CENTERS

Albany: The Great Danes rotated three players at center this season, with Al Turley, who averaged 2.8 points and 2.2 rebounds, leading the way. Turley has performed well as of late and should control the paint. Brett Gifford averages 2.1 points and 2.1 rebounds per game.

Boston: Freshman center Matt Killen has seen a total of just four minutes all season long and has failed to score a point. They have been playing without a serious center all season long.

Advantage: Albany

FORWARDS

Albany: With Brian Connelly and Brent Wilson of Albany, you get the experience of two straight NCAA tournament appearances. The two have combined this season for 19.8 points and 11.2 rebounds per game.

Boston: Freshman John Holland has been a great addition to this Terrier club. He puts 11.5 points and nearly five rebounds a game on the floor. Despite the Terriers’ great year, Albany’s forwards should control the paint.

Advantage: Albany

GUARDS

Albany: Brian Lillis has been one of the best players in the conference this season. Jon Iati and Tim Ambrose have provided the spark off the bench.

Boston: Corey Lowe has been nothing short of outstanding this season. He’s averaging 18.5 points a game, second-most in the conference, while shooting 40 percent from the floor.

Advantage: Even

BENCH

Albany: The Danes have five reserves coming off the bench relieving the pressure from its starters. Tim Ambrose has been efficient scoring 7.5 points per game in only 14 minutes per game.

Boston: The Terriers’ starting five is playing long minutes because of a thin bench. Their recent games have seen just three players coming off the bench. Marques Johnson has been the steady presence off the pine, averaging more than 22 minutes a game.

Advantage: Albany

COACH

Albany: Will Brown guided the Great Danes to their second straight America East Conference championship last season. That experience in the post-season will be critical to Albany’s success this year.

Boston: Dennis Wolff has built a program with a core of young players. He is in his 14th season at BU and has led the way in a fairly successful period in Boston basketball.

Advantage: Albany

OVERALL

Albany: The defending champs have too many weapons around the floor. Not many teams can beat them in the half-court game and with Lillis’ ability to drop 30 points on a given night, Albany looks poised for another conference title.

Boston: The Terriers are a tough team with young players that will make Boston a powerhouse down the road. But they won’t be able to handle the veteran teams like Albany. They’ll bow out in the quarterfinals.

Advantage: Albany