Syracuse, NY -- (Sports Network) - The Albany Great Danes and Syracuse Orange open their respective 2009-10 campaigns against one another tonight, as they clash in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic at the Carrier Dome.

The Great Danes finished just below .500 at 15-16 overall last season and they went just 6-10 in the America East Conference, their worst showing since 2003-04. Three starters return for coach Will Brown's club, giving Albany a chance to rebound.

As for Syracuse, it advanced to the Big East Tournament finals and the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament last season, so it was another successful campaign under legendary head coach Jim Boeheim, who enters his 34th year and is just one win shy of reaching the 800-win plateau. He can become just the eighth Division I coach in NCAA history to accomplish that feat with a victory tonight. Three key starters from last year's 28-win club, however, are gone, leaving Boeheim with some work to do, especially after the team was beaten in an 82-79 final by Division II LeMoyne in an exhibition game at the Carrier Dome last Tuesday.

Rebounding from that shocking performance shouldn't be a problem though, as Syracuse has never lost Albany in six previous matchups.

Highlighting the returnees for the Great Danes is Tim Ambrose, a 6-0 junior guard that can do it all on the court. Last season, Ambrose posted 14.3 ppg, 5.1 rpg and 2.6 apg, displaying his versatility. Providing a nice complement to Ambrose will be 6-6 forward Will Harris, who turned in 12.9 ppg and 6.5 rpg in his first season with Albany after transferring from Virginia. Center Brett Gifford will man the paint and the 6-11 senior is more of a defensive presence than a scorer, netting just 2.5 ppg last season. Scotty McRae (4.7 ppg, 3.4 rpg) and Billy Allen (1.9 ppg) add some depth in the frontcourt.

Syracuse lost its entire backcourt from last season, but Andy Rautins saw plenty of time off the bench and is now expected to lead the perimeter game. The 6-5 senior loves to shoot the trey, hitting 36.6 percent of his 279 long- range attempts, and he showed he could score (10.5 ppg) as well as set up his teammates (3.0 apg). Brandon Triche, a 6-4 freshman, is expected to accompany Rautins along the perimeter and he is a guy that Boeheim has high hopes for. The frontcourt has a bit more experience with the return of both Rick Jackson and Arinze Onuaku. The 6-9 Jackson averaged 8.3 ppg and 5.8 rpg last season, while the 6-9, 258-pound Onuaku produced 10.3 ppg and 7.3 rpg. Wesley Johnson, an Iowa State transfer, is expected to make an impact for the Orange and he showed a glimpse of his potential by pouring in 34 points in the team's surprising loss to LeMoyne last week.