Nov. 13, 2008
Center Valley, Pa. - Seven of the eight Patriot League men's basketball teams tip off the 2008-09 campaign this weekend, including five on Friday night. Holy Cross plays its home opener on Friday against Sacred Heart, while American has the marquee matchup on the road at No. 12 Oklahoma. Also on Friday, Lafayette is at Wagner, Navy goes to Towson and Bucknell travels to Maryland. Army and Lehigh open their season on Saturday, with the Black Knights hosting Dartmouth and the Mountain Hawks going to St. Peter's. Holy Cross and Navy play their second game on Sunday, with the Crusaders hosting St. Joseph's and the Mids playing host to Howard. Colgate is the final Patriot League team to begin its season, as the Raiders visit Central Connecticut State on Monday.
Patriot League Men's Basketball Release -11.13.08 
Defending Patriot League men's basketball champion American has been selected to repeat in 2008-09 in a poll of the League's head coaches and sports information directors. The Eagles notched 14 first-place votes and 98 points to claim the top spot, and were followed in order by Lehigh, Holy Cross, Colgate, Bucknell, Navy, Army and Lafayette. The Eagles won their first Patriot League title in 2008, compiling a 21-12 record with a 10-4 mark in League action. They were the top seed in the Patriot League Tournament, and won the crown with victories at home against Holy Cross, Army, and Colgate.
American senior guard Garrison Carr was named the Patriot League Preseason Player of the Year. He was joined on the Preseason All-League Team by Lafayette senior guard Andrew Brown, Lehigh junior guard Marquis Hall, Navy junior guard Chris Harris and American senior guard Derrick Mercer. All five guards received All-League status at the end of the 2007-08 campaign, with Carr as a First-Team selection and the remaining four players as Second-Team picks. Carr also earned Patriot League Tournament MVP honors in leading the Eagles to last year's title.
Patriot League Notebook
46 Patriot League Games Already Set for Broadcast TV
The eight Patriot League men's basketball teams already have a combined 46 games set to appear on broadcast television. The television schedule is highlighted by the Patriot League's contract with the ESPN Networks. Six Patriot League men's basketball regular season games will be shown on ESPNU via the League's package. The Patriot League Men's Basketball Championship will be shown on ESPN2 at 4:45 p.m. on March 13. The men's television slate features 17 non-League games and 29 League contests, with games on ESPNU, Comcast Sports Net and the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN) among others in non-League action. The non-League television schedule opens up on Tuesday when Lafayette hosts Stony Brook in a game broadcast by the Lafayette Sports Network. In addition, American's contest at No. 12 Oklahoma on Friday will be streamed on the Internet on ESPN360.
Division I Games to Help RPI Rise Again?
In 2008-09, Patriot League teams will take on an all Division I slate for the second year in a row, and games against the likes of Oklahoma, Maryland, Syracuse, Georgetown, Wake Forest, Villanova and Washington will provide a chance for a marquee upset win. The Patriot League finished in 16th-place among 32 conferences (including Independents) in the final Collegiate Basketball News RPI Report last season, and was just .0004 out of the 15th position. That was a one-spot jump from the previous year, and the fourth consecutive year that the Patriot League improved its position. The jump was aided by an all Division I schedule and a League-record 62 non-League wins.
Patriot League Rated No. 15 by Rivals.com
Rivals.com believes the Patriot League has a chance to continue to stay strong in the conference ratings, as the organization ranked the League No. 15 in its listing of the 32 conferences coming into the 2008-09 season.
Patriot League Takes on All Comers
Patriot League teams are proving they aren't afraid to play opponents from all over the country, as the League has at least one game scheduled against 23 of the other 31 Division I conferences, as well as five games against Independents. The non-League schedule includes games against four teams in the preseason top 25, including American at No. 12/14 Oklahoma on Friday night. The most-played matchups will come against regional conferences, with 19 games against both the Northeast Conference and the Ivy League.
