In his third season at Delaware, head basketball coach Mike Brey saw the Fightin' Blue Hens take the America East Championship by defeating Boston University 66 to 58 at the Bob Carpenter Center. The Hens went on to play in the first round of the NCAA men's basketball tournament against Purdue University-the third time in school history that the UD team earned a spot at the "Big Dance." Impressed by the amount of support Delaware basketball fans gave the team, Brey said he also received a calls from Gov. Thomas Carper, U.S. Sen. Joseph Biden and U.S. Rep. Michael Castle, and U.S. Sen. William V. Roth supported the Hens on the floor of the Senate. Named America East Coach of the Year, Brey also was showcased with five other coaches on ESPN Sportzone, the web page of the cable sports network. Called one of the most promising young coaches in the game, Brey was said to be a "sound hoop strategist who tailors his style of play to his personnel."