of the schedule.
The details
Coach Dwayne Killings will restrict Fall's minutes to begin the season while UAlbany's athletic training and strength and conditioning staffs work to keep Fall and Santos on the floor. Fall, Zacharie Matulu, Miles Rose and Wilkin Paulino are the only returning players from last season's roster.
Timeline
Summer 2026: Pedro Santos suffers a fractured foot.
Monday, November 2, 2026: UAlbany opens its season against Rhode Island College.
Season Trajectory
UAlbany's 2026-27 opener follows an 11-21 season that left the Great Danes short on backcourt help. Returning players Fall and Santos must stay healthy for the team to recover ground this year.
Fall's minutes restriction means fantasy and beat reporters will track how much he plays in the opener. Santos's return timeline will determine whether UAlbany has a healthy guard rotation for the remainder of the year.
The takeaway
Fall's health is central to UAlbany's outlook, and his minutes in the opener will signal how quickly the Great Danes can rebuild depth after last season's struggles.
Further reading
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