Seeing Green
There is no one opponent that Patriot League teams will face more than Dartmouth. Army's contest at home against the Big Green on Saturday is the first of four matchups for Patriot League teams, as Colgate, Lehigh and the Black Knights all travel to Dartmouth. Patriot League teams face off three times with Brown, Harvard, Princeton, St. Francis (Pa.), Mt St. Mary's, Stony Brook and Longwood.
Preseason Recognition For Eagles
American will try to defend its title in 2008-09, and a couple of major outlets already like what they see for the Eagles coming back. The Eagles are ranked No. 23 in the preseason College Insider.com Mid-Major top 25, where they were the only Patriot League team to earn a ranking. Senior guard Derrick Mercer was also honored by the organization, as he was named to the 2008-09 College Insider.com Mid-Major All-America team. Mercer was one of 25 selections to the squad. American has also been recognized as one of the top shooting teams in the country. After leading the Patriot League and ranking sixth nationally in three-point field-goal percentage last season, both The Sporting News and ESPN.com have high expectations for the Eagles' long-range ability in 2008-09. Mike DeCourcy of The Sporting News ranked the Eagles as the No. 2 shooting team in the country, behind only Notre Dame. And ESPN.com picked American senior guard Garrison Carr as the eighth-best three-point marksman in the nation. American was at No. 65 in the preseason rankings by Rivals.com.
Paulsen Takes Over at Bucknell
After Pat Flannery ended the longest and most successful coaching stint in Patriot League history by retiring from Bucknell in April, the Bison moved to hire Dave Paulsen from Williams College as the new head coach on May 20. Paulsen experienced great success at Williams, leading the program to the 2003 Division III national title and a 170-53 (.762) record in eight seasons overall. His teams compiled a combined mark of 61-3 in the 2002-03 and 2003-04 seasons, and Paulsen won a pair of national coach of the year honors. He is the second new head coach in as many years in the Patriot League after Brett Reed took over at Lehigh in 2007-08.
More Coaching Tidbits
Bucknell wasn't the only Patriot League program to have its head coach in the news in the offseason. Navy's Billy Lange was recognized by Basketball Times as a top mid-career coach after leading the Mids to a second-place finish in the Patriot League in 2007-08. While Lange and Reed comprise the under-40 group of returning Patriot League coaches, the older veterans all have impressive numbers. Army's Jim Crews and Holy Cross' Ralph Willard each have more than 300 wins in their career, while American's Jeff Jones has topped 270 career victories. Lafayette's Fran O'Hanlon and Colgate's Emmett Davis are both working on their second decade at their school, with O'Hanlon now holding the longest tenure among Patriot League coaches going into his 14th season with the Leopards.
Three-Pointers Could be Raining Again
American's Garrison Carr enters his senior season after shattering the Patriot League record with 135 three-pointers a year ago. He toppled the old Patriot League mark of 99, and had the fourth-highest number of three-pointers in the NCAA last year and the 14th-best single-season mark in Division I history. Carr begins the 2008-09 season second in Patriot League history with a 42.1 three-point field goal percentage in his career. Lafayette's Andrew Brown was in the top 20 nationally in three-pointers per game a year ago, while Navy's Chris Harris placed in the top 35 in three-pointers made per game and three-point percentage.
Bucknell Back in ESPNU BracketBusters
The Patriot League enters its fourth season with ESPNU BracketBusters, and Bucknell will continue its history in playing in the event. The Bison are 1-2 in BracketBusters after losing at Old Dominion, 65-55, last year. The Bison and Holy Cross have the Patriot League's two wins in the event after the Crusaders knocked off Northeastern, 61-47, at home in 2007-08. The Crusaders and Bison will each face last year's BracketBuster opponents in return games this season.
Patriot League All-Access
Watch the majority of Patriot League Men's and Women's Basketball League and Tournament games on high-speed Broadband. For $9.95 a month, this cutting-edge technology takes your from your seat to the sideline with multi-camera coverage. Visit your school's website or www.PatriotLeague.com for more information.
