Patriot League Notebook
The 2005-2006 season is well into its second month of play, and I have yet to write one Patriot League notebook so far. Not to diminish the teams of the Patriot League, but part of the reason is due to the simple fact that the non-league records of these teams do not particularly matter. As evidenced by Holy Cross last season, it would take an amazing season for the Patriot League to receive two spots in the NCAA Tournament – despite a reputable non-league record; the Crusaders were not invited to the Big Dance because of the perceived lack of strength of the Patriot League in comparison to other conferences. The only team with any chance to get an at-large berth in the tournament, the Bucknell Bison, is also the clear favorites to win the Patriot League Tournament and take the league’s automatic bid. So unless another PL team pulls off a big upset, the Patriot League will probably only be sending one team to the Big Dance once again this season.
Here are some of the major stories from the non-league slate.
Bucknell Challenged By Some Of The Best
It has become very evident that the Bucknell Bison are not awed by a team with a high ranking. In the team’s second game of the season, the Bison traveled to the Carrier Dome and upset the 17th-ranked Syracuse Orange, 74-69. The win, Bucknell’s first over Syracuse in nine tries, saw the Bison intentionally slow down the pace considerably in the second half to limit Syracuse’s possessions; meanwhile, the visitors took advantage of each and every one of their chances, hitting 14 of 17 shots (82.4 percent) in the final 20 minutes of play.
The team also played two upper echelon teams in the last month, falling to fourth-ranked Villanova, 79-60, and top-ranked Duke, 84-50. Despite the losses, Bucknell has shown that it has received some serious recognition from top-tier teams as a potential bracket buster come March. And even though the Bison could not pull off another huge upset, the team will surely use its experience playing some of the nation’s top teams both in Patriot League play and if (or when?) the Bison return to the NCAA Tournament again in March.
Knight Ruled Ineligible For Fall Semester
The NCAA ruled that Lehigh senior Joe Knight was ineligible to play for the Mountain Hawks in the fall of 2005 after a mistake over calculating the number of credit hours that Knight had accumulated towards his degree. Knight, who transferred to Lehigh from High Point University two years ago, was held out of action throughout the appeal process, and the school felt that this decision helped to lessen the effect of any further penalty. The senior guard, who led the team both in scoring (13.6 ppg) and assists (4.1 apg) last season, is eligible to return to action on January 11 – just in time for the Patriot League season.
Navy Staying Above Water
The Middies haven’t had the most challenging non-league schedule so far, but the team can’t complain with its record, which is the second best in the league. After losing the first four games of the season, Navy rebounded by winning five of its next six games before its game against UMBC on Tuesday.
The team received some very bad news, however, when starting point guard Corey Johnson underwent surgery for a torn meniscus in his left knee. It is currently unknown if Johnson, who had averaged nearly 15 ppg in the team’s first three games, will be able to return to the team this season. Freshman Clif Colbert has been called upon to fill the shoes of Johnson, but it will be difficult for the Middies to replace the offensive and defensive strength of last year’s all-Patriot League Rookie Team member.
Eagles Lost When Away From The Home Nest
It took nearly a month and a half, but the American Eagles have finally won a game away from the friendly confines of Bender Arena. Heading into American’s game against Saint Francis (PA) on Monday, the Eagles had lost their eight away games by an average of 21.3 points – characterized by a brutal 75-35 loss to George Mason. The streak was finally halted on Monday with a 62-52 win over the Red Flash. On the good side, American has emerged victorious in all three games played at Bender Arena this season. The team, however, has played some tough opponents during this stretch, including Washington, Maryland and Vermont, and so a rough (and busy) non-league slate might help the Eagles when the league season comes along.
Heading Into League Play
With this weekend marking the beginning of the league schedule, Bucknell is still my overwhelming pick to win the Patriot League title. With every starter returning from last year’s team, the Bison have too much experience to not be the favorite in 2006. The Holy Cross Crusaders will always be near the top of the league with the duo of Kevin Hamilton and Keith Simmons at the helm, and both Colgate and Lehigh also have outside shots at finishing in the top two. The bottom half of the league, however, might not produce much – especially with Corey Johnson out of action for Navy. Taking into account Johnson’s injury and other non-league activities, here is a revised prediction for the 2005-2006 Patriot League schedule:
1. Bucknell (9-3)
2. Holy Cross (7-7)
3. Colgate (6-8)
4. Lehigh (6-8)
5. Lafayette (5-6)
6. American (4-8)
7. Navy (6-5)
8. Army (4-7)
Now, all that needs to happen is to play the games. We’ll check in on my predictions in a few months, to see just how wrong I was. Let the games (that really count) begin.
