Patriot League Basketball: 2020 conference tournament preview and predictions
Key players for Patriot League Tournament
Tommy Funk
2019-2020 Stats: 17.4 ppg 4.6 rpg 6.9 apg
Once the tournament tips off, Tommy Funk from Army deserves the spotlights likely to follow him thanks to his scoring capabilities, as he currently averages the most points on his team by a wide margin. Almost entirely responsible for his team’s offense, expect to hear Funk’s name associated with the tournament MVP award if Army makes a run.
Sa’eed Nelson
2019-2020 Stats: 18.4 ppg 5.0 rpg 4.8 apg
Sa’eed Nelson from requires greater attention than Funk, as no player appears hotter going into the tournament than the all-time leading scorer for the Eagles. Boosted with a 30-point performance against Lafayette, Nelson averaged 26.3 points per game over his last four contests, putting his name up there with D1 basketball’s other top scorers.
Andrew Kostecka
2019-2020 Stats: 19.9 ppg 5.2 rpg 2.6 apg
No more than a few days ago Andrew Kostecka appeared destined join Nelson and Funk as another top candidate to give reason for fans to ascend from their seats and cheer come game time, as his 19.9 points per game average stands above all other Patriot League players, but an ankle injury suffered against Navy now puts him at risk to miss the tournament.
Even if doctors give him the green light, a scenario such as Kostecka withdrawing from the tournament himself to prevent further risk to his health ahead the NBA combine, as well as only playing limited minutes, and therefore becoming a less important factor, both remain very realistic.
Jordan Burns
2019-2020 Stats: 15.6 ppg 3.1 rpg 4.5 apg
Fans looking to stay locked into the tournament during its deeper stages might wish to direct their attention toward Colgate’s Jordan Burns, who enters as the Patriot League’s most prolific three-point threat. With Burn’s ability to catch fire instantly accompanied by his allegiance to the Patriot League’s best team, expect him to torch opposing defenses one after the other en route to a possible championship game.
Matt Faw
2019-2020 Stats: 8.3 ppg 4.1 rpg 1.3 bpg
Justin Jaworski
2019-2020 Stats: 17.1 ppg 2.7 rpg 2.8 apg
Jordan Cohen
2019-2020 Stats: 14 ppg 3.6 rps 4.0 apg
Other players with the potential to contribute to the tournament’s highlight reel include Holy Cross’s 6’9, shot-blocking freshmen Matt Faw, Lafayette’s lone scoring option Justin Jaworski, and Lehigh University’s Jordan Cohen, who leads his team in steals, assists, and points.