2009 Patriot League Tournament
The Patriot League Tournament will once again be played on campus sites. The quarterfinal rounds are set for March 4, the semifinals will take place on March 8 and the Patriot League Championship will be decided on Friday, March 13 at 4:45 p.m. on ESPN2.
Team Notebooks
American Defending champion American opens the season with a very tough matchup, as the Eagles travel to No. 12/14 Oklahoma on Friday...American hosts St. Francis (Pa.) in its home opener on Monday...It won at St. Francis (Pa.), 75-68, to open the 2007-08 season...The Eagles are the preseason pick to defend their Patriot League title, and senior guard Garrison Carr is the Patriot League Preseason Player of the Year...American has also received recognition from outside outlets...They are ranked No. 23 in the College Insider.com Mid-Major top 25, and senior guard Derrick Mercer earned preseason Mid-Major All-America honors from the organization...American was also selected as the No. 2 shooting team in the country by Mike DeCourcy of The Sporting News, finishing behind only Notre Dame on the list...American was sixth in the country in three-point field goal percentage last year, hitting 40.6 percent...Carr was selected as the No. 8 shooter in the land by ESPN.com...He shattered a League record with 135 three-pointers last season, good for the 14th-best single-season total in NCAA history...Carr was in the NCAA top 15 in three-point field goal percentage, free throw percentage and three-point field goals per game last year...Rivals.com picked American as the No. 65 team in the nation...The top three scorers return, with Carr (18.4 ppg), Mercer (12.3 ppg) and Brian Gilmore (8.9) all back...American won 10 of its final 12 games a year ago, and has games at Oklahoma, Georgetown and Maryland this year.
Army The Black Knights open up the 2008-09 season at home against Dartmouth on Saturday...It is the first of two games for Army against the Big Green, with a return trip to Hanover on Jan. 3...It is also the first of a League-high five games against Ivy League opponents for the Black Knights...Army plays its first road contest on Monday at Quinnipiac...The Black Knights played close games with both opponents at home last season...They lost to Quinnipiac, 58-54, on Dec. 9 and beat Dartmouth, 59-56, on Dec. 22...The Black Knights bring back Patriot League All-Tournament team member junior Josh Miller, who led the team in total rebounds and assists while placing second with 8.4 ppg a year ago...Senior Doug Williams is back after scoring 7.1 points and tallying 5.3 rebounds per game...They do lose leading scorer Jarell Brown (18.2 ppg), who graduated...Army has won 29 games in the last two seasons after winning a total of 20 in Head Coach Jim Crews' first four years at the helm...Army is picked to finish seventh in the Patriot League preseason poll.
Bucknell The Bison play their opening game for first-year Head Coach Dave Paulsen on Friday at Maryland...Paulsen has a 262-120 career record in 14 seasons at St. Lawrence, LeMoyne and Williams...He led Williams to the 2002-03 Division III National Championship...Bucknell has never beaten Maryland in six matchups,
with the teams last meeting in 1994...The Bison open the home slate on Tuesday against Boston University...They won the only all-time meeting against Boston U. in 2005...Justin Castleberry (10.9 ppg) is the only returnee who scored in double digits last year...Top scorer John Griffin (13.1 ppg ) graduated..Bucknell junior Patrick Behan is writing a blog for the New York Times throughout the year to chronicle the Bison's season...The Bison were selected fifth in the League's preseason poll.
Colgate The Raiders are the only Patriot League team that does not open the season this weekend, as they start the 2008-09 campaign at Central Connecticut State on Monday...Alex Woodhouse (6.1 ppg, 64 blocks) is back in the middle, where Kendall Chones (12.0 ppg) departs...Last year's top scorer, Kyle Roemer (16.2 ppg), is out for the year after an injury suffered in the preseason...The Raiders won six of their final seven games a year ago, losing in the Patriot League Championship game to American...Colgate led the Patriot League in field goal percentage...Colgate faces off against Syracuse and California in non-League play, while also traveling to TCU and UT-San Antonio...The Raiders have an eight-game road trip from Dec. 8 to Jan. 14...Colgate is picked fourth in the Patriot League preseason poll.
