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Patriot League Basketball: 2020 conference tournament preview and predictions

By Collin Helwig

COLUMBUS, OHIO - MARCH 22: Tucker Richardson #15 of the Colgate Raiders reacts during the second half against the Tennessee Volunteers in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Nationwide Arena on March 22, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OHIO - MARCH 22: Tucker Richardson #15 of the Colgate Raiders reacts during the second half against the Tennessee Volunteers in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Nationwide Arena on March 22, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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Patriot League Basketball
WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 16: The Colgate Raiders huddle (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

Even with the NCAA tournament knocking down our doors as we close out February, awaiting some comes a final test of legitimacy, while others find themselves glaring up at a last-ditch chance to endorse their case for the big dance, such the case as Patriot League Basketball.

Since conference play tipped off this season, Colgate essentially conquered all they could lay their eyes upon, proving right the many who saw them as the likely favorite to run away with it all thanks to another year blessed with numerous returning players set to work alongside two-time Patriot League Basketball Coach of the Year Matt Langel.

Although Colgate managed to live up to their hype after earning a 13-4 record, opposing teams such as Loyola (MD) and Bucknell this year dropped the ball for the most part. Despite the Bisons losing Kimbal Mackenzie and Nate Sestina last summer, most still expected Nathan Davis to keep the team on track with its winning ways. Bucknell picked up the slack as a whole with four different starters all averaging double-digit point-per-game averages, but their defensive woes appear as the main culprit responsible for their digression.

Only Holy Cross has struggled defensively on the glass more than Bucknell this year, as the Bisons barely average 30 rebounds per game. Furthering the issue, no team seems accustomed to falling apart defensively at more detrimental times, as Bucknell this season dropped important games against American, Army, and Navy after failing to get key stops down the stretch.

As for Loyola, a brutal eight-game losing skid once commencing conference play disappointed fans early on who expected Andrew Kostecka and company to improve the Greyhounds from their third to last finish from the 2018-2019 season. Lehigh and Holy Cross saw their win totals digress from last year as well, however, this came as no surprise with both programs replacing numerous key pieces from prior years.

Skyrocketing up while these teams plummeted down, Boston University instead surpassed their expectations this year, posting a 12-6 record. Although BU knew about its potential to contend after managing to lose only two players from last year, few expected them to go the distance with American and Colgate.