Busting Brackets
Fansided

Patriot League Basketball: Preseason rankings for 2019-20 season

By Gregory Levinsky

MANHATTAN, KS - NOVEMBER 24: Jordan Cohen #11 of the Lehigh Mountain Hawks drives against Cartier Diarra #2 of the Kansas State Wildcats during the first half on November 24, 2018 at Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan, Kansas. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images)
MANHATTAN, KS - NOVEMBER 24: Jordan Cohen #11 of the Lehigh Mountain Hawks drives against Cartier Diarra #2 of the Kansas State Wildcats during the first half on November 24, 2018 at Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan, Kansas. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images) /
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OMAHA, NE – NOVEMBER 26: Andrew Kostecka #10 of the Loyola (Md) Greyhounds shoots the ball over Khyri Thomas #2 of the Creighton Bluejays during their at the CenturyLink Center on November 26, 2016 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Eric Francis/Getty Images)
OMAHA, NE – NOVEMBER 26: Andrew Kostecka #10 of the Loyola (Md) Greyhounds shoots the ball over Khyri Thomas #2 of the Creighton Bluejays during their at the CenturyLink Center on November 26, 2016 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Eric Francis/Getty Images) /

5. Lehigh

This may be a down year for Brett Reed’s squad. The graduation of guards Lance Tejada (14.5 PPG) and Kyle Leufroy (13.8 PPG) and transfer of forward Pat Andree (12.9 PPG, 6.2 RPG) leave gaping scoring holes.

Senior guard Jordan Cohen (13.8 PPG, 3.6 APG) should be given the keys to the Mountain Hawk car. The team shot a ridiculous 42.3% from 3-point range last year. It’s doubtful they can repeat that. Junior center James Karnik (9.3 PPG, 6.1 RPG) is a strong traditional big.

4. Loyola Maryland

If there’s any stretch in these rankings, it’s probably putting the Greyhounds so high. The team went 11-21 last year, 7-11 in league play.

Andrew Kostecka (21.5 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 2.7 SPG) is back for his senior year after leading the league in scoring and earned a spot on the All-Defensive Team. Sophomore guard Isaiah Hart (10.1 PPG, 3.0 APG) is poised for a jump.

Junior forward Brent Holcombe (11.0 PPG, 6.0 RPG) missed the entirety of league play last season but shined in his 12 appearances. Seniors Chuck Champion (10.7 PPG), KaVaughn Scott (7.3 PPG, 4.5 RPG) and sophomore Jaylin Andrews (6.6 PPG) all should factor. Loyola is surprisingly deep.

3. Bucknell

For a program that’s graduated Nana Foulland, Steven Brown, Zach Thomas, Kimbal Mackenzie and Nate Sestina (now a graduate transfer at Kentucky) over the last two years, the Bison are surprisingly stable.

Despite returning no double-digit scorers, the Bison have a solid core. Senior Bruce Moore (9.6 PPG, 4.8 RPG) could almost double his scoring output. Classmate Avi Toomer (8.7 PPG) and junior point guard Jimmy Sotos (8.2 PPG, 6.1 APG) are experienced.

Junior center Paul Newman (3.7 PPG, 3.0 RPG in 12.8 MPG) is another candidate to surprise the league. At 6-foot-9, 234, Newman is both big and agile. Promising sophomores Andrew Funk and Walter Ellis should help, as will freshman guard Alex Rice.