Busting Brackets
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Patriot League Basketball: Bucknell, Colgate conference tournament favorites

By Daniel Benjamin

DETROIT, MI - MARCH 16: The Bucknell Bison leave the court after being defeated by the Michigan State Spartans 82-78 in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Little Caesars Arena on March 16, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - MARCH 16: The Bucknell Bison leave the court after being defeated by the Michigan State Spartans 82-78 in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Little Caesars Arena on March 16, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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DAYTON, OH – MARCH 16: Robert Champion #22 of the Holy Cross Crusaders celebrates with teammates after they defeated the Southern University Jaguars 59 to 55 during the first round of the 2016 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at UD Arena on March 16, 2016 in Dayton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
DAYTON, OH – MARCH 16: Robert Champion #22 of the Holy Cross Crusaders celebrates with teammates after they defeated the Southern University Jaguars 59 to 55 during the first round of the 2016 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at UD Arena on March 16, 2016 in Dayton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Predictions

First round: March 5 campus sites and televised by the Patriot League Network (PLN).

Game 1: No. 10 Holy Cross (15-16) at No. 7 Lafayette (10-19) 7 p.m 

Can Holy Cross make another tournament run as they did in 2016? The Crusaders, who are 56-72 over the last four years, won the conference tournament after going went 5-13 during Patriot League play in coach Bill Carmody’s first season.  The teams split their first two meetings.

Prediction: Holy Cross 71, Lafayette 64

Game 2: No. 9 Loyola Maryland (11-20) at No. 8 Boston U. (14-17) 7 p.m. 

The teams split their games this year with each winning at home. BU closed out the regular season by winning three of four which included a 72-65 home victory over Loyola.

Prediction: BU 70, Loyola 62

Quarterfinals: March 7 campus sites and televised by PLN

Game 3: Winner of Game 2 (Boston U.) at No. 1 Colgate (21-10) 7 p.m.

BU lost by 20 in Boston to the Raiders but then turned around and beat them in Hamilton (N.Y) on Feb. 2.No such luck this time.

Prediction: Colgate 73, BU 61

Game 4: Winner of Game 1 (Holy Cross) at No. 2 Bucknell (19-11) 7 p.m.

It would be a nice cinderalla story if the Crusaders could make a tourney run, but the buck stops in Bucknell.

Prediction: Bucknell 85, HC 74

Game 5: No. 6 Army (13-18) at No. 3 Lehigh (19-10) 7 p.m.

The Mountain Hawks are playing at home and swept the season series from the Black Knights, who are just 2-8 in their last 10.

Prediction: Lehigh 85, Army 76

Game 6: No. 5 Navy (11-18) at No. 4 American (15-14) 7 p.m.

Prediction: American 71, Navy 63

Semifinals: March 10 highest seeded teams host and televised by CBS Sports

Game 7:  Winner Game 3 (Colgate)  vs. Winner Game 6 (American)

This could be an interesting game. Game would be played at Colgate since the Raiders are the higher seed.

Prediction: Colgate 75, American 71

Game 8: Winner Game 5 (Bucknell) vs. Winner Game 5 (Lehigh)

Game would be at Bucknell

Prediction: Bucknell 79, Lehigh 73

Next. Ranking all 32 conference tournaments. dark

Finals: March 13 highest seeded team hosts

Game 9: Winner Game 7 (Colgate) vs. Winner Game 8 (Bucknell)

Prediction:  Colgate 81, Bucknell 69