Holy Cross The Crusaders play a pair of home games on the season's opening weekend, taking on Sacred Heart on Friday night and St. Joseph's at 4 p.m. on Sunday...Both games are return trips from a season ago...The Crusaders lost at Sacred Heart, 61-58, on Dec. 30, but won at St. Joseph's, 71-66, on Dec. 4...The Crusaders are 2-2 all-time against Sacred Heart, with a 2-0 mark at home...Holy Cross is 1-3 all-time against St. Joseph's...The Crusaders host a pair of NCAA Tournament participants in non-League play as they take on St. Joseph's and Siena..The Crusaders led the League in scoring defense, field goal percentage defense and rebounding margin a year ago...They will have to account for the graduation loss of center Tim Clifford (18.0 ppg)...Colin Cunningham (8.1 ppg), Pat Doherty (7.4 ppg) and Alex VanderBaan (8.5 ppg) are all entering their senior year...Holy Cross was picked to finish third in the League's preseason poll.
Lafayette The Leopards open the 2008-09 campaign with the same two opponents they faced to start the 2007-08 season, traveling to Wagner on Friday and hosting Stony Brook on Tuesday...Lafayette lost at home to Wagner, 74-70 in last year's opener before winning at Stony Brook, 76-68, in overtime...Lafayette is 3-1 all-time against Wagner, and 3-0 against Stony Brook...The Leopards set a Patriot League record with 299 three-pointers last season, and finished fifth in the nation with 10.0 three-pointers per game...They will have to account for the loss of three starters from last year's team... Top three-point shooter and overall scorer Andrew Brown (15.9 ppg) does return. Head Coach Fran O'Hanlon is the longest-tenured coach in the Patriot League, entering his 14th season...The Leopards are picked eighth in the preseason poll.
Lehigh Lehigh begins its 2008-09 season on the road as it travels to St. Peter's on Saturday...The Mountain Hawks won at home against the Peacocks, 60-56, on Nov. 14 of last season, and are 1-1 all-time in the series...Lehigh opens a three-game homestand when it takes on Delaware State on Monday...The teams are meeting for the first time since 2000, with the series tied at 1-1 all-time...Juniors Marquis Hall (14.1 ppg) and Zahir Carrington (12.5 ppg) are expected to lead the way again for Lehigh...Rob Keefer (7.8 ppg) also returns after earning Patriot League Rookie of the Year honors, but Bryan White (10.5 ppg, 8.2 rpg) is gone after leading the Patriot League in rebounding...The Mountain Hawks were 11-4 at home last year, but just 3-11 on the road...They were picked to place second in the League in the preseason poll.
Navy The Midshipmen have a pair of games this weekend, opening the year at Towson on Friday before hosting Howard on Sunday...Navy also played both teams consecutively last season, losing at Howard, 75-65, on Nov. 27 before defeating Towson, 73-59, at home two days later...The Mids wrap up a busy early stretch by hosting St. Francis (N.Y.) on Tuesday...Navy won that matchup on the road, 85-83, on Dec. 29 last year...The Mids lose Patriot League Player of the Year Greg Sprink (21.8 ppg), but return double-digit average scorers in Chris Harris (14.5 ppg) and Kaleo Kina (14.0 ppg)...Kina is just 13 points shy of 1,000 for his career...The Mids' 76.3 point-per-game average was the highest in the Patriot League since 1995-96, and they also led the League in steals and turnover margin...Navy had a spot in the NCAA top 50 in four team categories last season, including sixth in the country in three-pointers per game, 15th in steals, 18th in free throw percentage and 46th in scoring offense...Navy has improved its win total in each of the last two seasons...Last year's 16-14 record was the first winning mark since 2000-01, and the 9-5 League record was the first above .500 finish since that same season...Navy was selected sixth in the preseason poll.
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